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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 OSTI2018

Time-of-flight neutron total scattering with applied electric fields: Ex situ and in situ studies of ferroelectric materials

Characterizing the structural response of functional materials (e.g., piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics) to electric fields is key for the creation of structure-property relationships. Here in this paper, we present a new sample environment and data reduction routines which allow the measurement of time-of-flight neutron total scattering during the in situ or ex situ application of high voltage (<10 kV) to a sample. Instead of utilizing the entire detector space of the diffractometer, only selected regions of detector pixels with scattering at the desired angle to the sample electric field are interrogated, which allows the generation of orientation-dependent reciprocal space patterns and real-space pair distribution functions (PDFs). We demonstrate the method using the relaxor ferroelectric Na 1/2 Bi 1/2 TiO 3 and observe lattice expansion parallel and contraction perpendicular to the electric field for both in situ or ex situ experiments, revealing the irreversible nature of the local scale structural changes to this composition. Additionally, changes in the distributions of nearest neighbor metal-oxygen bond lengths are observed, which have been difficult to observe in previously measured analogous orientation-dependent X-ray PDFs. Lastly, considerations related to sample positioning and background subtraction are discussed, and future research directions are suggested.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

An automated fast neutron computed tomography instrument with on-line focusing for non-destructive evaluation

A fast neutron tomography imaging instrument has been designed, built, and tested at The Ohio State University 500 kW Research Reactor on a fast neutron beamline with a peak neutron flux ≈5.4 × 107 n·cm−2·s−1 at 1.6 MeV median neutron energy. The instrument and beamline are also configurable for thermal neutron imaging. The imaging apparatus is composed of a lens coupled, water-cooled Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device camera, a front-surface mirror, and a high light yield plastic Polyvinyl toluene scintillator. The instrument sits on a mobile cart. A total of 5 motion-control stages are built into the system for XYZ and rotational degrees of freedom for sample positioning; the fifth stage fine tunes the focal distance between the camera and the scintillator to achieve on-line focusing. A Python code with a user-friendly graphical user interface controls the fully automated image acquisition, not requiring user interaction, yet facilitating tracking of the image acquisition. A complete fast neutron computed tomography dataset with 360 projections requires less than 3 h, with 30 s per projection. On-line focusing is accomplished with a commercial, off-the-shelf, dielectrically actuated liquid lens. Finally, tomographic reconstructions are visualized using the Livermore Tomography Tools software package. The effective pixel size (width and height) is ≈0.1058 mm, yielding a minimum voxel size of 0.1058 × 0.1058 × 0.1058 mm3, and produces a spatial resolution of 231 μm when calculated from knife-edge measurements.

Bisbee, M. G. (ORCID:0000000313466697)↗
DOE OSTI2022

A flexible neutron spectrometer concept with a new ultra-high field steady-state vertical-bore magnet

The proposed facility explores materials under ultra-high magnetic fields. By combining the power of high fields to tune materials and of neutron scattering to probe the resulting changes down to the atomic scale, this facility will enable transformative progress in the study of quantum materials and is named for the “TITAN” subset of Greek gods to reflect this transformation. TITAN will offer DC magnetic fields up to at least 20 T. Exploiting the record brightness and bandwidth of the Second Target Station at the Spallation Neutron Source, TITAN will probe atomic-scale responses through high efficiency neutron spectroscopy up to 80 meV energy transfer, high resolution diffraction, and small angle neutron scattering. Focusing neutron optics will maximize flux on accurately positioned samples, while radial collimation and optimized shielding and detection strategies will minimize backgrounds.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Graphite resistive heated diamond anvil cell for simultaneous high-pressure and high-temperature diffraction experiments

High-pressure and high-temperature experiments using a resistively heated diamond anvil cell have the advantage of heating samples homogeneously with precise temperature control. Here, we present the design and performance of a graphite resistive heated diamond anvil cell (GRHDAC) setup for powder and single-crystal x-ray diffraction experiments developed at the Extreme Conditions Beamline (P02.2) at PETRA III, Hamburg, Germany. In the GRHDAC, temperatures up to 2000 K can be generated at high pressures by placing it in a water-cooled vacuum chamber. Temperature estimates from thermocouple measurements are within +/–35 K at the sample position up to 800 K and within +90 K between 800 and 1400 K when using a standard seat combination of cBN and WC. Isothermal compression at high temperatures can be achieved by employing a remote membrane control system. Importantly, the advantage of the GRHDAC is demonstrated through the study of geophysical processes in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle region.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

CHANG-ES. III. UGC 10288—An edge-on galaxy with a background double-lobed radio source

This third paper in the Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies—an EVLA Survey (CHANG-ES) series shows the first results from our regular data taken with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The edge-on galaxy, UGC 10288, has been observed in the B, C, and D configurations at L band (1.5 GHz) and in the C and D configurations at C band (6 GHz) in all polarization products. We show the first spatially resolved images of this galaxy in these bands, the first polarization images, and the first composed image at an intermediate frequency (4.1 GHz) which has been formed from a combination of all data sets. A surprising new result is the presence of a strong, polarized, double-lobed extragalactic radio source (CHANG-ES A) almost immediately behind the galaxy and perpendicular to its disk. The core of CHANG-ES A has an optical counterpart (SDSS J161423.28–001211.8) at a photometric redshift of z {sub phot} = 0.39; the southern radio lobe is behind the disk of UGC 10288 and the northern lobe is behind the halo region. This background ''probe'' has allowed us to do a preliminary Faraday rotation analysis of the foreground galaxy, putting limits on the regular magnetic field and electron density in the halo of UGC 10288 in regions in which there is no direct detection of a radio continuum halo. We have revised the flux densities of the two sources individually as well as the star formation rate (SFR) for UGC 10288. The SFR is low (0.4-0.5 M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1}) and the galaxy has a high thermal fraction (44% at 6 GHz), as estimated using both the thermal and non-thermal SFR calibrations of Murphy et al. UGC 10288 would have fallen well below the CHANG-ES flux density cutoff, had it been considered without the brighter contribution of the background source. UGC 10288 shows discrete high-latitude radio continuum features, but it does not have a global radio continuum halo (exponential scale heights are typically ≈1 kpc averaged over regions with and without extensions). One prominent feature appears to form a large arc to the north of the galaxy on its east side, extending to 3.5 kpc above the plane. The total minimum magnetic field strength at a sample position in the arc is ∼10 μG. Thus, this galaxy still appears to be able to form substantial high latitude, localized features in spite of its relatively low SFR.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

StarDICE III: characterization of the photometric instrument with a collimated beam projector

The measurement of Type Ia supernovae magnitudes provides cosmological distances, which constrain dark energy parameters. Current and upcoming large photometric surveys require improved photometric calibration precision to reduce systematic uncertainties in cosmological constraints. The StarDICE experiment aims to establish accurate broad-band flux references for these surveys, targeting sub-percent precision in magnitude measurements. Achieving this requires precise filter bandpass measurements for both StarDICE and survey instruments with sub-nanometre accuracy. To this end, we developed the Collimated Beam Projector (CBP), an optical device for calibrating the throughput of astronomical telescopes and their filters. The CBP uses a tunable laser source and a reversed telescope to emit a parallel monochromatic light beam, continuously monitored in flux and wavelength. The CBP output flux is measured with a large-area photodiode calibrated relative to a NIST photodiode. Using CBP measurements, we derive the StarDICE telescope throughput and filter transmissions, anchoring them to NIST’s absolute calibration. After analysing systematic uncertainties, we achieved sub-nanometre accuracy for filter central wavelengths, measured filter transmission with ~0.5 per cent precision per 1 nm bin, and detected out-of-band leakages at a relative level of 10 –4 ⁠. Furthermore, we synthesized equivalent transmission for full pupil illumination from four sampled positions in the StarDICE telescope mirror, with ~0.2 nm accuracy for central wavelengths and 7 mmag for broad-band fluxes. This demonstrates our ability to characterize telescope throughput down to the millimagnitude, paving the way for future developments, such as the Rubin-CBP for measuring the LSST at Vera Rubin Observatory, and a portable CBP version for in-situ transmission monitoring.

Calibration↗
DOE OSTI2013

Optical design of the Short Pulse Soft X-ray Spectroscopy beamline at the Advanced Photon Source

The Short Pulse X-ray facility planned for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) upgrade will provide two sectors with photon beams having picosecond pulse duration. The Short Pulse Soft X-ray Spectroscopy (SPSXS) beamline will cover the 150–2000 eV energy range using an APS bending magnet. SPSXS is designed to take full advantage of this new timing capability in addition to providing circular polarized radiation. Since the correlation between time and electron momentum is in the vertical plane, the monochromator disperses in the horizontal plane. The beamline is designed to maximize flux and preserve the time resolution by minimizing the number of optical components. The optical design allows the pulse duration to be varied from 1.5 to 100 ps full width at half-maximum (FWHM) without affecting the energy resolution, and the resolution to be changed with minimal effect on the pulse duration. More than 10 9 photons s -1 will reach the sample with a resolving power of 2000 and a pulse duration of ~2 ps for photon energies between 150 and 1750 eV. The spot size expected at the sample position will vary with pulse duration and exit slit opening. At 900 eV and at a resolving power of 2000 the spot will be ~10 µm × 10 µm with a pulse duration of 2.3 ps FWHM.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ptychographic X-ray speckle tracking with multi-layer Laue lens systems

The ever-increasing brightness of synchrotron radiation sources demands improved X-ray optics to utilize their capability for imaging and probing biological cells, nano-devices and functional matter on the nanometre scale with chemical sensitivity. Hard X-rays are ideal for high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic applications owing to their short wavelength, high penetrating power and chemical sensitivity. The penetrating power that makes X-rays useful for imaging also makes focusing them technologically challenging. Recent developments in layer deposition techniques have enabled the fabrication of a series of highly focusing X-ray lenses, known as wedged multi-layer Laue lenses. Improvements to the lens design and fabrication technique demand an accurate, robust, in situ and at-wavelength characterization method. To this end, a modified form of the speckle tracking wavefront metrology method has been developed. The ptychographic X-ray speckle tracking method is capable of operating with highly divergent wavefields. A useful by-product of this method is that it also provides high-resolution and aberration-free projection images of extended specimens. Three separate experiments using this method are reported, where the ray path angles have been resolved to within 4 nrad with an imaging resolution of 45 nm (full period). This method does not require a high degree of coherence, making it suitable for laboratory-based X-ray sources. Likewise, it is robust to errors in the registered sample positions, making it suitable for X-ray free-electron laser facilities, where beam-pointing fluctuations can be problematic for wavefront metrology.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Design and performance of BOREAS, the beamline for resonant X-ray absorption and scattering experiments at the ALBA synchrotron light source

The optical design of the BOREAS beamline operating at the ALBA synchrotron radiation facility is described. BOREAS is dedicated to resonant X-ray absorption and scattering experiments using soft X-rays, in an unusually extended photon energy range from 80 to above 4000 eV, and with full polarization control. Its optical scheme includes a fixed-included-angle, variable-line-spacing grating monochromator and a pair of refocusing mirrors, equipped with benders, in a Kirkpatrick–Baez arrangement. It is equipped with two end-stations, one for X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and the other for resonant magnetic scattering. In conclusion, the commissioning results show that the expected beamline performance is achieved both in terms of energy resolution and of photon flux at the sample position.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Beamline K11 DIAD: a new instrument for dual imaging and diffraction at Diamond Light Source

The Dual Imaging and Diffraction (DIAD) beamline at Diamond Light Source is a new dual-beam instrument for full-field imaging/tomography and powder diffraction. This instrument provides the user community with the capability to dynamically image 2D and 3D complex structures and perform phase identification and/or strain mapping using micro-diffraction. The aim is to enable in situ and in operando experiments that require spatially correlated results from both techniques, by providing measurements from the same specimen location quasi-simultaneously. Using an unusual optical layout, DIAD has two independent beams originating from one source that operate in the medium energy range (7–38 keV) and are combined at one sample position. Here, either radiography or tomography can be performed using monochromatic or pink beam, with a 1.4 mm × 1.2 mm field of view and a feature resolution of 1.2 µm. Micro-diffraction is possible with a variable beam size between 13 µm × 4 µm and 50 µm × 50 µm. One key functionality of the beamline is image-guided diffraction, a setup in which the micro-diffraction beam can be scanned over the complete area of the imaging field-of-view. This moving beam setup enables the collection of location-specific information about the phase composition and/or strains at any given position within the image/tomography field of view. The dual beam design allows fast switching between imaging and diffraction mode without the need of complicated and time-consuming mode switches. Real-time selection of areas of interest for diffraction measurements as well as the simultaneous collection of both imaging and diffraction data of (irreversible) in situ and in operando experiments are possible.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Characterization of melted fuel by neutron resonance spectroscopy

Neutrons can be used as a tool to study properties of materials and objects. An evolving activity in this field focusses on neutron induced reaction cross sections. The probability that a neutron interacts with nuclei strongly depends on the energy of the neutron. The cross sections reveal the presence of resonance structures, the energy and width of which are isotope specific. As such, these resonance structures can be used as fingerprints to determine the elemental and isotopic composition of materials and objects. They are the basis of two analytical methods which have been developed at Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC-IRMM): Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA) and Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA). The first technique is based on the detection of gamma rays emitted during a neutron capture reaction in the sample being studied; the latter determines the fraction of neutrons transmitted through a sample positioned in a neutron beam. In the past both techniques have been applied to determine the composition of archaeological objects and to characterize nuclear reference materials. More recently a combination of NRTA and NRCA is being studied as a non-destructive method to determine the heavy metal content of particle-like debris of melted fuel that is formed in severe nuclear accidents such as the one which occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. This study is part of a collaboration between the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and ECJRC- IRMM and is a spin-off from the core activity of IRMM, i.e. the production of nuclear data for nuclear technology applications. This contribution focusses on a newly developed NRTA measurement station that has been set up recently at one of the flight paths of the neutron time-of-flight facility GELINA at the EC-JRC-IRMM. The basic principles of NRTA and first results of measurements at the new set up will be discussed. (authors)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Recovery of x-ray absorption spectral profile in etched TiO{sub 2} thin films

Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of plasma-etched TiO{sub 2} thin films were observed using the total fluorescence yield method involving visible emission. The disrupted spectrum recovered its as-grown (nonetched) profile, upon soft x-ray (SX) irradiation. This recovery was investigated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, spatial distribution measurements, exposing recovered samples to air, and NEXAFS measurements of ultrafine TiO{sub 2} particles. The spectral profile recovered upon UV irradiation, and at sample positions outside of the SX irradiation site. The recovered spectral profiles were disrupted again, upon exposure to air. Nonetched ultrafine TiO{sub 2} particles also exhibited a disrupted spectral profile, which was recovered upon SX irradiation. The spectral recovery is explained by a model involving electrons trapped in oxygen vacancies generated by etching.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Hybrid method simulations of a soft x-ray beamline

A wavefront propagation analysis of a soft X-ray beamline using the HYBRID method is reported. All elements of the beamline: the energy dependence of the insertion device emission, the beamline mirrors and their measured figure errors, the variable-line-spacing grating and its measured figure error, and several exit slit settings, are included in the simulations. The analysis of the propagated undulator radiation through the beamline at two slightly different deflection parameter values demonstrates that, within the beamline angular acceptance and when the monochromator is tuned to the same energy, the flux is higher when the undulator is tuned to slightly higher energy than that of the monochromator. The energy resolution determined from the FWHM of the energy bandwidth transmitted through the exit slit is narrower when the undulator is tuned to higher energy than the monochromator. This is not the case when the resolution is based on the standard deviation of the transmitted energy band. The diffraction effects due to the exit slit size and their consequence on the spot size at the sample position are investigated for a few photon energies.

beamline↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-CAMPUS-T-02: Can Pre-Treatment 4DCT-Based Motion Margins Estimates Be Trusted for Proton Radiotherapy?

Purpose: Radiotherapy motion margins are generated using pre-treatment 4DCT data. The purpose of this study is to assess if pre-treatment 4DCT is sufficient in proton therapy to provide accurate estimate of motion margins. A dosimetric assessment is performed comparing pre-treatment margins with daily-customized margins. Methods: Gold fiducial markers implanted in lung tumors of patients were used to track the tumor. A spherical tumor of diameter 20 mm is inserted into a realistic digital respiratory phantom, where the tumor motion is based on real patient lung tumor trajectories recorded over multiple days. Using “Day 1” patient data, 100 ITVs were generated with 1 s interval between consecutive scan start times. Each ITV was made up by the union of 10 tumor positions obtained from 6 s scan time. Two ITV volumes were chosen for treatment planning: ITVmean-σ and ITVmean+σ. The delivered dose was computed on i) 10 phases forming the planning ITV (“10-phase” - simulating dose calculation based on 4DCT) and ii) 50 phantoms produced from 100 s of data from any other day with tumor positions sampled every 2 s (“dynamic” - simulating the dose that would actually be delivered). Results: For similar breathing patterns between “Day 1” and any other “Day N(>1)”, the 95% volume coverage (D95) for “dynamic” case was 8.13% lower than the “10-phase” case for ITVmean+σ. For breathing patterns that were very different between “Day 1” and any other “Day N(>1)”, this difference was as high as 24.5% for ITVmean-σ. Conclusion: Proton treatment planning based on pre-treatment 4DCT can lead to under-dosage of the tumor and over-dosage of the surrounding tissues, because of inadequate estimate of the range of motion of the tumor. This is due to the shift of the Bragg peak compared to photon therapy in which the tumor is surrounded by an electron bath.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Meanders as a scaling motif for understanding of floodplain soil microbiome and biogeochemical potential at the watershed scale

Abstract Background Biogeochemical exports from watersheds are modulated by the activity of microorganisms that function over micron scales. Here, we tested the hypothesis that meander-bound regions share a core microbiome and exhibit patterns of metabolic potential that broadly predict biogeochemical processes in floodplain soils along a river corridor. Results We intensively sampled the microbiomes of floodplain soils located in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the East River, Colorado. Despite the very high microbial diversity and complexity of the soils, we reconstructed 248 quality draft genomes representative of subspecies. Approximately one third of these bacterial subspecies was detected across all three locations at similar abundance levels, and ~ 15% of species were detected in two consecutive years. Within the meander-bound floodplains, we did not detect systematic patterns of gene abundance based on sampling position relative to the river. However, across meanders, we identified a core floodplain microbiome that is enriched in capacities for aerobic respiration, aerobic CO oxidation, and thiosulfate oxidation with the formation of elemental sulfur. Given this, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of the middle floodplain. In contrast to predictions made based on the prominence of gene inventories, the most highly transcribed genes were relatively rare amoCAB and nxrAB (for nitrification) genes, followed by genes involved in methanol and formate oxidation, and nitrogen and CO 2 fixation. Within all three meanders, low soil organic carbon correlated with high activity of genes involved in methanol, formate, sulfide, hydrogen, and ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidoreduction, and nitrate and nitrite reduction. Overall, the results emphasize the importance of sulfur, one-carbon and nitrogen compound metabolism in soils of the riparian corridor. Conclusions The disparity between the scale of a microbial cell and the scale of a watershed currently limits the development of genomically informed predictive models describing watershed biogeochemical function. Meander-bound floodplains appear to serve as scaling motifs that predict aggregate capacities for biogeochemical transformations, providing a foundation for incorporating riparian soil microbiomes in watershed models. Widely represented genetic capacities did not predict in situ activity at one time point, but rather they define a reservoir of biogeochemical potential available as conditions change.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗