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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

The Effect of a Guide Field on Local Energy Conversion During Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection: Particle-in-Cell Simulations

We use theory and simulations to study how the out-of-plane (guide) magnetic field strength modifies the location where the energy conversion rate between the electric field and the plasma is appreciable during asymmetric magnetic reconnection, motivated by observations (Genestreti et al., 2017). For weak guide fields, energy conversion is maximum on the magnetospheric side of the X line, midway between the X line and electron stagnation point. As the guide field increases, the electron stagnation point gets closer to the X line, and energy conversion occurs closer to the electron stagnation point. We motivate one possible nonrigorous approach to extend the theory of the stagnation point location to include a guidefield. The predictions are compared to two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations with vastly different guide fields. The simulations have upstream parameters corresponding to three events observed with Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS). The predictions agree reasonably well with the simulation results,capturing trends with the guide field. The theory correctly predicts that the X line and stagnation points approach each other as the guide field increases. The results are compared to MMS observations, Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) observations of each event,and a global resistive-magnetohydrodynamics simulation of the 16 October 2015 event. The PIC simulation results agree well with the global observations and simulation but differ in the strong electric fields and energy conversion rates found in MMS observations. The observational, theoretical, and numerical resultssuggest that the strong electric fields observed by MMS do not represent a steady global reconnection rate.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ventenata dubia projected to expand in the western United States despite future novel conditions

Abstract Distributions of both native and invasive species are expected to shift under future climate. Species distribution models (SDMs) are often used to explore future habitats, but sources of uncertainty including novel climate conditions may reduce the reliability of future projections. We explore the potential spread of the invasive annual grass ventenata ( Ventenata dubia ) in the western United States under both current and future climate scenarios using boosted regression tree models and 30 global climate models (GCMs). We quantify novel climate conditions, prediction variability arising from both the SDMs and GCMs, and the agreement among GCMs. Results demonstrate that currently suitable habitat is concentrated inside the invaded range of the northwest, but substantial habitat exists outside the invaded range in the Southern Rockies and southwestern US mountains. Future suitability projections vary greatly among GCMs, but GCMs commonly projected decreased suitability in the invaded range and increased suitability along higher elevations of interior mountainous areas. Climate novelty did not appear to undermine the prediction reliability in many cases where the climate–species relationship was fully represented by the occurrence data. GCM‐derived variability resulting from variation in future cool season precipitation and temperature seasonality was greatest in the Rocky Mountains. SDM‐derived variability was higher in currently suitable habitat, and few GCMs projections agreed that these areas would contain future suitable habitat. However, while prediction variability was high, many GCM projections agreed that parts of the Rocky, Wasatch, and Uinta Mountains would contain highly suitable habitat in the future. As disturbances in the interior mountains occur in coming decades, reducing some natural barriers to invasion, land managers, and conservationists will need to monitor for ventenata in post‐disturbance environments. Changes to invasion potential may not play out for several decades, but results related to current potential may have applications for early detection and rapid response planning.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2020

Assessment of rainfall variability and future change in Brazil across multiple timescales

Abstract Rainfall variability change under global warming is a crucial issue that may have a substantial impact on society and the environment, as it can directly impact biodiversity, agriculture, and water resources. Observed precipitation trends and climate change projections over Brazil indicate that many sectors of society are potentially highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The purpose of this study is to assess model projections of the change in rainfall variability at various temporal scales over sub‐regions of Brazil. For this, daily data from 30 CMIP5 models for historical (1900–2005) and future (2050–2100) experiments under a high‐emission scenario are used. We assess the change in precipitation variability, applying a band‐pass filter to isolate variability on daily, weekly, monthly, intra‐seasonal, and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) time scales. For historical climate, simulated precipitation is evaluated against observations to establish model reliability. The results show that models largely agree on increases in variability on all timescales in all sub‐regions, except on ENSO timescales where models do not agree on the sign of future change. Brazil will experience more rainfall variability in the future that is, drier or more frequent dry periods and wetter wet periods on daily, weekly, monthly, and intra‐seasonal timescales, even in sub‐regions where future changes in mean rainfall are currently uncertain. This may provide useful information for climate change adaptation across, for example, the agriculture and water resource sectors in Brazil.

Alves, Lincoln M.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Evaluation of a novel collimator for molecular breast tomosynthesis

Here, this study investigated a novel gamma camera for molecular breast tomosynthesis (MBT), which is a nuclear breast imaging method that uses limited angle tomography. The camera is equipped with a variable angle, slant-hole (VASH) collimator that allows the camera to remain close to the breast throughout the acquisition. The goal of this study was to evaluate the spatial resolution and count sensitivity of this camera and to compare contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) with conventional planar imaging using an experimental breast phantom. Methods The VASH collimator mounts to a commercial gamma camera for breast imaging that uses a pixelated (3.2 mm), 15 × 20 cm NaI crystal. Spatial resolution was measured in planar images over a range of distances from the collimator (30-100 mm) and a range of slant angles (–25° to 25°) using 99m Tc line sources. Spatial resolution was also measured in reconstructed MBT images including in the depth dimension. The images were reconstructed from data acquired over the -25° to 25° angular range using an iterative algorithm adapted to the slant-hole geometry. Sensitivity was measured over the range of slant angles using a disk source. Measured spatial resolution and sensitivity were compared to theoretical values. Contrast and CNR were measured using a breast phantom containing spherical lesions (6.2 mm and 7.8 mm diameter) and positioned over a range of depths in the phantom. The MBT and planar methods had equal scan time, and the count density in the breast phantom data was similar to that in clinical nuclear breast imaging. The MBT method used an iterative reconstruction algorithm combined with a postreconstruction Metz filter. Results The measured spatial resolution in planar images agreed well with theoretical calculations over the range of distances and slant angles. The measured FWHM was 9.7 mm at 50 mm distance. In reconstructed MBT images, the spatial resolution in the depth dimension was approximately 2.2 mm greater than the other two dimensions due to the limited angle data. The measured count sensitivity agreed closely with theory over all slant angles when using a wide energy window. At 0° slant angle, measured sensitivity was 19.7 counts sec -1 μ Ci -1 with the open energy window and 11.2 counts sec -1 μ Ci -1 with a 20% wide photopeak window (126 to 154 keV). The measured CNR in the MBT images was significantly greater than in the planar images for all but the lowest CNR cases where the lesion detectability was extremely low for both MBT and planar. The 7.8 mm lesion at 37 mm depth was marginally detectable in the planar image but easily visible in the MBT image. The improved CNR with MBT was due to a large improvement in contrast, which out-weighed the increase in image noise. Conclusion The spatial resolution and count sensitivity measurements with the prototype MBT system matched theoretical calculations, and the measured CNR in breast phantom images was generally greater with the MBT system compared to conventional planar imaging. These results demonstrate the potential of the proposed MBT system to improve lesion detection in nuclear breast imaging.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Thermoacoustic range verification in the presence of acoustic heterogeneity and soundspeed errors - Robustness relative to ultrasound image of underlying anatomy

Purpose: To demonstrate robustness of thermooacoustic range verification to acoustic heterogeneity and discrepancies between assumed and true propagation speed, i.e., soundspeed errors. Methods: A beam sweeper was used to deliver 250 ns pulses that deposited 0.26 Gy of 16 MeV protons and 2.3 Gy of 60 MeV helium ions into water and oil targets, respectively. Thermoacoustic signals were detected by a 96-channel ultrasound array with a 1-4 MHz sensitivity band (-6 dB), bandpass filtered and backprojected to create thermoacoustic images in the plane of the ultrasound array. The same soundspeed and transducer array were used to estimate range and generate the ultrasound images onto which Bragg peak locations were overlaid. An air-gap phantom that displaced the Bragg peak by 6.5 mm demonstrated accuracy. Robustness to soundspeed errors was demonstrated in a waterbath as the assumed propagation speed scanner setting was altered by +/- 5%. Tissue-mimicking gelatin and a bone sample were introduced to demonstrate robustness to acoustic heterogeneity relative to ultrasound images of the underlying morphology. Results: Single ion pulse measurements sufficed during the helium run, but signal averaging was required for protons. Moreover, range and entry point into the target were estimated from data collected by transducers placed at least 6 cm distal to the Bragg peak. When ultrasound images depicted the air-target interface where the beam enters, estimates of the entry point agreed with ultrasound images and range estimates agreed with Monte Carlo simulations to within 300 mu m, even when thermoacoustic emissions traveled through a strongly scattering bone sample. Estimated Bragg peak locations were translated 6.5 mm by the air-gap phantom and correctly identified scenarios when the beam stopped inside the bone. Conclusions: Soundspeed errors dilate and acoustic heterogeneities deform ultrasound images. When thermoacoustic receivers are co-located with the ultrasound imaging array, the same transformations shift thermoacoustic range estimates. Hence, thermoacoustic range verification is robust relative to ultrasound images of underlying anatomy. When the treatment target is visible in ultrasound, e.g., prostate, online thermoacoustic range estimates could verify that the treatment spot is inside the target.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2019

X-ray Absorption Signatures of Hydrogen-bond Structure in Water-Alcohol Solutions

Despite fundamental importance, the experimental characterization of the hydrogen bond network, particularly in multicomponent protic solutions, remains a challenge. Although recent work has experimentally validated that the oxygen K-edge X-ray ab- sorption spectra is sensitive to local hydrogen bond patterns in pure water and aqueous alcohol solutions, the generality of this observation is unknown - as is the sensitivity to the electronic structure of the alcohol cosolvent. In this work, we investigate the electronic structure of water solvated alcohol model geometries using energy specic time-dependent density functional theory to calculate oxygen K-edge X-ray excitations. We nd that the geometry of dangling hydrogen bonds in pure water is the main con- tributor to the pre-edge feature seen in the X-ray absorption spectra, agreeing with previous experimental and theoretical work. We then extend this result to solvated alcohol systems and observe a similar phenomenon, yet importantly, the increase of electron donation from alkyl chains to the alcohol OH group directly correlates to the strength of the core excitation on the dangling hydrogen bond model geometry. This trend arises from a stronger transition dipole moment due to electron localization on the OH group.

Stetina, Torin↗
DOE OSTI2026

Space-time evolution of particle emission in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\text{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV with 3D kaon femtoscopy

The measurement of three-dimensional femtoscopic correlations between identical charged kaons (K ± K ± ) produced in p–Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{{s}_{\text{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC is presented for the first time. This measurement, supplementary to those in pp and Pb–Pb collisions, allows understanding the particle-production mechanisms at different charged-particle multiplicities and provides information on the dynamics of the source of particles created in p–Pb collisions, for which a general consensus does not yet exist. It is shown that the measured source sizes increase with charged-particle multiplicity and decrease with increasing pair transverse momentum. These trends for K ± K ± are similar to the ones observed earlier in identical charged-pion and ${\text{K}}_{\text{s}}^{0}{\text{K}}_{\text{s}}^{0}$ correlations in Pb–Pb collisions at various energies and in π ± π ± correlations in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\text{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV. At comparable multiplicity, the source sizes measured in p–Pb collisions agree within uncertainties with those observed in pp collisions, and there is an indication that they are smaller than those observed in Pb–Pb collisions. The obtained results are also compared with predictions from the hadronic interaction model EPOS 3, which tends to underestimate the source size for the most central collisions and agrees with the data for semicentral and peripheral events. Furthermore, the time of maximal emission for kaons is extracted. It turns out to be comparable with the value obtained in highly peripheral Pb–Pb collisions at the same energy, indicating that the kaon emission evolution is similar to that in p–Pb collisions.

Heavy Ion Experiments↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measurement of the relative width difference of the B 0 - B$\bar{B}$ 0 system with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents the measurement of the relative width difference ΔΓ d /Γ d of the B 0 - B$\bar{B}$ 0 system using the data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at √s=7TeV and √s=8 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 25.2 fb -1 . The value of ΔΓ d /Γ d is obtained by comparing the decay-time distributions of B° → J/ψK S and B° → J/ψK*°(892) decays. The result is ΔΓ d /Γ d = (-0.1±1.1 (stat.)± 0.9 (syst.)) × 10 - 2. Currently, this is the most precise single measurement of ΔΓd/Γd. It agrees with the Standard Model prediction and the measurements by other experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Vector and scalar charmonium resonances with lattice QCD

We perform an exploratory lattice QCD simulation of DD¯ scattering, aimed at determining the masses as well as the decay widths of charmonium resonances above open charm threshold. Neglecting coupling to other channels, the resulting phase shift for DD¯ scattering in p-wave yields the well-known vector resonance ψ(3770). For m π = 156 MeV, the extracted resonance mass and the decay width agree with experiment within large statistical uncertainty. The scalar charmonium resonances present a puzzle, since only the ground state Χ c0 (1P) is well understood, while there is no commonly accepted candidate for its first excitation. We simulate DD¯ scattering in s-wave in order to shed light on this puzzle. The resulting phase shift supports the existence of a yet-unobserved narrow resonance with a mass slightly below 4 GeV. A scenario with this narrow resonance and a pole at Χ c0 (1P) agrees with the energy-dependence of our phase shift. In addition, further lattice QCD simulations and experimental efforts are needed to resolve the puzzle of the excited scalar charmonia.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measurement of total and differential W + W - production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at √s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector and limits on anomalous triple-gauge-boson couplings

The production of W boson pairs in proton-proton collisions at √s=8 TeV is studied using data corresponding to 20.3 fb -1 of integrated luminosity collected by the ATLAS detector during 2012 at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The W bosons are reconstructed using their leptonic decays into electrons or muons and neutrinos. Events with reconstructed jets are not included in the candidate event sample. A total of 6636 WW candidate events are observed. Measurements are performed in fiducial regions closely approximating the detector acceptance. The integrated measurement is corrected for all acceptance effects and for the W branching fractions to leptons in order to obtain the total WW production cross section, which is found to be 71.1 ± 1.1(stat) -5.0+5.7(syst)±1.4(lumi) pb. This agrees with the next-to-next-to-leading-order Standard Model prediction of 63.2-1.4+1.6(scale)±1.2(PDF) pb. Fiducial differential cross sections are measured as a function of each of six kinematic variables. The distribution of the transverse momentum of the leading lepton is used to set limits on anomalous triple-gauge-boson couplings.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Helicity evolution at small x : quark to gluon and gluon to quark transition operators

We include the quark to gluon and gluon to quark shock-wave transition operators into the small Bjorken-x evolution equations for helicity in the flavor-singlet channel derived earlier in [1,2,3]. While such transitions do not affect the large-N c version of the evolution equations for helicity, the large-N c & N f equations are affected. (N c and N f are the numbers of quark colors and flavors, respectively.) We derive the corresponding corrected large-N c & N f equations for the polarized dipole amplitudes contributing to the flavor-singlet quark and gluon helicity distributions in the double-logarithmic approximation (DLA), resumming powers of α s ln 2 (1/x) with αs the strong coupling constant. We solve these equations iteratively and extract the polarized splitting functions up to four loops. We show that our splitting functions agree with the fixed-order perturbative calculations up to and including the existing three-loops results [4,5,6,7]. Similar to the large-Nc helicity evolution in the shock-wave approach [8], our large-N c & N f small-x splitting functions agree with those obtained in the infrared evolution equations framework from [9, 10] up to three loops, but appear to slightly disagree at four loops.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Hexagon functions and the three-loop remainder function

We present the three-loop remainder function, which describes the scattering of six gluons in the maximally-helicity-violating configuration in planar NN = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory, as a function of the three dual conformal cross ratios. The result can be expressed in terms of multiple Goncharov polylogarithms. We also employ a more restricted class of hexagon functions which have the correct branch cuts and certain other restrictions on their symbols. We classify all the hexagon functions through transcendental weight five, using the coproduct for their Hopf algebra iteratively, which amounts to a set of first-order differential equations. The three-loop remainder function is a particular weight-six hexagon function, whose symbol was determined previously. The differential equations can be integrated numerically for generic values of the cross ratios, or analytically in certain kinematic limits, including the near-collinear and multi-Regge limits. These limits allow us to impose constraints from the operator product expansion and multi-Regge factorization directly at the function level, and thereby to fix uniquely a set of Riemann ζ valued constants that could not be fixed at the level of the symbol. The near-collinear limits agree precisely with recent predictions by Basso, Sever and Vieira based on integrability. The multi-Regge limits agree with the factorization formula of Fadin and Lipatov, and determine three constants entering the impact factor at this order. We plot the three-loop remainder function for various slices of the Euclidean region of positive cross ratios, and compare it to the two-loop one. For large ranges of the cross ratios, the ratio of the three-loop to the two-loop remainder function is relatively constant, and close to -7.

extended supersymmetry↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Bayesian View on the Dr. Evil Scenario

Abstract In Defeating Dr. Evil with Self-Locating Belief , Adam Elga proposes and defends a principle of indifference for self-locating beliefs: if an individual is confident that his world contains more than one individual who is in a state subjectively indistinguishable from his own, then he should assign equal credences to the hypotheses that he is any one of these individuals. Through a sequence of thought experiments, Elga in effect claims that he can derive the credence function that should apply in such situations, thus justifying his principle of indifference. Here we argue, using a Bayesian approach, that Elga’s reasoning is circular: in analyzing the third of his thought experiments, he uses an assertion that is justifiable only if one assumes, from the start, the principle of indifference that he is attempting to justify. We agree with Elga that the assumption of equal credences is a very reasonable principle, in the absence of any reason to assign unequal credences, but we do not agree that the equality of credences can be so derived.

Azhar, Feraz↗
DOE OSTI2023

Energetic Electron Precipitation Driven by Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves from ELFIN’s Low Altitude Perspective

We review comprehensive observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave-driven energetic electron precipitation using data collected by the energetic electron detector on the Electron Losses and Fields InvestigatioN (ELFIN) mission, two polar-orbiting low-altitude spinning CubeSats, measuring 50-5000 keV electrons with good pitch-angle and energy resolution. EMIC wave-driven precipitation exhibits a distinct signature in energy-spectrograms of the precipitating-to-trapped flux ratio: peaks at >0.5 MeV which are abrupt (bursty) (lasting ~17 s, or ΔL ~ 0.56) with significant substructure (occasionally down to sub-second timescale). We attribute the bursty nature of the precipitation to the spatial extent and structuredness of the wave field at the equator. Multiple ELFIN passes over the same MLT sector allow us to study the spatial and temporal evolution of the EMIC wave - electron interaction region. Case studies employing conjugate ground-based or equatorial observations of the EMIC waves reveal that the energy of moderate and strong precipitation at ELFIN approximately agrees with theoretical expectations for cyclotron resonant interactions in a cold plasma. Using multiple years of ELFIN data uniformly distributed in local time, we assemble a statistical database of ~50 events of strong EMIC wave-driven precipitation. Most reside at L ~ 5 – 7 at dusk, while a smaller subset exists at L ~ 8 – 12 at post-midnight. The energies of the peak-precipitation ratio and of the half-peak precipitation ratio (our proxy for the minimum resonance energy) exhibit an L-shell dependence in good agreement with theoretical estimates based on prior statistical observations of EMIC wave power spectra. The precipitation ratio’s spectral shape for the most intense events has an exponential falloff away from the peak (i.e., on either side of ~ 1.45 MeV). It too agrees well with quasi-linear diffusion theory based on prior statistics of wave spectra. It should be noted though that this diffusive treatment likely includes effects from nonlinear resonant interactions (especially at high energies) and nonresonant effects from sharp wave packet edges (at low energies). Sub-MeV electron precipitation observed concurrently with strong EMIC wave-driven >1 MeV precipitation has a spectral shape that is consistent with efficient pitch-angle scattering down to ~ 200-300 keV by much less intense higher frequency EMIC waves at dusk (where such waves are most frequent). At ~100 keV, whistler-mode chorus may be implicated in concurrent precipitation. These results confirm the critical role of EMIC waves in driving relativistic electron losses. Nonlinear effects may abound and require further investigation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Support of Adhesion Mechanisms in Al 2 O 3 Aerosol Deposition Through Laser-Induced Particle Impact Testing

Aerosol deposition (AD) is a kinetic spray process capable of depositing ceramic coatings at room temperature, but AD process development is generally a laborious exploration of a large process parameter space. Here, this paper presents a case study investigating whether laser-induced particle impact testing (LIPIT) could be applied to expedite development of an alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) coating on nickel (Ni): Specifically, whether LIPIT measurements could predict critical velocities of adhesion on Ni and Al 2 O 3 , and the effect of ball milling the Al 2 O 3 powder. Because LIPIT has a diffraction-limited lower bound on imageable particle size, the usefulness of Al 2 O 3 powder agglomerates as a proxy for single particles was additionally studied. Overall, LIPIT measurements and AD sprays agreed that ball milling dramatically improves adhesion. Additionally, LIPIT measurements of critical velocity of adhesion of Al 2 O 3 powder agglomerates on Ni and Al 2 O 3 substrates (150 meters per second [m/s] and 250 m/s, respectively) quantitatively agreed with predictions from a previously published model based on picoindentation and molecular dynamics simulations. Together, these findings support the established hypothesis that Al 2 O 3 adheres via a dislocation-mediated mechanism in AD, that Al 2 O 3 powder agglomerates adhere as individual constituent particles rather than collectively, and that, for this case study, LIPIT measurements were predictive of AD process parameters.

Al2O3↗
DOE OSTI2023

The complex momentum representation approach and its application to low-lying resonances in ${^{17}}$O and ${^{29,31}}$F

Approaches for predicting low-lying resonances, uniformly treating bound, and resonant levels have been a long-standing goal in nuclear theory. Accordingly, we explored the viability of the complex momentum representation (CMR) approach coupled with new potentials. We focus on predicting the energy of the low-lying 2p 3/2 resonance in 17 O, which is critical for s-process nucleosynthesis and missing in previous theoretical research. Here, using a Woods-Saxon potential based on the Koning-Delaroche optical model and constrained by the experimental one-neutron separation energy, we successfully predicted the resonant energy of this level for the first time. Our predictions of the bound levels and 1d 3/2 resonance agree well with the measurement results. Additionally, we utilize this approach to study the near-threshold resonances that play a role when forming a two-neutron halo in 29,31 F. We found that the CMR-based predictions of the bound-level energies and unbound 1f 7/2 level agree well with the results obtained using the scattering phase shift method. Subsequently, we successfully found a solution for the 2p 3/2 resonance with energy just above the threshold, which is decisive for halo formation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗