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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Neutron Induced Nuclear Reaction Cross Sections for Radiochemistry in the Region of Thallium, Lead, and Bismuth

We have developed a set of modeled nuclear reaction cross sections for use in radiochemical detector diagnostics. Systematics for the input parameters required by the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model developed in the TALYS code system are used to calculate neutron induced nuclear reaction cross sections for targets ranging from Thallium (Z = 81) to Bismuth (Z = 83).

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2020

Present Status of Nuclear Shell-Model Calculations of 0 νββ Decay Matrix Elements

Neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay searches are currently among the major foci of experimental physics. The observation of such a decay will have important implications in our understanding of the intrinsic nature of neutrinos and shed light on the limitations of the Standard Model. The rate of this process depends on both the unknown neutrino effective mass and the nuclear matrix element (M 0ν ) associated with the given 0νββ transition. The latter can only be provided by theoretical calculations, hence the need of accurate theoretical predictions of M 0ν for the success of the experimental programs. This need drives the theoretical nuclear physics community to provide the most reliable calculations of M 0ν . Among the various computational models adopted to solve the many-body nuclear problem, the shell model is widely considered as the basic framework of the microscopic description of the nucleus. Here, we review the most recent and advanced shell-model calculations of M 0ν considering the light-neutrino-exchange channel for nuclei of experimental interest. We report the sensitivity of the theoretical calculations with respect to variations in the model spaces and the shell-model nuclear Hamiltonians.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1979

Nuclear pumped laser modeling

A model for an indirectly nuclear pumped laser experiment was developed. The apparatus consists of the usual cylindrical neutron moderator enclosing a gas filled quartz cell. The quartz cell in this case has two concentric compartments; the larger output compartment is filled with He-3 and fluorescent gases which are coupled radiatively to the inner compartment which is filled with a lasing gas for efficient optical pumping. The fluorescent gas in this study was a mixture of Ar, Kr and F2. Perfluoroalkyliodide was chosen as the lasant material of the inner compartment. The degree of photoabsorption in the lasant gas was calculated. The kinetic efficiencies of various gas combinations in the outer fluorescence tube were then evaluated in order to maximize the fluorescence output in the iodine pump band.

Wilson, J. W.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Global fit of electron and neutrino elastic scattering data to determine the strange quark contribution to the vector and axial form factors of the nucleon

We present a global fit of neutral-current elastic (NCE) neutrino-scattering data and parity-violating electron-scattering (PVES) data with the goal of determining the strange quark contribution to the vector and axial form factors of the proton. Previous fits of this form included data from a variety of PVES experiments (PVA4, HAPPEx, G0, SAMPLE) and the NCE neutrino and anti-neutrino data from BNL E734. These fits did not constrain the strangeness contribution to the axial form factor G A s ( Q 2 ) at low Q 2 very well because there was no NCE data for Q 2 < 0.45 GeV 2 . Our new fit includes for the first time MiniBooNE NCE data from both neutrino and antineutrino scattering; this experiment used a hydrocarbon target and so a model of the neutrino interaction with the carbon nucleus was required. Three different nuclear models have been employed: a relativistic Fermi gas model, the superscaling approximation model, and a spectral function model. We find a tremendous improvement in the constraint of G A s ( Q 2 ) at low Q 2 compared to previous work, although more data is needed from NCE measurements that focus on exclusive single-proton final states, for example from MicroBooNE. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cross sections for the formation of Rb84m,g, Rb83, and Rb82m in Sr86(d,x) reactions up to deuteron energies of 49 MeV: Competition between α-particle and multinucleon emission processes

Cross sections of Sr86(d,x) reactions leading to the products Rb84m,g, Rb83, and Rb82m were measured by the stacked-sample activation technique up to deuteron energies of 49 MeV. Nuclear model calculations were performed using the codes talys and empire, which combine the statistical, precompound, and direct interaction components. In all cases, the empire results were much higher than the talys calculation. Fairly good agreement was obtained between measured data and the talys calculation after some optimization of the input model parameters. Insight into competition between α-particle and multinucleon emission in the Y88 compound-nucleus system was also gained.

59 ≤ A ≤ 89↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantifying uncertainty in physics-based predictions of rare-isotope production cross sections via Bayesian-inspired model averaging across nuclear mass tables

Accurate prediction of fragmentation cross sections is essential for rare-isotope beam production, planning new-isotope searches, and designing experiments to study the most exotic regions of the nuclear chart. However, existing reaction models and phenomenological cross-section parametrizations often exhibit significant deviations over broad regions of mass and charge. In this work, a Bayesian-inspired model-averaging framework is developed to combine abrasion-ablation (AA) calculations based on multiple nuclear mass tables into a single statistically weighted estimate. For the calibrated systems, the model weights are assigned empirically according to the relative quality of fit to measured cross sections, thereby reducing systematic model bias while preserving the underlying physics content of the AA description. The weights are constrained using proton-rich fragmentation data for the 78 Kr and 124 Xe projectiles. The resulting parameter trends are then propagated to the 92 Mo and 144 Sm systems through a controlled scaling procedure. In the present implementation, the excitation-energy prescription is fixed, while the averaging is performed across nuclear-mass inputs; the framework provides both weighted cross sections and associated uncertainty estimates. Applied to proton-rich fragmentation, the present approach provides a practical basis for interpolation and limited extrapolation in regions relevant to rare-isotope production. The resulting predictions are used to assess the production of very proton-rich nuclei, and candidate new isotopes are discussed.

Bayesian methods↗
NASA NTRS2006

Engine System Model Development for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

In order to design, analyze, and evaluate conceptual Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) engine systems, an improved NTP design and analysis tool has been developed. The NTP tool utilizes the Rocket Engine Transient Simulation (ROCETS) system tool and many of the routines from the Enabler reactor model found in Nuclear Engine System Simulation (NESS). Improved non-nuclear component models and an external shield model were added to the tool. With the addition of a nearly complete system reliability model, the tool will provide performance, sizing, and reliability data for NERVA-Derived NTP engine systems. A new detailed reactor model is also being developed and will replace Enabler. The new model will allow more flexibility in reactor geometry and include detailed thermal hydraulics and neutronics models. A description of the reactor, component, and reliability models is provided. Another key feature of the modeling process is the use of comprehensive spreadsheets for each engine case. The spreadsheets include individual worksheets for each subsystem with data, plots, and scaled figures, making the output very useful to each engineering discipline. Sample performance and sizing results with the Enabler reactor model are provided including sensitivities. Before selecting an engine design, all figures of merit must be considered including the overall impacts on the vehicle and mission. Evaluations based on key figures of merit of these results and results with the new reactor model will be performed. The impacts of clustering and external shielding will also be addressed. Over time, the reactor model will be upgraded to design and analyze other NTP concepts with CERMET and carbide fuel cores.

Nelson, Karl W.↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Probabilistic Model-Based Diagnostic Framework for Nuclear Engineering Systems

A fault diagnostic framework was investigated in this study for applications in thermal–hydraulic systems of nuclear power plants. The proposed framework consists of quantitative model-based diagnosis, statistical change detection and probabilistic reasoning. The use of physics-based diagnostic models provides high detection sensitivity and allows noise and measurement uncertainty to be incorporated robustly. Performance-related parametric models for each component are constructed based on first principles. Numerical model residuals are generated using the concept of analytical redundancy. Statistical change detection methods are employed to detect non-zero residuals in the presence of uncertainty. The diagnosis task is performed using Bayesian inference to detect and localize possible faults. Application to a single-phase heat exchanger for demonstration showed that the proposed probabilistic framework can provide improved results in comparison with traditional approaches while remaining less sensitive to false alarms in the presence of measurement and modeling uncertainty.

Bayesian network↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hadron-argon Cross Section Measurements in ProtoDUNE

Modern accelerator-based neutrino experiments use complex nuclei, such as argon, as neutrinotargets that rely on nuclear models to unfold the reconstructed neutrino energy to the true neu-trino energy. The nuclear effects complicate the neutrino oscillation measurements and are notwell-understood, and there are very limited measurements of hadron cross sections on argon.ProtoDUNE-SP, a prototype liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) for the Deep Un-derground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) far detector, collected data from a hadronic test beamat CERN in 2018, including protons, pions, and kaons in the range 1 to 7 GeV/c. In this talk, wewill present the status and results of the many hadron-argon cross section analyses.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bayesian Exploration of Phenomenological EoS of Neutron/Hybrid Stars with Recent Observations

The description of the stellar interior of compact stars remains as a big challenge for the nuclear astrophysics community. The consolidated knowledge is restricted to density regions around the saturation of hadronic matter ρ 0 =2.8 × 10 14 g cm -3 , regimes where our nuclear models are successfully applied. As one moves towards higher densities and extreme conditions up to the quark/gluons deconfinement, little can be said about the microphysics of the equation of state (EoS). Here, we employ a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) strategy to access the variability at high density regions of polytropic piecewise models for neutron star (NS) EoS or possible hybrid stars, i.e., a NS with a small quark-matter core. With a fixed description of the hadronic matter for low density, below the nuclear saturation density, we explore a variety of models for the high density regimes leading to stellar masses near to 2.5 M ⊙ , in accordance with the observations of massive pulsars. The models are constrained, including the observation of the merger of neutrons stars from VIRGO-LIGO and with the pulsar observed by NICER. In addition, we also discuss the possibility of the use of a Bayesian power regression model with heteroscedastic error. The set of EoS from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was used as input and treated as the data set for the testing case.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantum physics of stars

Stars are slowly developing objects; the lifetimes of the different burning phases are determined by the strength of nuclear reactions, which in turn are defined by the quantum structure of the associated nuclei at the threshold and the respective reaction mechanisms. Stars, from the nuclear physics perspective, are cold environments where only a few of the key nuclear reactions have been measured at the actual stellar plasma temperatures. This is also the case for more dynamic astrophysical phenomena from the big bang to stellar explosions. Most of the nuclear reaction rates are therefore based on theoretical extrapolations. A number of discrepancies between these predictions and the associated stellar signatures have been observed, and many may be due to low-energy or near-threshold quantum effects. These effects need to be understood in order to reliably model nuclear reaction processes, not only for stars but also for low-temperature plasma environments such as controlled magnetic or inertial confinement fusion systems, which operate in similar temperature regimes. This review summarizes the various theoretical techniques presently used for deriving reaction rates and discusses possible quantum effects that may impact the reaction cross section near the reaction threshold. These resemble enhanced single-particle and cluster structures near threshold and associated interference effects. New experimental techniques such as deep-underground accelerators or the study of transfer reactions to mimic the quantum-mechanical transition strength, the so-called Trojan horse method, provide ways to directly or indirectly probe the reaction features that determine the reaction rates at stellar energies. Furthermore, this is demonstrated on a number of key nuclear reactions for different nucleosynthesis environments. Finally, current inconsistencies between experimental predictions and observations are discussed.

Models & methods for nuclear reactions↗
DOE OSTI2022

Uncertainty Quantification of a Light Water Pulsed-Neutron Die-Away Experiment to Thermal Neutron Scattering Laws

Thermal neutron scattering laws are important nuclear data for many nuclear science and engineering applications. Validation helps to ensure that a thermal neutron scattering law has a high quality and often employs critical benchmarks as integral experiments. Recently, pulsed-neutron die-away benchmarks have been used as an experiment to validate thermal neutron scattering laws. Herein, we evidence how this alternative integral experiment has a high sensitivity to these nuclear data by performing an uncertainty quantification analysis. The analysis randomly sampled the nuclear model parameters associated with hydrogen bound in light water thermal neutron scattering law and sampled other nuclear data that influenced the experiment’s integral parameter (e.g., elastic scattering, absorption in hydrogen and oxygen) from their respective covariance matrices. The thermal neutron scattering law caused an uncertainty in the integral parameter that reached 2.67%, which exceeds by an order of magnitude the uncertainties induced in commonly used thermal solution critical benchmarks. The validation performed here, although limited due to a poor description of the historical experiment, indicated that the ENDF/B-VIII.0 thermal neutron scattering law well predicted the integral parameter. These results motivate further benchmark and validation efforts using pulsed-neutron die-away experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Δ$\textit{K}=0 \textit{M}1$ Excitation Strength of the Well-Deformed Nucleus 164 Dy from $\textit{K}$ Mixing

We report the size of a Δ$\textit{K}=0 \textit{M}1$ excitation strength has been determined for the first time in a predominantly axially deformed even-even nucleus. It has been obtained from the observation of a rare $\textit{K}$-mixing situation between two close-lying $J^π = 1^+$ states of the nucleus 164 Dy with components characterized by intrinsic projection quantum numbers $\textit{K}$ = 0 and $\textit{K}$ = 1. Nuclear resonance fluorescence induced by quasimonochromatic linearly polarized γ-ray beams provided evidence for $\textit{K}$ mixing of the 1 + states at 3159.1(3) and 3173.6(3) keV in excitation energy from their γ-decay branching ratios into the ground-state band. The Δ$\textit{K}$ = 0 transition strength of $B(M1; 0^+_1 → 1^+_{K=0}) = 0.008(1)μ^2_N$ was inferred from a mixing analysis of their $\textit{M}$1 transition rates into the ground-state band. It is in agreement with predictions from the quasiparticle phonon nuclear model. This determination represents first experimental information on the $\textit{M}$1 excitation strength of a nuclear quantum state with a negative $\mathcal{R}$-symmetry quantum number.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measuring Nuclear Clusters in the Short-Baseline Near Detector

The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is the first Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) with high enough resolution and large enough neutrino flux to measure the cross-section for production of heavier-than-proton fragments in neutrino interactions. SBND is an 112-ton LArTPC, and lies 110 m downstream from the Booster Neutrino Beam target, where it is collecting more than two million neutrino interactions per year. As a result of both the intranuclear cascade and nuclear de-excitation, neutrino interactions with argon can produce nuclear clusters such as deuterons, tritons, helions and alpha particles, which have so far only been seen as vertex activity or mis-reconstructed as protons. With LArTPC technology's excellent reconstruction capabilities and SBND's unprecedented neutrino statistics, a measurement of these nuclear clusters could distinguish between nuclear models and improve neutrino energy reconstruction. This poster presents the status of simulation and reconstruction of nuclear clusters in SBND.

Beever, Anna L. [Unlisted, US] (ORCID:000900069339↗
DOE OSTI2026

Direct observation of the superallowed α-decay of 104 Te

The radioactivity of the α particle is among the most compelling evidence for the existence of cluster structures in atomic nuclei. During the decay process, a pre-existing α particle tunnels through the potential barrier formed by the residual nucleus1,2. The degree of preformation of the α particle, a strongly bound system of two protons and two neutrons, is extracted from the data by dividing the α-decay probability by the barrier penetrability for a given particle energy. The preformation probability changes rapidly near nuclear shell closures, which is direct evidence that clustering is connected to nuclear structure3. Enhanced preformation was observed in the lightest α-particle emitters, spherical tellurium and xenon isotopes decaying to magic isotopes of tin. Here we show the most extreme case of α-particle preformation from the measurement of the decay of tellurium-104 (104Te). With a half-life of , 104Te is the fastest ground-state α-emitting nucleus known so far. The deduced preformation demonstrates that the enhancement is greater for 104Te than for any other nucleus. One nuclear model that can explain our observation postulates that the α particle can exist only in the low-nuclear-matter-density regions on the surface of the nucleus. The uniquely high preformation for 104Te is attributed to its relation to doubly magic tin-100 (100Sn), creating conditions conducive to form an α particle.

Cox, Ian↗
DOE OSTI2025

Finding Nuclear Clusters in the Short-Baseline Near Detector

Production of nuclear clusters such as deuterons, tritons, helions and alpha particles has only recently been simulated for neutrino-nucleus interactions, and has not yet been measured in neutrino experiments. The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is the first Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) with high enough resolution and a large enough neutrino flux to accurately measure the cross-section for the production of heavier-than-proton fragments in neutrino interactions. SBND is a 112-ton LArTPC, and lies 110 m downstream from the Booster Neutrino Beam target, where it has already collected the world's largest dataset of neutrino-argon interactions. In these processes, the intranuclear cascade and nuclear de-excitation stages can both produce nuclear clusters. With LArTPC technology's excellent reconstruction capabilities and SBND's unprecedented neutrino statistics, a measurement of these nuclear clusters could distinguish between nuclear models and improve neutrino energy reconstruction. This poster presents the status of simulation, reconstruction, and prospects for a measurement of nuclear clusters in SBND.

Beever, Anna [Sheffield U.] (ORCID:000900069339924↗
DOE OSTI2023

Nuclear and hybrid equations of state in light of the low-mass compact star in HESS J1731-347

Here, we sample over 500 relativistic mean-field theories constrained by chiral effective-field theory and properties of isospin-symmetric nuclear matter and test them against known stellar structure constraints. This includes a recent mass and radius measurement of a compact object in supernova remnant HESS J1731-347, with an unusually low mass of M = 0.77$^{+0.20}_{–0.17}$M ⊙ and a compact radius of R = 10.4$^{+0.86}_{–0.78}$ km. We show that none of the sampled nuclear models meet all constraints at the 68% credibility level, but that hybrid equations of state with a quark-matter inner core and nuclear outer core easily can. This indicates a tension between astrophysical constraints and low-energy nuclear theory.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗