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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 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Properties of Intense Field-Aligned Lower-Band Chorus Waves: Implications for Nonlinear Wave-Particle Interactions: INTENSE FIELD-ALIGNED CHORUS WAVE-PACKETS

Resonant interactions between electrons and chorus waves are responsible for a wide range of phenomena in near-Earth space (e.g., diffuse aurora and acceleration of > 1 MeV electrons). Although quasi-linear diffusion is believed to be the primary paradigm for describing such interactions, an increasing number of investigations suggest that nonlinear effects are also important in controlling the rapid dynamics of electrons. However, present models of nonlinear wave-particle interactions, which have been successfully used to describe individual short-term events, are not directly applicable for a statistical evaluation of nonlinear effects and the long-term dynamics of the outer radiation belt, because they lack information on the properties of intense (nonlinearly resonating with electrons) chorus waves. In this paper, we use the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms and Van Allen Probes data sets of field-aligned chorus waveforms to study two key characteristics of these waves: effective amplitude Β w (nonlinear interaction can occur when Β w >2) and wave packet length β (the number of wave periods within it). While as many as 10–15% of chorus wave packets are sufficiently intense (Β w >2–3) to interact nonlinearly with relativistic electrons, most of them are short (β < 10) reducing the efficacy of such interactions. Revised models of nonlinear interactions are thus needed to account for the long-term effects of these common, intense but short chorus wave packets. We also discuss the dependence of Β w , β on location (MLT and L-shell) and on the properties of the suprathermal electron population.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reduced recombination via tunable surface fields in perovskite thin films

Here, the ability to reduce energy loss at semiconductor surfaces through passivation or surface field engineering is an essential step in the manufacturing of efficient photovoltaic (PV) and optoelectronic devices. Similarly, surface modification of emerging halide perovskites with quasi-two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures is now ubiquitous to achieve PV power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) >25%, yet a fundamental understanding to how these treatments function is still generally lacking. Here we use a unique combination of depth-sensitive nanoscale characterization techniques to uncover a tunable passivation strategy and mechanism found in perovskite PV devices that were the first to reach the >25% PCE milestone. Namely, treatment with hexylammonium bromide leads to the simultaneous formation of an iodide-rich 2D layer along with a Br halide gradient that extends from defective surfaces and grain boundaries into the bulk three-dimensional (3D) layer. This interface can be optimized to extend the charge carrier lifetime to record values >30 μs and to reduce interfacial recombination velocities to values as low as <7 cm s −1 .

Devices for energy harvesting↗
DOE OSTI2019

Field-experiment constraints on the enhancement of the terrestrial carbon sink by CO2 fertilization

How much elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (eCO2) contributes to the terrestrial carbon sink (NEP) is a debated issue (Friedlingstein et al., 1995; Field & Raupach, 2004; Schimel et al., 2015; Keenan et al., 2016; Huntzinger et al., 2017). The results from Free-Air CO2-Enrichment (FACE) experiments at the site scale show that eCO2 generally increase plant growth and net ecosystem CO2 uptake for a few years after exposure to eCO2, but the effects were highly variable across sites (Jastrow et al., 2005; De Graaff et al., 2006), which poses a challenge for scaling up these local observations. Here, we extract the simulated short-term responses of NEP to eCO2 from global carbon models using a substitute pulse-response approach, and compare them with site-scale responses from FACE experiments in temperate ecosystems. In 12 gridded terrestrial ecosystem models examined, the large-scale NEP sensitivity to eCO2 across the Northern Hemisphere (NH) temperate region is linearly related to the site-scale sensitivity across different ecosystems. We use this emergent relationship, together with the observed response to eCO2 in the FACE site-scale data to estimate a data constrained effect of eCO2 on the NH temperate NEP of 0.73 ± 0.22 Pg C yr-1 per hundred parts per million (ppm) of CO2 increase during the past five decades. This is 26% higher than the mean of the model ensemble. Among the models, those with carbon-nitrogen interactions underestimate the sensitivity of NEP to eCO2, suggesting overly strong nitrogen-limitations on carbon uptake. We further identify that the NEP sensitivity to eCO2 at NH temperate scale is linearly correlated with that at global scale across the models. Extrapolating the constrained NH eCO2 effect to the global terrestrial carbon sink provides an estimate of 4.1 ± 1.5 Pg C yr-1 [100 ppm]-1. Large uncertainties remain regarding the global response broadly inferred from temperate FACE data, due to the lack of observations in boreal and tropical regions, emphasizing the importance of deploying new FACE experiments in those regions.

Liu, Yongwen↗
DOE OSTI2013

Anomalous lattice expansion in yttria stabilized zirconia under simultaneous applied electric and thermal fields: A time-resolved in situ energy dispersive x-ray diffractometry study with an ultrahigh energy synchrotron probe

Nonisothermal densification in 8% yttria doped zirconia (8YSZ) particulate matter of 250 nm median particle size was studied under 215 V/cm dc electric field and 9 Degree-Sign C/min heating rate, using time-resolved in-situ high temperature energy dispersive x-ray diffractometry with a polychromatic 200 keV synchrotron probe. Densification occurred in the 876-905 Degree-Sign C range, which resulted in 97% of the theoretical density. No local melting at particle-particle contacts was observed in scanning electron micrographs, implying densification was due to solid state mass transport processes. The maximum current draw at 905 Degree-Sign C was 3 A, corresponding to instantaneous absorbed power density of 570 W/cm{sup 3}. Densification of 8YSZ was accompanied by anomalous elastic volume expansions of the unit cell by 0.45% and 2.80% at 847 Degree-Sign C and 905 Degree-Sign C, respectively. The anomalous expansion at 905 Degree-Sign C at which maximum densification was observed is characterized by three stages: (I) linear stage, (II) anomalous stage, and (III) anelastic recovery stage. The densification in stage I (184 s) and II (15 s) was completed in 199 s, while anelastic relaxation in stage III lasted 130 s. The residual strains ({epsilon}) at room temperature, as computed from tetragonal (112) and (211) reflections, are {epsilon}{sub (112)} = 0.05% and {epsilon}{sub (211)} = 0.13%, respectively. Time dependence of (211) and (112) peak widths ({beta}) show a decrease with both exhibiting a singularity at 905 Degree-Sign C. An anisotropy in (112) and (211) peak widths of {l_brace} {beta}{sub (112)}/{beta}{sub (211)}{r_brace} = (3:1) magnitude was observed. No phase transformation occurred at 905 Degree-Sign C as verified from diffraction spectra on both sides of the singularity, i.e., the unit cell symmetry remains tetragonal. We attribute the reduction in densification temperature and time to ultrafast ambipolar diffusion of species arising from the superposition of mass fluxes due to Fickian diffusion, thermodiffusion (Soret effect), and electromigration, which in turn are a consequence of a superposition of chemical, temperature, and electrical potential gradients. On the other hand, we propose defect pile-up at particle-particle contacts and subsequent tunneling as a mechanism creating the 'burst-mode' discontinuous densification at the singularities observed at 847 and 905 Degree-Sign C.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Near-field microwave microscopy of high-κ oxides grown on graphene with an organic seeding layer

Near-field scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) is used for non-destructive nanoscale characterization of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and HfO{sub 2} films grown on epitaxial graphene on SiC by atomic layer deposition using a self-assembled perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride seeding layer. SMM allows imaging of buried inhomogeneities in the dielectric layer with a spatial resolution close to 100 nm. The results indicate that, while topographic features on the substrate surface cannot be eliminated as possible sites of defect nucleation, the use of a vertically heterogeneous Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/HfO{sub 2} stack suppresses formation of large outgrowth defects in the oxide film, ultimately improving lateral uniformity of the dielectric film.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Temporal resolution criterion for correctly simulating relativistic electron motion in a high-intensity laser field

Particle-in-cell codes are now standard tools for studying ultra-intense laser-plasma interactions. Motivated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in sub-critical plasmas, we examine temporal resolution requirements that must be satisfied to accurately calculate electron dynamics in strong laser fields. Using the motion of a single electron in a perfect plane electromagnetic wave as a test problem, we show surprising deterioration of the numerical accuracy with increasing wave amplitude a{sub 0} for a given time-step. We go on to show analytically that the time-step must be significantly less than λ/ca{sub 0} to achieve good accuracy. We thus propose adaptive electron sub-cycling as an efficient remedy.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

The fundamental downscaling limit of field effect transistors

We predict that within next 15 years a fundamental down-scaling limit for CMOS technology and other Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) will be reached. Specifically, we show that at room temperatures all FETs, irrespective of their channel material, will start experiencing unacceptable level of thermally induced errors around 5-nm gate lengths. These findings were confirmed by performing quantum mechanical transport simulations for a variety of 6-, 5-, and 4-nm gate length Si devices, optimized to satisfy high-performance logic specifications by ITRS. Different channel materials and wafer/channel orientations have also been studied; it is found that altering channel-source-drain materials achieves only insignificant increase in switching energy, which overall cannot sufficiently delay the approaching downscaling limit. Alternative possibilities are discussed to continue the increase of logic element densities for room temperature operation below the said limit.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2013

NEAR-INFRARED PERIODIC AND OTHER VARIABLE FIELD STARS IN THE FIELD OF THE CYGNUS OB7 STAR-FORMING REGION

We present a subset of the results of a three-season, 124 night, near-infrared monitoring campaign of the dark clouds Lynds 1003 and Lynds 1004 in the Cygnus OB7 star-forming region. In this paper, we focus on the field star population. Using three seasons of UKIRT J, H, and K-band observations spanning 1.5 years, we obtained high-quality photometry on 9200 stars down to J = 17 mag, with photometric uncertainty better than 0.04 mag. After excluding known disk-bearing stars we identify 149 variables-1.6% of the sample. Of these, about 60 are strictly periodic, with periods predominantly <2 days. We conclude this group is dominated by eclipsing binaries. A few stars have long period signals of between 20 and 60 days. About 25 stars have weak modulated signals, but it was not clear if these were periodic. Some of the stars in this group may be diskless young stellar objects with relatively large variability due to cool starspots. The remaining {approx}60 stars showed variations which appear to be purely stochastic.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effects of two-dimensional magnetic uncertainties and three-dimensional error and perturbation fields on the Small Angle Slot divertor geometry and topology [Effects of two- and three-dimensional magnetic fields on the Small Angle Slot divertor magnetic topology]

The Small Angle Slot (SAS) was recently installed on DIII-D as an advanced divertor, promising easier plasma detachment and lower temperatures across the whole target. A twofold study of the SAS magnetic topology is presented in this paper. On one hand, a twodimensional uncertainty quantification analysis is carried out through a Monte Carlo approach in order to understand the level of accuracy of two-dimensional equilibrium computations in reconstructing the strike point and angle onto the divertor. Under typical experimental conditions, the uncertainties are found to be roughly 6.8 mm and 0.56 deg, respectively. On the other hand, a three-dimensional “vacuum” analysis is carried out to understand the effects of typical external perturbation fields on the scrape-off layer topology. When the threedimensional I-coils are switched on, poloidally-localized lobes are found to appear, grow, and hit the SAS target, although barely, even for 5 kA; at the same time, the strike point modulation is found to be roughly 1.8 mm and thus negligible for most purposes. Furthermore, such results complement previous two-dimensional analyses in characterizing typical SAS equilibria and provide useful background information for planning and interpreting SAS experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

High energy particle production from proton synchrotron radiation in strong magnetic fields in relativistic quantum field theory

We investigate photon, pion, and 𝜌-meson production from proton synchrotron radiation in the presence of strong magnetic fields. The proton decay widths and the luminosities of the emitted particles are calculated within a relativistic quantum framework that incorporates Landau quantization. A scaling rule is derived for the transition probability between different Landau levels. This allows an evaluation of transitions for extremely high Landau numbers exceeding 10 15 . Furthermore, we calculate the momentum distribution of the emitted particles by properly including the proton recoil effect associated with particle emission. The results differ significantly from conventional semiclassical approaches.

Cosmic ray sources↗
DOE OSTI2011

Auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo method for strongly paired fermions

We solve the zero-temperature unitary Fermi gas problem by incorporating a BCS importance function into the auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo method. We demonstrate that this method does not suffer from a sign problem and that it increases the efficiency of standard techniques by many orders of magnitude for strongly paired fermions. We calculate the ground-state energies exactly for unpolarized systems with up to 66 particles on lattices of up to 27{sup 3} sites, obtaining an accurate result for the universal parameter {xi}. We also obtain results for interactions with different effective ranges and find that the energy is consistent with a universal linear dependence on the product of the Fermi momentum and the effective range. This method will have many applications in superfluid cold atom systems and in both electronic and nuclear structures where pairing is important.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Experiments on bright-field and dark-field high-energy electron imaging with thick target material

High-energy charged particle radiography has been used for diagnostics of high-energy density matter, and electrons can serve as a promising radiographic probe that acts as a complement to commonly used proton probes. Here we report on an electron radiography experiment using 45 MeV electrons from an S-band photoinjector, where scattered electrons, after interacting with a sample, are collected and imaged by a quadrupole imaging system. We achieve a spatial resolution of a few microns (similar to 4 μm) and a thickness resolution of a few percent for a silicon target of 300-600 μm in thickness. With additional dark-field images captured by selecting electrons with large scattering angles, we show that complementary information for determining external details such as outlines, boundaries and defects can be obtained.

Zhou, Zheng↗
DOE OSTI2024

Magnetic edge fields in UTe 2 near zero background fields

Chiral superconductors are theorized to exhibit spontaneous edge currents. Here, in this study, we found magnetic fields at the edges of UTe 2 , a candidate odd-parity chiral superconductor, that seem to agree with predictions for a chiral order parameter. However, we did not detect the chiral domains that would be expected, and recent polar Kerr and muon spin relaxation data in nominally clean samples argue against chiral superconductivity. Our results show that hidden sources of magnetism must be carefully ruled out when using spontaneous edge currents to identify chiral superconductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Gigantic magnetic-field-induced polarization and magnetoelectric coupling in a ferrimagnetic oxide CaBaCo 4 O 7

Below Tc, the single-crystal study of CaBaCo40,, a noncollinear ferrimagnet (Tc = 64 K) with a polar orthorhombic space group (Pbn21) between 4 and 293 K, shows a large change inthe electric polarization along its c axis reaching !!iP = 17 mC/m2 at 10 K. At 62.5 K, a magnetic-field-driven giant variation inpolarization P(9 T) - P(O T) = 8 mC/m2 is observed. Moreover, the present magnetoelectric measurements are fully consistent withthe m'm2' magnetic point group. This ferrimagnetic oxide, which belongs to the "114" structural family, opens an avenue for the search for new magnetoelectrics.

Caignaert, V.↗