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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Surface-Induced Deprotonation of Thiol Ligands Impacts the Optical Response of CdS Quantum Dots

Cadmium chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) passivated by thiol-based ligands exhibit several advantages in their applications in lighting, sensing, and imaging technologies. However, their emission is sensitive to thiol concentrations, pH conditions, and temperatures. Using calculations based on the density functional theory, we identify conditions for thiol/thiolate equilibrium at the CdS QD surface that either eliminate or introduce optically inactive hole trap states favoring or disfavoring the emission. Our calculations indicate much weaker interactions between the QD and protonated species (thiols), compared to their deprotonated counterparts (thiolates). Additionally, the surface of CdS QD facilitates the partial deprotonation of thiols, leading to the formation of an additional stable networking conformation where the proton is shared between the ligand and the QD surface. Thiolates strongly reduce the optical intensity of low-energy transitions in CdS QDs, contributing thiolate-localized hole trap states at the QD band gap. However, networking between the thiols and the surface, as well as the presence of native ligands such as primary amines, stabilize such trap states brightening the lowest optical transitions. This explains the increased emission of thiol-passivated QDs at lower concentrations in neutral or acidic solutions. Surface-mediated bias toward deprotonated species and their contribution to optically inactive states also rationalizes irreversible emission quenching and bleaching in the CdSe/CdS QDs exposed to high temperatures or intensive laser pulse.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

3D Printing ofThermally Responsive Shape Memory LiquidCrystalline Epoxy Networks

Abstract A two-component liquid crystalline epoxy network (LCEN) with shape memory behavior was developed and evaluated as a candidate material for 3D printing. The cure kinetics of the uncured material and the shape memory properties of the cured LCEN were investigated by using parallel plate rheology and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. A commercially available fumed silica additive was introduced to the neat, uncured material to improve the rheological properties for 3D printing. The addition of fumed silica was found to increase the yield stress, shear-thinning behavior, and toughness of the uncured epoxy ink. Polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements between the neat and additive-modified LCEN suggested a reduction in liquid crystalline alignment in the modified LCEN, owing to interactions between crystalline domains and fumed silica, which in turn influenced the mechanical behavior. Overall, the additive was found to be successful in preserving the shape memory properties of LCEN while improving its printability.

Chemistry↗
NASA NTRS1998

A System for Managing Replenishment of a Nutrient Solution Using an Electrical Conductivity Controller

Control of nutrient solution parameters is very important for the growth and development of plants grown hydroponically. Protocols involving different nutrient solution replenishment times (e.g. one-week, two-week, or two-day replenishment) provide manual periodic control of the nutrient solution's electrical conductivity (EC). Since plants take-up nutrients as they grow, manual control has a drawback in that EC is not held constant between replenishments. In an effort to correct this problem the Center for Food and Environmental Systems for Human Exploration of Space at Tuskegee University has developed a system for managing and controlling levels of EC over a plant's entire growing cycle. A prototype system is being tested on sweetpotato production using the nutrient film technique (NFT), and it is being compared to a system in which sweetpotatoes are grown using NFT with manual control. NASA has played an important role in the development of environmental control systems. They have become a forerunner in growing plants hydroponically with some control systems through the use of networked data acquisition and control using environmental growth chambers. Data acquisition systems which involve the use of real-time, calibration, set points, user panel, and graphical representation programming provide a good method of controlling nutrient solution parameters such as EC and pH [Bledsoe, 19931]. In NASA's Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) at Kennedy Space Center, control is provided by a programmable logic controller (PLC). This is an industrial controller which combines ladder computer logic which has the ability to handle various levels of electrical power. The controller controls temperature, light and other parameters that affect the plant's environment, in the BPC, the Nutrient Delivery System (NIX), a sub-system of the PLC, controls nutrient solution parameters such as EC, pH, and solution levels. When the nutrient EC measurement goes outside a preset range (120-130 mS/m) a set amount of a stock solution of nutrients is automatically added by a metering pump to bring the EC back into operating range [Fortson, 1992]. This paper describes a system developed at Tuskegee University for controlling the EC of a nutrient solution used for growing sweetpotatoes with an EC controller and a computer with LabView data acquisition and instrumentation software. It also describes the preliminary data obtained from the growth of sweetpotatoes using this prototype control system.

Davis, D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Automated Cryocooler Monitor and Control System

A system was designed to automate cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifier systems used in the NASA Deep Space Network. It automates the entire operation of the system including cool-down, warm-up, and performance monitoring. The system is based on a single-board computer with custom software and hardware to monitor and control the cryogenic operation of the system. The system provides local display and control, and can be operated remotely via a Web interface. The system controller is based on a commercial single-board computer with onboard data acquisition capability. The commercial hardware includes a microprocessor, an LCD (liquid crystal display), seven LED (light emitting diode) displays, a seven-key keypad, an Ethernet interface, 40 digital I/O (input/output) ports, 11 A/D (analog to digital) inputs, four D/A (digital to analog) outputs, and an external relay board to control the high-current devices. The temperature sensors used are commercial silicon diode devices that provide a non-linear voltage output proportional to temperature. The devices are excited with a 10-microamp bias current. The system is capable of monitoring and displaying three temperatures. The vacuum sensors are commercial thermistor devices. The output of the sensors is a non-linear voltage proportional to vacuum pressure in the 1-Torr to 1-millitorr range. Two sensors are used. One measures the vacuum pressure in the cryocooler and the other the pressure at the input to the vacuum pump. The helium pressure sensor is a commercial device that provides a linear voltage output from 1 to 5 volts, corresponding to a gas pressure from 0 to 3.5 MPa (approx. = 500 psig). Control of the vacuum process is accomplished with a commercial electrically operated solenoid valve. A commercial motor starter is used to control the input power of the compressor. The warm-up heaters are commercial power resistors sized to provide the appropriate power for the thermal mass of the particular system, and typically provide 50 watts of heat. There are four basic operating modes. "Cool " mode commands the system to cool to normal operating temperature. "Heat " mode is used to warm the device to a set temperature near room temperature. "Pump " mode is a maintenance function that allows the vacuum system to be operated alone to remove accumulated contaminants from the vacuum area. In "Off " mode, no power is applied to the system.

Britcliffe, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Updated MISR Over-Water Research Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm - Part 2: A Multi-Angle Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm for Shallow, Turbid, Oligotrophic, and Eutrophic Waters

Coastal waters serve as transport pathways to the ocean for all agricultural and other runoff from terrestrial sources, and many are the sites for upwelling of nutrient rich, deep water; they are also some of the most biologically productive on Earth. Estimating the impact coastal waters have on the global carbon budget requires relating satellite-based remote-sensing retrievals of biological productivity (e.g., chlorophyll alpha concentration) to in situ measurements taken in near-surface waters. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) can uniquely constrain the "atmospheric correction" needed to derive ocean color from remote-sensing imagers. Here, we retrieve aerosol amount and type from MISR over all types of water. The primary limitation is an upper bound on aerosol optical depth (AOD), as the algorithm must be able to distinguish the surface. This updated MISR research aerosol retrieval algorithm (RA) also assumes that light reflection by the underlying ocean surface is Lambertian. The RA computes the ocean surface reflectance (R (sub rs)) analytically for a given AOD, aerosol optical model, and wind speed. We provide retrieval examples over shallow, turbid, and eutrophic waters and introduce a productivity and turbidity index (PTI), calculated from retrieved spectral R (sub rs), that distinguished water types (similar to the the normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI, over land). We also validate the new algorithm by comparing spectral AOD and Angstrom exponent (ANG) results with 2419 collocated AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) observations. For AERONET 558 nanometer-interpolated AOD less than 1.0, the root-mean square error (RMSE) is 0.04 and linear correlation coefficient is 0.95. For the 502 cloud-free MISR and AERONET collocations with an AERONET AOD greater than 0.20, the ANG RMSE is 0.25 and r is 0.89. Although MISR RA AOD retrieval quality does not appear to be substantially impacted by the presence of turbid water, the MISR-RA-retrieved Angstrom exponent seems to suffer from increased uncertainty under such conditions. MISR supplements current ocean color sources in regions where sunglint precludes retrievals from single-view-angle instruments. MISR atmospheric correction should also be more robust than that derived from single-view instruments such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). This is especially true in regions of shallow, turbid, and eutrophic waters, locations where biological productivity can be high, and single-view-angle retrieval algorithms struggle to separate atmospheric from oceanic features.

Satellite Remote Sensing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Towards a real-time computation of timelike hadronic vacuum polarization and light-by-light scattering: Schwinger Model tests

Hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) and light-by-light scattering (HLBL) are crucial for evaluating the Standard Model predictions concerning the muon’s anomalous magnetic moment. However, direct first-principle lattice gauge theory-based calculations of these observables in the timelike region remain challenging. Discrepancies persist between lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations in the spacelike region and dispersive approaches relying on experimental data parametrization from the timelike region. Here, we introduce a methodology employing 1+1-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED), i.e. the Schwinger Model, to investigate the HVP and HLBL. To that end, we use both tensor network techniques, specifically matrix product states, and classical emulators of digital quantum computers. Demonstrating feasibility in a simplified model, our approach sets the stage for future endeavors leveraging digital quantum computers.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for a new scalar resonance in flavour-changing neutral-current top-quark decays $t → qX (q = u, c)$, with $X → b\overline{b} $, in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for flavour-changing neutral-current decays of a top quark into an up-type quark (either up or charm) and a light scalar particle X decaying into a bottom anti-bottom quark pair is presented. The search focuses on top-quark pair production where one top quark decays to qX, with X → $b\bar{b}$, and the other top quark decays according to the Standard Model, with the W boson decaying leptonically. The final state is thus characterised by an isolated electron or muon and at least four jets. Events are categorised according to the multiplicity of jets and jets tagged as originating from b-quarks, and a neural network is used to discriminate between signal and background processes. The data analysed correspond to 139 fb –1 of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The 95% confidence-level upper limits between 0.019% and 0.062% are derived for the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(t → uX) and between 0.018% and 0.078% for the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(t → cX), for masses of the scalar particle X between 20 and 160 GeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Room-Temperature Ferroelectric Epitaxial Nanowire Arrays with Photoluminescence

The development of large-scale, high-quality ferroelectric semiconductor nanowire arrays with interesting light-emitting properties can address limitations in traditional wide-bandgap ferroelectrics, thus serving as building blocks for innovative device architectures and next-generation high-density optoelectronics. Here, we investigate the optical properties of ferroelectric CsGeX 3 (X = Br, I) halide perovskite nanowires that are epitaxially grown on muscovite mica substrates by vapor phase deposition. Detailed structural characterizations reveal an incommensurate heteroepitaxial relationship with the mica substrate. Furthermore, photoluminescence that can be tuned from yellow-green to red emissions by varying the halide composition demonstrates that these nanowire networks can serve as platforms for future optoelectronic applications. In addition, the room-temperature ferroelectricity and ferroelectric domain structures of these nanowires are characterized using second harmonic generation (SHG) polarimetry. Finally, the combination of room-temperature ferroelectricity with photoluminescence in these nanowire arrays unlocks new avenues for the design of novel multifunctional materials.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

New insights on the nebular emission, ionizing radiation, and low metallicity of Green Peas from advanced modelling

ABSTRACT Low-metallicity, compact starburst galaxies referred to as Green Peas (GPs) provide a unique window to study galactic evolution across cosmic epochs. In this work, we present new deep optical spectra for three GPs from OSIRIS at the 10-m Gran Telescopio Canarias, which are studied using a state-of-the-art methodology. A stellar population synthesis is conducted with 1098 spectral templates. The methodology succeeds at characterizing stellar populations from 0.5 Myr to 10 Gyr. The light distribution shows a large red excess from a single population with ${log}\left({age}\right) \gt 8.5\, \mathrm{yr}$ in the GP sample analysed. This points towards an incomplete characterization of the gas luminosity, whose continuum already accounts between 7.4 and $27.6{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the galaxy sample. The emission spectra are fitted with the largest Bayesian chemical model consisting of an electron temperature, an electron density, the logarithmic extinction coefficient and eleven ionic species under the direct method paradigm. Additionally, building on previous work, we propose a neural networks sampler to constrain the effective temperature and ionization parameter of each source from photoionization model grids. Finally, we combine both methodologies into a 16-dimensional model, which for the first time, simultaneously explores the direct method and photoionization parameter spaces. Both techniques consistently indicate a low-metallicity gas, $7.76\lt 12+{\rm log}\left(O/H \right)\lt 8.04$, ionized by strong radiation fields, in agreement with previous works.

Fernández, V. (ORCID:0000000305315450)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Randomized probe imaging through deep k-learning

Randomized probe imaging (RPI) is a single-frame diffractive imaging method that uses highly randomized light to reconstruct the spatial features of a scattering object. The reconstruction process, known as phase retrieval, aims to recover a unique solution for the object without measuring the far-field phase information. Typically, reconstruction is done via time-consuming iterative algorithms. In this work, we propose a fast and efficient deep learning based method to reconstruct phase objects from RPI data. The method, which we call deep k-learning, applies the physical propagation operator to generate an approximation of the object as an input to the neural network. This way, the network no longer needs to parametrize the far-field diffraction physics, dramatically improving the results. Deep k-learning is shown to be computationally efficient and robust to Poisson noise. The advantages provided by our method may enable the analysis of far larger datasets in photon starved conditions, with important applications to the study of dynamic phenomena in physical science and biological engineering.

Guo, Zhen (ORCID:0000000213473451)↗
NASA NTRS2013

Practical Application of PRA as an Integrated Design Tool for Space Systems

This paper presents the application of the first comprehensive Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) during the design phase of a joint NASA/NOAA weather satellite program, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series R (GOES-R). GOES-R is the next generation weather satellite primarily to help understand the weather and help save human lives. PRA has been used at NASA for Human Space Flight for many years. PRA was initially adopted and implemented in the operational phase of manned space flight programs and more recently for the next generation human space systems. Since its first use at NASA, PRA has become recognized throughout the Agency as a method of assessing complex mission risks as part of an overall approach to assuring safety and mission success throughout project lifecycles. PRA is now included as a requirement during the design phase of both NASA next generation manned space vehicles as well as for high priority robotic missions. The influence of PRA on GOES-R design and operation concepts are discussed in detail. The GOES-R PRA is unique at NASA for its early implementation. It also represents a pioneering effort to integrate risks from both Spacecraft (SC) and Ground Segment (GS) to fully assess the probability of achieving mission objectives. PRA analysts were actively involved in system engineering and design engineering to ensure that a comprehensive set of technical risks were correctly identified and properly understood from a design and operations perspective. The analysis included an assessment of SC hardware and software, SC fault management system, GS hardware and software, common cause failures, human error, natural hazards, solar weather and infrastructure (such as network and telecommunications failures, fire). PRA findings directly resulted in design changes to reduce SC risk from micro-meteoroids. PRA results also led to design changes in several SC subsystems, e.g. propulsion, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), communications, mechanisms, and command and data handling (C&DH). The fault tree approach assisted in the development of the fault management system design. Human error analysis, which examined human response to failure, indicated areas where automation could reduce the overall probability of gaps in operation by half. In addition, the PRA brought to light many potential root causes of system disruptions, including earthquakes, inclement weather, solar storms, blackouts and other extreme conditions not considered in the typical reliability and availability analyses. Ultimately the PRA served to identify potential failures that, when mitigated, resulted in a more robust design, as well as to influence the program's concept of operations. The early and active integration of PRA with system and design engineering provided a well-managed approach for risk assessment that increased reliability and availability, optimized lifecyc1e costs, and unified the SC and GS developments.

Kalia, Prince↗
NASA NTRS2022

Optimized Umkehr Profile Algorithm for Ozone Trend Analyses

The long-term record of Umkehr measurements from four NOAA Dobson spectrophotometers was reprocessed after updates to the instrument calibration procedures. In addition, a new data quality-control tool was developed for the Dobson automation software (WinDobson). This paper presents a comparison of Dobson Umkehr ozone profiles from NOAA ozone network stations (Boulder, OHP, MLO, Lauder) against several satellite records, including Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS; ver. 4.2), and combined SBUV and OMPS records (NASA AGG and NOAA COH). A subset of satellite data is selected to match Dobson Umkehr observations at each station spatially (distance less than 200 km) and temporally (within 24 hours). Umkehr Averaging Kernels (AKs) are applied to vertically smooth all overpass satellite profiles prior to comparisons. The station Umkehr record consists of several instrumental records, which have different optical characterizations, and thus instrument-specific stray light contributes to the data processing errors and creates step changes in the record. This work evaluates the overall quality of Umkehr long-term measurements at NOAA ground-based stations and assesses the impact of the instrumental changes on the stability of the Umkehr ozone profile record. This paper describes a method designed to correct biases and discontinuities in the retrieved Umkehr profile that originate from the Dobson calibration process, repair, or optical realignment of the instrument. The M2GMI and GMI CTM ozone profile model output matched to station location and date of observation is used to evaluate instrumental step changes in the Umkehr record. Homogenization of the Umkehr record and discussion of the apparent stray light error in retrieved ozone profiles are the focus of this paper. Homogenization of ground-based records is of great importance for studies of long-term ozone trends and climate change.

Umkehr↗
DOE OSTI2026

RouteE API

This is the API endpoint for RouteE energy prediction, which can be used to get both single vehicle link or route energy estimates and transportation network-wide energy consumption estimates for a variety of vehicles. This enables external researchers and transportation engineers to access and utilize NLR's growing library of pre-trained vehicle models for prediction of transportation energy consumption. This API provides three endpoints: - /route: Energy estimation of a vehicle over a planning link or sequence of links (route). - /network: Network-wide estimation of energy consumption for all vehicle traffic in the desired area. - /compass: Energy-optimal “eco-routing” between input origin and destination coordinates (Currently in beta for Denver metro area only).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS2007

An Array of Optical Receivers for Deep-Space Communications

An array of small optical receivers is proposed as an alternative to a single large optical receiver for high-data-rate communications in NASA s Deep Space Network (DSN). Because the telescope for a single receiver capable of satisfying DSN requirements must be greater than 10 m in diameter, the design, building, and testing of the telescope would be very difficult and expensive. The proposed array would utilize commercially available telescopes of 1-m or smaller diameter and, therefore, could be developed and verified with considerably less difficulty and expense. The essential difference between a single-aperture optical-communications receiver and an optical-array receiver is that a single-aperture receiver focuses all of the light energy it collects onto the surface of an optical detector, whereas an array receiver focuses portions of the total collected energy onto separate detectors, optically detects each fractional energy component, then combines the electrical signal from the array of detector outputs to form the observable, or "decision statistic," used to decode the transmitted data. A conceptual block diagram identifying the key components of the optical-array receiver suitable for deep-space telemetry reception is shown in the figure. The most conspicuous feature of the receiver is the large number of small- to medium-size telescopes, with individual apertures and number of telescopes selected to make up the desired total collecting area. This array of telescopes is envisioned to be fully computer- controlled via the user interface and prediction-driven to achieve rough pointing and tracking of the desired spacecraft. Fine-pointing and tracking functions then take over to keep each telescope pointed toward the source, despite imperfect pointing predictions, telescope-drive errors, and vibration caused by wind.

Vilnrotter, Chi-Wung↗
DOE OSTI2025

Site and endmember spectra of terrestrial vegetation and soils for the Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study, June-July 2025

This dataset provides site and endmember spectra collected during the 2025 Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) campaign. The site spectra were collected to help validate airborne hyperspectral data acquired by the National Ecological Observatory Network's aerial observation platform (NEON AOP). Endmember spectra were collected to augment existing spectral libraries with additional samples of bare surfaces and non-photosynthetic vegetation. All measurements were acquired with an Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) FieldSpec4 Hi-Res NG (Next Generation) spectroradiometer, which records radiance at 1nm (nanometer) intervals from the ultraviolet to the short-wave infrared (350-2500 nm). The dataset includes spectra measured at meadow sites where the CHESS team also collected vegetation samples for trait analyses. The site spectra were collected with the ASD FieldSpec4 palm grip attachment using an 8° field-of-view foreoptic. Site spectra are integrated measurements of the entire surface within the foreoptic’s field of view. For site-level spectra, the sun is the illumination source. A Spectralon panel mounted on a tripod was used for instrument optimization and white reference measurements for all site spectra. Site spectra were acquired within two hours of solar noon and within 48 hours of a NEON AOP overflight. Site spectra are labeled by date, sampling area, and site number according to the naming conventions of the CHESS campaign’s data management plan. The dataset also contains endmember spectra in the following categories: photosynthetic vegetation (PV), non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV), bare (soil/rock), and flowers. Endmember measurements were acquired using either the contact probe or the leaf clip attachments of the ASD FieldSpec4. In these configurations, the bulb inside the spectrometer provides the light source for the measurements. The spectrometer was optimized and white reference measurements were recorded using the circular white pucks attached to the contact probe and leaf clip. Because they do not rely on solar illumination, contact probe and leaf clip measurements were collected during a broader time frame than the palm grip site spectra. Some endmembers were measured at CHESS meadow sites, while others were collected within the larger sampling area or in nearby locations (e.g. Gothic Townsite) with similar characteristics. Radiance, reflectance, and metadata files are split into three subfolders according to measurement type: proximal/palm grip (prx), contact probe (cp), and leaf clip (lc). Radiance spectra are provided in ASD file format (.asd file extension). All ASD files can be opened using the provided scripts. Metadata is provided in two formats: CSV file format (no geolocation) and GEOJSON file format (includes geolocation for each spectra). The dataset includes a set of pre-processed reflectance spectra as CSV files (yyyymmdd_rfl.csv). The python scripts and jupyter notebook used to calculate reflectance spectra from the ASD radiance data is included here and was previously published at: https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/2446. There is also a folder of JPEG photographs corresponding to selected spectra. We include a protocol document with detailed steps for ASD FieldSpec4 assembly and operations. This data additionally contains a file level metadata (flmd.csv) and data dictionary (dd.csv) file. Geospatial information: Geospatial data for mapping measurement site locations are in the files CHESS_polygons_lai_UTM.geojson, CHESS_polygons_shrub_UTM.geojson, and CHESS_polygons_meadow_UTM.geojson in the companion geospatial package for the 2025 CHESS campaign, ‘CHESS 2025: Location data for field observations and sampling’ (Henderson et al., 2026). CHESS Project Description: The Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) comprised a multi-week airborne remote sensing and field observation campaign in the Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado, conducted in June and July of 2025. Airborne remote sensing was conducted by the National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform (NEON AOP), concurrent with a field campaign run by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Watershed Function Science Focus Area (SFA), and NASA-JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) program. Between June 10 and July 18, 2025, the NEON AOP flight team collected high-resolution aerial imaging spectroscopy and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data over three domains: the Upper East River (CRBU), Almont Triangle (ALMO), and the Upper Taylor Basin (UPTA). In coordination with the flights, a field campaign acquired ground-truth observations, including observations of vegetation composition, foliar traits, forest demography, and subsurface properties in 18 core sampling areas within the domains. Additional surface water observations were taken at over 380 point locations. All CHESS campaign datasets can be found within the CHESS ESS-DIVE data portal: https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/chess. Funding Acknowledgment: This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NM0018D0004) and was funded by EMIT Extended Mission Phase E Science.

2018 NEON and 2025 CHESS Campaigns↗
DOE OSTI2021

LX-17 Thermal Decomposition-Characterization of Solid Residues from Cook-Off in a Small-Scale Vessel Under Confinement

Concerns surround whether insensitive (or any) energetic materials are more dangerous to handle when exposed to abnormal thermal environments. This study characterizes the residual material remaining after LX-17 (92.5 % 1,3,5-triamino 2,4,6-trinitro benzene (TATB) and 7.5 % Kel-F) is exposed to various thermal environments in a sealed small-scale vessel cook-off test reactor (heated at 0.1 to 100 °C/min until the reactor opened at 3000 psi (20.7 MPa)). Previous work has shown no additional sensitivity of these residues as evaluated by small-scale safety analysis, but characterization on the molecular scale indicates the TATB is transformed to more reactive compounds as well as the residue could be precursors to toxic gases. The solids and chars were characterized by various analytical methods. Heat-flow measurements indicated exothermic release is due to a mixture of residual TATB and related decomposition products (which may be more energetic). The N/C and O/N ratios indicated a material much more degraded than TATB. Primarily, the solids were a network of amorphous C inter-dispersed with N and O. Types of bonding include C–C, C–N, N–H, N–C, N=C, N≡C, C–O=, and –OH. Solvent extracts of the solids showed TATB decomposition intermediates benzo-furazans and benzo-furoxans, substituted TATB (mono-nitroso, hydroxyl, and chlorinated) along with several unidentified smaller molecules. These results indicate thermal treatment produces an amorphous carbon residue with heteroatoms incorporated through differing functionality, varying depending upon the thermal severity of exposure. These structures also could further decompose producing toxic light gases (such as cyanide).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Single Photon Emitters Coupled to Photonic Wire bonds

This project will test the coupling of light emitted from silicon vacancy and nitrogen vacancy defects in diamond into additively manufactured photonic wire bonds toward integration into an "on-chip quantum photonics platform". These defects offer a room-temperature solid state solution for quantum information technologies but suffer from issues such as low activation rate and variable local environments. Photonic wire bonding will allow entanglement of pre-selected solid-state defects alleviating some of these issues and enable simplified integration with other photonic devices. These developments could prove to be key technologies to realize quantum secured networks for national security applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fluid dynamic simulation and analysis of water-cooling systems for the Electron-Ion Collider

The Electron-Ion Collider is the newest large-scale project at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The collider’s purpose is to provide further advancements in the knowledge of the universe’s origin by accelerating particles near the speed of light. Our project for this 3.8 km ring was to create a thermal hydraulic steady-state simulation design of the water-cooling system to be cost-effective and energy efficient, as envisioned by Charlie Foltz, the EIC Infrastructure Division Director. The system would include a supply and return header, which cools several thousand components of the ring. The water would then be returned and cooled down using a system of cooling towers and plate and frame heat exchangers. Due to the size of the system and the complexity of the network analysis, a fluid dynamic simulation software, AFT Fathom, was used. Since previous methods of maintaining systems relied on building upon smaller real-life models and implementing empirical data, this flow model was unique and first of a kind in the domain of accelerator design, construction and operation. Therefore, our hydraulic team piloted a new method to perform network analysis on a large scale cooling system. We successfully created several test scenarios for system behavior in a shorter time compared to the method of performing hand calculations. Cooling specifications for heat rejection, pressure drop, flow rate, and pipe sizing were changed based on the individual systems of the vacuum, radio frequency (RF), magnet and power supply, and cryogenics sections. Finally, we used DOE guidelines to perform life-cycle cost analysis with net present value and carbon saving analysis on the systems where pipe size could be optimized.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗