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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Design study for a compact, two-stage, laser-plasma-based source of positron beams

Owing to their large accelerating gradients, plasma-based accelerators have attracted considerable interest as potential drivers for future, compact electron–positron colliders. Despite great progress achieved in plasma-based electron acceleration, positron acceleration still remains a challenging task, with an efficient positron source being the prerequisite for such acceleration. Here a concept for a compact, two-stage plasma-based positron source is discussed. In the first stage the positrons are created by a multi GeV electron beam produced by a laser-plasma accelerator interacting with a solid density foil. In the second stage the positrons are captured and accelerated in a plasma wave driven by either an electron beam or a laser pulse. Three potential configurations of such a source are considered: (i) a single electron beam is used for both the creation of positrons in the foil and for driving the wakefield in the second stage; (ii) a train of two electron beams is used: the positrons produced by the trailing beam in the foil are captured and accelerated in the second stage by the plasma wave generated by the leading beam; and (iii) a single electron beam is used to produce positrons in the foil and an independent laser pulse is coupled to the second stage to drive the plasma wave. In conclusion, these three configurations show different degrees of effectiveness with positron capture efficiency, varying from less than a percent to almost half of all produced positrons.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ion Acceleration and the Development of a Power-law Energy Spectrum in Magnetic Reconnection

How charged particles are accelerated efficiently and form a power-law energy spectrum in magnetic reconnection is a problem that is not well understood. In a previous paper, it was shown that the electron Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (EKHI) in force-free magnetic reconnection generates fast-expanding vortices that can accelerate electrons in a few tens of ion gyroperiods (less than 1 ms in the solar corona) to form a power-law energy distribution. In this paper, we present a particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation study of ion acceleration in force-free magnetic reconnection in the presence of the EKHI-induced turbulence. We find that ions are not significantly accelerated by the EKHI-induced stochastic electric field until the magnetic vortices expand to sizes comparable to the ion gyroradius. The Alfvén waves generated by the EKHI couple with the magnetic vortices, leading to resonance between the ions inside the magnetic vortices and Alfvén waves and enhanced ion heating. The induced Alfvén wave resonance results in a broken power-law energy spectrum with a breakpoint at $\sim {m}_{i}{v}_{A}^{2}$, where v A is the Alfvén velocity. Here, we show that the process that forms the nonthermal tail is a second-order Fermi mechanism and the mean spectral index is α = (1 + 4 a 2 D/R) /2, where D is the spatial scale of the inductive electric field, R is that of vortices, and a = B g /B 0 , with ratio of guide field B g and asymptotic B 0 .

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comment on “Brownian motion of droplets induced by thermal noise”

We simulate phase separated fluids using the Cahn-Hillard fluctuating hydrodynamic (CH-FHD) model and measure the statistical properties of capillary waves generated by thermal fluctuations. Our measurements are in good agreement with stochastic lubrication theory and molecular dynamics simulations but differ significantly from recent CH-FHD results by Zhang et al. [Phys. Rev. E 109, 024208 (2024)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.109.024208]. Specifically, we find that capillary wave statistics at thermodynamic equilibrium are independent of transport properties, namely viscosity and species diffusion.

Bell, J B↗
DOE OSTI2025

Planetesimal Impact Vapor Plumes and Nebular Shocks Form Chondritic Mixtures

The origin of chondrules and the chondritic sedimentary rocks that dominate the meteoritic record is a long-standing problem in planetary science. Here, we develop a physical model for the formation of chondritic mixtures as an outcome of vaporizing collisions between planetesimals that were dynamically excited by the growth and migration of planets. We present calculations of nebular shock waves generated by impact vapor plumes and focus on aspects of the plume interaction with the nebular gas and dust that have been neglected in previous studies of impact ejecta. We find that when water dominates the vapor, the plumes are relatively cool. However, the plume expansion is supersonic and can drive strong shock waves in the dusty nebular gas. Portions of these nebular shock fronts initially melt nebular dust, forming chondrules that are coupled to the moving front. As the shock front expands and cools, the chondrules solidify, while the shock front entrains additional dust. Eventually, the plume expansion stalls and then hydrodynamically collapses, turbulently mixing variably processed dust and size-sorted chondrules. For probable impact parameters and nebular conditions during giant planet growth and migration, the impact-generated mixtures have characteristics that span the range observed in chondritic meteorites, providing an environment for rapid formation of chondritic assemblages after chondrule formation. Our impact vapor and nebular shocks model, named the IVANS model, links chondrule formation to the overall context of planet formation and provides a framework for interpreting the detailed chronological and geochemical record contained in chondritic meteorites.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Shock-induced twinning/detwinning and spall failure in Cu–Ta nanolaminates at atomic scales

Here, this study provides new insights into the role of interfaces on the deformation and failure mechanisms in shock-loaded Cu–Ta–Cu trilayer system. The thickness of the Ta layer, piston velocities, and shock pulse durations were varied to explore the impact of impedance mismatch and loading conditions on spallation behavior and twin formation. It was found that the interfaces play a crucial role in the dynamic response of these multilayered systems since secondary reflection waves generated at the interfaces significantly affected the peak stress and pressure profiles, influencing void nucleation and failure modes. In the trilayer systems, failure predominantly occurred at interfaces and within the Ta layer, with void nucleation sites and twinning behavior being markedly different compared to single-crystal Cu and Ta. Increasing the Ta layer thickness modified the wave interactions, leading to different failure locations. Higher piston velocities were associated with increased spall strength by enhancing wave interactions and void formation, particularly at the interfaces and within the Ta layer, under specific configurations. Additionally, shorter shock pulse durations facilitated earlier initiation of the release fan, reducing twin formation and altering the failure dynamics by accelerating twin annihilation and pressure release.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Acoustic waves from the 2023 April 20 SpaceX Starship rocket explosion travelling in the elevated ‘AtmoSOFAR’ channel

SUMMARY The ability to detect low-frequency sounds from distant energetic events depends on the temperature and wind structure of the atmosphere. Thus, from time to time surface-based acoustic detectors may not be able to capture sounds arriving from certain directions. However, the temperature minimum at the tropopause may create an acoustic duct called the ‘AtmoSOFAR’ channel that could transmit acoustic waves laterally—but perhaps not to the ground. If true, then elevated sensors such as those borne aloft by balloons would record the signatures even in regions where ground-based sensors cannot. This has been difficult to prove because high altitude acoustic sources are rare and balloon deployments are sporadic. This work describes the detection and characterization of powerful acoustic waves generated during the launch and terminal explosion of the SpaceX Starship rocket on 2023 April 20 using a pair of microbarometers on a stratospheric balloon. The signals travelled through the AtmoSOFAR channel, carrying information about the size and nature of their source. This channel also appears to leak some acoustic energy to the ground, in agreement with previous studies. The acoustic yield of the Starship terminal explosion was on the order of $10^3$ tons trinitrotoluene equivalent, which agrees with the estimated fuel load of the vehicle to about a factor of 2, but is two orders of magnitude larger than optical estimates. These results support an earlier study that claimed lateral transmission of sound from a smaller rocket through the AtmoSOFAR channel. The transmission of source information through the AtmoSOFAR channel motivates its use for monitoring other natural and anthropogenic events using balloon-borne sensors. This may become increasingly important as more and more private and government entities conduct spacecraft launches and reentries. It may also provide a means of monitoring clear air turbulence and other sound-generating atmospheric phenomena at a distance.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Array-Based Seismic Measurements of OSIRIS-REx’s Re-Entry

The return home of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in September 2023 marked only the fifth time that an artificial object entered the Earth’s atmosphere at interplanetary velocities. Although rare, such events serve as valuable analogs for natural meteoroid re-entries; enabling study of hypersonic dynamics, shock wave generation, and acoustic-to-seismic coupling. Here, in this study, we report on the signatures recorded by a dense (100 m scale) 11-station array located almost directly underneath the capsule’s point of peak atmospheric heating in northern Nevada. Seismic data are presented, which allow inferences to be made about the shape of the shock wave’s footprint on the surface, the capsule’s trajectory, and its flight parameters.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

A “Floatilla” of Airborne Seismometers for Venus

Abstract Barometers floating on high‐altitude balloons in the relatively clement cloud layer on Venus could detect and characterize acoustic waves generated by seismic activity, avoiding the need for high‐temperature electronics required for surface seismology. Garcia et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098844 ) recently demonstrated the detection of low‐frequency sound (infrasound) caused by earthquakes of magnitudes 7.3 and 7.5 from stratospheric balloons nearly 3,000 km away from the epicenter. They provided a preliminary demonstration of earthquake magnitude and location inversion, and the determination of S‐ and Rayleigh wave velocities using only their acoustic signature. Large earthquakes produce low‐frequency seismic waves that penetrate the interiors of planets; their detection at continental‐scale distances from a high‐vantage point demonstrates the feasibility of balloon‐based investigations of Venus' interior. We contextualize these results within the effort to perform seismology on Venus from balloons, discuss its limitations, and share perspectives on open research questions in this area.

Krishnamoorthy, Siddharth↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gravitational waves from stochastic scalar fluctuations

Here, we present a novel mechanism for gravitational wave generation in the early Universe. Light spectator scalar fields during inflation can acquire a blue-tilted power spectrum due to stochastic effects. We show that this effect can lead to large curvature perturbations at small scales (induced by the spectator field fluctuations) while maintaining the observed, slightly red-tilted curvature perturbations at large cosmological scales (induced by the inflaton fluctuations). Along with other observational signatures, such as enhanced dark matter substructure, large curvature perturbations can induce a stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB). The predicted strength of SGWB in our scenario, Ω GW ⁢ℎ 2 ≃10 -20 -10 -15 , can be observed with future detectors, operating between 10 -5 Hz and 10 Hz. We note that, in order to accommodate the newly reported NANOGrav observation, one could consider the same class of spectator models. At the same time, one would need to go beyond the simple benchmark considered here and consider a regime in which a misalignment contribution is also important.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Insights into Slip-Rate Time Functions, Rupture Parameter Correlations, and Ground Motions from Validated Multicycle Earthquake Ruptures

Earthquake strong-motion predictions using kinematic source modeling require knowledge of the slip-rate functions (SRFs) along the rupture and their distinct characteristics in asperities, background (off-asperity) areas and near the surface. Here, in this study we analyzed SRFs from well-validated, self-consistent, and fully dynamic rupture models from earthquake cycles obeying a rate-and-state friction law, from our companion study (Galvez et al., 2021). The shapes of SRFs in asperities are well described by the regularized Yoffe function (RYF), which has only two parameters: rise time T r and smoothing time T s , which control the generation of long- and short-period ground motions, respectively. In background areas, we demonstrate that, in addition to the primary rupture, multiple secondary ruptures may also nucleate from rupture heterogeneities related to asperities, resulting in SRFs with multiple peaks. Because it is impossible to fit a multiple-peak SRF by the single-peak RYF, we describe SRFs in background areas in an effective way by fitting their amplitude spectra with the RYF spectra. Such spectrally effective RYFs capture salient aspects of seismic-wave generation and can be used in rupture generators for strong motion prediction. We found that small T s values correlate with small characteristic weakening distances, large peak slip rates (PSRs), and large rupture velocities. T r values are larger in background areas and smaller in asperities. Within the shallow aseismic zone, T s values approximately quadruple whereas T r values approximately double. Because of this dominant T s increase, PSR values decrease in the near-surface zone. These features indicate that the generation of strong motions by the near-surface portions of the rupture is negligible in the studied scenarios.

Geosciences↗
DOE OSTI2021

Scattering of Magnons at Graphene Quantum-Hall-Magnet Junctions

Motivated by recent nonlocal transport studies of quantum-Hall-magnet (QHM) states formed in monolayer graphene’s N = 0 Landau level, here we study the scattering of QHM magnons by gate-controlled junctions between states with different integer filling factors ν . For the ν = 1 | – 1 | 1 geometry we find that magnons are weakly scattered by electric potential variation in the junction region, and that the scattering is chiral when the junction lacks a mirror symmetry. For the ν = 1 | 0 | 1 geometry, we find that kinematic constraints completely block magnon transmission if the incident angle exceeds a critical value. Our results explain the suppressed nonlocal–voltage signals observed in the ν = 1 | 0 | 1 case. We use our theory to propose that valley waves generated at ν = – 1 | 1 junctions and magnons can be used in combination to probe the spin or valley flavor structure of QHM states at integer and fractional filling factors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Infrasound Detections of Low-Magnitude Earthquakes: Preliminary Results of the West Texas Acoustic Experiment

Infrasound observations have grown increasingly important for the monitoring of earthquakes. While large earthquakes generate infrasound that can be detected thousands of kilometers away, there are few near-field observations of infrasound generated by low-magnitude events. We describe preliminary results of the West Texas Acoustic Experiment, during which infrasound sensors collected continuous data in the Permian Basin for a six-month period spanning January—June 2023. During this time, more than 1000 earthquakes with magnitudes between 1.2 and 4.2 occurred within 50 km of the network. We used spectral analysis, array processing, and manual inspection of waveforms to evaluate arrivals of infrasound signals following 84 events with magnitudes between 2.5 and 4.2. Here, we describe eight such events and the infrasound signals associated with each. We find detections of seismic-to-acoustic infrasound signals associated with seven events. We also find strong evidence of a laterally-propagating, purely acoustic wave generated by an M2.9 earthquake.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Impact of the Lightning Surge on SiC-based Medium-voltage Three-phase Four-wire Grid-connected Converters

The surge voltage induced by lightning will generate an inrush current in a grid-connected converter. It may not be large in Si-based converters because of the large grid side inductive filter. However, for SiC-based multi-level converters, the inrush current could be very large due to the small filter inductance, which is selected based on the current harmonic consideration. Most previous work focuses on system-level lightning protection while the converter-level impact, especially the internal components of the converter, is rarely discussed. This paper presents the analysis of the impact of the lightning surge on a 10 kV SiC MOSFET-based 13.8 kV three-phase four-wire grid-connected converter. The IEEE arrester model and the combined wave generator model in IEC 61000-4-5 standard are used to evaluate the inrush current, DC-link overvoltage, and component-to-ground potential of the converter. Analysis and simulation results have been provided to demonstrate the impact of lightning on the grid-connected converter. It is found that large inrush current occurs due to the small filter inductance, and the neutral-to-ground impedance impacts both the inrush current and the neutral point-to-ground potential.

Li, Haiguo↗
DOE OSTI2026

Discovery of a nearby radio relic in the low-mass, merging cluster Abell 4067

Shock waves generated during cluster mergers offer a powerful probe of how large-scale structure grows and evolves in the Universe. As part of the MeerKAT-South Pole Telescope (SPT) survey, we report the discovery of a single arc-like radio relic in the galaxy cluster Abell 4067 ($z=0.099$), one of the lowest-mass clusters known to host such a structure. MeerKAT UHF-band (0.58–1.09 GHz) observations reveal a relic with a largest linear size of $\sim 1.48\pm 0.02$ Mpc, located at a projected distance of 0.95 Mpc from the cluster centre. XMM–Newton X-ray data show that the relic’s position and orientation relative to the intracluster medium (ICM) elongation are consistent with a merger-driven shock-wave scenario. The relic has an estimated radio power of $3.10\pm 0.03\times 10^{24}$ W Hz$^{-1}$ at 150 MHz. When placed in the $P_{150\, \mathrm{MHz}}$–$M_{500}$ scaling relation, the Abell 4067 relic appears less luminous compared to relics in more massive clusters, suggesting an association with weak merger shocks. This finding supports the idea that relics in low-mass clusters may form through less energetic merger events, leading to weak merger shocks. The latter is supported by the absence of a detectable central radio halo in Abell 4067, which reinforces the idea that luminous radio haloes are not a universal outcome of cluster mergers and highlights the role of cluster mass, merger energetics, and evolutionary stage in shaping diffuse radio emission in the ICM.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dependence of wind-farm-induced gravity waves and wind farm performance on non-dimensional atmospheric parameters and simulation configuration

This large-eddy simulation (LES) study examines how wind-farm-induced atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) and wind farm performance depend on non-dimensional atmospheric parameters and simulation configuration. A hypothetical aligned wind farm of actuator disks is simulated under neutral surface conditions, with a stable capping inversion and a mildly stable free atmosphere, to assess the effects of stratification beyond the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) on ABL flow. Simulation set-ups fully resolving AGWs are validated to minimize spurious wave generation and reflection from the domain boundaries. The validated set-up is then used to analyze AGW types and characteristics, as well as stratification impacts under conventionally neutral boundary layer (CNBL) conditions. These conditions are governed by four non-dimensional parameters: the Froude numbers of the free atmosphere and capping inversion (Fr, Fr i ), and the aspect ratios of the ABL and wind farm (H̃ i , S h ). Simulation configurations that fully resolve AGWs – capturing at least one wavelength both horizontally and vertically – yield the most realistic stratification effects on ABL flow, whereas partial or unresolved configurations produce non-physical, channel-like behavior. A coherent description of the AGW phenomena is provided, highlighting the central role of capping inversion displacement in linking ABL fluctuations with AGWs. Trapped waves are confined within the capping inversion, while interfacial and internal waves aloft are identified as the AGW types most relevant to wind farm performance. The wavy inversion, analogous to an interfacial wave, forms converging and diverging zones that drive power fluctuations across the farm. The interfacial wavelength, measured over the wind farm, corresponds to one diverging, one converging, and one mildly diverging zone. As the interfacial wavelength decreases with Fr i , multiple convergence–divergence zones develop under sub-critical conditions (Fr i <1.0), while for super-critical conditions (Fr i > 1.0), the wavelength approaches the farm length. Wave amplitude increases with decreasing H̃ i (i.e., shallower capping inversions). Wind farm performance is most sensitive to H̃ i : shallow boundary layers increase blockage and reduce efficiency, while deeper layers enhance efficiency. Increasing Fr and Fr i mitigates blockage, and increasing S h mainly improves wake recovery. Although local power fluctuations arise from AGWs, overall wind farm efficiency remains nearly constant with Fr and Fr i , improving primarily with larger H̃ i and S h .

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Curated Dataset of Regional Meteor Events with Simultaneous Optical and Infrasound Observations (2006–2011)

We present a curated, openly accessible dataset of 71 regional meteor events simultaneously recorded by optical and infrasound instrumentation between 2006 and 2011. These events were captured during an observational campaign using the all-sky cameras of the Southern Ontario Meteor Network and the co-located Elginfield Infrasound Array. Each entry provides optical trajectory measurements, infrasound waveforms, and atmospheric specification profiles. The integration of optical and acoustic data enables robust linkage between observed acoustic signals and specific points along meteor trajectories, offering new opportunities to examine shock wave generation, propagation, and energy deposition processes. This release fills a critical observational gap by providing the first validated, openly accessible archive of simultaneous optical–infrasound meteor observations that supports trajectory reconstruction, acoustic propagation modeling, and energy deposition analyses. By making these data openly available in a structured format, this work establishes a durable reference resource that advances reproducibility, fosters cross-disciplinary research, and underpins future developments in meteor physics, atmospheric acoustics, and planetary defense.

astrometry↗
DOE OSTI2022

Numerical algorithms for water waves with background flow over obstacles and topography

Abstract We present two accurate and efficient algorithms for solving the incompressible, irrotational Euler equations with a free surface in two dimensions with background flow over a periodic, multiply connected fluid domain that includes stationary obstacles and variable bottom topography. One approach is formulated in terms of the surface velocity potential while the other evolves the vortex sheet strength. Both methods employ layer potentials in the form of periodized Cauchy integrals to compute the normal velocity of the free surface, are compatible with arbitrary parameterizations of the free surface and boundaries, and allow for circulation around each obstacle, which leads to multiple-valued velocity potentials but single-valued stream functions. We prove that the resulting second-kind Fredholm integral equations are invertible, possibly after a physically motivated finite-rank correction. In an angle-arclength setting, we show how to avoid curve reconstruction errors that are incompatible with spatial periodicity. We use the proposed methods to study gravity-capillary waves generated by flow around several elliptical obstacles above a flat or variable bottom boundary. In each case, the free surface eventually self-intersects in a splash singularity or collides with a boundary. We also show how to evaluate the velocity and pressure with spectral accuracy throughout the fluid, including near the free surface and solid boundaries. To assess the accuracy of the time evolution, we monitor energy conservation and the decay of Fourier modes and compare the numerical results of the two methods to each other. We implement several solvers for the discretized linear systems and compare their performance. The fastest approach employs a graphics processing unit (GPU) to construct the matrices and carry out iterations of the generalized minimal residual method (GMRES).

Ambrose, David M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Unraveling the implications of finite specimen size on the interpretation of dynamic experiments for polycrystalline aluminum through direct numerical simulations

Normal and Pressure-shear plate impact (NPI and PSPI) experiments are popular experimental techniques for studying the mean-field macroscopic behavior of polycrystalline metals under high-rate dynamic loading. However, since both configurations rely upon geometry for subjecting the specimen to high strain rates, these experiments often involve a limited specimen size. Moreover, because of the inherent heterogeneities present within polycrystalline metals, it is difficult to ascertain if the size of the specimen and/or regions where measurements are made are sufficiently large for making representative inferences about the mean-field macroscopic properties from single-point velocity measurements. In the present study, we quantify the expected measurement variability on observable point measurements in NPI and PSPI experiments by carrying out direct numerical simulations (DNS) of statistically representative polycrystalline microstructures subjected to dynamic compression and compression-shear loading. In particular, we consider the role of specific material heterogeneities (e.g. the grain-to-grain difference in size, crystallographic orientation) on dispersion in the normal and transverse particle velocity records and on local fluctuations in key state variables (e.g. velocity, accumulated plastic strain) by incorporating these effects directly into a representative synthetic microstructure geometry and crystalline description of pure polycrystalline aluminum. The form of the present study is a large parametric investigation, consisting of ten ensembles of one hundred simulations. Each of the thousand simulations reflects a randomly realized synthetic microstructure in one of five cases of decreasing average grain size for the two loading configurations. Our analysis of the DNS results demonstrates that for both of these experimental configurations, the grain size directly correlates with the coefficient of variation (CV) in simulated point measurements, showing a convergent decrease in CV to zero (i.e. particle velocity record approaches the mean-field value) with decreasing grain size. Remarkably, the magnitude of variations in the particle velocity record is shown to be largest where the deviatoric stresses are most significant. In the case of NPI, this occurs at the elastic and plastic wavefront, whereas, in the case of PSPI, the magnitude of fluctuations are approximately constant throughout the experimental window time. The reasoning for the scatter in particle velocity due to the heterogeneous microstructure is demonstrated to be dependent on the mechanisms for accommodating deformation and on the interaction of reflection waves generated at sites of heterogeneities occurring at the scale of grains. Lastly, we develop a power-law description for the magnitude of scattering versus characteristic length, which provides a statistical framework for assessing the required number of grains per characteristic specimen dimension for minimizing scatter within these two experimental configurations (NPI, PSPI).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗