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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 OSTI2025

Anisotropic structure in a vapor-deposited Pd-based metallic glass

The understanding of the structure of amorphous solids beyond nearest-neighbors has long been sought after. While recent works have demonstrated evidence for medium-range ordering and its importance for the physical properties of glassy systems, few have investigated mesoscopic structural correlations beyond a few nanometers. In this work, combining X-ray nano-diffraction with high-energy X-ray total scattering with a small focus, we have not only found structural anisotropy in a vapor-deposited Pd 77.5 Cu 6 Si 16.5 metallic glass sample which appears to show two distinct and well-defined structures in different directions, but also obtained detailed characterizations of this anisotropic structure in real space. Upon annealing, the sample loses the long-range anisotropy, and at the same time, it appears to densify with a contraction of higher-order coordination shells. In light of recent works, our results may indicate a transition between two structures in the sample with different densities, medium-range ordering, and degrees of anisotropy. We expect these results to be relevant to a larger family of metallic glass systems, where similar discoveries may be made with the use of high-quality, small-focus X-ray beams.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

The effect on soot and its gas precursors of doping ethylene with 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-heptane in the nitrogen-fuel stream of a laminar non-premixed Planar Mixing Layer Flame (PMLF)

Synthetic Aviation Turbine Fuels (SATFs) are promising for reducing soot emissions from the aviation sector and diversifying Jet Fuel (JF) sources. Accurately predicting the combustion and emissions behavior of SATFs (and other JFs) necessitates robust experimental databases to elucidate the chemistry of long-chain iso-paraffins, which can compose up to two-thirds of SATF blends and whose behavior is considered to be well-represented by that of iso-dodecane isomers. Here, this study characterizes two laminar non-premixed Planar Mixing Layer Flames (PMLFs) with mild soot loads fueled by nitrogen-diluted ethylene, pure and doped with 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-heptane, respectively. The two PMLFs have the same stoichiometric mixture fraction and total hydrocarbon mole fraction in the fuel stream (X F,F =X C2H4,F +X C12H26,F = 0.260), resulting in nearly the same maximum temperature (T max ≈1800 K) and simple identification of the effects of doping. Importantly, any horizontal PMLF cross-section has a self-similar structure that can be modeled as an equivalent One-Dimensional Counterflow Flame (1D-CF) with vanishingly small strain rate (a). The cross-section at a Height Above the Burner (HAB) of 50 mm is characterized in terms of C 0 -C 18 gas species using capillary sampling followed by GC-MS analyses. Laser-Induced Emission Spectroscopy (LIES) quantifies the soot volume fraction (ƒ v ) profiles at HAB=25 and 50 mm where Elastic Laser Light Scattering (E-LLS) is performed to determine the a of the equivalent 1D-CFs and the profile of the E-LLS equivalent diameter ( d 6,3 ) of soot. The substitution of 1500 ppm of ethylene with 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-heptane causes an increase of ≈1.5 in the concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fv. Concurrently, the measured d 6,3 doubles in the oxidizer stream, yet remains the same in the fuel stream, at HAB=50 mm. Instead, at HAB= 25 mm, the iso-dodecane doping does not affect the d 6,3 profile in either stream. The experimental results partially validate the chemical reactions and soot formation kinetic model developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and provide directions to further improve its predictions.

Iso-dodecane (2,2,4,6,6-Pentamethyl-Heptane)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of the Dielectric Constant on the Ionic Current Rectification of Bipolar Nanopores

In this paper, we investigate how the dielectric constant, ϵ, of an electrolyte solvent influences the current rectification characteristics of bipolar nanopores. It is well recognized that bipolar nanopores with two oppositely charged regions rectify current when exposed to an alternating electric potential difference. Here, we consider dilute electrolytes with NaCl only and with a mixture of NaCl and charged nanoparticles. These systems are studied using two levels of description, all-atom explicit water molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and coarse-grained implicit solvent MD simulations. The charge density and electric potential profiles and current-voltage relationship predicted by the implicit solvent simulations with ϵ = 11.3 show good agreement with the predictions from the explicit water simulations. Under nonequilibrium conditions, the predictions of the implicit solvent simulations with a dielectric constant closer to the one of bulk water are significantly different from the predictions obtained with the explicit water model. Further, these findings are closely aligned with experimental data on the dielectric constant of water when confined to nanometric spaces, which suggests that ϵ decreases significantly compared to its value in the bulk. Moreover, the largest electric current rectification is observed in systems containing nanoparticles when ϵ = 78.8. Using enhanced sampling, we have shown that this larger rectification arises from the presence of a significantly deeper minimum in the free energy of the system with a larger ϵ, and when a negative voltage bias is applied. Since implicit solvent models and mean-field continuum theories are often used to design Janus membranes based on bipolar nanopores, this work highlights the importance of properly accounting for the effects of confinement on the dielectric constant of the electrolyte solvent. The results presented here indicate that the dielectric constant in implicit solvent simulations may be used as an adjustable parameter to approximately account for the effects of nanometric confinement on aqueous electrolyte solvents.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Strengthening of Calcite Assemblages Through Chemical Complexation Reactions

Abstract Utilization of subsurface reservoirs, including fluid extraction/injection, can induce stress changes and modify in‐situ chemical equilibrium causing subcritical fracturing and deformation. Here, we show that chemical complexation reactions at the newly created fracture surfaces within the crack tip limit fracturing during consolidation of granular calcite assemblages. Previously, we showed that analogous chemical complexation reactions can increase in‐situ fracture toughness in pre‐fractured single crystal calcite. To test the chemical complexation effect under subsurface conditions, we consolidated samples under increasing hydrostatic pressure to induce widespread intergranular fracturing in the presence of fluid containing common anions. Measured consolidation, acoustic emissions, and microfracturing demonstrate that deformation correlates with complexation affinity for calcium in calcite and aqueous anions. We observed that deformation is lowest in the presence of strongly complexing anions (e.g., sulphate), provided sufficient anion diffusion rates. This understanding is important for predicting reservoir effective strength in the presence of complex aqueous fluids.

Choens, R. C.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Diel Redox Cycle of Manganese in the Surface Arctic Ocean

Knowledge of the chemical speciation of particulate manganese (pMn) is important for understanding the biogeochemical cycling of Mn and other particle-reactive elements. Here, in this work, we present the synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy-derived average oxidation state (AOS) of pMn in the surface Arctic Ocean collected during the United States GEOTRACES Arctic cruise (GN01) in 2015. We show that the pMn AOS is <2.4 when sampled during the day and more than ~3.0 when sampled at night. We hypothesize that an active light-dependent redox cycle between dissolved Mn and particulate Mn(III/IV) exists during the day-night cycle in the surface Arctic Ocean, which occurs on the timescale of hours. The magnitude of observed pMn AOS is likely determined by the net effect of the length of the previous night and integrated light level before the end of pMn sampling.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Scaling of MCS, Non‐MCS, and Total Extreme Precipitation With Temperature Over the Central United States

Abstract While extreme precipitation is expected to increase in a warming climate, its scaling with temperature at weather timescales often produces puzzling results. Here, we focus on the summer months over the central U.S. to investigate the scaling of extreme precipitation intensity (EPI) with local temperature and determine the contribution of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) to the EPI scaling. Using an observational data set that differentiates precipitation associated with MCS and non‐MCS storms, we find that MCS storms contribute to 70% of EPI samples at temperatures lower than 298 K where EPI increases with temperature. However, at temperatures of 298–305 K, MCSs' contribution to EPI decreases as the predominant storm type shifts from MCS to non‐MCS storms, causing EPI to decrease with temperature due to the weaker rainfall intensity associated with non‐MCS storms compared with MCS storms. Our findings underscore the important role of different storm types in affecting the EPI scaling relationships.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ensemble‐Based Spatially Distributed CLM5 Hydrological Parameter Estimation for the Continental United States

Abstract One of the major challenges in large‐domain hydrological modeling efforts lies in the estimation of spatially distributed hydrological parameters while simultaneously accounting for their associated uncertainties. Addressing this challenge is particularly difficult in ungauged locations. With growing societal demands for large‐scale streamflow projections to inform water resource management and long‐term planning, evaluating and constraining hydrological parameter uncertainty is increasingly vital. This study introduces a hybrid regionalization approach to enhance hydrological predictions of the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) across the Continental United States (CONUS), with a total of 50,629 1/8° grid cells. This hybrid method combines the strengths of two existing techniques: parameter regionalization and streamflow signature regionalization. It identifies ensemble behavioral parameters for each 1/8° grid cell across the CONUS domain, tailored to three distinct streamflow signatures focused on low flows, high flows, and annual water balance. Evaluating this hybrid method for 464 CAMELS (Catchment Attributes and Meteorology for Large‐sample Studies) basins demonstrates a significant improvement in CLM5 hydrological predictions, even in challenging arid regions. In CONUS applications, the derived spatially distributed parameter sets capture both spatial continuity and variation of parameters, highlighting their heterogeneous nature within specific regions. Overall, this hybrid regionalization approach offers a promising solution to the complex task of improving hydrological modeling over large domains for important hydrological applications.

CLM5↗
DOE OSTI2024

Bridging length scales in organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors through internal strain and mesoscale dynamics

Understanding the structural and dynamic properties of disordered systems at the mesoscale is crucial. This is particularly important in organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs), which undergo significant and complex structural changes when operated in an electrolyte. Here, in this study, we investigate the mesoscale strain, reversibility and dynamics of a model OMIEC material under external electrochemical potential using operando X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. Our results reveal that strain and structural hysteresis depend on the sample's cycling history, establishing a comprehensive kinetic sequence bridging the macroscopic and microscopic behaviours of OMIECs. Furthermore, we uncover the equilibrium and non-equilibrium dynamics of charge carriers and material-doping states, highlighting the unexpected coupling between charge carrier dynamics and mesoscale order. These findings advance our understanding of the structure-dynamics-function relationships in OMIECs, opening pathways for designing and engineering materials with improved performance and functionality in non-equilibrium states during device operation. Understanding mesoscale structure and dynamics in organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors is crucial. Mesoscale strain kinetics and structural hysteresis have been studied, and they uncover the coupling between charge carrier dynamics and mesoscale order in organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Focussing Protons from a Kilojoule Laser for Intense Beam Heating using Proximal Target Structures

Proton beams driven by chirped pulse amplified lasers have multi-picosecond duration and can isochorically and volumetrically heat material samples, potentially providing an approach for creating samples of warm dense matter with conditions not present on Earth. Envisioned on a larger scale, they could heat fusion fuel to achieve ignition. We have shown in an experiment that a kilojoule-class, multi-picosecond short pulse laser is particularly effective for heating materials. The proton beam can be focussed via target design to achieve exceptionally high flux, important for the applications mentioned. The laser irradiated spherically curved diamond-like-carbon targets with intensity 4 × 10 18 W/cm 2 , producing proton beams with 3 MeV slope temperature. A Cu witness foil was positioned behind the curved target, and the gap between was either empty or spanned with a structure. With a structured target, the total emission of Cu Kα fluorescence was increased 18 fold and the emission profile was consistent with a tightly focussed beam. Transverse proton radiography probed the target with ps order temporal and 10 μm spatial resolution, revealing the fast-acting focussing electric field. Complementary particle-in-cell simulations show how the structures funnel protons to the tight focus. Here, the beam of protons and neutralizing electrons induce the bright Kα emission observed and heat the Cu to 100 eV.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Co-sputtering of lithium vanadium oxide thin films with variable lithium content to enable advanced solid-state batteries

Advanced solid-state batteries most likely will entail aggressive structures or architectures with constraints that typically limit processing temperatures. Considering this, we have identified the importance of providing lithiated electrode materials at a modest processing temperature. Here we describe a pathway to meet this by the development of a co-sputtering process using lithium oxide and vanadium oxide targets which enables the growth of lithiated vanadium oxide (LVO) thin films for application in solid-state batteries. Analysis of the structure and film composition of samples deposited with different co-sputtering rate ratios and post-annealing shows that multiple phases of Li x V 2 O 5 likely coexist (i.e. α-, ε-, δ-, and γ-V 2 O 5 ), and that this is unchanged after electrochemical cycling. The co-sputtering process can tune the lithium content up to a highly lithiated state of at least Li 2 V 2 O 5 . Electrochemical half-cells showed a significant amount of lithium available on the first charge (delithiation of LVO). LVO samples post-annealed at 300 °C showed typical redox peaks for Li x V 2 O 5 for both one and two lithium insertion reactions, which were highly reversible in most cases. A thin-film solid-state battery prototype using LVO as a cathode had 20% of the expected capacity, although the coulombic efficiency is near 100% at a fast rate (22C). As a result, this co-sputtering technique represents an opportunity for low temperature synthesis of pre-lithiated cathodes for thin film batteries, and introduces a broader methodology of depositing metal oxides with different alkali metal contents.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Photo-z outlier self-calibration in weak lensing surveys

Calibrating photometric redshift errors in weak lensing surveys with external data is extremely challenging. In this work, we show that both Gaussian and outlier photo-z parameters can be self-calibrated from the data alone. This comes at no cost for the neutrino masses, curvature and dark energy equation of state w0, but with a 65% degradation when both w0 and wa are varied. We perform a realistic forecast for the Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) 3× 2 analysis, combining cosmic shear, projected galaxy clustering and galaxy - galaxy lensing. We confirm the importance of marginalizing over photo-z outliers. We examine a subset of internal cross-correlations, dubbed "null correlations", which are usually ignored in 3× 2 analyses. Despite contributing only ~ 10% of the total signal-to-noise, these null correlations improve the constraints on photo-z parameters by up to an order of magnitude. Using the same galaxy sample as sources and lenses dramatically improves the photo-z uncertainties too. Together, these methods add robustness to any claim of detected new Physics, and reduce the statistical errors on cosmology by 15% and 10% respectively. Finally, including CMB lensing from an experiment like Simons Observatory or CMB-S4 improves the cosmological and photo-z posterior constraints by about 10%, and further improves the robustness to systematics. To give intuition on the Fisher forecasts, we examine in detail several toy models that explain the origin of the photo-z self-calibration. Our Fisher code LaSSI (Large-Scale Structure Information), which includes the effect of Gaussian and outlier photo-z, shear multiplicative bias, linear galaxy bias, and extensions to LCDM, is publicly available at \href{https://github.com/EmmanuelSchaan/LaSSI}{https://github.com/EmmanuelSchaan/LaSSI}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Carbon flux estimates are sensitive to data source: a comparison of field and lab temperature sensitivity data

Abstract A large literature exists on mechanisms driving soil production of the greenhouse gases CO 2 and CH 4 . Although it is common knowledge that measurements obtained through field studies vs. laboratory incubations can diverge because of the vastly different conditions of these environments, few studies have systematically examined these patterns. These data are used to parameterize and benchmark ecosystem- to global-scale models, which are then susceptible to the biases of the source data. Here, we examine how greenhouse gas measurements may be influenced by whether the measurement/incubation was conducted in the field vs. laboratory, focusing on CO 2 and CH 4 measurements. We use Q 10 of greenhouse gas flux (temperature sensitivity) for our analyses because this metric is commonly used in biological and Earth system sciences and is an important parameter in many modeling frameworks. We predicted that laboratory measurements would be less variable, but also less representative of true field conditions. However, there was greater variability in the Q 10 values calculated from lab-based measurements of CO 2 fluxes, because lab experiments explore extremes rarely seen in situ , and reflect the physical and chemical disturbances occurring during sampling, transport, and incubation. Overall, respiration Q 10 values were significantly greater in laboratory incubations (mean = 4.19) than field measurements (mean = 3.05), with strong influences of incubation temperature and climate region/biome. However, this was in part because field measurements typically represent total respiration (Rs), whereas lab incubations typically represent heterotrophic respiration (Rh), making direct comparisons difficult to interpret. Focusing only on Rh-derived Q 10 , these values showed almost identical distributions across laboratory ( n = 1110) and field ( n = 581) experiments, providing strong support for using the former as an experimental proxy for the latter, although we caution that geographic biases in the extant data make this conclusion tentative. Due to a smaller sample size of CH 4 Q 10 data, we were unable to perform a comparable robust analysis, but we expect similar interactions with soil temperature, moisture, and environmental/climatic variables. Our results here suggest the need for more concerted efforts to document and standardize these data, including sample and site metadata.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Influence of Comptonization region over the ambiance of accretion disc in active galactic nucleus

ABSTRACT Understanding the radiative and physical structures of inner region of a few 100 pc of active galactic nucleus (AGNs) is important to constrain the causes of their activities. Although the X-ray emission from the Comptonization region/corona and the accretion disc regulates the broad-line emission regions and torus structures, the exact mutual dependency is not understood well. We performed correlation studies for X-ray, mid-infrared, and different components of Balmer emission lines for the selected sample of AGNs. Almost 10 different parameters and their interdependencies were explored in order to understand the underlying astrophysics. We found that the X-ray luminosity has a linear dependency on the various components of broad Balmer emission lines (e.g. L$_{\text{2-10 keV}}\, \propto$ L$^{0.78}_{\text{H}\beta ^{\text{B}}}$) and found a strong dependency on the optical continuum luminosity (L$_{\text{2-10 keV}}\, \propto$ L$^{0.86}_{5100\, \mathring{\rm A}}$). For a selected sample, we also observed a linear dependency between X-ray and mid-infrared luminosity (L$_{\text{2-10 keV}}\, \propto$ L$^{0.74}_{6\, \mu \text{m}}$). A break point was observed in our correlation studies for X-ray power-law index, Γ, and mass of black hole at ∼ log (M/M⊙) = 8.95. Similarly, the relations between Γ and full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of H α and H β broad components show breaks at FWHMH α = 7642 ± 657 km s−1 and FWHMH β = 7336 ± 650 km s−1. However, more data are required to confine the breaks locations exactly. We noted that Γ and Eddington ratios are negatively correlated to Balmer decrements in our selected sample. We analysed and discussed about the implications of new findings in terms of interaction AGN structures.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

HT-SIP: a semi-automated stable isotope probing pipeline identifies cross-kingdom interactions in the hyphosphere of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract Background Linking the identity of wild microbes with their ecophysiological traits and environmental functions is a key ambition for microbial ecologists. Of many techniques that strive for this goal, Stable-isotope probing—SIP—remains among the most comprehensive for studying whole microbial communities in situ. In DNA-SIP, actively growing microorganisms that take up an isotopically heavy substrate build heavier DNA, which can be partitioned by density into multiple fractions and sequenced. However, SIP is relatively low throughput and requires significant hands-on labor. We designed and tested a semi-automated, high-throughput SIP (HT-SIP) pipeline to support well-replicated, temporally resolved amplicon and metagenomics experiments. We applied this pipeline to a soil microhabitat with significant ecological importance—the hyphosphere zone surrounding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) hyphae. AMF form symbiotic relationships with most plant species and play key roles in terrestrial nutrient and carbon cycling. Results Our HT-SIP pipeline for fractionation, cleanup, and nucleic acid quantification of density gradients requires one-sixth of the hands-on labor compared to manual SIP and allows 16 samples to be processed simultaneously. Automated density fractionation increased the reproducibility of SIP gradients compared to manual fractionation, and we show adding a non-ionic detergent to the gradient buffer improved SIP DNA recovery. We applied HT-SIP to 13 C-AMF hyphosphere DNA from a 13 CO 2 plant labeling study and created metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) using high-resolution SIP metagenomics (14 metagenomes per gradient). SIP confirmed the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices and associated MAGs were highly enriched (10–33 atom% 13 C), even though the soils’ overall enrichment was low (1.8 atom% 13 C). We assembled 212 13 C-hyphosphere MAGs; the hyphosphere taxa that assimilated the most AMF-derived 13 C were from the phyla Myxococcota, Fibrobacterota, Verrucomicrobiota, and the ammonia-oxidizing archaeon genus Nitrososphaera . Conclusions Our semi-automated HT-SIP approach decreases operator time and improves reproducibility by targeting the most labor-intensive steps of SIP—fraction collection and cleanup. We illustrate this approach in a unique and understudied soil microhabitat—generating MAGs of actively growing microbes living in the AMF hyphosphere (without plant roots). The MAGs’ phylogenetic composition and gene content suggest predation, decomposition, and ammonia oxidation may be key processes in hyphosphere nutrient cycling.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

TMS XTRRA experiments on NIF

The study of x-ray induced rapid heating and the resulting material responses - (thermomechanical shock (TMS) and thermo-structural response (TSR)) - is important to our understanding of material behavior in extreme environments. A series of high conversion efficiency (XRCE) x-ray sources have been developed for the NIF laser facility ranging in fluence and spectral content. In conjunction with source development, we have developed a new XTRRA (X-ray Transport and Radiation Response Analysis) test cassette to hold a set of samples, each at equal distance from target chamber center (TCC) where the x-ray source is placed. Design and performance details of the x-ray sources is discussed elsewhere. Here, we describe the development and use of this TMS XTRRA test cassette. The XTRRA test cassette is a snout mounted on a NIF Diagnostic Instrument Manipulator (DIM) designed to position six samples equidistant from the x-ray source to assure uniform irradiation of all samples. Photon Displacement interferometry (PDI) is used to measure the displacement of the rear surface of each sample resulting from x-ray exposure on the front of the sample. This will help determine the x-ray generated impulse on the sample. The samples are retrieved from the snout after the shot for inspection and post-shot analysis including the measurement of sample ablated mass and engineering tests examining changes in the material structure. The data from experiments are compared to predictions from LLNL’s ASC codes and used to inform models implemented in these codes. Thus, XRCE x-ray sources with the XTRRA snout at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [1,2] provide the ability to expose a broad range of material samples directly to high x-ray fluence, measure shock transits, and recover the sample for further analysis post-shot.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Thermo-Mechanical Shock, X-Ray Transport and Radiation Response Analysis Experiments on NIF

The study of x-ray induced rapid heating and the resulting material responses - (thermomechanical shock (TMS) and thermo-structural response (TSR)) - is important to our understanding of material behavior in extreme environments. A series of high conversion efficiency (XRCE) x-ray sources have been developed for the NIF laser facility ranging in fluence and spectral content. In conjunction with source development, we have developed a new XTRRA (X-ray Transport and Radiation Response Analysis) test cassette to hold a set of samples, each at equal distance from target chamber center (TCC) where the x-ray source is placed. Design and performance details of the x-ray sources is discussed elsewhere. Here, we describe the development and use of this TMS XTRRA test cassette. The XTRRA test cassette is a snout mounted on a NIF Diagnostic Instrument Manipulator (DIM) designed to position six samples equidistant from the x-ray source to assure uniform irradiation of all samples. Photon Displacement interferometry (PDI) is used to measure the displacement of the rear surface of each sample resulting from x-ray exposure on the front of the sample. This will help determine the x-ray generated impulse on the sample. The samples are retrieved from the snout after the shot for inspection and post-shot analysis including the measurement of sample ablated mass and engineering tests examining changes in the material structure. The data from experiments are compared to predictions from LLNL’s ASC codes and used to inform models implemented in these codes. Thus, XRCE x-ray sources with the XTRRA snout at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provide the ability to expose a broad range of material samples directly to high x-ray fluence, measure shock transits, and recover the sample for further analysis post-shot.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Focussing Protons from a Kilojoule Laser for Intense Beam Heating Using Proximal Target Structures

Proton beams driven by chirped pulse amplified lasers have multi-picosecond duration and can isochorically and volumetrically heat material samples, potentially providing an approach for creating samples of warm dense matter with conditions not present on Earth. Envisioned on a larger scale, they could heat fusion fuel to achieve ignition. We have shown in an experiment that a kilojoule-class, multi-picosecond short pulse laser is particularly effective for heating materials. The proton beam can be focussed via target design to achieve exceptionally high flux, important for the applications mentioned. The laser irradiated spherically curved diamond-like-carbon targets with intensity 4×10 18 W/cm 2 , producing proton beams with 3MeV slope temperature. A Cu witness foil was positioned behind the curved target, and the gap between was either empty or spanned with a structure. With a structured target, the total emission of Cu Kα fluorescence was increased 18 fold and the emission profile was consistent with a tightly focussed beam. Transverse proton radiography probed the target with ps order temporal and 10 μm spatial resolution, revealing the fast-acting focussing electric field. Complementary particle-in-cell simulations show how the structures funnel protons to the tight focus. The beam of protons and neutralizing electrons induce the bright Kα emission observed and heat the Cu to 100eV.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Solid State Additive Manufacturing of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened-FeCrAl Alloy Components for High-Temperature Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle Applications

In this research, material extrusion additive manufacturing (MEAM) has been explored as an SSAM method for fabrication of 3-D components using ODS-FeCrAl alloy. MEAM-printed 3-D parts go through a series of process steps, e.g., chemical treatment, thermal treatment etc. in order to create a high density fully metallic part. Final 3-D part quality is associated with various process steps, e.g., filament fabrication, print design, and thermal treatment optimization. In MEAM, a metal powder loaded filament is used for printing 3-D shapes. Composition of the filament is very important since it provides shape retention at low-to-medium temperature. There are a few commercially available metallic alloy filaments. However, FeCrAl alloy filaments are not commercially available. In this project, we came up with a method to fabricate high quality composite FeCrAl filaments that could be used for MEAM printing. Subsequently, we have optimized MEAM print methods to fabricate samples that are larger than 10 mm, by using a modular print design approach. Finally, we have been able to optimize the chemical and high temperature heat treatment steps to achieve very high density (>98%) in sintered MEAM-printed products.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗