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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 1,333 records · Page 74
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Revealing the structure of light pseudoscalar mesons at the electron–ion collider

The questions of how the bulk of the Universe's visible mass emerges and how it is manifest in the existence and properties of hadrons are profound, and probe the heart of strongly interacting matter. Paradoxically, the lightest pseudoscalar mesons appear to be key to a further understanding of the emergent mass and structure mechanisms. These mesons, namely, the pion and kaon, are the Nambu-Goldstone boson modes of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Unravelling their partonic structure and the interplay between emergent and Higgs-boson mass mechanisms is a common goal of three interdependent approaches - continuum QCD phenomenology, lattice-regularised QCD, and the global analysis of parton distributions - linked to experimental measurements of hadron structure. Experimentally, the anticipated electron-ion collider will enable a revolution in our ability to study pion and kaon structures, accessed by scattering from the 'meson cloud' of the proton through the Sullivan process. With the goal of enabling a suite of measurements that can address these questions, we examine key reactions that identify the critical detector-system requirements needed to map tagged pion and kaon cross-sections over a wide range of kinematics. The excellent prospects for extracting pion structural, functional, and form-factor data are outlined, and similar prospects for kaon structures are discussed in the context of a worldwide programme. Finally, the successful completion of the programme outlined herein will deliver deep, far-reaching insights into the emergence of pions and kaons, their properties, and their role as QCD's Goldstone boson modes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

True molecular conformation and structure determination by three-dimensional electron diffraction of PAH by-products potentially useful for electronic applications

The true mol­ecular conformation and the crystal structure of benzo[e]di­naphtho­[2,3-a;1',2',3',4'-ghi]fluoranthene, 7,14-di­phenyl­naphtho­[1,2,3,4-cde]bis­anthene and 7,16-di­phenyl­naphtho­[1,2,3,4-cde]heli­anthrene were determined ab initio by 3D electron diffraction. All three mol­ecules are remarkable polycyclic aromatic hydro­carbons. The mol­ecular conformation of two of these com­pounds could not be determined via classical spectroscopic methods due to the large size of the mol­ecule and the occurrence of multiple and reciprocally connected aromatic rings. The mol­ecular structure of the third mol­ecule was previously considered provisional. These com­pounds were isolated as by-products in the synthesis of similar products and were at the same time nanocrystalline and available only in very limited amounts. 3D electron diffraction data, taken from submicrometric single crystals, allowed for direct ab initio structure solution and the unbiased determination of the inter­nal mol­ecular conformation. Detailed synthetic routes and spectroscopic analyses are also discussed. Based on many-body perturbation theory simulations, benzo[e]di­naphtho­[2,3-a;1',2',3',4'-ghi]fluoranthene may be a promising candidate for triplet–triplet annihilation and 7,14-di­phenyl­naphtho­[1,2,3,4-cde]bis­anthene may be a promising candidate for inter­molecular singlet fission in the solid state.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Power Electronic Development Challenges for High Power Density Integrated Electric Drive Applications

The ever-increasing demand for compact, efficient, and high-performance traction drive systems for transportation applications has accelerated the development of integrated electric drives. In these systems, the electric machine and inverter are integrated within a single housing, offering significant advantages in electrical performance, volume, weight, cost, and overall system efficiency. Despite these benefits, such high levels of integration introduce a new set of challenges, particularly in power electronic design and component selection. This article presents an in-depth investigation of a highly integrated electric drive architecture with an internal stator-mounted inverter, highlighting key design considerations and trade-offs aimed exclusively at maximizing system power density.Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, the power density of a voltage-source-inverter-driven electric drive is primarily governed by the volumetric contributions of the power modules, heat sinks, and DC-link capacitors. Accordingly, this work focuses on the optimization of these three critical components to enhance the inverter's overall power density. The proposed design achieves a power density of 100 kW/L, demonstrating the effectiveness of the presented approach for next-generation integrated electric drive systems.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electron-Beam Dynamics for an Advanced Flash-Radiography Accelerator

Beam dynamics issues were assessed for a new linear induction electron accelerator being designed for multipulse flash radiography of large explosively driven hydrodynamic experiments. Special attention was paid to equilibrium beam transport, possible emittance growth, and beam stability. Especially problematic would be high-frequency beam instabilities that could blur individual radiographic source spots, low-frequency beam motion that could cause pulse-to-pulse spot displacement, and emittance growth that could enlarge the source spots. Furthermore, beam physics issues were examined through theoretical analysis and computer simulations, including particle-in-cell codes. Beam instabilities investigated included beam breakup, image displacement, diocotron, parametric envelope, ion hose, and the resistive wall instability. The beam corkscrew motion and emittance growth from beam mismatch were also studied. It was concluded that a beam with radiographic quality equivalent to the present accelerators at Los Alamos National Laboratory will result if the same engineering standards and construction details are upheld.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electron-beam-evaporated thin films of hafnium dioxide for fabricating electronic devices

Thin films of hafnium dioxide (HfO 2 ) are widely used as the gate oxide in fabricating integrated circuits because of their high dielectric constants. In this paper, the authors report the growth of thin films of HfO 2 using e-beam evaporation, and the fabrication of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits using this HfO 2 thin film as the gate oxide. The authors analyzed the thin films using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, thereby demonstrating that the e-beam-evaporation-grown HfO 2 film has a polycrystalline structure and forms an excellent interface with silicon. Accordingly, we fabricated 31-stage CMOS ring oscillator to test the quality of the HfO 2 thin film as the gate oxide, and obtained excellent rail-to-rail oscillation waveforms from it, denoting that the HfO 2 thin film functioned very well as the gate oxide.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-424: Dosimetric Verification of Modulated Electron Radiation Therapy Delivered Using An Electron Specific Multileaf Collimator for Treatment of Scalp Cases

Purpose: Modulated electron radiotherapy (MERT) has the potential to achieve better treatment outcome for shallow tumors such as those of breast and scalp. In a separate study with scalp lesions, MERT was compared to volumetric modulated arc therapy. Our results showed a reduction in the dose reaching the brain with MERT. However dose calculation accuracy and delivery efficiency challenges remain. Thus in the current study we proceed to add more cases to demonstrate MERT beneficial outcome and its delivery accuracy using an electron specific multileaf collimator (eMLC). Methods: We have used the MCBEAM code for treatment head simulation and for generating phase space files to be used as radiation source input for our Monte Carlo based treatment planning system (MC TPS). MCPLAN code is used for calculation of patient specific dose deposition coefficient and for final MERT plan dose calculation. An in-house developed optimization code is used for the optimization process. MERT plans were generated for real patients and head and neck phantom. Film was used for dosimetric verification. The film was cut following the contour of the curved phantom surface and then sealed with black masking tape. In the measurement, the sealed film packet was sandwiched between two adjacent slabs of the head and neck phantom. The measured 2D dose distribution was then compared with calculations. Results: The eMLC allows effective treatment of scalps with multi-lesions spreading around the patient head, which was usually difficult to plan or very time consuming with conventional applicators. MERT continues to show better reduction in the brain dose. The dosimetric measurements showed slight discrepancy, which was attributed to the film setup. Conclusion: MERT can improve treatment plan quality for patients with scalp cancers. Our in-house MC TPS is capable of performing treatment planning and accurate dose calculation for MERT using the eMLC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

SPIN effects, QCD, and Jefferson Laboratory with 12 GeV electrons

QCD and Spin physics are playing important role in our understanding of hadron structure. I will give a short overview of origin of hadron structure in QCD and highlight modern understanding of the subject. Jefferson Laboratory is undergoing an upgrade that will increase the energy of electron beam up to 12 GeV. JLab is one of the leading facilities in nuclear physics studies and once operational in 2015 JLab 12 will be crucial for future of nuclear physics. I will briefly discuss future studies in four experimental halls of Jefferson Lab.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Recirculating Electron Accelerators with Noncircular Electron Orbits as Radiation Sources for Applications (a Review)

State-of-the-art compact recirculating electron accelerators operating at intermediate energies (tens of MeV) are reviewed. The acceleration schemes implemented in the rhodotron, ridgetron, fantron, and cylindertron machines are discussed. Major accelerator components such as the electron guns, accelerating cavities, and bending magnets are described. The parameters of currently operating recirculating accelerators are tabulated, and applications of these accelerators in different processes of irradiation are exemplified.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Microstructure Evolution in Ion-Irradiated Oxidized Zircaloy-4 Studied with Synchrotron Radiation Microdiffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy

The corrosion process (oxidation and hydriding) of zirconium alloy fuel cladding is one of the limiting factors on fuel rod lifetime, particularly for Zircaloy-4. The corrosion rate of this alloy shows indeed a great acceleration at high burnup in light water reactors (LWRs). Understanding the corrosion behavior under irradiation for this alloy is an important technological issue for the safety and efficiency of LWRs. In particular, understanding the effect of irradiation on the metal and oxide layers is a key parameter in the study of corrosion behavior of zirconium alloys. In this study, Zircaloy-4 samples underwent helium and proton ion irradiation up to 0.3 dpa, forming a uniform defect distribution up to 1 pm deep. Both as-received and precorroded samples were irradiated to compare the effect of metal irradiation to that of oxide layer irradiation. After irradiation, samples were corroded to study the impact of irradiation defects in the metal and in preexisting oxide layers on the formation of new oxide layers. Synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction and microfluorescence were used to follow the evolution of oxide crystallographic phases, texture, and stoichiometry both in the metal and in the oxide. In particular, the tetragonal oxide phase fraction, which has been known to play an important role in corrosion behavior, was mapped in both unirradiated and irradiated metals at the submicron scale and appeared to be significantly affected by irradiation. These observations, complemented with electron microscopy analyses on samples in carefully chosen areas of interest, were combined to fully characterize changes caused by irradiation in metal and oxide phases of both alloys.

ion-irradiation↗
DOE OSTI2018

Electron optics for 4 MeV ultrafast electron microscope - Final Report

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. (CCR), in collaboration with Northern Illinois University (NIU), proposed to leverage CCR’s experience in electron beam generation and focusing and NIU’s experience in electron microscopy to develop a 4 MeV UEM with sub-ns temporal resolution and 0.3 nm spatial resolution with a relative energy spread of 10-5. Important design tools for the program were CCR’s 3D, finite element code Beam Optics Analyzer (BOA) and the photocathode design code PHOTOQE. However, early in the program it became clear that information necessary to use PHOTOQE was not available, and the program focused on the modifying to BOA to provide the required functionality.

beam optics simulation↗
DOE OSTI2016

ELECTRON CYCLOTRON MASER EMISSIONS FROM EVOLVING FAST ELECTRON BEAMS

Fast electron beams (FEBs) are common products of solar active phenomena. Solar radio bursts are an important diagnostic tool for understanding FEBs and the solar plasma environment in which they propagate along solar magnetic fields. In particular, the evolution of the energy spectrum and velocity distribution of FEBs due to the interaction with the ambient plasma and field during propagation can significantly influence the efficiency and properties of their emissions. In this paper, we discuss the possible evolution of the energy spectrum and velocity distribution of FEBs due to energy loss processes and the pitch-angle effect caused by magnetic field inhomogeneity, and we analyze the effects of the evolution on electron-cyclotron maser (ECM) emission, which is one of the most important mechanisms for producing solar radio bursts by FEBs. Our results show that the growth rates all decrease with the energy loss factor Q , but increase with the magnetic mirror ratio σ as well as with the steepness index δ . Moreover, the evolution of FEBs can also significantly influence the fastest growing mode and the fastest growing phase angle. This leads to the change of the polarization sense of the ECM emission. In particular, our results also reveal that an FEB that undergoes different evolution processes will generate different types of ECM emission. We believe the present results to be very helpful for a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic spectra of solar radio bursts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Constraint on a cosmological variation in the proton-to-electron mass ratio from electronic co absorption

Carbon monoxide (CO) absorption in the sub-damped Lyα absorber at redshift z{sub abs}≃2.69 toward the background quasar SDSS J123714.60+064759.5 (J1237+0647) was investigated for the first time in order to search for a possible variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio, μ, over a cosmological timescale. The observations were performed with the Very Large Telescope/Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph with a signal-to-noise ratio of 40 per 2.5 km s{sup −1} per pixel at ∼5000 Å. Thirteen CO vibrational bands in this absorber are detected: the A{sup 1}Π − X{sup 1}Σ{sup +} (ν{sup ′}, 0) for ν{sup ′}=0--8, B{sup 1}Σ{sup +} − X{sup 1}Σ{sup +} (0, 0), C{sup 1}Σ{sup +} − X{sup 1}Σ{sup +} (0, 0), and E{sup 1}Π − X{sup 1}Σ{sup +} (0, 0) singlet–singlet bands and the d{sup 3}Δ − X{sup 1}Σ{sup +} (5, 0) singlet–triplet band. An updated database including the most precise molecular inputs needed for a μ-variation analysis is presented for rotational levels J = 0–5, consisting of transition wavelengths, oscillator strengths, natural lifetime damping parameters, and sensitivity coefficients to a variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio. A comprehensive fitting method was used to fit all the CO bands at once and an independent constraint of Δμ/μ=(0.7±1.6{sub stat}±0.5{sub syst})×10{sup −5} was derived from CO only. A combined analysis using both molecular hydrogen and CO in the same J1237+0647 absorber returned a final constraint on the relative variation of Δμ/μ=(−5.6±5.6{sub stat}±3.1{sub syst})×10{sup −6}, which is consistent with no variation over a look-back time of ∼11.4 Gyr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

AlGaN High Electron Mobility Transistor for High-Temperature Logic

Here we report on AlGaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT)-based logic development, using combined enhancement- and depletion-mode transistors to fabricate inverters with operation from room temperature up to 500°C. Our development approach included: (a) characterizing temperature-dependent carrier transport for different AlGaN HEMT heterostructures, (b) developing a suitable gate metal scheme for use in high temperatures, and (c) over-temperature testing of discrete devices and inverters. Hall mobility data (from 30°C to 500°C) revealed the reference GaN-channel HEMT experienced a 6.9x reduction in mobility, whereas the AlGaN channel HEMTs experienced about a 3.1x reduction. Furthermore, a greater aluminum contrast between the barrier and channel enabled higher carrier densities in the two-dimensional electron gas for all temperatures. The combination of reduced variation in mobility with temperature and high sheet carrier concentration showed that an Al-rich AlGaN-channel HEMT with a high barrier-to-channel aluminum contrast is the best option for an extreme temperature HEMT design. Three gate metal stacks were selected for low resistivity, high melting point, low thermal expansion coefficient, and high expected barrier height. The impact of thermal cycling was examined through electrical characterization of samples measured before and after rapid thermal anneal. The 200-nm tungsten gate metallization was the top performer with minimal reduction in drain current, a slightly positive threshold voltage shift, and about an order of magnitude advantage over the other gates in on-to-off current ratio. After incorporating the tungsten gate metal stack in device fabrication, characterization of transistors and inverters from room temperature up to 500°C was performed. The enhancement-mode (e-mode) devices’ resistance started increasing at about 200°C, resulting in drain current degradation. This phenomenon was not observed in depletion-mode (d-mode) devices but highlights a challenge for inverters in an e-mode driver and d-mode load configuration.

42 ENGINEERING↗