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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 1,585 records · Page 88
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

First demonstration of an all-solid-state optical cryocooler

Solid-state optical refrigeration uses anti-Stokes fluorescence to cool macroscopic objects to cryogenic temperatures without vibrations. Crystals such as Yb 3+ -doped YLiF 4 (YLF:Yb) have previously been laser-cooled to 91 K. In this study, we show for the first time laser cooling of a payload connected to a cooling crystal. A YLF:Yb crystal was placed inside a Herriott cell and pumped with a 1020-nm laser (47 W) to cool a HgCdTe sensor that is part of a working Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to 135 K. This first demonstration of an all-solid-state optical cryocooler was enabled by careful control of the various desired and undesired heat flows. Fluorescence heating of the payload was minimized by using a single-kink YLF thermal link between the YLF:Yb cooling crystal and the copper coldfinger that held the HgCdTe sensor. The adhesive-free bond between YLF and YLF:Yb showed excellent thermal reliability. This laser-cooled assembly was then supported by silica aerogel cylinders inside a vacuum clamshell to minimize undesired conductive and radiative heat loads from the warm surroundings. Our structure can serve as a baseline for future optical cryocooler devices.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Demonstration of non-destructive and isotope-sensitive material analysis using a short-pulsed laser-driven epi-thermal neutron source

Neutrons are a valuable tool for non-destructive material investigation as their interaction cross sections with matter are isotope sensitive and can be used complementary to x-rays. So far, most neutron applications have been limited to large-scale facilities such as nuclear research reactors, spallation sources, and accelerator-driven neutron sources. Here we show the design and optimization of a laser-driven neutron source in the epi-thermal and thermal energy range, which is used for non-invasive material analysis. Neutron resonance spectroscopy, neutron radiography, and neutron resonance imaging with moderated neutrons are demonstrated for investigating samples in terms of isotope composition and thickness. The experimental results encourage applications in non-destructive and isotope-sensitive material analysis and pave the way for compact laser-driven neutron sources with high application potential.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental demonstration of continuous quantum error correction

The storage and processing of quantum information are susceptible to external noise, resulting in computational errors. A powerful method to suppress these effects is quantum error correction. Typically, quantum error correction is executed in discrete rounds, using entangling gates and projective measurement on ancillary qubits to complete each round of error correction. Here we use direct parity measurements to implement a continuous quantum bit-flip correction code in a resource-efficient manner, eliminating entangling gates, ancillary qubits, and their associated errors. An FPGA controller actively corrects errors as they are detected, achieving an average bit-flip detection efficiency of up to 91%. Furthermore, the protocol increases the relaxation time of the protected logical qubit by a factor of 2.7 over the relaxation times of the bare comprising qubits. Our results showcase resource-efficient stabilizer measurements in a multi-qubit architecture and demonstrate how continuous error correction codes can address challenges in realizing a fault-tolerant system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Demonstration of long-range correlations via susceptibility measurements in a one-dimensional superconducting Josephson spin chain

Abstract Spin chains have long been considered an effective medium for long-range interactions, entanglement generation, and quantum state transfer. In this work, we explore the properties of a spin chain implemented with superconducting flux circuits, designed to act as a connectivity medium between two superconducting qubits. The susceptibility of the chain is probed and shown to support long-range, cross-chain correlations. In addition, interactions between the two end qubits, mediated by the coupler chain, are demonstrated. This work has direct applicability in near term quantum annealing processors as a means of generating long-range, coherent coupling between qubits.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Demonstration of universal control between non-interacting qubits using the Quantum Zeno effect

The Zeno effect occurs in quantum systems when a very strong measurement is applied, which can alter the dynamics in non-trivial ways. Despite being dissipative, the dynamics stay coherent within any degenerate subspaces of the measurement. Here we show that such a measurement can turn a single-qubit operation into a two- or multi-qubit entangling gate, even in a non-interacting system. We demonstrate this gate between two effectively non-interacting transmon qubits. Our Zeno gate works by imparting a geometric phase on the system, conditioned on it lying within a particular non-local subspace. These results show how universality can be generated not only by coherent interactions as is typically employed in quantum information platforms, but also by Zeno measurements.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Demonstration of Super-X divertor exhaust control for transient heat load management in compact fusion reactors

Nuclear fusion could offer clean, abundant energy. However, managing the power exhausted from the core fusion plasma towards the reactor wall remains a major challenge. This is compounded in emerging compact reactor designs promising more cost-effective pathways towards commercial fusion energy. Alternative Divertor Configurations (ADCs) are a potential solution. In this work, we demonstrate exhaust control in ADCs, employing a novel method to diagnose the neutral gas buffer, which shields the target. Our work on the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak Upgrade shows that ADCs tackle key risks and uncertainties for fusion energy. Their highly reduced sensitivity to perturbations enables active exhaust control in otherwise unfeasible situations and facilitates an increased passive absorption of transients, which would otherwise damage the divertor. We observe a strong decoupling of each divertor from other reactor regions, enabling near-independent control of the divertors and core plasma. Our work showcases the real-world benefits of ADCs for effective heat load management in fusion power reactors.

Imaging techniques↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental demonstration of attosecond pump–probe spectroscopy with an X-ray free-electron laser

Pump–probe experiments with subfemtosecond resolution are the key to understanding electronic dynamics in quantum systems. Here we demonstrate the generation and control of subfemtosecond pulse pairs from a two-colour X-ray free-electron laser. By measuring the delay between the two pulses with an angular streaking diagnostic, we characterize the group velocity of the X-ray free-electron laser and show control of the pulse delay down to 270as. Here, we confirm the application of this technique to a pump–probe measurement in core-ionized para-aminophenol. These results reveal the ability to perform pump–probe experiments with subfemtosecond resolution and atomic site specificity.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Demonstration of reduced neoclassical energy transport in Wendelstein 7-X

Research on magnetic confinement of high-temperature plasmas has the ultimate goal of harnessing nuclear fusion for the production of electricity. Although the tokamak is the leading toroidal magnetic-confinement concept, it is not without shortcomings and the fusion community has therefore also pursued alternative concepts such as the stellarator. Unlike axisymmetric tokamaks, stellarators possess a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field geometry. The availability of this additional dimension opens up an extensive configuration space for computational optimization of both the field geometry itself and the current-carrying coils that produce it. Such an optimization was undertaken in designing Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), a large helical-axis advanced stellarator (HELIAS), which began operation in 2015 at Greifswald, Germany. A major drawback of 3D magnetic field geometry, however, is that it introduces a strong temperature dependence into the stellarator’s non-turbulent ‘neoclassical’ energy transport. Indeed, such energy losses will become prohibitive in high-temperature reactor plasmas unless a strong reduction of the geometrical factor associated with this transport can be achieved; such a reduction was therefore a principal goal of the design of W7-X. In spite of the modest heating power currently available, W7-X has already been able to achieve high-temperature plasma conditions during its 2017 and 2018 experimental campaigns, producing record values of the fusion triple product for such stellarator plasmas. The triple product of plasma density, ion temperature and energy confinement time is used in fusion research as a figure of merit, as it must attain a certain threshold value before net-energy-producing operation of a reactor becomes possible. Here we demonstrate that such record values provide evidence for reduced neoclassical energy transport in W7-X, as the plasma profiles that produced these results could not have been obtained in stellarators lacking a comparably high level of neoclassical optimization.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental demonstration of optical stochastic cooling

Particle accelerators and storage rings have been transformative instruments of discovery, and, for many applications, innovations in particle-beam cooling have been a principal driver of that success. Stochastic cooling (SC), one of the most important conceptual and technological advances in this area cools a beam through granular sampling and correction of its phase-space structure, thus bearing resemblance to a ‘Maxwell’s demon’. The extension of SC from the microwave regime up to optical frequencies and bandwidths has long been pursued, as it could increase the achievable cooling rates by three to four orders of magnitude and provide a powerful tool for future accelerators. First proposed nearly 30 years ago, optical stochastic cooling (OSC) replaces the conventional microwave elements of SC with optical-frequency analogues and is, in principle, compatible with any species of charged-particle beam. Here we describe a demonstration of OSC in a proof-of-principle experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s Integrable Optics Test Accelerator. The experiment used 100-MeV electrons and a non-amplified configuration of OSC with a radiation wavelength of 950 nm, and achieved strong, simultaneous cooling of the beam in all degrees of freedom. This realization of SC at optical frequencies serves as a foundation for more advanced experiments with high-gain optical amplification, and advances opportunities for future operational OSC systems with potential benefit to a broad user community in the accelerator-based sciences.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Beyond 30% Conversion Efficiency in Silicon Solar Cells: A Numerical Demonstration

We demonstrate through precise numerical simulations the possibility of flexible, thin-film solar cells, consisting of crystalline silicon, to achieve power conversion efficiency of 31%. Our optimized photonic crystal architecture consists of a 15 μm thick cell patterned with inverted micro-pyramids with lattice spacing comparable to the wavelength of near-infrared light, enabling strong wave-interference based light trapping and absorption. Unlike previous photonic crystal designs, photogenerated charge carrier flow is guided to a grid of interdigitated back contacts with optimized geometry to minimize Auger recombination losses due to lateral current flow. Front and back surface fields provided by optimized Gaussian doping profiles are shown to play a vital role in enhancing surface passivation. We carefully delineate the drop in power conversion efficiency when surface recombination velocities exceed 100 cm/s and the doping profiles deviate from prescribed values. These results are obtained by exact numerical simulation of Maxwell’s wave equations for light propagation throughout the cell architecture and a state-of-the-art model for charge carrier transport and Auger recombination.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Investigation of a tellurium-packed column for isolation of astatine-211 from irradiated bismuth targets and demonstration of a semi-automated system

Astatine-211 is an attractive radionuclide for use in targeted alpha therapy of blood-borne diseases and micrometastatic diseases. Efficient isolation methods that can be adapted to robust automated 211 At isolation systems are of high interest for improving the availability of 211 At. Based on the early studies of Bochvarova and co-workers involving isolation of 211 At from irradiated thorium targets, we developed a method for 211 At isolation from bismuth targets using tellurium-packed columns. Dissolution of irradiated bismuth targets is accomplished using HNO 3 ; however, 211 At is not captured on the Te column material in this matrix. Our method involves slow addition of aqueous NH 2 OH·HCl to the Bi target dissolved in HNO 3 to convert to a HCl matrix. The amount of NH 2 OH·HCl was optimized because (1) the quantity of NH 2 OH·HCl used appears to affect the radiolabeling yield of phenethyl- closo -decaborate(2-) (B10)-conjugated antibodies and (2) reducing the volume of NH 2 OH·HCl solution can effectively shorten the overall isolation time. A proof-of-concept semi-automated process has been demonstrated using targets containing ~0.96 GBq (~26 mCi) of 211 At. High isolation yields (88–95%) were obtained. Radiochemical purity of the isolated 211 At was assessed by radio-HPLC. Concentrations of Bi and Te contaminants in the 211 At and the astatinated antibodies were evaluated using ICP-MS.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2020

Experimental demonstration of broadband solar absorption beyond the lambertian limit in certain thin silicon photonic crystals

The tantalizing possibility of 31% solar-to-electric power conversion efficiency in thin film crystalline silicon solar cell architectures relies essentially on solar absorption well beyond the Lambertian light trapping limit (Bhattacharya and John in Nat Sci Rep 9:12482, 2019). Up to now, no solar cell architecture has exhibited above-Lambertian solar absorption, integrated over the broad solar spectrum. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate two types of photonic crystal (PhC) solar cells architectures that exceed Lambertian light absorption, integrated over the entire 300–1,200 nm wavelength band. These measurements confirm theoretically predicted wave-interference-based optical resonances associated with long lifetime, slow-light modes and parallel-to-interface refraction. These phenomena are beyond the realm of ray optics. Using two types of 10-μm thick PhC’s, first an Inverted Pyramid PhC with lattice constant a= 2,500 nm and second a Teepee PhC with a = 1,200 nm, we observe solar absorption well beyond the Lambertian limit over λ = 950–1,200 nm. Our absorption measurements correspond to the maximum-achievable-photocurrent-density (MAPD), under AM1.5G illumination at 4-degree incident angle, 41.29 and 41.52 mA/cm2 for the Inverted Pyramid and Teepee PhC, respectively, in agreement with wave-optics, numerical simulations. Both of these values exceed the MAPD (= 39.63 mA/cm2) corresponding to the Lambertian limit for a 10-μm thick silicon for solar absorption over the 300–1,200 nm band.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Demonstration of a MOT in a sub-millimeter membrane hole

Abstract We demonstrate the generation of a cold-atom ensemble within a sub-millimeter diameter hole in a transparent membrane, a so-called “membrane MOT”. With a sub-Doppler cooling process, the atoms trapped by the membrane MOT are cooled down to 10 $$\upmu$$ μ K. The atom number inside the unbridged/bridged membrane hole is about $$10^4$$ 10 4 to $$10^5$$ 10 5 , and the $$1/e^2$$ 1 / e 2 -diameter of the MOT cloud is about 180 $$\upmu$$ μ m for a 400 $$\upmu$$ μ m-diameter membrane hole. Such a membrane device can, in principle, efficiently load cold atoms into the evanescent-field optical trap generated by the suspended membrane waveguide for strong atom-light interaction and provide the capability of sufficient heat dissipation at the waveguide. This represents a key step toward the photonic atom trap integrated platform (ATIP).

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Demonstration of Feasibility of X-Ray Free Electron Laser Studies of Dynamics of Nanoparticles in Entangled Polymer Melts

The recent advent of hard x-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) opens new areas of science due to their exceptional brightness, coherence, and time structure. In principle, such sources enable studies of dynamics of condensed matter systems over times ranging from femtoseconds to seconds. However, the studies of ‘‘slow’’ dynamics in polymeric materials still remain in question due to the characteristics of the XFEL beam and concerns about sample damage. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the relaxation dynamics of gold nanoparticles suspended in polymer melts using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), while also monitoring eventual X-ray induced damage. In spite of inherently large pulse-to-pulse intensity and position variations of the XFEL beam, measurements can be realized at slow time scales. The X-ray induced damage and heating are less than initially expected for soft matter materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Possible Demonstration of a Polaronic Bose-Einstein(-Mott) Condensate in UO 2(+x) by Ultrafast THz Spectroscopy and Microwave Dissipation

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) composed of polarons would be an advance because they would combine coherently charge, spin, and a crystal lattice. Following our earlier report of unique structural and spectroscopic properties, we now identify potentially definitive evidence for polaronic BECs in photo- and chemically doped UO 2(+x) on the basis of exceptional coherence in the ultrafast time dependent terahertz absorption and microwave spectroscopy results that show collective behavior including dissipation patterns whose precedents are condensate vortex and defect disorder and condensate excitations. Furthermore, that some of these signatures of coherence in an atom-based system extend to ambient temperature suggests a novel mechanism that could be a synchronized, dynamical, disproportionation excitation, possibly via the solid state analog of a Feshbach resonance that promotes the coherence. Such a mechanism would demonstrate that the use of ultra-low temperatures to establish the BEC energy distribution is a convenience rather than a necessity, with the actual requirement for the particles being in the same state that is not necessarily the ground state attainable by other means. Interestingly, a macroscopic quantum object created by chemical doping that can persist to ambient temperature and resides in a bulk solid would be revolutionary in a number of scientific and technological fields.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Demonstration of Parallel Algal Processing: Production of Renewable Diesel Blendstock and a High-Value Chemical Intermediate

Co-production of high-value chemicals such as succinic acid from algal sugars is a promising route to enabling conversion of algal lipids to a renewable diesel blendstock. Biomass from the green alga Scenedesmus acutus was acid pretreated and the resulting slurry separated into its solid and liquor components using charged polyamide induced flocculation and vacuum filtration. Over the course of a subsequent 756 hours continuous fermentation of the algal liquor with Actinobacillus succinogenes 130Z, we achieved maximum productivity, process conversion yield, and titer of 1.1 g L-1 h-1, 0.7 g g-1 total sugars, and 30.5 g L-1 respectively. Succinic acid was recovered from fermentation media with a yield of 60% at 98.4% purity while lipids were recovered from the flocculated cake at 83% yield with subsequent conversion through deoxygenation and hydroisomerization to a renewable diesel blendstock. This work is a first-of-its-kind demonstration of a novel integrated conversion process for algal biomass to produce fuel and chemical products of sufficient quality to be blend-ready feedstocks for further processing.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Antimicrobial properties of nanostructured surfaces – demonstrating the need for a standard testing methodology

Bioinspired nanostructured materials that exhibit antimicrobial properties are being synthesized and tested at increasing rates for use in healthcare, manufacturing processes, and diagnostics. Although progress has been made in improving and understanding their bactericidal activity, arguably, the biggest problem currently in the field is the lack of a standard testing methodology that allows for optimal characterization and better comparison of emerging nanostructures. In this work, we examine two forms of nanostructured silicon that vary in their ability to kill certain bacterial species due to different physical mechanisms and derive guidelines for the comparative testing. We perform a comprehensive evaluation of methodologies used extensively in the field (e.g., colony counting and live dead analysis) and the novel application of high-throughput flow cytometry. The data reveal how the techniques are complementary but not always directly equivalent or correlative. Therefore, comparison of results obtained using different methodologies on different materials can be grossly misleading. We report significant variations in bactericidal efficiencies depending on experimental environments (medium type, etc.) and methodologies employed. In addition, we demonstrate how cytometry is yet another powerful complementary tool that can aid the mechanistic understanding of antimicrobial activities of rough surfaces. Besides standardization for comparison, ultimately, evaluation methods need to consider anticipated applications. Then and only then can the true potential (or limitation) of a novel material be determined for its suitability for advancement in a particular field of use.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗