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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

Acceleration of uranium beam to record power of 10.4 kW and observation of new isotopes at Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a major nuclear physics facility for research with fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams that was successfully commissioned in May 2022. A key capability of FRIB is the production of an acceleration of the uranium beam, but this capability requires the facility to work at the design limits of the lowest charge-to-mass ratio and the highest power density on the beam intercepting devices. This paper presents techniques for overcoming the significant challenges in accelerating the uranium beam, culminating in the demonstration of 10.4 kW on target, and the discovery of three new isotopes. The high-power uranium beam enabled us to produce and identify G 88 a , A 93 s , and S 96 e , within the first 24 h of operation. The successful uranium operation at FRIB sets a new record for accelerated uranium beam power above 10 kW and opens a new avenue of research with rare isotopes. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Status of the LCLS-II-HE Project at Jefferson Lab

The Linac Coherent Light Source II High Energy (LCLS-II-HE) upgrade at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is being constructed in partnership with the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). The cryomodule production scope consists of the design, procurement, construction, and acceptance testing of 24 eight-cavity, 1.3 GHz cryomodules, as well as R&D activities necessary to develop the required technology. To achieve this, JLab and FNAL are also contributing to SLAC’s effort to develop the cavity recipe and production processes necessary to meet the LCLS-II-HE goal of 20.8 MV/m and average Q₀ of 2.7·10¹⁰. This paper details the JLab scope, focusing on the project initiation phase, in particular technology development and prototyping, project development and planning, and implementation of lessons learned from LCLS-II.

Wilson, K. M.↗

Chlorine Worth Study in Support of PF-4 Operations [Slides]

The primary concern of this study is if experiments can be designed/conducted to provide technical justification to NCS in order to increase mass limits. This goal is in direct support of 30 pits per year mission, one of the top priorities for NNSA. The accelerated timeline is as follows: Initial tasking, June 2020; preliminary design completion (CED-1 equivalent), November 2020; final design completion (CED-2 equivalent), March 2021; part receipt and inspection completion (CED-3a equivalent), October 2021; experiment execution (CED-3b equivalent), December 2021; experiment documentation write-up completion (start CED-4a equivalent), January 2022; and ICSBEP target (CED-4a equivalent), Fall 2022.

2019 ARCHIMEDES LDRD project↗

The Low-Beta Quadrupoles for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider: enabling higher luminosity by using Nb_3Sn conductor

The large-aperture, high-gradient Low Beta Quadrupoles for the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider at CERN are the cornerstones of this collider. They are first-of-the-kind accelerator magnets bringing Nb_3Sn conductor to High Energy Physics colliders. In the US they are being fabricated and tested by the HL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project (AUP), and in Europe by CERN. The design was developed by AUP and CERN in close collaboration. The Q1/Q3 cryo-assemblies contain two 4.2 m long magnets (MQXFA) fabricated and by AUP. They are tested vertically before use in a cry-assembly. In this paper we are going to present the main features of the MQXFA design, results of vertical tests, and main lessons learned. We will also discuss lessons learned for future use of Nb_3Sn magnets in HEP colliders.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Thermal Cross Section Measurements At The RPI LINAC

Recently, a cold moderator was designed and developed for use at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Linear Accelerator (RPI LINAC). This cold moderator proved to easily and safely couple to an existing neutron producing target, while enhancing neutron flux below 0.02 eV by up to a factor of 8 by cooling polyethylene down to 29 K. This cold moderator capability allowed for significantly improved counting statistics below 0.02 eV not previously possible due to a poor signal to background ratio. Additionally, testing was performed to characterize the energy resolution of the new cold moderator system and found the system easily capable of resolving resonances in Ta-181 at 4 and 10 eV, while also clearly resolving the Bragg edges found in Be metal below 0.01 eV. Furthermore, following the design and development of a cold polyethylene moderator, a series of thermal total cross section measurements were performed for polyethylene, polystyrene, Plexiglas and yttrium hydride in the thermal region. These measurements serve to help validate thermal scattering law (TSL) evaluations in the 0.0005 – 1 eV energy range. For polyethylene and polystyrene, two sets of experiments were performed – one with the Enhanced Thermal Target (ETT) and another with the ETT plus the new cold moderator capability (ETTC). The yttrium hydride and Plexiglas measurements were only performed with the ETTC. The measurements for polyethylene help to validate the data processing methodology when using the ETTC, while extending the measured range of polyethylene down to 0.0005 eV. Two different Plexiglas, Plexiglas G and Plexiglas G-UVT, and two different concentrations of yttrium hydride, H/Y = 1.85 and 1.68, were measured. Overall, all materials had generally good agreement with their ENDF/B-VIII.0 TSL evaluations, though some discrepancies were noticed. In the case of the yttrium hydride, the high energy oscillations in the hydrogen cross section and the low energy Bragg edges in the yttrium cross section were clearly seen. These measurements represent the first total cross section measurements that encompass the entire thermal region from 0.0005 – 1 eV for polystyrene and yttrium hydride.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Development of a Bi2212 Dipole Insert at Fermilab

A goal of the U.S. Magnet Development Program (US-MDP) is high-field magnets for accelerators with magnetic fields larger than 15 T, i.e., above the limits of Nb 3 Sn accelerator magnets. Composite round wires and Rutherford cables made of high temperature superconductor Bi2212 may achieve this goal. Bi2212 is sensitive to transverse stresses and strains, and this requires stress management in the coil design. A stress management approach was developed at Fermilab for high-field large-aperture Nb 3 Sn accelerator magnets. Now it is being applied to high-field dipole insert coils based on Bi2212 Rutherford cable. Here this paper describes the insert coil design and main parameters, including the superconducting wire and cable. The coil will be installed inside a 60-mm bore Nb 3 Sn dipole outsert coil and cold iron yoke. The Bi2212 coil will be tested individually and in series with the Nb 3 Sn outsert coil. The expected Bi2212 insert test parameters are reported and discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Versatile Test Reactor Conceptual Core Design

The VTR is a 300-MW(thermal) sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) designed for the specific purpose of delivering unique testing capabilities to enable the advancement of all reactor technologies. With its flux level, irradiation volume, and operational flexibility, the VTR will enable accelerated testing of materials, fuels, and various components needing irradiation testing. Proven SFR technologies and design approaches have been leveraged in designing the VTR core, ensuring the highest possible readiness level. This resulted in the VTR using ternary metallic fuel and delivering fast flux levels in excess of 4 x 10 15 n/cm 2 ∙ s over large useful volumes, corresponding to about 60 dpa/year in steel. As part of the design efforts, the VTR core performance has been determined for a representative configuration, ensuring that the reactivity control systems offer sufficient shutdown margins, that the core can be safely cooled in all situations, and that reactivity feedback coefficients are conducive to a favorable safety behavior. Furthermore, the incorporation of features such as fuel assembly storage in the shield region supports the flexible and reliable operation of the VTR. Additional design work has been ongoing as well. This includes thorough shielding performance evaluations to ensure safe operation of the VTR, verification and validation of the design tools used to achieve compliance with Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1) requirements, early assessment of the impact of irradiation experiments on the core performance envelope and associated margins, and in-depth uncertainty quantification efforts to quantify the anticipated range of performance characteristics. An experimental program supporting the VTR core design has been set up, with the current focus being on thermal-hydraulic experiments. The purpose of this experimental program is to obtain confirmatory measurements to serve directly as part of the core design basis or as part of the validation cases supporting the simulation tools used.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Beam Position Monitor: Sensors, Calibration and Analysis [Slides]

A beam position monitor (BPM) provides information on electron beam current and position, essential to meeting the performance requirements for the Scorpius accelerator as laid down in FR1.1 –FR1.8 and FR2.2. The critical elements in employing BPM’s to meet those requirements are design of the sensor, design of calibration equipment for the sensor, and design of methods to record and process data.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Multi-GeV FFA beam transport test at CEBAF

Jefferson National Lab plans an upgrade project to reach 22 GeV high polarization electron beam by using Fixed Field Alternating-gradient (FFA) magnets. The utilization of the FFA magnets for 10-22 GeV beam energy range is unexampled, therefore those magnets need an experimental validation before their full installation to form an arc in the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For this reason, JLAB is also considering the design of an FFA magnet test bench, i.e. a half or full FFA cell, that would be deployed in the current CEBAF in order to serve as the highest energy demonstration for the FFA field uniformity, permanent magnet resiliency with the beam as well as enabling beam optics measurements with the 5-11 GeV range highly polarized beams which closely resembles the full energy range of the 22 GeV upgrade. In this report, we present the status of the planned beamline for the FFA beam transport test at CEBAF.

Accelerator Physics↗

Combined-Accelerated Stress Testing for Advanced Reliability Assessment of Photovoltaic Modules

New and previously undiscovered degradation mechanisms continue to be identified after field exposure in new photovoltaic module designs or materials oftentimes results in significant losses in investment. This is despite passing certification tests. Testing is insufficient largely due to their single-or double-stress nature. A Combined-Accelerated Stress Test (C-AST) has recently been developed. The test combines multiple stress factors of the natural environment to better replicate conditions experienced by modules in the field and detect mechanisms not a-priori known in new materials and designs.

accelerator factor modeling↗

The CMS Phase-1 Pixel Detector Upgrade

The CMS detector at the CERN LHC features a silicon pixel detector as its innermost subdetector. The original CMS pixel detector has been replaced with an upgraded pixel system (CMS Phase-1 pixel detector) in the extended year-end technical stop of the LHC in 2016/2017. The upgraded CMS pixel detector is designed to cope with the higher instantaneous luminosities that have been achieved by the LHC after the upgrades to the accelerator during the first long shutdown in 2013–2014. Compared to the original pixel detector, the upgraded detector has a better tracking performance and lower mass with four barrel layers and three endcap disks on each side to provide hit coverage up to an absolute value of pseudorapidity of 2.5. This paper describes the design and construction of the CMS Phase-1 pixel detector as well as its performance from commissioning to early operation in collision data-taking.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Detector Simulation Challenges for Future Accelerator Experiments

Detector simulation is a key component for studies on prospective future high-energy colliders, the design, optimization, testing and operation of particle physics experiments, and the analysis of the data collected to perform physics measurements. This review starts from the current state of the art technology applied to detector simulation in high-energy physics and elaborates on the evolution of software tools developed to address the challenges posed by future accelerator programs beyond the HL-LHC era, into the 2030–2050 period. New accelerator, detector, and computing technologies set the stage for an exercise in how detector simulation will serve the needs of the high-energy physics programs of the mid 21st century, and its potential impact on other research domains.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Assessment of Vibration and Shock Loading Environments on Steels Used in Railroad Applications Considering Hydrogen Embrittlement

Studies that examine the combined effects of hydrogen and rail loading environments in the context of hydrogen embrittlement of steels have not been performed. Large-scale hydrogen storage requires either gaseous hydrogen stored in pressure vessels and tubing or liquid hydrogen in cryogenic, insulated tanks. Since the focus of this study is on steels, we examine the influence of hydrogen on stainless steel used for high pressure tubing and cryogenic tanks and Cr-Mo steel liners used in gaseous pressure vessels. Literature studies show that despite hydrogen degradation, these steels can be used effectively and safely if the stresses are managed. The shock and vibration environment on railcars present unique environments where stresses and loading rates can be high. A literature review was conducted to understand the accelerations experienced in rail by examining instrumented railcars of nuclear fuel casks. Hydrogen studies were examined that focused on steel pressure hardware with an emphasis on fatigue, fast loading rates, and low temperatures. A simplified fatigue assessment was performed to examine design cycles for three different hydrogen components: stainless steel tubing, stainless steel cryogenic tanks, and gaseous pressure vessels. The assessments were idealized and used bounding cases of accelerations in both normal rail conditions and coupling events. In normal shock and vibration environments when accelerations were less than 2 g, infinite design life was calculated. In extreme shock or coupling environments, finite design life was calculated which was shown to be dependent on unsupported lengths of pressure components. It was shown that adjusting the unsupported length can reduce the bending stress thereby increasing design life.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Computational Exploration of High Entropy Alloys as Promising Materials for Future Beam Windows

With the ever-increasing demand for high beam power, the currently used beam-intercepting devices (BIDs) such as targets, and beam windows may not be able to handle the high power required for future accelerator complexes or the lifetime may be reduced drastically. As beam power increases, the damage incurred by BIDs, including thermal shock, fatigue, and irradiation damage, also rises. Therefore, it is imperative to design materials that can withstand high beam power for longer lifetimes. High entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as potential alternative materials for designing next-generation BIDs. In this study, we primarily focus on materials for developing beam windows for next-generation accelerator complexes. We propose an integrated approach that combines various computational techniques to study and design new materials. Specifically, we use CALPHAD, density functional theory (DFT), and molecular dynamics (MD) to comprehensively investigate the defect properties of suitable HEAs, offering potential alternatives for future beam windows. We begin by scanning the extensive phase space provided by Cr-Mn-V-Ti-Al-Co HEAs, selecting 8 compositions after evaluating approximately 120,000 unique compositions using CALPHAD. We, then employ DFT-informed machine learning techniques to develop force-field parameters. Finally, MD simulations using these developed force-field parameters will be used to study the effects of radiation damage on the defect and mechanical properties of the selected alloys. This research explains the use of the CALPHAD approach and shows how critical modeling (DFT and MD) is in developing novel material such as HEAs. It also highlights the promising role of machine learning in this field. The results from this study will greatly improve the novel materials development to be used in next-generation accelerator components, leading to higher beam power and longer operational times of BIDs.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Photon-Counting Interferometry to Detect Geontropic Space-Time Fluctuations with GQuEST

The gravity from the quantum entanglement of space-time (GQuEST) experiment uses tabletop-scale Michelson laser interferometers to probe for fluctuations in space-time. We present a practicable interferometer design featuring a novel photon-counting readout method that provides unprecedented sensitivity, as it is not subject to the interferometric standard quantum limit. We evaluate the potential of this design to measure space-time fluctuations motivated by recent “geontropic” quantum gravity models. The accelerated accrual of Fisher information offered by the photon-counting readout enables GQuEST to detect the predicted quantum gravity phenomena within measurement times at least 100 times shorter than equivalent conventional interferometers. The GQuEST design, thus, enables a fast and sensitive search for signatures of quantum gravity in a laboratory-scale experiment.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Compact cryomodule for mobile stand-alone superconducting industrial accelerators

Superconducting RF (SRF) accelerators have the potential to be more profitable in comparison with normally conducting accelerators, as long they can be made compact, achieve operational simplicity, autonomy, trans- portability, satisfactory energy efficiency, as well as have reasonable costs. The development of SRF technologies such as Nb 3 Sn coating, conductively-cooled resonators, and high-capacity liquid-helium-free cryocoolers made SRF accelerators mobile and energetically and economically efficient at a beam power of tens of kW. One of the key elements of such an accelerator is the cryomodule, which must have minimal thermal losses to enable operation from low power cryoheads and enable conductive cooling of SRF resonator. In this research we present the design and test results of a compact cryomodule for an industrial stand-alone SRF linear accelerator proto- type, based on 650 MHz elliptical resonators, being developed at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Computationally aided, entropy-driven synthesis of highly efficient and durable multi-elemental alloy catalysts

Multi-elemental alloy nanoparticles (MEA-NPs) hold great promise for catalyst discovery in a virtually unlimited compositional space. However, rational and controllable synthesize of these intrinsically complex structures remains a challenge. Here, we report the computationally aided, entropy-driven design and synthesis of highly efficient and durable catalyst MEA-NPs. The computational strategy includes prescreening of millions of compositions, prediction of alloy formation by density functional theory calculations, and examination of structural stability by a hybrid Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics method. Selected compositions can be efficiently and rapidly synthesized at high temperature (e.g., 1500 K, 0.5 s) with excellent thermal stability. We applied these MEA-NPs for catalytic NH 3 decomposition and observed outstanding performance due to the synergistic effect of multi-elemental mixing, their small size, and the alloy phase. We anticipate that the computationally aided rational design and rapid synthesis of MEA-NPs are broadly applicable for various catalytic reactions and will accelerate material discovery.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evaluating uncertainty-based active learning for accelerating the generalization of molecular property prediction

Deep learning models have proven to be a powerful tool for the prediction of molecular properties for applications including drug design and the development of energy storage materials. However, in order to learn accurate and robust structure–property mappings, these models require large amounts of data which can be a challenge to collect given the time and resource-intensive nature of experimental material characterization efforts. Additionally, such models fail to generalize to new types of molecular structures that were not included in the model training data. The acceleration of material development through uncertainty-guided experimental design has the promise to significantly reduce the data requirements and enable faster generalization to new types of materials. To evaluate the potential of such approaches for electrolyte design applications, we perform comprehensive evaluation of existing uncertainty quantification methods on the prediction of two relevant molecular properties - aqueous solubility and redox potential. We develop novel evaluation methods to probe the utility of the uncertainty estimates for both in-domain and out-of-domain data sets. Finally, we leverage selected uncertainty estimation methods for active learning to evaluate their capacity to support experimental design.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗