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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 1,351 records · Page 75
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Production of pulsed atomic oxygen beams via laser vaporization methods

The generation of energetic pulsed atomic oxygen beams by laser-driven evaporation of cryogenically frozen ozone/oxygen films and thin indium-tin oxide (ITO) films is reported. Mass spectroscopy is used in the mass and energy characterization of beams from the ozone/oxygen films, and a peak flux of 3 x 10 to the 20th/sq m per sec at 10 eV is found. Analysis of the time-of-flight data suggests that several processes contribute to the formation of the oxygen beam. Results show the absence of metastable states such as the 2p(3)3s(1)(5S) level of atomic oxygen blown-off from the ITO films. The present process has application to the study of the oxygen degradation problem of LEO materials.

Brinza, David E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Interannual variability in phytoplankton blooms observed in the northwestern Arabian Sea during the southwest monsoon

Interannual changes in the strength and seasonal evolution of the 1979 through 1982 surface-level southwest monsoon winds are related to variations in the summer phytoplankton bloom of the northwestern Arabian Sea by synthesis of satellite ocean-color remote sensing with analysis of in-situ hydrographic and meteorological data sets. The 1979-1981 southwest monsoon phytoplankton blooms in the northwest Arabian Sea peaked during August-September, extended from the Omani coast to about 6 E, and appeared to lag the development of open-sea upwelling by at least 1 month. In all 3 years the bloom was driven by spatially distinct upward nutrient fluxes to the euphotic zone forced by the physical processes of coastal upwelling and offshore Ekman pumping. Coastal upwelling was evident from May through September, yielded the most extreme concentrations of phytoplankton biomass, and along the Omani coast was limited in its impact on upper ocean biological variability to the continental shelf. Ekman pumping stimulated the development of a broad open-ocean component of the southwest monsoon phytoplankton bloom oceanward of the Omani shelf. Phytoplankton biomass on the Omani continental shelf was increased during both the early and late phases of the 1980 southwest monsoon due to stronger coastal upwelling under the most intense southwesterly winds of the four summers investigated. Diminished coastal upwelling during the early phase of the weak 1982 southwest monsoon resulted in a coastal bloom that reached a mean phytoplankton-pigment concentration that was 28 percent of that seen in 1980. The lack of a strong regional northwestern Arabian Sea bloom in late summer 1982 is attributed to the development of persistent, shallow temperature stratification that rendered Ekman pumping less effective in driving upward nutrient fluxes.

Brock, John C.↗
NASA NTRS2005

A Comparative Study of Aerocapture Missions with a Mars Destination

Conventional interplanetary spacecraft use propulsive systems to decelerate into orbit. Aerocapture is an alternative approach for orbit capture, in which the spacecraft makes a single pass through a target destination's atmosphere. Although this technique has never been performed, studies show there are substantial benefits of using aerocapture for reduction of propellant mass, spacecraft size, and mission cost. The In-Space Propulsion (ISP) Program, part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, has invested in aerocapture technology development since 2002. Aerocapture investments within ISP are largely driven by mission systems analysis studies, The purpose of this NASA-funded report is to identify and document the fundamental parameters of aerocapture within previous human and robotic Mars mission studies which will assist the community in identifying technology research gaps in human and robotic missions, and provide insight for future technology investments. Upon examination of the final data set, some key attributes within the aerocapture disciplines are identified.

Vaughan, Diane↗
NASA NTRS2019

Numerical Investigation and Optimization of a Flushwall Injector for Scramjet Applications at Hypervelocity Flow Conditions

An investigation utilizing Reynolds-averaged simulations (RAS) was performed in order to demonstrate the use of design and analysis of computer experiments (DACE) methods in Sandia’s DAKOTA software package for surrogate modeling and optimization. These methods were applied to a flow- path fueled with an interdigitated flushwall injector suitable for scramjet applications at hyper- velocity conditions and ascending along a constant dynamic pressure flight trajectory. The flight Mach number, duct height, spanwise width, and injection angle were the design variables selected to maximize two objective functions: the thrust potential and combustion efficiency. Because the RAS of this case are computationally expensive, surrogate models are used for optimization. To build a surrogate model a RAS database is created. The sequence of the design variables comprising the database were generated using a Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) method. A methodology was also developed to automatically build geometries and generate structured grids for each design point. The ensuing RAS analysis generated the simulation database from which the two objective functions were computed using a one-dimensionalization (1D) of the three-dimensional simulation data. The data were fitted using four surrogate models: an artificial neural network (ANN), a cubic polynomial, a quadratic polynomial, and a Kriging model. Variance-based decomposition showed that both objective functions were primarily driven by changes in the duct height. Multiobjective design optimization was performed for all four surrogate models via a genetic algorithm method. Optimal solutions were obtained at the upper and lower bounds of the flight Mach number range. The Kriging model predicted an optimal solution set that exhibited high values for both objective functions. Additionally, three challenge points were selected to assess the designs on the Pareto fronts. Further sampling among the designs of the Pareto fronts may be required to lower the surrogate model errors and perform more accurate surrogate-model-based optimization.

Shenoy, Rajiv R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Landslide Susceptibility and Runout Assessment for the Arun Hydropower Cascade in Nepal Based on Multitemporal Landslide Inventory Developed Using Planet Imagery

The transboundary Pumqu/Arun River basin spreads across Nepal and Tibet. Nearly 95% of the basin lies in Tibet through which the Pumqu River flows forming the Arun River once it enters Nepal. The Arun River valley has about 3,163 MW in five large hydropower projects undergoing construction or planned for the future. Rainfall and earthquake-induced landslides, landslide dammed lakes and landslide-induced glacial lake outburst floods pose major risks to smooth operation of these projects. To safeguard upcoming hydropower projects, areas susceptible to landslides in the Arun River valley must be identified. We generated a multitemporal landslide inventory (2010-2020), modeled landslide susceptibility and runouts around the hydropower sites using Earth Observation (EO) techniques. We used high-resolution satellite imagery from Planet and open-source tool to establish a detailed and comprehensive multitemporal landslide inventory for the basin. The rigorous quality-controlled inventory represents yearly record of landslides from 2010 to 2020. To our knowledge this is one of the most comprehensive landslide inventories for the basin with yearly records of landslides.A data-driven approach was used to map areas susceptible to landslides within the Pumqu/Arun River basin. The multitemporal landslide inventory combined with other readily available EO-based variables were used to create a landslide susceptibility map. The highly susceptible areas delineated from the map was further used to characterize runouts near the hydropower sites. The susceptibility and runout analysis provide a valuable initial estimate of where landslides are likely to trigger and where the mobilized material is likely to end up.

Pukar Amatya↗
DOE OSTI2016

Searching for Sterile Neutrinos with MINOS

This document presents the latest results for a 3+1 sterile neutrino search using the $10.56 \times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target data set taken from 2005 - 2012. By searching for oscillations driven by a large mass splitting, MINOS is sensitive to the existence of sterile neutrinos through any energy dependent deviations using a charged current sample, as well as looking at any relative deficit between neutral current events between the far and near detectors. This document will discuss the novel analysis that enabled a search for sterile neutrinos setting a limit in the previously unexplored regions in the parameter space $\{\Delta m^{2}_{41}, \sin^2\theta_{24}\}$. The results presented can be compared to the parameter space suggested by LSND and MiniBooNE and complements other previous experimental searches for sterile neutrinos in the electron neutrino appearance channel.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing Short-Range Weather Forecasts through Temporal Variation Encoding: A Multiperiod Embedding Approach

Machine learning (ML) techniques have emerged as promising approaches to improve regional weather forecast accuracy and reliability through data-driven methods. We propose a novel ML-based weather forecasting model, the Multiperiod Embed Net (MPENet). A key distinguishing feature of MPENet is its explicit utilization of the inherent cyclic nature in weather dynamics, unlike the autoregressive strategies commonly used in other ML weather forecasting approaches. Critical cyclic structures are identified via Fourier analyses of dynamic time series. Cyclicity in the convolutional representation is achieved by transforming one-dimensional time series of meteorological variables into two-dimensional tensors based on identified periods. This approach enables the model to leverage intrinsic weather patterns, enhancing regional forecast performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of MPENet, we conduct a comparative analysis with Nvidia’s FourCastNet. Both models are trained on High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) data from 2015 to 2022, over a 192 km × 192 km region in Tennessee. The comparisons are performed locally at two specific locations known to have different weather dynamics due to orographic effects: Crossville, on the relatively flat Cumberland Plateau with fewer topographic airflow disruptions, and Oak Ridge, in the ridge-and-valley region, where airflow is heavily influenced by surrounding valleys and mountains. Our results indicate that FourCastNet achieves strong accuracy at very short lead times, while MPENet maintains competitive skill and shows advantages in capturing temporal evolution over longer periods. Cross-correlation analyses of MPENet and FourCastNet predictions with the HRRR data suggest that encoding critical cyclicity into the network architecture leads to improvements in the forecasting skill.

Artificial intelligence↗
DOE OSTI2014

Time-resolved characterization and energy balance analysis of implosion core in shock-ignition experiments at OMEGA

Time-resolved temperature and density conditions in the core of shock-ignition implosions have been determined for the first time. The diagnostic method relies on the observation, with a streaked crystal spectrometer, of the signature of an Ar tracer added to the deuterium gas fill. The data analysis confirms the importance of the shell attenuation effect previously noted on time-integrated spectroscopic measurements of thick-wall targets [R. Florido et al., Phys. Rev. E 83, 066408 (2011)]. This effect must be taken into account in order to obtain reliable results. The extracted temperature and density time-histories are representative of the state of the core during the implosion deceleration and burning phases. As a consequence of the ignitor shock launched by the sharp intensity spike at the end of the laser pulse, observed average core electron temperature and mass density reach T ~ 1100 eV and ρ ~ 2 g/cm 3 ; then temperature drops to T ~ 920 eV while density rises to ρ ~ 3.4 g/cm 3 about the time of peak compression. Compared to 1D hydrodynamic simulations, the experiment shows similar maximum temperatures and smaller densities. Simulations do not reproduce all observations. Differences are noted in the heating dynamics driven by the ignitor shock and the optical depth time-history of the compressed shell. Time-histories of core conditions extracted from spectroscopy show that the implosion can be interpreted as a two-stage polytropic process. Furthermore, an energy balance analysis of implosion core suggests an increase in total energy greater than what 1D hydrodynamic simulations predict. This new methodology can be implemented in other ICF experiments to look into implosion dynamics and help to understand the underlying physics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Digital Infrastructure Migration Framework Report

This document presents a full-scope Digital Infrastructure implementation and associated lifecycle support recommendations that enable a plant life of 80+ years. Specific technologies and software applications are researched, developed, selected, implemented, and then integrated by utilities to enhance safety, reliability, and economic performance such that the result provides much more than the sum of its parts. Specific selection of these technologies is driven by business case analyses which are utility, station, and unit specific.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantifying market volume sensitivity to material property modifications in polyhydroxybutyrate: A parametric analysis approach

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable biopolymer, represents a promising alternative to petroleum-based thermoplastics. However, despite consistent market growth, PHB faces persistent commercialization challenges that limit widespread adoption. Existing research has focused predominantly on optimizing PHB production processes, leaving a critical gap in understanding which material property modifications would most effectively enhance market competitiveness. This study addresses this gap by systematically analyzing the relationship between polymer material properties and market performance using U.S. market data from 2008 to 2021 for 21 thermoplastic polymers across 19 material properties. We employed principal component regression to identify property modifications that could maximize market volume while reducing CO 2 emissions. Our parametric analysis revealed that two specific material properties – Hardness Shore A and Sheet Extrusion Temperature – significantly influence PHB marketability across different price points. Market simulations demonstrated that a 10% increase in Hardness Shore A could increase PHB market volume by 431.5 million kg while reducing emissions by 188.7 kg CO 2 . A similar 10% increase to Sheet Extrusion Temperature could yield a 297.5 million kg volume increase and a 99.2 kg CO 2 reduction in emissions. Critically, this approach is agnostic to the specific methods required to achieve these property changes, instead providing material scientists with quantitative, data-driven targets for R&D prioritization. Here, this framework offers a novel methodology for evaluating biopolymer competitiveness and supporting strategic decisions to accelerate PHB market adoption and contribute to decarbonization of the plastics industry.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Sensitivity-Driven Experimental Design to Facilitate Control of Dynamical Systems

Control of nonlinear dynamical systems is a complex and multifaceted process. Essential elements of many engineering systems include high-fidelity physics-based modeling, offline trajectory planning, feedback control design, and data acquisition strategies to reduce uncertainties. Here this article proposes an optimization-centric perspective which couples these elements in a cohesive framework. We introduce a novel use of hyper-differential sensitivity analysis to understand the sensitivity of feedback controllers to parametric uncertainty in physics-based models used for trajectory planning. These sensitivities provide a foundation to define an optimal experimental design which seeks to acquire data most relevant in reducing demand on the feedback controller. Our proposed framework is illustrated on the Zermelo navigation problem and a hypersonic trajectory control problem using data from NASA’s X-43 hypersonic flight tests.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

A high-throughput data analysis and materials discovery tool for strongly correlated materials

Abstract Modeling of f -electron systems is challenging due to the complex interplay of the effects of spin–orbit coupling, electron–electron interactions, and the hybridization of the localized f -electrons with itinerant conduction electrons. This complexity drives not only the richness of electronic properties but also makes these materials suitable for diverse technological applications. In this context, we propose and implement a data-driven approach to aid the materials discovery process. By deploying state-of-the-art algorithms and query tools, we train our learning models using a large, simulated dataset based on existing actinide and lanthanide compounds. The machine-learned models so obtained can then be used to search for new classes of stable materials with desired electronic and physical properties. We discuss the basic structure of our f -electron database, and our approach towards cleaning and correcting the structure data files. Illustrative examples of the applications of our database include successful prediction of stable superstructures of double perovskites and identification of a number of physically-relevant trends in strongly correlated features of f -electron based materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dynamical Downscaling of Earth System Model Data for Energy System Analysis

Assessing energy resources (e.g., solar, wind, and hydro) under future scenarios requires datasets with sufficient spatial and temporal detail to capture variability and extreme events. While global-scale Earth System Model (ESM) projections are widely used, their coarse resolution limits direct application to regional energy system analyses. Dynamical downscaling offers a robust approach to generate physically consistent, fine-scale datasets that better represent local atmospheric processes impacting energy resources. In this work, we present a two-stage approach for producing high-resolution historical and future projections over the contiguous United States (CONUS). First, we optimize the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model configuration for energy-relevant variables - solar irradiance, wind speed, and precipitation - by conducting ERA5-driven simulations at 8-km and 28-km resolution. Multiple physics schemes and model configurations within the WRF are evaluated against observational datasets including the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB), the Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), and the Stage IV multi-radar/multi-sensor precipitation product for the CONUS domain. Using the best-performing configuration, we dynamically downscale MPI-ESM1-2-HR simulations for 2000-2060 under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios at 4-km spatial and hourly temporal resolution. This presentation will provide a comprehensive analysis of the results from multiple numerical experiments and high-resolution ESM projections. In addition, we will discuss potential applications of our high-resolution datasets within the energy sector and outline future research avenues dedicated to evaluating how extreme weather events influence system performance and resilience.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data-driven picosecond X-ray imaging for quantitative plasma-induced shock characterization

Imaging dynamic events, especially shockwave behavior, is key to advancing high-energy-density (HED) research. Recent advances in fourth- and fifth-generation X-ray light sources allow for high-resolution imaging of fast phenomena, but limited beam time necessitates maximizing data acquisition. We present a benchtop-scale pulsed plasma device submerged in liquid heptane, capable of generating dynamic events at rates exceeding 10 Hz, supporting the field’s data-driven goals by producing large, high-quality imaging datasets. Using X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) at the Advanced Photon Source, we imaged weak shockwaves (Mach ~ 1.2) in heptane interacting with plasma-induced cavitation bubbles, causing deviation from Rankine-Hugoniot behavior; to our knowledge, this represents the first direct imaging of such interaction. Our quantitative analysis offers insight into weak shock phenomena and energy-focusing applications in pulsed plasmas. These results highlight the potential for large datasets to advance dynamic HED research at current light source facilities, and have implications for fields such as inertial confinement fusion, plasma-enhanced chemical processing, and biomedical applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Early time implosion symmetry from two-axis shock-timing measurements on indirect drive NIF experiments

An innovative technique has been developed and used to measure the shock propagation speed along two orthogonal axes in an inertial confinement fusion indirect drive implosion target. This development builds on an existing target and diagnostic platform for measuring the shock propagation along a single axis. A 0.4 mm square aluminum mirror is installed in the ablator capsule which adds a second orthogonal view of the x-ray-driven shock speeds. The new technique adds capability for symmetry control along two directions of the shocks launched in the ablator by the laser-generated hohlraum x-ray flux. Laser power adjustments in four different azimuthal cones based on the results of this measurement can reduce time-dependent symmetry swings during the implosion. Analysis of a large data set provides experimental sensitivities of the shock parameters to the overall laser delivery and in some cases shows the effects of laser asymmetries on the pole and equator shock measurements.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

LIGHT BRIDGE IN A DEVELOPING ACTIVE REGION. II. NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF FLUX EMERGENCE AND LIGHT BRIDGE FORMATION

Light bridges, the bright structure dividing umbrae in sunspot regions, show various activity events. In Paper I, we reported on an analysis of multi-wavelength observations of a light bridge in a developing active region (AR) and concluded that the activity events are caused by magnetic reconnection driven by magnetconvective evolution. The aim of this second paper is to investigate the detailed magnetic and velocity structures and the formation mechanism of light bridges. For this purpose, we analyze numerical simulation data from a radiative magnetohydrodynamics model of an emerging AR. We find that a weakly magnetized plasma upflow in the near-surface layers of the convection zone is entrained between the emerging magnetic bundles that appear as pores at the solar surface. This convective upflow continuously transports horizontal fields to the surface layer and creates a light bridge structure. Due to the magnetic shear between the horizontal fields of the bridge and the vertical fields of the ambient pores, an elongated cusp-shaped current layer is formed above the bridge, which may be favorable for magnetic reconnection. The striking correspondence between the observational results of Paper I and the numerical results of this paper provides a consistent physical picture of light bridges. The dynamic activity phenomena occur as a natural result of the bridge formation and its convective nature, which has much in common with those of umbral dots and penumbral filaments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Multi-Model, Multi-Scale Research Program in Stressors, Responses, and Coupled Systems Dynamics at the Energy-Water-Land Nexus and for Concentrated, Interdependent Infrastructures: Toward Next Generation Capabilities in Integrated Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (I-IAV) Modeling and a Community of Practice

The goal of this research program was to build a next generation integrated suite of science-driven modeling and analytic capabilities, and a more expanded and connected community of practice, for analyses of the stressors, impacts, adaptations and vulnerabilities of global and regional change. The emphasis was on understanding energy-water-land interactions and feedbacks and interdependent infrastructures at appropriate regional and temporal scales. Although the scope spans many complex facets of data, modeling, and analysis, as well as scales appropriate for integrated impacts and adaptation research, the focus of this effort was the development of multi-model, multi-scale capabilities spanning the domains of Multi-Sector Dynamics (MSD) models; Impact, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (IAV) models; and Earth System Models (ESMs).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Time Dependence of the IBEX Ribbon and the Globally Distributed Energetic Neutral Atom Flux Using the First 9 Years of Observations

Observations from the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) reveal two populations, those emitted from a narrow (~20°–40°) ribbon that is centered on the local interstellar magnetic field, and a globally distributed flux (GDF) that is controlled by processes in the heliosheath. This is a third study utilizing a previously developed technique to separate ENA emissions in the ribbon from the GDF. In the first ribbon separation study, we analyzed the first year of IBEX data at the energies of 0.7 keV and above; the second study analyzed data down to 0.2 keV using the first five years of IBEX data. Here, we utilize the separation analysis from 0.7 keV and above to study time evolution in 3 year intervals over the first nine years of IBEX data. This study is the first to reveal the global time evolution of the GDF distinct from that of the IBEX ribbon. We show that the time evolution of the GDF within 40° of the upwind pressure maximum is driven by changes in the solar wind ram pressure through compression and rarefaction in the heliosheath. In contrast, the GDF is relatively stable in the region centered on the heliotail downwind with respect to the interstellar flow. The evolution of the IBEX ribbon is observed to have a time lag with respect to the upwind GDF evolution, likely due to the secondary (neutral) solar wind source. The time lag observed in the ribbon evolution is consistent with the generation of ions retained for several years beyond the heliopause. These observations lend further support to secondary solar wind models of the IBEX ribbon, but also require that there is a significant several year time lag for reneutralization of ions that form the IBEX ribbon. We use this study of the 9 year separation of the IBEX ribbon from the globally distributed flux to prepare for a formal IBEX data release of ribbon and globally distributed flux maps to the heliophysics community.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗