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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 1,117 records · Page 62
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

First Time-Resolved Leader Spectra Associated With a Downward Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flash Detected at the Telescope Array Surface Detector

Optical emissions associated with Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes (TGFs) have recently become important subjects in space-based and ground-based observations as they can help us understand how TGFs are produced during thunderstorms. In this paper, we present the first time-resolved leader spectra of the optical component associated with a downward TGF. The TGF was observed by the Telescope Array Surface Detector (TASD) simultaneously with other lightning detectors, including a Lightning Mapping Array (LMA), an INTerFerometer (INTF), a Fast Antenna (FA), and a spectroscopic system. The spectroscopic system recorded leader spectra at 29,900 frames per second (33.44 μs time resolution), covering a spectral range from 400 to 900 nm, with 2.1 nm per pixel. The recordings of the leader spectra began 11.7 ms before the -18 kA return stroke and at a height of 2.37 km above the ground. These spectra reveal that optical emissions of singly ionized nitrogen and oxygen occur between 167 μs before and 267 μs after the TGF detection, while optical emissions of neutrals (H I, 656 nm; N I, 744 nm, and O I, 777 nm) occur right at the moment of the detection. The time-dependent spectra reveal differences in the optical emissions of lightning leaders with and without downward TGFs.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Covalent adaptable networks for electrolyte–binder integration in recyclable lithium metal batteries

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) are considered a promising next-generation energy storage technology due to their exceptionally high energy density. However, the development of solid polymer electrolytes and cathode binders for LMBs faces critical challenges, including interfacial instability, poor recyclability, and growing environmental concerns. In particular, current systems often rely on non-recyclable components featuring permanently crosslinked networks and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), which cause battery waste and environmental harm. Herein, we introduce a multifunctional covalent adaptable network (CAN) platform based on thermally reversible Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry, designed for dual functionality as a CAN-based electrolyte (CAE) and a CAN-based cathode binder. The CAE achieves high ionic conductivity and strong storage modulus (1.4 mS cm −1 and ∼ 10 5 Pa at room temperature, respectively) and enables stable long-term cycling in symmetric Li||Li cells for over 2000 h with low overpotential. When it is applied as a cathode binder in LiFePO 4 (LFP) composite electrodes (C-LFP), the CAN matrix significantly reduces interfacial resistance and enhances discharge capacity compared to conventional PVDF-based systems. Thermal treatment induces self-healing at the cathode–electrolyte interface, further improving contact and yielding a discharge capacity of 150 mAh g −1 at 0.5 C. Moreover, the dynamic CAN architecture allows efficient recovery and reuse of lithium salts from spent electrolytes through retro-DA reactions under mild conditions (∼80 °C), establishing a low-energy, cost-effective recycling pathway. In conclusion, this work presents a scalable and sustainable strategy for high-performance LMBs by integrating recyclability, interfacial healing, and PFAS-free design, offering a holistic solution aligned with circular economy principles and next-generation battery demands.

Diels–Alder↗
DOE OSTI2025

Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership of the Western United States

This technical report documents research conducted under DOE Award No. DE-FE0031837 focused on evaluating the feasibility of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) systems in the central and western United States. The project integrated geologic characterization, reservoir simulation, infrastructure modeling, and economic analysis to assess CO₂ storage potential near industrial sources and develop strategies for transport and sequestration. The work included subsurface modeling, risk assessment, monitoring and verification (MRV) planning, and evaluation of regulatory pathways such as EPA Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI permitting and IRS 45Q tax credit eligibility. Results demonstrate the viability of multiple storage approaches, including saline formations, enhanced coalbed methane recovery, and basalt mineralization, supported by data-driven workflows and regional analyses. The project also produced permitting templates, technology transfer activities, and stakeholder engagement efforts to support deployment readiness. These findings contribute to the development of scalable, economically viable CCUS systems and provide a repeatable framework for future carbon management projects.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structural Evolution of the Hogback Monocline and Its Tectonic Significance in the San Juan Basin

The San Juan Basin is recognized as a Laramide foreland basin. It is located within the Colorado Plateau, a broad tectonic province characterized by a thick sedimentary sequence that was segmented into smaller sub basins during the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Laramide orogeny. The Hogback Monocline lies along the northwestern margin of the San Juan Basin and is considered a Laramide-age structure formed in response to compressional stress. In this study, we interpret surface and subsurface datasets to construct a structural geological model and evaluate its tectonic significance. Through seismic data, we identify key fault and fold geometries at depth. The seismic dataset used in this study was reprocessed in depth and constrained with well log velocity data to enhance seismic imaging quality. Additionally, we performed well log correlations to identify formation tops and assess variations in basin infill and thickness geometry. A series of structural cross-sections, constructed using seismic data and a high density of boreholes, are presented to evaluate geometric variations along the structure and its evolution during basin development. Furthermore, kinematic restoration and forward modeling analyses were conducted to validate our structural interpretation. This work suggests that the Hogback Monocline formed through fault-propagation folding and flexural slip affecting the pre-Laramide sedimentary sequence under compressional stresses associated with the Laramide orogeny. This structure is interpreted as a high-angle reverse fault that influenced the geometry of the late basin infill. Additionally, monocline bending along the structure may have been controlled by fault relay systems and, in some cases, influenced by strike-slip faulting.

Reyes, Martin [New Mexico Bureau o fGeology and Mi↗
DOE OSTI2026

Response of AC-coupled low gain avalanche detectors to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation damage

Low gain avalanche diodes with DC- and AC-coupled readout were exposed to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation at levels relevant to future experiments in particle, nuclear, and medical physics and to astrophysics. Damage-related change in their acceptor removal constants and in the resistivity of the region between the guard ring and the active area are reported, as is change in the leakage current and depletion voltages of the active volumes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Porous Polymer to Modify Fracture Permeability (Final Technical Report)

This report describes the results of a project to develop innovative polymer-based materials that can be injected into fractures associated with Enhanced Geothermal Systems at targeted locations away from the wellbore to modify their permeability and consequently control the resulting flowrate through the fracture and the heat exchange with the formation.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Jet Drift in Heavy Ion Collisions

We introduce a sub-eikonal anisotropic contribution to jetbroadening, “jet drift”, that couples to the flow of the medium, showing that this effect results in a deflection of hard partons, and thus jets, in the direction of the medium flow. Next, we study this effect in a full-fledged hybrid transport simulation of √s = 5.02 TeV PbPb collisions at the LHC, tracking trajectories of hard partons with perturbative energy loss and drift. We show that sub-eikonal anisotropic effects, including flow-mediated jet drift, are sensitive to properties of the medium that traditional eikonal isotropic effects are insensitive to, demonstrating that including these effects leads to modifications to jet and hard particle observables that survive averaging over events. We show that jet drift leads to an enhancement of the elliptic flow (v2) of hard particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Jet Drift in Heavy-Ion Collision: Acoplanarity and v 2

We introduce a sub-eikonal anisotropic contribution to jet-broadening, “jet drift,” that couples to the flow of the nuclear medium, showing that this effect results in a deflection of hard partons, and thus jets, in the direction of the medium flow. We study two-jet observables, i.e. v 2 and acoplanarity for √s = 5.02 TeV PbPb collisions at the LHC. We show that jet drift leads to an enhancement of the elliptic flow (v 2 ) of charged hadrons and modification of the acoplanarity of dihadrons and discuss the implications for jet substructure and medium response effects. We also demonstrate that we can obtain independent information about the event geometry encoded in the drift modification to acoplanarity vs v 2 enhancement, whereas the temperature dependence of these observables is qualitatively different. By disentangling this temperature vs geometry dependence of these observables, we can add discriminatory power to our analysis. Next, we study acoplanarity and v 2 across different system sizes and collisional energies i.e. 200 GeV AuAu collision at RHIC using our in-house simulation package (APE). Our analysis will be critical for understanding and generalizing dynamical jet-QGP interactions for different collisional systems and energies which will aid event engineering applications in the future.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Visualizing Stereodynamics in Cold Collisions through Shape Resonance Wavefunctions

Shape resonances in cold collisions are often strongly affected by stereodynamics. These resonances can sometimes be assigned by single-channel quantization along the scattering coordinate. However, sensitive steric control of collision implies strong anisotropy of the interaction potential energy surface, which usually leads to coupling among multiple scattering channels in the strongly interacting region. Hence, the resonances might be the result of quantization in a multidimensional space. Using the cold rotationally inelastic collision between para-H 2 (v 1 = 1, j 1 = 2) and HF (v 2 = 0, j 2 = 0) as an example, we analyze four low-lying shape resonances via diagonalization of the full-dimensional Hamiltonian with a stabilization method. While some resonances can indeed be assigned with a single partial wave, others apparently involve more than one scattering channel. Furthermore, a new model based on these resonance wavefunctions is developed to better understand the stereodynamics through shape resonances in cold collisions.

Collisions↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hierarchical Epoxy Structures via Tunable Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation Combined with Additive Manufacturing

Polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) allows for the control of thermoset morphologies and properties, enabling the tuning of domain sizes and thermomechanical response. However, its use in generating substructural features in additively manufactured materials has been limited. In this work, we combine epoxy PIPS with UV curable acrylate and rheological modifiers to print nano- to macro-phase separating materials via a two-step, dual-cure approach. This method enables direct ink write printing of hierarchical structures with both controlled morphologies through phase separation and macroscale architecture through print design. We find that formulations for phase-separating materials require judicious incorporation of additives to enable printability and to provide sufficient green strength. Atomic force microscopy-nano infrared mapping reveals tunable, reticulated nano- to micron-scale domains of the resultant multiphase materials and their morphology changes due to additives, resulting in alterations to thermomechanical and tensile properties. Shape memory behavior is also demonstrated through multimaterial additive manufacturing of epoxies with functionally graded internal morphology using active mixing techniques, highlighting this method’s ability to fabricate complex architectures with controlled morphologies and thermomechanical response.

Van Meter, Kylie E [Organic Materials Science, San↗
DOE OSTI2026

Numerical-heating effects in atmospheric pressure streamer discharges simulated with a PIC code

Artificial heating in plasma simulations is a well-known phenomenon which occurs when, among other things, the Debye length is poorly resolved by the simulation mesh. Here, in this work, the degree to which numerical-heating occurs during a simulation of a nanosecond atmospheric pressure streamer discharge is examined. The streamer is simulated using a two-dimensional finite-element, particle-in-cell code Empire, which uses direct simulation Monte Carlo for binary particle interactions. Initially, an estimate of the numerical-heating rate applied to Empire is performed using a simple plasma model. Second, a positive atmospheric pressure streamer discharge simulation is performed to study the effects of numerical heating on plasma density, electron temperature, and streamer velocity. The nominal Debye length is approximately 1 μm and the amount of numerical heating introduced in the simulation is varied by using mesh sizes ranging from 2 μm to 20 μm. A measurable numerical heating quantity is proposed that can be used to estimate the appropriate element size and quantify the numerical-heating that can be expected over the simulation time for an atmospheric pressure streamer. In conclusion while Δx/λ D violations can be an issue it is not likely to be an issue with streamer discharges that are temporally short and occur in environments where collision frequencies are high. This result validates the rationale of grid size choices for a large amount of previously published works where Δx/λ D violation was not clearly addressed. Primary finding of this work is that numerical heating is of minor concern for plasma simulations where electron–neutral collisions are numerous such that multiple collisions can occur within a single plasma period.

Nikic, Dejan [University of New Mexico, Albuquerqu↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enhancing photoionization rate calculations in low-temperature plasmas using spectral methods

Photoionization plays a central role in the development of streamer discharges and other non-equilibrium plasma phenomena. It creates seed electrons, which are essential for positive streamer propagation, allowing the ionization front to move forward. Because of this, accurate modeling of photoionization is very important for predicting streamer behavior and plasma evolution. The photoionization process in air (N 2 – O 2 mixture) is often described by the Zheleznyak model (1982). This model is usually solved through Helmholtz-type equations that approximate the Zheleznyak photoionization model (Zheleznyak et al. 1982) as Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). Conventional numerical methods, such as the Finite Difference Method (FDM) or Finite Volume Method (FVM), are widely used to solve these equations. Although they are prevalent, the computational cost of these methods due to their need for matrix operations and iterative solver is demanding. To address this challenge, this work develops a spectral solver based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) combined with Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and Discrete Sine Transform (DST) to calculate the photoionization rate efficiently in an axisymmetric cylindrical domain. This method naturally satisfies the boundary conditions used in the model and converts the PDE into algebraic ones in spectral space. Thus, avoids the need for iterative matrix solvers. When compared with FDM results, it is demonstrated that the new solver not only maintains accuracy, but also reduces the computational cost, showing a performance increase of approximately 100 compared to FDM over a wide range of problem sizes. The method is parallelized using Message Passing Interface (MPI) and has been integrated into a fluid plasma model for streamer simulation. Here, this FFT-based approach provides a fast and reliable alternative for calculating photoionization in fluid models, helping large-scale plasma simulations run faster and efficiently, and allows higher-resolution simulation without extra computational cost.

Axisymmetric system↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigating the Vulnerabilities of the Direct Transfer Trip Scheme for Network Protector Units in the Secondary Networks of Electric Power Distribution Grids

Network protector units (NPUs) are crucial parts of the protection of secondary networks to effectively isolate faults occurring on the primary feeders. When a fault occurs on the primary feeder, there is a path of the fault current going through the service transformers that causes a negative flow of current on the NPU connected to the faulted feeder. Conventionally, NPUs rely on the direction of current with respect to the voltage to detect faults and make a correct trip decision. However, the conventional NPU logic does not allow the reverse power flow caused by distributed energy resources installed on secondary networks. The communication-assisted direct transfer trip logic for NPUs can be used to address this challenge. However, the communication-assisted scheme is exposed to some vulnerabilities arising from the disruption or corruption of the communicated data that can endanger the reliable operation of NPUs. This paper evaluates the impact of the malfunction of the communication system on the operation of communication-assisted NPU logic. To this end, the impact of packet modification and denial-of-service cyberattacks on the communication-assisted scheme are evaluated. The evaluation was performed using a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) co-simulation testbed that includes both real-time power system and communication network digital simulators. This paper evaluates the impact of the cyberattacks for different fault scenarios and provides a list of recommendations to improve the reliability of communication-assisted NPU protection.

direct transfer trip↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ensemble‐Based, Large‐Eddy Reconstruction of Wind Turbine Inflow in a Near‐Stationary Atmospheric Boundary Layer Through Generative Artificial Intelligence

ABSTRACT To validate the second‐by‐second dynamics of turbines in field experiments, it is necessary to accurately reconstruct the winds going into the turbine. Current time‐resolved inflow reconstruction techniques estimate wind behavior in unobserved regions using relatively simple spectral‐based models of the atmosphere. Here, we develop a technique for time‐resolved inflow reconstruction that is rooted in a large‐eddy simulation model of the atmosphere. Our “large‐eddy reconstruction” technique blends observations and atmospheric model information through a diffusion model machine learning algorithm, allowing us to generate probabilistic ensembles of reconstructions for a single 10‐min observational period. Our generated inflows can be used directly by aeroelastic codes or as inflow boundary conditions in a large‐eddy simulation. We verify the second‐by‐second reconstruction capability of our technique in three synthetic field campaigns, finding positive Pearson correlation coefficient values () between ground‐truth and reconstructed streamwise velocity, as well as smaller positive correlation coefficient values for unobserved fields (spanwise velocity, vertical velocity, and temperature). We validate our technique in three real‐world case studies by driving large‐eddy simulations with reconstructed inflows and comparing to independent inflow measurements. The reconstructions are visually similar to measurements, follow desired power spectra properties, and track second‐by‐second behavior ().

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of elliptic flow of 𝐽/𝜓 in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV ⁢Au + Au collisions at forward rapidity

Here, we report the first measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of 𝐽/𝜓 at forward rapidity (1.2 < |𝜂| < 2.2) in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The data were collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5 nb −1 . The second Fourier coefficient (𝑣 2 ) of the azimuthal distribution of 𝐽/𝜓 is determined as a function of the transverse momentum (𝑝𝑇) using the event-plane method. The measurements were performed for several selections of collision centrality: 0%–50%, 10%–60%, and 10%–40%. We find that in all cases the values of 𝑣 2 ⁡(𝑝 𝑇 ), which quantify the elliptic flow of 𝐽/𝜓, are consistent with zero. Within uncertainties, the results are consistent with measurements at midrapidity, indicating no significant elliptic flow of the 𝐽/𝜓 within the quark-gluon-plasma medium at collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

The solubility of NdPO 4 and DyPO 4 and stability of Nd and Dy chloride and hydroxyl complexes as a function of pH and salinity to 450 °C

The mobility of rare earth elements (REE) in geological systems is often controlled by the stability of monazite and xenotime, which are important hosts for the light and heavy REE. These REE phosphates constitute important resources and provide information on ore formation conditions and timing due to their uses as geothermometers and geochronometers. While the thermodynamic properties for these minerals are well-established up to high temperature and pressure, the properties for the aqueous REE complexes are not well constrained with limited information up to 300 °C. In this study, the solubility of synthetic NdPO 4 and DyPO 4 endmembers were measured in hydrothermal sub- to supercritical NaCl-bearing aqueous solutions from 350 at saturated water vapor pressure to 450 °C at 700 bar. The speciation of Nd and Dy was determined in acidic to alkaline solutions (pH 25 °C values from 2 to 10), and indicates that the hydroxyl species REE(OH) 2 + and REE(OH) 3 0 predominate at low salinity (0.01 mol/kg NaCl) with some contribution of REE chloride species REECl 2+ and REECl 2 + in acidic fluids. The REE phosphate solubility measured in these experiments is up to two orders of magnitude higher than predicted using existing thermodynamic properties from literature for aqueous species extrapolated from lower temperature data to supercritical conditions. To address this discrepancy, the thermodynamic properties of the REE aqueous species were optimized using GEMSFITS to derive the formation constants for the REE chloride (β Cl ) and hydroxyl (β OH ) complexes in the studied temperature range. This study highlights the importance of the hydroxyl species REE(OH) 2 + and REE(OH) 3 0 over a wide range of pH and temperature. As a result, the revised thermodynamic properties for Dy and Nd chloride and hydroxyl species more accurately predict the solubility of NdPO 4 and DyPO 4 and provide insight into the speciation and mobility of the light and heavy REE in hydrothermal supercritical fluids in the crust.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗