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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
NASA NTRS1993

Dynamics of Langmuir and ion-sound waves in type III solar radio sources

The study traces the evolution of Langmuir and ion-sound waves in type III sources, incorporating linear growth, linear damping, and nonlinear electrostatic decay. Improved estimates are obtained for the wavenumber range of growing waves and the nonlinear coupling coefficient for the decay process. It is shown that the conditions in the solar wind do not allow a steady state to be attained; instead, bursty linear and nonlinear interactions take place, consistent with the highly inhomogeneous and impulsive waves actually observed. Nonlinear growth is found to be rapid enough to saturate the growth of the parent Langmuir waves in the available interaction time. The competing processes of nonlinear wave collapse and quasi-linear relaxation are discussed, and it is concluded that neither is responsible for the saturation of Langmuir growth.

Robinson, P. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrating Tide‐Driven Wetland Soil Redox and Biogeochemical Interactions Into a Land Surface Model

Abstract Redox processes, aqueous and solid‐phase chemistry, and pH dynamics are key drivers of subsurface biogeochemical cycling and methanogenesis in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems but are typically not included in terrestrial carbon cycle models. These omissions may introduce errors when simulating systems where redox interactions and pH fluctuations are important, such as wetlands where saturation of soils can produce anoxic conditions and coastal systems where sulfate inputs from seawater can influence biogeochemistry. Integrating cycling of redox‐sensitive elements could therefore allow models to better represent key elements of carbon cycling and greenhouse gas production. We describe a model framework that couples the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model (ELM) with PFLOTRAN biogeochemistry, allowing geochemical processes and redox interactions to be integrated with land surface model simulations. We implemented a reaction network including aerobic decomposition, fermentation, sulfate reduction, sulfide oxidation, methanogenesis, and methanotrophy as well as pH dynamics along with iron oxide and iron sulfide mineral precipitation and dissolution. We simulated biogeochemical cycling in tidal wetlands subject to either saltwater or freshwater inputs driven by tidal hydrological dynamics. In simulations with saltwater tidal inputs, sulfate reduction led to accumulation of sulfide, higher dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations, lower dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and lower methane emissions than simulations with freshwater tidal inputs. Model simulations compared well with measured porewater concentrations and surface gas emissions from coastal wetlands in the Northeastern United States. These results demonstrate how simulating geochemical reaction networks can improve land surface model simulations of subsurface biogeochemistry and carbon cycling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1990

Dynamical theory of dense groups of galaxies

It is well known that galaxies associate in groups and clusters. Perhaps 40% of all galaxies are found in groups of 4 to 20 galaxies (e.g., Tully 1987). Although most groups appear to be so loose that the galaxy interactions within them ought to be insignificant, the apparently densest groups, known as compact groups appear so dense when seen in projection onto the plane of the sky that their members often overlap. These groups thus appear as dense as the cores of rich clusters. The most popular catalog of compact groups, compiled by Hickson (1982), includes isolation among its selection critera. Therefore, in comparison with the cores of rich clusters, Hickson's compact groups (HCGs) appear to be the densest isolated regions in the Universe (in galaxies per unit volume), and thus provide in principle a clean laboratory for studying the competition of very strong gravitational interactions. The $64,000 question here is then: Are compact groups really bound systems as dense as they appear? If dense groups indeed exist, then one expects that each of the dynamical processes leading to the interaction of their member galaxies should be greatly enhanced. This leads us to the questions: How stable are dense groups? How do they form? And the related question, fascinating to any theorist: What dynamical processes predominate in dense groups of galaxies? If HCGs are not bound dense systems, but instead 1D change alignments (Mamon 1986, 1987; Walke & Mamon 1989) or 3D transient cores (Rose 1979) within larger looser systems of galaxies, then the relevant question is: How frequent are chance configurations within loose groups? Here, the author answers these last four questions after comparing in some detail the methods used and the results obtained in the different studies of dense groups.

Mamon, Gary A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Keldysh tuning of photoluminescence in a lead halide perovskite crystal

In 1964, Keldysh laid the groundwork for strong-field physics in atomic, molecular, and solid-state systems by delineating a ubiquitous transition from multiphoton absorption to quantum electron tunneling under intense AC driving forces. While both processes in semiconductors can generate carriers and result in photon emission through electron-hole recombination, the low quantum yields in most materials have hindered direct observation of the Keldysh crossover. Leveraging the large quantum yields of photoluminescence in lead halide perovskites, we show that we can not only induce bright light emission from extreme sub-bandgap light excitation but also distinguish between photon-induced and electric-field-induced processes. Our results are rationalized by the Landau-Dykhne formalism, providing insights into the non-equilibrium dynamics of strong-field light-matter interactions. These findings open new avenues for light upconversion and sub-bandgap photon detection, highlighting the potential of lead halide perovskites in advanced optoelectronic applications.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
NASA NTRS1990

Intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models

The present study provides an intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models. This intercomparison uses sea surface temperature change as a surrogate for climate change. The interpretation of cloud-climate interactions is given special attention. A roughly threefold variation in one measure of global climate sensitivity is found among the 19 models. The important conclusion is that most of this variation is attributable to differences in the models' depiction of cloud feedback, a result that emphasizes the need for improvements in the treatment of clouds in these models if they are ultimately to be used as reliable climate predictors. It is further emphazied that cloud feedback is the consequence of all interacting physical and dynamical processes in a general circulation model. The result of these processes is to produce changes in temperature, moisture distribution, and clouds which are integrated into the radiative response termed cloud feedback.

Cess, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Intraseasonal interactions between the tropics and extratropics in the Southern Hemisphere

Observational evidence is presented of connections between tropical heating and circulation changes in subtropical and extratropical latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) in summer and winter, and the processes responsible for these interactions are described. The observational evidence suggests that, during SH summer (but not SH winter), both the acceleration of westerly winds south of the heating region through meridional overturnings and excitation of Rossby waves are possible. During winter, the enhanced tropical convective activity results again in local meridional overturning with zonal wind acceleration of Rossby waves farther south.

Berbery, Ernesto H.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Tetragonal Lysozyme, From Monomer to Crystal

The data now leads us to a comprehensive model for the process by which tetragonal lysozyme crystals are nucleated and subsequently grow. Lysozyme is typically desolubilized by addition of ionic salts. The salt anions bind to basic and other sites on the protein and promote protein-protein interactions, i.e., initiate the nucleation self assembly process. Formation of protein-protein interactions occurs at the expense of the protein-anion interactions, with the anions being released to the solution. The association follows a defined pattern, forming the "head to side" interactions of the crystal 4(3) helix. The presence of the high salt also promotes hydrophobic interactions between the protein molecules, further tightening their interaction. The solute assembly process persists after crystal nucleation, and the 4(3) helical structures form the subsequent growth units. AFM measurements show that the growth units follow the dimensions of these helices, and that those on the surface are more compact about the c-axis than in the bulk crystal, with adjacent helices riot being in contact. This further supports the role of hydrophobic interactions, as the surface is still in contact with the bulk solution. Once buried within the crystal the protein:salt ratio radically changes and the hydrophobic interactions relax to those measured crystallographically. Thus the crystal growth process recapitulates the initial stages of the nucleation process, and the two seamlessly merge. Experimental evidence, based upon face growth rate, AFM, and fluorescence energy transfer data, for a postulated model of the nucleation of tetragonal lysozyme crystals and how it transitions into crystal growth will be presented.

Pusey, Marc L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

The LPM effect in sequential bremsstrahlung: incorporation of “instantaneous” interactions for QCD

The splitting processes of bremsstrahlung and pair production in a medium are coherent over large distances in the very high energy limit, which leads to a suppression known as the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal (LPM) effect. We continue study of the case when the coherence lengths (formation lengths) of two consecutive splitting processes overlap, avoiding soft-emission approximations. Previous work made a “nearly-complete” calculation of the effect of overlapping formation times on gluonic splittings such as g → gg → ggg (with simplifying assumptions such as an infinite QCD medium and the large-N c limit). In this paper, we extend those previous rate calculations from nearly-complete to complete by including processes involving the exchange of longitudinally-polarized gluons. In the context of Lightcone Pertubation Theory, used earlier for the “nearly-complete” calculation, such exchanges are instantaneous in lightcone time and have their own diagrammatic representation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

A process to verify numerical models for seismic fluid-structure interaction in advanced reactor vessels

Seismic design and qualification of a liquid-filled advanced nuclear reactor will have to account for fluid-structure interaction (FSI). Interaction between the tank, internal components, and contained liquid will rely on analysis of numerical models that must be verified and validated. Here this study demonstrates a verification process for models of a base-supported cylindrical tank by comparing numerical predictions and analytical solutions. The numerical models are consistent with the assumptions made to derive analytical solutions, namely, either a rigid or a linear elastic tank, ideal fluid, and small-amplitude, unidirectional, horizontal inputs. One software platform is used to illustrate the process. Seismic FSI analysis is performed using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) and Incompressible Computational Fluid Dynamics (ICFD) solvers in LS-DYNA. Reported responses are those used for design, including hydrodynamic pressures on the tank wall, shear forces and moments at the tank base, and wave heights of the contained liquid. The accuracy of the numerical results is discussed. The numerical models are verified for calculating the pressures on the tank wall and reactions at its base. Accurate simulation of wave action is challenging for both solvers. Recommendations for modeling, code development, and steps for verification are provided. Although focused on reactor vessels and one software platform, the verification process described herein is broadly applicable to liquid-filled vessels and other finite element codes.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Marine Microeukaryote Metatranscriptomics: Sample Processing and Bioinformatic Workflow Recommendations for Ecological Applications

Microeukaryotes (protists) serve fundamental roles in the marine environment as contributors to biogeochemical nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. Their activities can be inferred through metatranscriptomic investigations, which provide a detailed view into cellular processes, chemical-biological interactions in the environment, and ecological relationships among taxonomic groups. Established workflows have been individually put forth describing biomass collection at sea, laboratory RNA extraction protocols, and bioinformatic processing and computational approaches. Here, we present a compilation of current practices and lessons learned in carrying out metatranscriptomics of marine pelagic protistan communities, highlighting effective strategies and tools used by practitioners over the past decade. We anticipate that these guidelines will serve as a roadmap for new marine scientists beginning in the realms of molecular biology and/or bioinformatics, and will equip readers with foundational principles needed to delve into protistan metatranscriptomics.

Cohen, Natalie R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Crystallographic and general use programs for the XDS Sigma 5 computer

Programs in basic FORTRAN 4 are described, which fall into three catagories: (1) interactive programs to be executed under time sharing (BTM); (2) non interactive programs which are executed in batch processing mode (BPM); and (3) large non interactive programs which require more memory than is available in the normal BPM/BTM operating system and must be run overnight on a special system called XRAY which releases about 45,000 words of memory to the user. Programs in catagories (1) and (2) are stored as FORTRAN source files in the account FSNYDER. Programs in catagory (3) are stored in the XRAY system as load modules. The type of file in account FSNYDER is identified by the first two letters in the name.

Snyder, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The solar wind and magnetospheric dynamics

The dynamic processes involved in the interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere are reviewed. The evolution of models of the magnetosphere is first surveyed. The existence of the auroral substorm and the cyclical polar magnetic substorm is evidence that the magnetosphere is a dynamic system. The dynamic changes occurring in the magnetosphere, including erosion of the magnetopause, changes in the size of the polar cap, variations in the flaring angle of the tail, neutral point formation, plasma sheet motions, and the inward collapse of the midnight magnetosphere, are discussed. The cyclical variations of geomagnetic activity are explained in terms of the control of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction by the north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field. Present phenomenological models allow prediction of geomagnetic activity from interplanetary measurements, but modeling of detailed magnetospheric processes is still in its infancy.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Program Processes SAR Data

MacMultiview is interactive software tool for Macintosh II family of computers enabling one to display, and make computations using, polarimetric radar data collected by Jet Propulsion Laboratory's imaging SAR (synthetic-aperture radar) polarimeter system. Provides two basic functions: synthesis of polarimetric images and computation of polarization signatures. System includes single-frequency L-band sensor mounted on NASA CV990 aircraft and its replacement, multifrequency P-, L-, and C-band sensors mounted on NASA DC-8 airplane. Written in C.

Norikane, Lynne↗
NASA NTRS2009

MODIS Observations of Enhanced Clear Sky Reflectance Near Clouds

Several recent studies have found that the brightness of clear sky systematically increases near clouds. Understanding this increase is important both for a correct interpretation of observations and for improving our knowledge of aerosol-cloud interactions. However, while the studies suggested several processes to explain the increase, the significance of each process is yet to be determined. This study examines one of the suggested processes three-dimensional (3-D) radiative interactions between clouds and their surroundings by analyzing a large dataset of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) observations over the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. The results indicate that 3-D effects are responsible for a large portion of the observed increase, which extends to about 15 km away from clouds and is stronger (i) at shorter wavelengths (ii) near optically thicker clouds and (iii) near illuminated cloud sides. This implies that it is important to account for 3-D radiative effects in the interpretation of solar reflectance measurements over clear regions in the vicinity of clouds.

Varnai, Tamas↗
NASA NTRS2014

The Goddard Cumulus Ensemble Model (GCE): Improvements and Applications for Studying Precipitation Processes

Convection is the primary transport process in the Earth's atmosphere. About two-thirds of the Earth's rainfall and severe floods derive from convection. In addition, two-thirds of the global rain falls in the tropics, while the associated latent heat release accounts for three-fourths of the total heat energy for the Earth's atmosphere. Cloud-resolving models (CRMs) have been used to improve our understanding of cloud and precipitation processes and phenomena from micro-scale to cloud-scale and mesoscale as well as their interactions with radiation and surface processes. CRMs use sophisticated and realistic representations of cloud microphysical processes and can reasonably well resolve the time evolution, structure, and life cycles of clouds and cloud systems. CRMs also allow for explicit interaction between clouds, outgoing longwave (cooling) and incoming solar (heating) radiation, and ocean and land surface processes. Observations are required to initialize CRMs and to validate their results. The Goddard Cumulus Ensemble model (GCE) has been developed and improved at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center over the past three decades. It is amulti-dimensional non-hydrostatic CRM that can simulate clouds and cloud systems in different environments. Early improvements and testing were presented in Tao and Simpson (1993) and Tao et al. (2003a). A review on the application of the GCE to the understanding of precipitation processes can be found in Simpson and Tao (1993) and Tao (2003). In this paper, recent model improvements (microphysics, radiation and land surface processes) are described along with their impact and performance on cloud and precipitation events in different geographic locations via comparisons with observations. In addition, recent advanced applications of the GCE are presented that include understanding the physical processes responsible for diurnal variation, examining the impact of aerosols (cloud condensation nuclei or CCN and ice nuclei or IN) on precipitation processes, utilizing a satellite simulator to improve the microphysics, providing better simulations for satellite-derived latent heating retrieval, and coupling with a general circulation model to improve the representation of precipitation processes.

GCE↗
NASA NTRS1997

MODIS Snow and Ice Products from the NSIDC DAAC

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) provides data and information on snow and ice processes, especially pertaining to interactions among snow, ice, atmosphere and ocean, in support of research on global change detection and model validation, and provides general data and information services to cryospheric and polar processes research community. The NSIDC DAAC is an integral part of the multi-agency-funded support for snow and ice data management services at NSIDC. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) will be flown on the first Earth Observation System (EOS) platform (AM-1) in 1998. The MODIS Instrument Science Team is developing geophysical products from data collected by the MODIS instrument, including snow and ice products which will be archived and distributed by NSIDC DAAC. The MODIS snow and ice mapping algorithms will generate global snow, lake ice, and sea ice cover products on a daily basis. These products will augment the existing record of satellite-derived snow cover and sea ice products that began about 30 years ago. The characteristics of these products, their utility, and comparisons to other data set are discussed. Current developments and issues are summarized.

Scharfen, Greg R.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Gray Wave of the Great Transformation: A Satellite View of Urbanization, Climate, and Food Security

Land cover change driven by human activity is profoundly affecting Earth's natural systems with impacts ranging from a loss of biological productivity to changes in atmospheric chemistry and regional and global climate. This change has been so pervasive and progressed so rapidly, compared to natural processes, scientists refer to it as 'the great transformation'. Urbanization or the 'gray wave' of this transformation is being increasingly recognized as an important process in global climate change. A hallmark of our success as a species, large urban conglomerates do in fact alter their environments so profoundly that the local climate, atmospheric composition, and the basic ecology of the landscape are affected in ways that have consequences to human health and economic well-being. Fortunately we have incredible new tools to observe and understand these processes in ways that can be used to plan and develop enjoyable and sustainable urban places. A suite of Earth observing satellites is making it possible to study the interactions between urbanization, biological processes, and the atmosphere including weather and climate. Using these Earth Observatories we are learning how urban heat islands form and potentially ameliorate them, how urbanization can affect rainfall, pollution, surface water recharge at the local level, and climate and food security globally.

Imhoff, Marc L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tools for estimating fake/non-prompt lepton backgrounds with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements and searches performed with the ATLAS detector at the CERN LHC often involve signatures with one or more prompt leptons. Such analyses are subject to 'fake/non-prompt' lepton backgrounds, where either a hadron or a lepton from a hadron decay or an electron from a photon conversion satisfies the prompt-lepton selection criteria. These backgrounds often arise within a hadronic jet because of particle decays in the showering process, particle misidentification or particle interactions with the detector material. As it is challenging to model these processes with high accuracy in simulation, their estimation typically uses data-driven methods. Three methods for carrying out this estimation are described, along with their implementation in ATLAS and their performance.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗