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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 1,045 records · Page 58
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

FORMATION OF PLASMOIDS IN MULTIPLE CURRENT SYSTEMS

We show that in systems with multiple current sheets, the reconnection rate can increase with increasing S . This is essentially different from the result in single current sheet systems where the reconnection rate usually decreases with increasing S or is independent of S . Such a resistive fast reconnection can be applied to account for the rapid events in multiple current systems of astrophysical, solar, and magnetic fusion plasmas.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

MULTIPLE CURRENT SHEET SYSTEMS IN THE OUTER HELIOSPHERE: ENERGY RELEASE AND TURBULENCE

In the outer heliosphere, beyond the solar wind termination shock, it is expected that the warped heliospheric current sheet forms a region of closely packed, multiple, thin current sheets. Such a system may be subject to the ion-kinetic tearing instability, and hence may generate magnetic islands and hot populations of ions associated with magnetic reconnection. Reconnection processes in this environment have important implications for local particle transport, and for particle acceleration at reconnection sites and in turbulence. We study this complex environment by means of three-dimensional hybrid simulations over long timescales, in order to capture the evolution from linear growth of the tearing instability to a fully developed turbulent state at late times. The final state develops from the highly ordered initial state via both forward and inverse cascades. Component and spectral anisotropy in the magnetic fluctuations is present when a guide field is included. The inclusion of a population of newborn interstellar pickup protons does not strongly affect these results. Finally, we conclude that reconnection between multiple current sheets can act as an important source of turbulence in the outer heliosphere, with implications for energetic particle acceleration and propagation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

MULTIPLE POPULATIONS IN THE OLD AND MASSIVE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 121

We used a combination of optical and near-UV Hubble Space Telescope photometry and FLAMES/ESO-VLT high-resolution spectroscopy to characterize the stellar content of the old and massive globular cluster (GC) NGC 121 in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We report on the detection of multiple stellar populations, the first case in the SMC stellar cluster system. This result enforces the emerging scenario in which the presence of multiple stellar populations is a distinctive-feature of old and massive GCs regardless of the environment, as far as the light-element distribution is concerned. We find that second-generation (SG) stars are more centrally concentrated than first-generation (FG) ones. More interestingly, at odds with what is typically observed in Galactic GCs, we find that NGC 121 is the only cluster so far to be dominated by FG stars that account for more than 65% of the total cluster mass. In the framework where GCs were born with 90%–95% of FG stars, this observational finding would suggest that either NGC 121 experienced a milder stellar mass-loss with respect to Galactic GCs or it formed a smaller fraction of SG stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

V773 Cas, QS Aql, AND BR Ind: ECLIPSING BINARIES AS PARTS OF MULTIPLE SYSTEMS

Eclipsing binaries remain crucial objects for our understanding of the universe. In particular, those that are components of multiple systems can help us solve the problem of the formation of these systems. Analysis of the radial velocities together with the light curve produced for the first time precise physical parameters of the components of the multiple systems V773 Cas, QS Aql, and BR Ind. Their visual orbits were also analyzed, which resulted in slightly improved orbital elements. What is typical for all these systems is that their most dominant source is the third distant component. The system V773 Cas consists of two similar G1-2V stars revolving in a circular orbit and a more distant component of the A3V type. Additionally, the improved value of parallax was calculated to be 17.6 mas. Analysis of QS Aql resulted in the following: the inner eclipsing pair is composed of B6V and F1V stars, and the third component is of about the B6 spectral type. The outer orbit has high eccentricity of about 0.95, and observations near its upcoming periastron passage between the years 2038 and 2040 are of high importance. Also, the parallax of the system was derived to be about 2.89 mas, moving the star much closer to the Sun than originally assumed. The system BR Ind was found to be a quadruple star consisting of two eclipsing K dwarfs orbiting each other with a period of 1.786 days; the distant component is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of about 6 days. Both pairs are moving around each other on their 148 year orbit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Photometric Detection of Multiple Populations in Globular Clusters Using Integrated Light

We investigate the multiple stellar populations of the globular clusters (GCs) M3, M5, M13, and M71 using g{sup ′} and intermediate-band CN-λ3883 photometry obtained with the WIYN 0.9 m telescope on Kitt Peak. We find a strong correlation between red giant stars’ CN−g{sup ′} colors and their spectroscopic sodium abundances, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the two-filter system for stellar population studies. In all four clusters, the observed spread in red giant branch CN−g{sup ′} colors is wider than that expected from photometric uncertainty, confirming the well-known chemical inhomogeneity of these systems. M3 and M13 show clear evidence for a radial dependence in the CN-band strengths of its red giants, while the evidence for such a radial dependence of CN strengths in M5 is ambiguous. Our data suggest that the dynamically old, relatively metal-rich M71 system is well mixed, as it shows no evidence for chemical segregation. Finally, we measure the radial gradients in the integrated CN−g{sup ′} color of the clusters and find that such gradients are easily detectable in the integrated light. We suggest that photometric observations of color gradients within GCs throughout the Local Group can be used to characterize their multiple populations, and thereby constrain the formation history of GCs in different galactic environments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Catalog of Wide Binary and Multiple Systems of Bright Stars from Gaia-DR2 and the Virtual Observatory

Binary and multiple stars have long provided an effective empirical method of testing stellar formation and evolution theories. In particular, the existence of wide binary systems (separations >20,000 au) is particularly challenging to binary formation models as their physical separations are beyond the typical size of a collapsing cloud core (~5000–10,000 au). We mined the recently published Gaia-DR2 catalog to identify bright comoving systems in the five-dimensional space (sky position, parallax, and proper motion). We identified 3741 comoving binary and multiple stellar candidate systems, out of which 575 have compatible radial velocities for all the members of the system. The candidate systems have separations between ~400 and 500,000 au. We used the analysis tools of the Virtual Observatory to characterize the comoving system members and to assess their reliability. The comparison with previous comoving systems catalogs obtained from TGAS showed that these catalogs contain a large number of false systems. In addition, we were not able to confirm the ultra-wide binary population presented in these catalogs. The robustness of our methodology is demonstrated by the identification of well known comoving star clusters and by the low contamination rate for comoving binary systems with projected physical separations <50,000 au. These last constitute a reliable sample for further studies. The catalog is available online at the Spanish Virtual Observatory portal (http://svo2.cab.inta-csic.es/vocats/v2/comovingGaiaDR2/).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Spectroscopy and Photometry of Multiple Populations along the Asymptotic Giant Branch of NGC 2808 and NGC 6121 (M4)

We present a photometric and spectroscopic study of multiple populations along the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) of the intermediate-metallicity globular clusters (GCs) NGC 2808 and NGC 6121 (M4). Chemical abundances of O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Y, and Ce in AGB stars from high-resolution FLAMES+UVES@VLT spectra are reported for both clusters. Our spectroscopic results have been combined with multiwavelength photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope UV survey of Galactic GCs and ground-based photometry, as well as proper motions derived by combining stellar positions from ground-based images and Gaia DR1. Our analysis reveals that the AGBs of both clusters host multiple populations with different chemical compositions. In M4, we have identified two main populations of stars with different Na/O content lying on distinct AGBs in the m{sub F438W} versus C{sub F275W,F336W,F438W} and the V versus C{sub U,B,I} pseudo-color–magnitude diagrams. In the more massive and complex GC NGC 2808, three groups of stars with different chemical abundances occupy different locations on the so-called “chromosome map” photometric diagram constructed for AGB stars. The spectroscopic + photometric comparison of stellar populations along the AGB and the red giants of this GC suggests that the AGB hosts stellar populations with a range in helium abundances from primordial to high contents of Y∼0.32. By contrast, from our data set, there is no evidence for stars with extreme helium abundance (Y∼0.38) on the AGB, suggesting that the most He-rich stars of NGC 2808 do not reach this phase.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quasars with Proper Motions and the Link to Double and Multiple AGNs

Gaia used a large sample of photometrically selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and quasars to remove the residual spin of its global proper motion system in order to achieve a maximally inertial reference frame. A small fraction of these reference objects have statistically significant astrometric proper motions in Gaia EDR3. We compile a source sample of 105,593 high-fidelity AGNs with accurate spectroscopically determined redshifts above 0.5 from the SDSS and normalized proper motions below 4. The rate of genuinely perturbed proper motions is at least 0.17%. A smaller high completeness sample of 152 quasars with excess proper motions at a confidence level of 0.9995 is examined in detail. Pan-STARRS images and Gaia-resolved pairs reveal that 29% of the sample are either double sources or gravitationally lensed quasars. An Anderson–Darling test on parameters of a smaller high-reliability sample and their statistical controls reveals 17 significant factors that favor multiplicity and multi-source structure as the main cause of perturbed astrometry. Using a nearest-neighbor distance statistical analysis and counts of close companions in Gaia on a much larger initial sample of AGNs, an excess of closely separated sources in Gaia is detected. At least 0.33% of all optical quasars are genuinely double or multiply imaged. We provide a list of 44 candidate double or multiple AGNs and four previously known gravitational lenses. Many proper motion quasars may be more closely separated, unresolved doubles exhibiting the variability imposed motion effect, and a smaller fraction may be chance alignments with foreground stars causing weak gravitational lensing.

Astrometric microlensing effect↗
DOE OSTI2013

Structural phylogeny by profile extraction and multiple superimposition using electrostatic congruence as a discriminator

Phylogenetic analysis of proteins using multiple sequence alignment (MSA) assumes an underlying evolutionary relationship in these proteins which occasionally remains undetected due to considerable sequence divergence. Structural alignment programs have been developed to unravel such fuzzy relationships. However, none of these structure based methods have used electrostatic properties to discriminate between spatially equivalent residues. We present a methodology for MSA of a set of related proteins with known structures using electrostatic properties as an additional discriminator (STEEP). STEEP first extracts a profile, then generates a multiple structural superimposition providing a consolidated spatial framework for comparing residues and finally emits the MSA. Residues that are aligned differently by including or excluding electrostatic properties can be targeted by directed evolution experiments to transform the enzymatic properties of one protein into another. We have compared STEEP results to those obtained from a MSA program (ClustalW) and a structural alignment method (MUSTANG) for chymotrypsin serine proteases. Subsequently, we used PhyML to generate phylogenetic trees for the serine and metallo-β-lactamase superfamilies from the STEEP generated MSA, and corroborated the accepted relationships in these superfamilies. We have observed that STEEP acts as a functional classifier when electrostatic congruence is used as a discriminator, and thus identifies potential targets for directed evolution experiments. In summary, STEEP is unique among phylogenetic methods for its ability to use electrostatic congruence to specify mutations that might be the source of the functional divergence in a protein family. Based on our results, we also hypothesize that the active site and its close vicinity contains enough information to infer the correct phylogeny for related proteins.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

First experimental study of multiple orientation muon tomography, with image optimization in sparse data environments

Due to the high penetrating power of cosmic ray muons, they can be used to probe very thick and dense objects. As charged particles, they can be tracked by ionization detectors, determining the position and direction of the muons. With detectors on either side of an object, particle direction changes can be used to extract scattering information within an object. This can be used to produce a scattering intensity image within the object related to density and atomic number. Such imaging is typically performed with a single detector-object orientation, taking advantage of the more intense downward flux of muons, producing planar imaging with some depth-of-field information in the third dimension. Several simulation studies have been published with multi-orientation tomography, which can form a three-dimensional representation faster than a single orientation view. In this work we present the first experimental multiple orientation muon tomography study. Experimental muon-scatter based tomography was performed using a concrete filled steel drum with several different metal wedges inside, between detector planes. Data was collected from different detector-object orientations by rotating the steel drum. The data collected from each orientation were then combined using two different tomographic methods. Results showed that using a combination of multiple depth-of-field reconstructions, rather than a traditional inverse Radon transform approach used for CT, resulted in more useful images for sparser data. As cosmic ray muon flux imaging is rate limited, the imaging techniques were compared for sparse data. Using the combined depth-of-field reconstruction technique, fewer detector-object orientations were needed to reconstruct images that could be used to differentiate the metal wedge compositions.

Applied Physics (physics.app-ph)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multiple-amplifier sensing charged-coupled device: model and improvement of the node removal efficiency

The multiple-amplifier sensing charge-coupled device (MAS-CCD) has emerged as a promising technology for astronomical observation, quantum imaging, and low-energy particle detection due to its ability to reduce the readout time for the same readout noise level compared with its predecessor, the skipper-CCD, by reading out the same charge packet through multiple inline amplifiers. Previous works identified a new parameter in this sensor, called node removal inefficiency (NRI), related to inefficiencies in charge transfer and residual charge removal from the sense node of each amplifier after readout. These inefficiencies can lead to distortions in the measured signals similar to those produced by the charge transfer inefficiencies in standard CCDs. We introduce more details in the mathematical model of the NRI mechanism and provide techniques to quantify its magnitude from the measured data. It also proposes a new operation strategy that significantly reduces its effect with minimal alterations of the timing sequences or voltage settings for the other signals of the sensor. The proposed technique is demonstrated experimentally on a 16-amplifier MAS-CCD. At the same time, the experimental data demonstrate that this approach minimizes the NRI effect to levels comparable with other sources of distortion such as the charge transfer inefficiency in scientific devices.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Technical note: Simultaneous fully dynamic characterization of multiple input–output relationships in climate models

We introduce system identification techniques to climate science wherein multiple dynamic input–output relationships can be simultaneously characterized in a single simulation. This method, involving multiple small perturbations (in space and time) of an input field while monitoring output fields to quantify responses, allows for identification of different timescales of climate response to forcing without substantially pushing the climate far away from a steady state. We use this technique to determine the steady-state responses of low cloud fraction and latent heat flux to heating perturbations over 22 regions spanning Earth's oceans. We show that the response characteristics are similar to those of step-change simulations, but in this new method the responses for 22 regions can be characterized simultaneously. Moreover, we can estimate the timescale over which the steady-state response emerges. The proposed methodology could be useful for a wide variety of purposes in climate science, including characterization of teleconnections and uncertainty quantification to identify the effects of climate model tuning parameters.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evaluation of a quasi-steady-state approximation of the cloud droplet growth equation (QDGE) scheme for aerosol activation in global models using multiple aircraft data over both continental and marine environments

This research introduces a numerically efficient aerosol activation scheme and evaluates it by using stratus and stratocumulus cloud data sampled during multiple aircraft campaigns in Canada, Chile, Brazil, and China. The scheme employs a quasi-steady-state approximation of the cloud droplet growth equation (QDGE) to efficiently simulate aerosol activation, the vertical profile of supersaturation, and the activated cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) near the cloud base. The calculated maximum supersaturation values using the QDGE scheme were compared with multiple parcel model simulations under various aerosol and environmental conditions. The differences are all below 0.18 %, indicating good performance and accuracy of the QDGE scheme. We evaluated the QDGE scheme by specifying observed environmental thermodynamic variables and aerosol information from 31 cloud cases as input and comparing the simulated CDNC with cloud observations. The average of mean relative error ($\overline{MRE}$) of the simulated CDNC for cloud cases in each campaign ranges from 17.30 % in Brazil to 25.90 % in China, indicating that the QDGE scheme successfully reproduces observed variations in CDNC over a wide range of different meteorological conditions and aerosol regimes. Additionally, we carried out an error analysis by calculating the maximum information coefficient (MIC) between the MRE and input variables for the individual campaigns and all cloud cases. MIC values were then sorted by aerosol properties, pollution level, environmental humidity, and dynamic condition according to their relative importance to MRE. Based on the error analysis, we found that the magnitude of MRE is more relevant to the specification of input aerosol pollution level in marine regions and aerosol hygroscopicity in continental regions than to other variables in the simulation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

MELTING OF GLASS BATCH - MODEL FOR MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING GAS-EVOLVING REACTIONS

In this study, we present a model for the kinetics of multiple overlapping reactions. Mathematical representation of the kinetics of gas-evolving reactions is crucial for the modeling of the feed-to-glass conversion in a waste-glass melter. The model simulates multiple gas-evolving reactions that occur during heating of a high-alumina high-level waste melter feed. To obtain satisfactory kinetic parameters, we employed Kissinger's method combined with least-squares analysis. The power-law kinetics with variable reaction order sufficed for obtaining excellent agreement with measured thermogravimetric analysis data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Visualizing Iron Deposition in Multiple Sclerosis Cadaver Brains

To visualize and validate iron deposition in two cases of multiple sclerosis using rapid scanning X-Ray Fluorescence (RS-XRF) and Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI). Two (2) coronal cadaver brain slices from patients clinically diagnosed with multiple sclerosis underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically SWI to image iron content. To confirm the presence of iron deposits and the absence of zinc-rich myelin in lesions, iron and zinc were mapped using RS-XRF. MS lesions were visualized using FLAIR and correlated with the absence of zinc by XRF. XRF and SWI showed that in the first MS case, there were large iron deposits proximal to the draining vein of the caudate nucleus as well as iron deposits associated with blood vessels throughout the globus pallidus. Less iron was seen in association with lesions than in the basal ganglia. The presence of larger amounts of iron correlated reasonably well between RS-XRF and SWI. In the second case, the basal ganglia appeared normal and acute perivascular iron deposition was absent. Perivascular iron deposition is seen in some but not all MS cases, giving credence to the use of SWI to assess iron involvement in MS pathology in vivo.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Determination of Pu content in a Spent Fuel Assembly by Measuring Passive Total Neutron count rate and Multiplication with the Differential Die-Away Instrument

Inspired by approach of Bignan and Martin-Didier (ESARDA 1991) we introduce novel (instrument independent) approach based on multiplication and passive neutron. Based on simulations of SFL-1 the accuracy of determination of {sup tot}Pu content with new approach is {approx}1.3-1.5%. Method applicable for DDA instrument, since it can measure both multiplication and passive neutron count rate. Comparison of pro's & con's of measuring/determining of {sup 239}Pu{sub eff} and {sup tot}Pu suggests a potential for enhanced diversion detection sensitivity.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Estimation of the Performance of Multiple Active Neutron Interrogation Signatures for Detecting Shielded HEU

A comprehensive modeling study has been carried out to evaluate the utility of multiple active neutron interrogation signatures for detecting shielded highly enriched uranium (HEU). The modeling effort focused on varying HEU masses from 1 kg to 20 kg; varying types of shields including wood, steel, cement, polyethylene, and borated polyethylene; varying depths of the HEU in the shields, and varying engineered shields immediately surrounding the HEU including steel, tungsten, and cadmium. Neutron and gamma-ray signatures were the focus of the study and false negative detection probabilities versus measurement time were used as a performance metric. To facilitate comparisons among different approaches an automated method was developed to generate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for different sets of model variables for multiple background count rate conditions. This paper summarizes results or the analysis, including laboratory benchmark comparisons between simulations and experiments. The important impact engineered shields can play towards degrading detectability and methods for mitigating this will be discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Planning For Multiple NASA Missions With Use Of Enabling Radioisotope Power

Since the early 1960’s the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies have provided radioisotope power systems (RPS) to NASA as an enabling technology for deep space and various planetary missions. They provide reliable power in situations where solar and/or battery power sources are either untenable or would place an undue mass burden on the mission. In the modern era of the past twenty years there has been no time that multiple missions have been considered for launching from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) during the same year. The closest proximity of missions that involved radioisotope power systems would be that of Galileo (October 1989) and Ulysses (October 1990). The closest that involved radioisotope heater units would be the small rovers Spirit and Opportunity (May and July 2003) used in the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission. It can be argued that the rovers sent to Mars in 2003 were essentially a special case since they staged in the same facility and used a pair of small launch vehicles (Delta II). This paper examines constraints on the frequency of use of radioisotope power systems with regard to launching them from Kennedy Space Center using currently available launch vehicles. This knowledge may be useful as NASA plans for its future deep space or planetary missions where radioisotope power systems are used as an enabling technology. Previous descriptions have focused on single mission chronologies and not analyzed the timelines with an emphasis on multiple missions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗