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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

FIRST SCATTERED-LIGHT IMAGE OF THE DEBRIS DISK AROUND HD 131835 WITH THE GEMINI PLANET IMAGER

We present the first scattered-light image of the debris disk around HD 131835 in the H band using the Gemini Planet Imager. HD 131835 is a ∼15 Myr old A2IV star at a distance of ∼120 pc in the Sco-Cen OB association. We detect the disk only in polarized light and place an upper limit on the peak total intensity. No point sources resembling exoplanets were identified. Compared to its mid-infrared thermal emission, in scattered light the disk shows similar orientation but different morphology. The scattered-light disk extends from ∼75 to ∼210 AU in the disk plane with roughly flat surface density. Our Monte Carlo radiative transfer model can describe the observations with a model disk composed of a mixture of silicates and amorphous carbon. In addition to the obvious brightness asymmetry due to stronger forward scattering, we discover a weak brightness asymmetry along the major axis, with the northeast side being 1.3 times brighter than the southwest side at a 3σ level.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Pair distribution functions of amorphous organic thin films from synchrotron X-ray scattering in transmission mode

Using high-brilliance high-energy synchrotron X-ray radiation, for the first time the total scattering of a thin organic glass film deposited on a strongly scattering inorganic substrate has been measured in transmission mode. The organic thin film was composed of the weakly scattering pharmaceutical substance indomethacin in the amorphous state. The film was 130 µm thick atop a borosilicate glass substrate of equal thickness. The atomic pair distribution function derived from the thin-film measurement is in excellent agreement with that from bulk measurements. This ability to measure the total scattering of amorphous organic thin films in transmission will enable accurate in situ structural studies for a wide range of materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1995

Polarimetric scattering from layered media with multiple species of scatterers

Geophysical media are usually heterogeneous and contain multiple species of scatterers. In this paper a model is presented to calculate effective permittivities and polarimetric backscattering coefficients of multispecies-layered media. The same physical description is consistently used in the derivation of both permittivities and scattering coefficients. The strong permittivity fluctuation theory is extended to account for the multiple species of scatterers with a general ellipsoidal shape whose orientations are randomly distributed. Under the distorted Born approximation, polarimetric scattering coefficients are obtained. These calculations are applicable to the special cases of spheroidal and spherical scatterers. The model is used to study effects of scatterer shapes and multispecies mixtures on polarimetric signatures of heterogeneous media. The multispecies model accounts for moisture content in scattering media such as snowpack in an ice sheet. The results indicate a high sensitivity of backscatter to moisture with a stronger dependence for drier snow and ice grain size is important to the backscatter. For frost-covered saline ice, model results for bare ice are compared with measured data at C band and then the frost flower formation is simulated with a layer of fanlike ice crystals including brine infiltration over a rough interface. The results with the frost cover suggest a significant increase in scattering coefficients and a polarimetric signature closer to isotropic characteristics compared to the thin saline ice case.

Nghiem, S. V.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature Simulations I. Thermally Averaged Cyclotron Scattering Cross Sections, Mean Free Photon-Path Tables, and Electron Momentum Sampling

Electron cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs) are observed as absorption-like lines in the spectra of X-ray pulsars. A significant fraction of the computing time for Monte Carlo simulations of these quantum mechanical features is spent on the calculation of the mean free path for each individual photon before scattering, since it involves a complex numerical integration over the scattering cross section and the (thermal) velocity distribution of the scattering electrons. We aim to numerically calculate interpolation tables which can be used in CRSF simulations to sample the mean free path of the scattering photon and the momentum of the scattering electron. The tables also contain all the information required for sampling the scattering electron's final spin. The tables were calculated using an adaptive Simpson integration scheme. The energy and angle grids were refined until a prescribed accuracy is reached. The tables are used by our simulation code to produce artificial CRSF spectra. The electron momenta sampled during these simulations were analyzed and justified using theoretically determined boundaries. We present a complete set of tables suited for mean free path calculations of Monte Carlo simulations of the cyclotron scattering process for conditions expected in typical X-ray pulsar accretion columns (0.01 B/B(sub crit) is less than or equal to 0.12, where B(sub crit) = 4.413 x 1013 G, and 3 keV kBT 15 keV). The sampling of the tables is chosen such that the results have an estimated relative error of at most 1/15 for all points in the grid. The tables are available online (see link in footnote, page 1).

Schwarm, F.-W.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Toward a better thermal scattering law of (C 5 O 2 H 8 ) n : Inelastic neutron scattering and oClimax + NJOY2016

With the advancements in technology (both experimental and computational) the determination of the“true” experimental phonon spectrum became more accessible. Here a methodology for producing thermal scattering libraries from the experimental data (namely the DFT+oClimax method) for lucite (C 5 O 2 H 8 ) n is discussed. Double differential scattering cross section (DDSCS) experiments were performed at the Spallation Neutron Source of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (SNS ORNL). Novel scattering kernel evaluations, based on the phonon spectrum for (C 5 O 2 H 8 ) n ,were created using oClimax and NJOY2016 codes. In order to compare and asses the performance of the newly created library, the experimental setup was simulated using MCNP6.1. Compared to the current ENDF/B-VIII.0, the resulting RPI (C 5 O 2 H 8 ) n library improved the calculation of both double differential scattering and total scattering cross sections. A set of criticality benchmarks containing (C 5 O 2 H 8 ) n from HEU-MET-THERM resulted in an overall improved calculation of K eƒƒ . The DFT + oClimax method is shown to be the most comprehensive method for analysis of moderator materials, due to the fact that it can be verified against all data measured at VISION, ARCS and SEQUOIA neutron spectrometers at SNS ORNL, and experimental total scattering cross section measurements. This technique also provides a new technique for calculating any phonon spectrum-related quantities such as scattering law kernel, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, etc. for any solid state material.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Inverse scattering theory: Inverse scattering series method for one dimensional non-compact support potential

The reversion of the Born-Neumann series of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation is one of the standard ways to solve the inverse acoustic scattering problem. One limitation of the current inversion methods based on the reversion of the Born-Neumann series is that the velocity potential should have compact support. However, this assumption cannot be satisfied in certain cases, especially in seismic inversion. Based on the idea of distorted wave scattering, we explore an inverse scattering method for velocity potentials without compact support. The strategy is to decompose the actual medium as a known single interface reference medium, which has the same asymptotic form as the actual medium and a perturbative scattering potential with compact support. After introducing the method to calculate the Green’s function for the known reference potential, the inverse scattering series and Volterra inverse scattering series are derived for the perturbative potential. Analytical and numerical examples demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this method. Besides, to ensure stability of the numerical computation, the Lanczos averaging method is employed as a filter to reduce the Gibbs oscillations for the truncated discrete inverse Fourier transform of each order. Our method provides a rigorous mathematical framework for inverse acoustic scattering with a non-compact support velocity potential.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Influence of low concentrations of scatterers and signal detection time on the results of their measurements using dynamic light scattering

The influence of limited detection time on the form of the autocorrelation function (ACF) has been analysed for measurements in low-concentration suspensions by dynamic light scattering with allowance for the spatial distribution of the laser beam intensity. The general view of the ACF of the scattered light intensity is obtained for a Gaussian beam and a finite measurement time. The results of the theoretical analysis are compared with the experimental data and the results obtained by computer simulation of the scattering from an ensemble of particles involved in Brownian motion in a Gaussian beam. It is shown that, in the case of low suspension concentrations, the ACF distortions related to finite detection time lead to underestimation of the particle sizes and occurrence of an artefact peak in the distribution of the scattered light intensity over scatterer sizes. An empirical dependence of the measured size of particles on their number in the scattering volume is found. (light scattering)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Elastic scattering of 3 He + 4 He with the SONIK scattering chamber

Measurements of the elastic scattering cross section of 3 He and 4 He are important in order to improve constraints on theoretical models of 4 He ⁢( 3 He ,𝛾)⁢ 7 Be, a key reaction in Big Bang nucleosynthesis and solar neutrino production. The astrophysical 𝑆 factor for this reaction is a significant source of uncertainty in the standard-solar-model prediction of the 7 Be and 8 B solar neutrino fluxes. The elastic scattering measurements reported in the literature do not extend to low energies and lack proper uncertainty quantification. A new measurement of the 4 He ⁢( 3 He, 3 He)⁢ 4 He reaction has been made at center-of-mass energies 𝐸c.m.=0.38−3.13 MeV using the Scattering of Nuclei in Inverse Kinematics (SONIK) scattering chamber: a windowless, extended gas target surrounded by an array of 30 collimated silicon charged particle detectors situated at TRIUMF. This is the first elastic scattering measurement of 3 He + 4 He made below 500 keV and it has greater angular range and better precision than previous measurements. The elastic scattering data were analyzed using both 𝑅-matrix and halo effective field theory frameworks, and values of the 𝑠-wave scattering length and effective range were extracted. Here, the resulting improvement in knowledge of the 𝑠-wave effective-range function at low energies reduces the overall uncertainty in 𝑆 34 at solar energies.

Elastic scattering reactions↗
DOE OSTI2012

Imaging x-ray Thomson scattering spectrometer design and demonstration (invited)

In many laboratory astrophysics experiments, intense laser irradiation creates novel material conditions with large, one-dimensional gradients in the temperature, density, and ionization state. X-ray Thomson scattering is a powerful technique for measuring these plasma parameters. However, the scattered signal has previously been measured with little or no spatial resolution, which limits the ability to diagnose inhomogeneous plasmas. We report on the development of a new imaging x-ray Thomson spectrometer (IXTS) for the Omega laser facility. The diffraction of x-rays from a toroidally curved crystal creates high-resolution images that are spatially resolved along a one-dimensional profile while spectrally dispersing the radiation. This focusing geometry allows for high brightness while localizing noise sources and improving the linearity of the dispersion. Preliminary results are presented from a scattering experiment that used the IXTS to measure the temperature profile of a shocked carbon foam.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

High resolution x-ray Thomson scattering measurements from cryogenic hydrogen jets using the linac coherent light source

We present the first spectrally resolved measurements of x-rays scattered from cryogenic hydrogen jets in the single photon counting limit. The 120 Hz capabilities of the LCLS, together with a novel hydrogen jet design [J. B. Kim et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. (these proceedings)], allow for the ability to record a near background free spectrum. Such high-dynamic-range x-ray scattering measurements enable a platform to study ultra-fast, laser-driven, heating dynamics of hydrogen plasmas. This measurement has been achieved using two highly annealed pyrolytic graphite crystal spectrometers to spectrally resolve 5.5 keV x-rays elastically and inelastically scattered from cryogenic hydrogen and focused on Cornell-SLAC pixel array detectors [S. Herrmann et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 718, 550 (2013)].

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

A full-angle Monte-Carlo scattering technique including cumulative and single-event Rutherford scattering in plasmas [Theory of cumulative large-angle collisions in plasmas]

Here, we describe and justify a full-angle scattering (FAS) method to faithfully reproduce the accumulated differential angular Rutherford scattering probability distribution function (pdf) of particles in a plasma. The FAS method splits the scattering events into two regions. At small angles it is described by cumulative scattering events resulting, via the central limit theorem, in a Gaussian-like pdf; at larger angles it is described by single-event scatters and retains a pdf that follows the form of the Rutherford differential cross-section. The FAS method is verified using discrete Monte-Carlo scattering simulations run at small timesteps to include each individual scattering event. We identify the FAS regime of interest as where the ratio of temporal/spatial scale-of-interest to slowing-down time/length is from 10 -3 to 0.3–0.7; the upper limit corresponds to Coulomb logarithm of 20–2, respectively. Two test problems, high-velocity interpenetrating plasma flows and keV-temperature ion equilibration, are used to highlight systems where including FAS is important to capture relevant physics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Polarization Transfer in Wide-Angle Compton Scattering and Single-Pion Photoproduction from the Proton

Wide-angle exclusive Compton scattering and single-pion photoproduction from the proton have been investigated via measurement of the polarization transfer from a circularly polarized photon beam to the recoil proton. The wide-angle Compton scattering polarization transfer was analyzed at an incident photon energy of 3.7 GeV at a proton scattering angle of theta(p)(cm) cm = 70 degrees. The longitudinal transfer K-LL, measured to be 0.645 +/- 0.059 +/- 0.048, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic, has the same sign as predicted for the reaction mechanism in which the photon interacts with a single quark carrying the spin of the proton. However, the observed value is similar to 3 times larger than predicted by the generalized-parton-distribution-based calculations, which indicates a significant unknown contribution to the scattering amplitude.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1983

An investigation of turbulent scatter from the mesosphere as observed by coherent-scatter radar

Turbulent scatter from he mesosphere is observed using the Urbana coherent-scatter radar. The variation in signal-to-noise ratio as a function of time-of-day is examined. The origin of scattering regions is investigated by comparing the variations in scattered power and Doppler velocity. Nighttime echoes are shown for periods of enhanced electron concentration. The spectrum of the returned signal is studied with a resolution of ten seconds. Spectral information is used to increase altitude resolution and observe the motion of scatterers. The expected variation in signal-to-noise ratio with solar flux is observed. It is found that variations in the scattered power generally do not correspond to the gravity waves which are simultaneously observed. Turbulent layers are observed at altitudes with high shear in the horizontal velocity and at altitudes with low shear. The ten-second resolution is necessary to distinguish meteor echoes from echoes produced by the advection of a scattering layer through the radar beam.

Gibbs, K. P.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Neutron Scattering Investigation of Phonon Scattering Rates in Ag1-xSb1+xTe2+x (x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2)

The phonon dispersions and scattering rates of the thermoelectric material AgSbTe$_{2}$ were measured as a function of temperature with inelastic neutron scattering. The results show that phonon scattering rates are large and weakly dependent on temperature. The lattice thermal conductivity was calculated from the measured phonon lifetimes and group velocities, providing good agreement with bulk transport measurements. The measured phonon scattering rates and their temperature dependence are compared with models of phonon scattering by anharmonicity and point defect. We find that these processes cannot account for the large total phonon scattering rates observed, and their lack of temperature dependence. Neutron and synchrotron diffraction measurements on single crystals revealed an extensive nanostructure from cation ordering, which is likely responsible for the strong phonon scattering.

Abernathy, Douglas L↗
DOE OSTI2017

Monte Carlo calculation of large and small-angle electron scattering in air

A Monte Carlo method for angle scattering of electrons in air that accommodates the small-angle multiple scattering and larger-angle single scattering limits is introduced. The algorithm is designed for use in a particle-in-cell simulation of electron transport and electromagnetic wave effects in air. The method is illustrated in example calculations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Ultralow Thermal Conductivity in Diamond-Like Semiconductors: Selective Scattering of Phonons from Antisite Defects

In this work, we discover anomalously low lattice thermal conductivity (<0.25 W/mK at 300 degrees C) in the Hg-containing quaternary diamond-like semiconductors within the Cu2IIBIVTe4 (IIB: Zn, Cd, Hg) (IV: Si, Ge, Sn) set of compositions. Using high-temperature X-ray diffraction, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, and transport properties, we uncover the critical role of the antisite defects HgCu and CuHg on phonon transport within the Hg-containing systems. Despite the differences in chemistry between Hg and Cu, the high concentration of these antisite defects emerges from the energetic proximity of the kesterite and stannite cation motifs. Our phonon calculations reveal that heavier group IIB elements not only introduce low-lying optical modes, but the subsequent antisite defects also possess unusually strong point defect phonon scattering power. The scattering strength stems from the fundamentally different vibrational modes supported by the constituent elements (e.g., Hg and Cu). Despite the significant impact on the thermal properties, antisite defects do not negatively impact the mobility (>50 cm2/(Vs) at 300 degrees C) in Hg-containing systems, leading to predicted zT > 1.5 in Cu2HgGeTe4 and Cu2HgSnTe4 under optimized doping. In addition to introducing a potentially new p-type thermoelectric material, this work provides (1) a strategy to use the proximity of phase transitions to increase point defect phonon scattering, and (2) a means to quantify the power of a given point defect through inexpensive phonon calculations.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Density of hydrophobically confined deeply cooled water investigated by small angle X-ray scattering

Water’s behavior near hydrophobic surfaces has attracted great attention due to chemical and geological applications. Here, we report small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of water confined in the hydrophobic nanoporous carbon material, CMK-1-14, from ambient to deeply cooled temperatures. By monitoring the scattering intensity of the first Bragg peak, which is directly related to the scattering length density contrast between the carbon matrix and the confined water, the average density of the hydrophobically confined water was determined from 300 K to 150 K at ambient pressure. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the majority of such hydrophobically confined water did not crystallize in the investigated temperature range. By exploiting the fast speed of SAXS measurements and the continuous temperature ramping, the average density profile and the deduced thermal expansion coefficient (α{sub p}) were obtained. We found that the well-known density maximum of water at 277 K downshifted to 260 K, and the density minimum which has been observed in hydrophilic confinement disappeared. In addition, the previously measured large density decreasing of 18% at low temperature was recalibrated to a more reasonable 10% instead. Consequently, the recalculated α{sub p} peak was found to be quite similar to that of the water confined in hydrophilic MCM-41-S-15 suggesting an intrinsic property of water, which does not sensitively depend on the confinement surface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transmission X-ray scattering as a probe for complex liquid-surface structures

The need for functional materials calls for increasing complexity in self-assembly systems. As a result, the ability to probe both local structure and heterogeneities, such as phase-coexistence and domain morphologies, has become increasingly important to controlling self-assembly processes, including those at liquid surfaces. The traditional X-ray scattering methods for liquid surfaces, such as specular reflectivity and grazing-incidence diffraction, are not well suited to spatially resolving lateral heterogeneities due to large illuminated footprint. A possible alternative approach is to use scanning transmission X-ray scattering to simultaneously probe local intermolecular structures and heterogeneous domain morphologies on liquid surfaces. To test the feasibility of this approach, transmission small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (TSAXS/TWAXS) studies of Langmuir films formed on water meniscus against a vertically immersed hydrophilic Si substrate were recently carried out. First-order diffraction rings were observed in TSAXS patterns from a monolayer of hexagonally packed gold nanoparticles and in TWAXS patterns from a monolayer of fluorinated fatty acids, both as a Langmuir monolayer on water meniscus and as a Langmuir–Blodgett monolayer on the substrate. The patterns taken at multiple spots have been analyzed to extract the shape of the meniscus surface and the ordered-monolayer coverage as a function of spot position. These results, together with continual improvement in the brightness and spot size of X-ray beams available at synchrotron facilities, support the possibility of using scanning-probe TSAXS/TWAXS to characterize heterogeneous structures at liquid surfaces.

Fukuto, Masafumi↗