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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 OSTI2019

Septum Dump Quadrupole Measurements and Analysis

The purpose of the septum dump quadrupole (SDQ) magnet is to expand the beam size on the septum dump of the DARHT Axis 2 downstream transport. This is necessary in order to minimize the heating of the carbon beam dump and suppress desorption of ions. Initially, ions are generated through stimulated desorption and ionization of the monolayers of water vapor stuck to the beam dump surface. These ions propagate upstream at high speeds and act as an electrostatic focusing lens by reducing the beam space charge. As the beam size on the dump decreases, the dump is sufficiently heated so that a surface plasma is formed and much greater quantities of ions are generated through space charge limited emission. The interaction of these ions with the beam causes significant disruption of the beam. Because the SDQ focuses the beam in one plane and defocuses the beam in the orthogonal plane, it is critical that the beam in the focusing plane be over-focused so that the beam size in this plane is large on the beam stop. Thissets a minimum field at which the SDQ must operate. Recent magnetic measurements of the SDQ show that the actual field is about 15% lower than the design field. This note investigates the possible causes for this discrepancy and a path forward.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

sonde (00)

The balloon-borne sounding system (SONDE) provides in situ measurements (vertical profiles) of both the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere, and the wind speed and direction. Sonde operations can provide important constraints for model simulations if used during field campaigns where multiple stations are operated around a central location with baseline measurements, such as a mobile facility. When deployed, sondes are launched at scheduled intervals.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Baryogenesis by B-L generation due to superheavy particle decay

We have shown that the B-L generation due to the decay of the thermally produced superheavy fields can explain the Baryon asymmetry in the Universe if the superheavy fields are heavier than 10{sup 13-14} GeV. Note that, although the superheavy fields have nonvanishing charges under the standard model gauge interactions, the thermally produced baryon asymmetry is sizable. The B-L-violating effective operators induced by integrating the superheavy fields have dimension 7, while the operator in the famous leptogenesis has dimension 5. Therefore, the constraints from the nucleon stability can be easily satisfied.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A compact neutron scatter camera for field deployment

Here, we describe a very compact (0.9 m high, 0.4 m diameter, 40 kg) battery operable neutron scatter camera designed for field deployment. Unlike most other systems, the configuration of the sixteen liquid-scintillator detection cells are arranged to provide omnidirectional (4π) imaging with sensitivity comparable to a conventional two-plane system. Although designed primarily to operate as a neutron scatter camera for localizing energetic neutron sources, it also functions as a Compton camera for localizing gamma sources. In addition to describing the radionuclide source localization capabilities of this system, we demonstrate how it provides neutron spectra that can distinguish plutonium metal from plutonium oxide sources, in addition to the easier task of distinguishing AmBe from fission sources.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Nanoscale magnetic field mapping with a single spin scanning probe magnetometer

We demonstrate quantitative magnetic field mapping with nanoscale resolution, by applying a lock-in technique on the electron spin resonance frequency of a single nitrogen-vacancy defect placed at the apex of an atomic force microscope tip. In addition, we report an all-optical magnetic imaging technique which is sensitive to large off-axis magnetic fields, thus extending the operation range of diamond-based magnetometry. Both techniques are illustrated by using a magnetic hard disk as a test sample. Owing to the non-perturbing and quantitative nature of the magnetic probe, this work should open up numerous perspectives in nanomagnetism and spintronics.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

WE-G-17A-08: Electron Gun Operation for in Line MRI-Linac Configurations: An Assessment of Beam Fidelity and Recovery Techniques for Different SIDs and Magnetic Field Strengths

Purpose: To test the functionality of medical electron guns within the fringe field of a purpose built superconducting MRI magnet, and to test different recovery techniques for a variety of imaging field strengths and SIDs. Methods: Three different electron guns were simulated using Finite Element Modelling; a standard diode gun, a standard triode gun, and a novel diode gun designed to operate within parallel magnetic fields. The approximate working regime of each gun was established by assessing exit current in constant magnetic fields of varying strength and defining ‘working’ as less than 10% change in injection current. Next, the 1.0T MRI magnet was simulated within Comsol Multiphysics. The coil currents in this model were also scaled to produce field strengths of .5, 1, 1.5 and 3T. Various magnetic shield configurations were simulated, varying the SID from 800 to 1300mm. The average magnetic field within the gun region was assessed together with the distortion in the imaging volume - greater than 150uT distortion was considered unacceptable. Results: The conventional guns functioned in fields of less than 7.5mT. Conversely, the redesigned diode required fields greater than .1T to function correctly. Magnetic shielding was feasible for SIDS of greater than 1000mm for field strengths of .5T and 1T, and 1100mm for 1.5 and 3.0T. Beyond these limits shielding resulted in unacceptable MRI distortion. In contrast, the redesigned diode could perform acceptably for SIDs of less than 812, 896, 931, and 974mm for imaging strengths of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3.0T. Conclusions: For in-line MRIlinac configurations where the electron gun is operating in low field regions, shielding is a straight forward option. However, as magnetic field strength increases and the SID is reduced, shielding results in too great a distortion in the MRI and redesigning the electron optics is the preferable solution. The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the National Health and Research Council (AUS), National Institute of Health (NIH), and Cancer Institute NSW.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Typical event horizons in AdS/CFT

We consider the construction of local bulk operators in a black hole background dual to a pure state in conformal field theory. The properties of these operators in a microcanonical ensemble are studied. It has been argued in the literature that typical states in such an ensemble contain firewalls, or otherwise singular horizons. Here, we argue this conclusion can be avoided with a proper definition of the interior operators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigating instabilities in magnetized low-pressure capacitively coupled RF plasma using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations

The effect of a uniform magnetic field on particle transport in low-pressure radio frequency (RF) capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) has been studied using a particle-in-cell model. Three distinct regimes of plasma behavior can be identified as a function of the magnetic field. In the first regime at low magnetic fields, asymmetric plasma profiles are observed within the CCP chamber due to the effect of $\overrightarrow{E}$ × $\overrightarrow{B}$ drift. As the magnetic field increases, instabilities develop and form self-organized spoke-shaped structures that are distinctly seen within the bulk plasma closer to the sheath. In this second regime, the spoke-shaped coherent structures rotate inside the plasma chamber in the -$\overrightarrow{E}$ × $\overrightarrow{B}$ direction, where $\overrightarrow{E}$ × $\overrightarrow{B}$ are the DC electric and magnetic field vectors, respectively, and the DC electric field exists in the sheath and pre-sheath regions. The spoke rotation frequency is in the megahertz range. As the magnetic field strength increases further, the rotating coherent spokes continue to exist near the sheath. The coherent structures are, however, accompanied by new small-scale incoherent structures originating and moving within the bulk plasma region away from the sheath. This is the third regime of plasma behavior. The threshold values of the magnetic field between these regimes were found not to vary with changing plasma reactor geometry (e.g., area ratio between ground and powered electrodes) or the use of an external capacitor between the RF-powered electrode and the RF source. The threshold values of the magnetic field between these regimes shift toward higher values with increasing gas pressure. Analysis of the results indicates that the rotating structures are due to the lower hybrid instability driven by density gradients and electron-neutral collisions. This paper provides guidance on the upper limit of the magnetic field for instability-free operation in low-pressure CCP-based semiconductor deposition and etch systems that use the external magnetic field for plasma uniformity control.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mini Micropulse Lidar measurements in vertical and scanning modes

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program operates ten Sigma Space (currently Droplet Measurement Technologies/DMT) micropulse lidar systems (MPL-4B-IDS/POL-FS series), which detect the backscattered light in two orthogonal linear polarization channels allowing to distinguish between spherical (e.g. water) and non-spherical (e.g. ice) scattering particles. The ARM MPLs have been providing valuable measurements to the aerosol and cloud research community for well over a decade. DMT’s Mini-Micropulse lidar (MiniMPL) is a compact version of the standard MPL. It reduces the power-aperture product to minimize cost, size, weight, power requirements and has all the electronics integrated with optics in a single box. Although as a result, it has a lower detection range than the MPL, limiting the measurements to the troposphere, its performance is promised to match that of the standard MPL within the troposphere. The MiniMPL weighs 13 kg, and the complete system, consisting of an optical transceiver and a laptop running the data acquisition and post-processing software, fits in a storm case, allowing its transport on domestic or international flights. This can be especially valuable for short field campaigns or Intensive Operational Periods, where time is of the essence when replacing a faulty instrument. In addition, the scanning polarization lidar capability (MiniMPL-SCAN option) could be of great interest for satisfying ARM measurement needs for certain research topics related to clouds and precipitation. To evaluate its full potential in comparison with co-located remote sensing instruments including the ARM MPL-4B-IDS/POL-FS at SGP, a miniMPL was hosted at the ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) mega-site in 2020 for approximately 3 months. During this time the miniMPL was tested in both vertical sampling and scanning modes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Final Technical Report: Thermoelectric-Enhanced Cookstove Add-on (TECA) for Clean Biomass Cookstoves

This program seeks to demonstrate a solution to enhance existing biomass cookstove performance through the use of RTI’s Thermoelectric Enhanced Cookstove Add-on (TECA) device. The self-powered TECA device captures a portion of heat from the stove and converts it to electricity through a thermoelectric (TE) device to power a blower. Colorado State University and Envirofit International are partners to support the air injection design and commercialization to enhance combustion in the stove and reduce emissions. Relevance: By demonstrating a proof of concept of the approach with the Envirofit M-5000 stove and TECA device, we hope to apply this technology to existing stoves that are already in use and reduce emissions for stoves that have already found user acceptance to provide a true health benefit. Challenges: The technical challenges include achieving Tier 4 emissions from a biomass stove and for such a stove to operate reliably in the harsh field environment. Additional challenges include the fact that it is difficult to develop a cost effective solution and insure adoption and proper use in the field. Outcomes: In this program we have demonstrated PM emissions at 82 mg/MJd, a 70% reduction as compared to baseline stove operation. We have also developed a stove optimization approach that reduces the number of costly experiments. We have evaluated component-level reliability and will be testing the stove prototype in the field for performance and reliability.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Deep Learning–Assisted Multiobjective Optimization of Geological CO 2 Storage Performance under Geomechanical Risks

In geological CO 2 storage, designing the optimal well control strategy for CO 2 injection to maximize CO 2 storage while minimizing the associated geomechanical risks is not trivial. This challenge arises due to pressure buildup, CO 2 plume migration, the highly nonlinear nature of geomechanical responses to rock-fluid interaction, and the high computational cost associated with coupled flow and geomechanics simulations. In this paper, we introduce a novel optimization framework to address these challenges. The optimization problem is formulated as follows: maximize total CO 2 storage while minimizing geomechanical risks by adjusting the injection schedules within bounded constraints. The geomechanical risks are primarily driven by injection-induced pressure build-up, which is characterized by ground displacement and the induced microseismicity. We used the Fourier neural operator (FNO)-based deep learning model to construct surrogate models, replacing the time-consuming coupled flow and geomechanics simulations for evaluating the aforementioned objective functions. The developed surrogate models have been incorporated into a multiobjective optimization framework through a genetic algorithm to reduce the computational burden. The proposed optimization framework reduces the computational cost from approximately 2,400 hours, when using objective function evaluations based on physics-based simulations, to around 20 minutes. A set of Pareto-optimal solutions of the proposed workflow yields nontrivial optimal decisions, reducing the microseismicity potential and the vertical displacement. This Pareto front highlights the optimal trade-offs between CO 2 storage amount, safety, and ground displacement, emphasizing the need for careful optimization and management of injection strategies to achieve a balanced outcome. The novelty of this work is twofold. First, we demonstrate the importance of incorporating the minimization of the geomechanical risks as objective functions into the CO 2 storage optimization workflow to mitigate the potential risk of induced microseismicity and ground displacement. Second, we leverage the FNO-based surrogate models to optimize a real-field CO 2 storage operation.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

Developing Load Cell Monitoring on the Mock UF 6 Feed and Withdrawal System

A proof-of-concept load cell monitoring system has been developed for the Mock Feed and Withdrawal (F&W) System at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This system leverages industry-standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software in a modular and scalable design. The Mock F&W System was designed to simulate operations at a uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 ) gas centrifuge enrichment plant F&W area. It provides a test bed for process-monitoring technologies. Water, used as a surrogate for UF 6 , is pumped from three feed tanks, through a process surge tank, and is then cut between two tails tanks and three product tanks. The weight of the each tank is continuously monitored using a load cell monitoring system. In addition to the F&W stations, large and small accountancy stations are monitored. The Mock F&W System allows ORNL to test and evaluate capabilities of industry-standard process monitoring hardware and software. A variety of commonly used weighing indicators are connected to the load cells to monitor the weight at each station. These weighing indicators are representative of the types likely found in operating facilities. A data center modeled after those currently used for international safeguards was installed to collect and manage the weight data. This data center provides a robust and flexible test bed for testing and developing software solutions. COTS software packages that leverage industry-standard communication protocols provide a data flow architecture that is modular, interoperable, and scalable. One software package provides communication drivers to collect the raw weight data from the weighing indicators. A data historian is used to store the raw data. Custom in-house algorithms have been developed using MATLAB to analyze the raw historical data and to automatically identify process information. This information includes the number of cycles completed and the mass of material transferred from stations to the process. The process information identified by the analysis is stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database. Visualization concepts have been developed that display the analyzed process information alongside visually compelling plots and animations of the raw data. The load cell monitoring system developed on the Mock F&W System was designed as a proof of concept that could be scaled to a field trial at an operating facility. This system, built with industry standard hardware and software, has allowed ORNL to develop capabilities that provide confidence in the ability to leverage existing operator load cell monitoring equipment with minimal impact on operations. The international safeguards community is evaluating the use of load cell monitoring as an additional safeguards measure; this system demonstrates a practical solution to collect, store, analyze, and visualize load cell weight data.

commercial off the shelf↗
DOE OSTI2013

Pressurized H 2 rf Cavities in Ionizing Beams and Magnetic Fields

A major technological challenge in building a muon cooling channel is operating RF cavities in multi-tesla external magnetic fields. We report the first experimental characterization of a high pressure gas-filled 805 MHz RF cavity for use with intense ionizing beams and strong external magnetic fields. RF power consumption by beam-induced plasma was investigated with hydrogen and deuterium gases with pressures between 20 and 100 atm and peak RF gradients between 5 and 50 MV/m. The energy absorption per ion pair-RF cycle ranges from 10-18 to 10-16 J. The low pressure case agrees well with an analytical model based on electron and ion mobilities. Varying concentrations of oxygen gas were investigated to remove free electrons from the cavity and reduce the RF power consumption. Measurements of the electron attachment time to oxygen and rate of ion-ion recombination were also made. Additionally, we demonstrate the operation of the gas-filled RF cavity in a solenoidal field of up to 3 T, finding no major magnetic field dependence. These results indicate that a high pressure gas-filled cavity is potentially a viable technology for muon ionization cooling.

Chung, M.↗
DOE OSTI2011

Electron Strippers for Compact Neutron Generators

The next generation of compact tandem-type DD or DT neutron generators requires a robust electron stripper with high charge exchange efficiency. In this study, stripping foils of various types were tested, and the H{sup -} to H{sup +} conversion efficiency, endurance to the heat load, and durability were investigated in terms of suitability in the tandem-type neutron generator. In the experiments, a H{sup -} beam was accelerated to about 180 keV, passes through a stripping foil, and produces a mixed beam of H{sup -}, H{sup 0}, and H{sup +}. These ions were separated by an electric field, and detected by a movable Faraday cup to determine the conversion efficiency. The experimental results using thin foils of diamond-like carbon, gold, and carbon nano-tubes revealed issues on the robustness. As a new concept, a H{sup -} beam was injected onto a metal surface with an oblique angle, and reflected H{sup +} ions are detected. It was found that the conversion efficiency, H{sup +} fraction in the reflected particles, depends on the surface condition, with the maximum value of about 90%.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Towards Demonstration of Electron Cooling with Bunched Electron Beam

All electron cooling systems which were in operation so far employed electron beam generated with an electrostatic electron gun in DC operating mode, immersed in a longitudinal magnetic field. At low energies magnetic field is also being used to transport electron beam through the cooling section from the gun to the collector. At higher energies (few MeV), it was shown that one can have simpler electron beam transport without continuous magnetic field. Because of a rather weak magnetic field on the cathode and in the cooling section the latter approach was referred to as “non-magnetized cooling”, since there was no suppression of the transverse angular spread of the electron beam with the magnetic field in the cooling section. Such a cooler successfully operated at FNAL (2005-11) at electron beam energy of 4.3 MeV. Providing cooling at even higher energies would be easier with RF acceleration of electron beam, and thus using bunched electron beam for cooling. Significant efforts were devoted to explore various aspects of such bunched electron beam cooling as part of R&D of high-energy electron cooling for RHIC. However, experimental studies of such cooling are still lacking. Establishing this technique experimentally would be extremely useful for future high-energy applications. Presently there is an ongoing effort to build Proof-of-Principle (PoP) experiment of Coherent Electron Cooling (CEC) at RHIC, which promises to be superior to conventional electron cooling for high energies. Since the CEC experiment is based on bunched electron beam and it has sections where electron beam co-propagates with the ion beam at the same velocity, it also provides a unique opportunity to explore experimentally conventional electron cooling but for the first time with a bunched electron beam. As a result, it allows us to explore techniques needed for the high-energy electron cooling such as “painting” with a short electron beam and control of ion beam distribution under cooling which is essential if cooling is provided in a collider. The software needed for comparison with the experiments is already developed as part of the previous high-energy electron cooling studies for RHIC. Since electron beam will be non-magnetized and there will be no magnetic field in the cooling section it will be also a first demonstration of fully non-magnetized cooling. The purpose of these studies was to explore whether we would be able to observe conventional electron cooling with parameters expected in the CEC PoP experiment. Below we summarize requirements on electron beam and cooling section needed for such demonstration.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Towards demonstration of electron cooling with bunched electron beam

All electron cooling systems which were in operation so far employed electron beam generated with an electrostatic electron gun in DC operating mode, immersed in a longitudinal magnetic field. At low energies magnetic field is also being used to transport electron beam through the cooling section from the gun to the collector. At higher energies (few MeV), it was shown that one can have simpler electron beam transport without continuous magnetic field. Because of a rather weak magnetic field on the cathode and in the cooling section the latter approach was referred to as 'non-magnetized cooling', since there was no suppression of the transverse angular spread of the electron beam with the magnetic field in the cooling section. Such a cooler successfully operated at FNAL (2005-11) at electron beam energy of 4.3 MeV. Providing cooling at even higher energies would be easier with RF acceleration of electron beam, and thus using bunched electron beam for cooling. Significant efforts were devoted to explore various aspects of such bunched electron beam cooling as part of R and D of high-energy electron cooling for RHIC. However, experimental studies of such cooling are still lacking. Establishing this technique experimentally would be extremely useful for future high-energy applications. Presently there is an ongoing effort to build Proof-of-Principle (PoP) experiment of Coherent Electron Cooling (CEC) at RHIC, which promises to be superior to conventional electron cooling for high energies. Since the CEC experiment is based on bunched electron beam and it has sections where electron beam co-propagates with the ion beam at the same velocity, it also provides a unique opportunity to explore experimentally conventional electron cooling but for the first time with a bunched electron beam. As a result, it allows us to explore techniques needed for the high-energy electron cooling such as 'painting' with a short electron beam and control of ion beam distribution under cooling which is essential if cooling is provided in a collider. The software needed for comparison with the experiments is already developed as part of the previous high-energy electron cooling studies for RHIC. Since electron beam will be non-magnetized and there will be no magnetic field in the cooling section it will be also a first demonstration of fully non-magnetized cooling. The purpose of these studies was to explore whether we would be able to observe conventional electron cooling with parameters expected in the CEC PoP experiment. Below we summarize requirements on electron beam and cooling section needed for such demonstration.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantum-Enhanced Sensing of Axion Dark Matter with a Transmon-Based Single Microwave Photon Counter

We report an axion dark matter search with a haloscope equipped with a microwave photon counter. The haloscope is a tunable high quality factor three-dimensional microwave cavity placed in a magnetic field. The photon counter, operated cyclically, maps an incoming microwave photon onto the state of a superconducting transmon qubit. The measurement protocol continuously monitors the power emitted by the haloscope cavity as well as the dark count background and enables tuning of the cavity frequency to probe different axion masses. With this apparatus, we enhance by a factor of 20 the search speed that can be reached with quantum-limited linear amplifiers and set a new standard for probing the existence of axions with resonant detectors above 5 GHz. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

HTS Dipole Magnet Model for the Persistent Current Operation

Recent advances in the fabrication of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils allow the design of superconducting accelerator magnets that work in a persistent current mode. Many various, rather low-field magnets in particle accelerators operate in the DC current mode. Fermilab designed, fabricated, and tested an HTS dipole magnet model that has 20-mm air gap and a magnetic field up to 0.5 T. The magnet has a primary copper coil that for a short period pumps the energy in the short-circuited secondary HTS coil. Here, the current paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of this magnet at liquid-nitrogen temperature.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗