Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “cpc”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Cell laden hydrogel construct on-a-chip for mimicry of cardiac tissue in-vitro study

Since the leading cause of death are cardiac diseases, engineered heart tissue (EHT) is one of the most appealing topics defined in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields. The importance of EHT is not only for heart regeneration but also for in vitro developing of cardiology. Cardiomyocytes could grow and commit more naturally in their microenvironment rather than traditional cultivation. Thus, this research tried to develop a set up on-a-chip to produce EHT based on chitosan hydrogel. Micro-bioreactor was hydrodynamically designed and simulated by COMSOL and produced via soft lithography process. Chitosan hydrogel was also prepared, adjusted, and assessed by XRD, FTIR and also its degradation rate and swelling ratio were determined. Finally, hydrogels in which mice cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) were loaded were injected into the micro-device chambers and cultured. Each EHT in every chamber was evaluated separately. Prepared EHTs showed promising results that expanded in them CPCs and work as an integrated syncytium. High cell density culture was the main accomplishment of this study. - Highlights: • An engineered heart tissue in its microenvironment at a perfused micro-bioreactor is proposed. • Cell proliferation of cardiac cells in high cell density is achievable in setup while sacrificing hydrogel is degrading. • 16 distinct heart tissue constructs in each run reduce the time and cost and increase the test results accuracy.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effect of curing conditions on the dimensional and thermal stability of calcium phosphate cement for elevated temperature applications

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are attractive materials for elevated temperature applications, like moulds to process thermoplastics up to 300 °C. The CPC resulting from the reaction of wollastonite with phosphoric acid cured at room temperature however contains hydrated phases like brushite, and is thus not stable when exposed to temperatures above 200 °C. A non-contact method based on digital image correlation demonstrated that isothermal curing at 60 °C reduces the thermal shrinkage up to 300 °C by 25%. This curing method results in the direct formation of the more stable monetite in a shorter curing time. The correlated results of TGA, pH of the filtration water, and DSC analysis on partially cured material indicate this. XRD diffractograms and SEM images in combination with EDX show the evolution of the transformation of wollastonite into monetite, and the structure and morphology of the formed material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

XtalOpt version r9: An open-source evolutionary algorithm for crystal structure prediction

This is a new version of XtalOpt, an evolutionary algorithm for crystal structure prediction available for download from the CPC library or the XtalOpt website, http://xtalopt.github.io. XtalOpt is published under the Gnu Public License (GPL), which is an open source license that is recognized by the Open Source Initiative. We have detailed the new version incorporates many bug-fixes and new features here and predict the crystal structure of a system from its stoichiometry alone, using evolutionary algorithms.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

LeptonInjector and LeptonWeighter: A neutrino event generator and weighter for neutrino observatories

In this work, we present a high-energy neutrino event generator, called LeptonInjector, alongside an event weighter, called LeptonWeighter. Both are designed for large-volume Cherenkov neutrino telescopes such as IceCube. The neutrino event generator allows for quick and flexible simulation of neutrino events within and around the detector volume, and implements the leading Standard Model neutrino interaction processes relevant for neutrino observatories: neutrino-nucleon deep-inelastic scattering and neutrino-electron annihilation. In this paper, we discuss the event generation algorithm, the weighting algorithm, and the main functions of the publicly available code, with examples. Program summary: Program Titles: LeptonInjector and LeptonWeighter CPC Library link to program files: https://doi.org/10.17632/662gkpjfd9.1 Developer's repository links: https://github.com/icecube/LeptonInjector and https://github.com/icecube/LeptonWeighter Licensing provisions: GNU Lesser General Public License, version 3. Programming Language: C++11 External Routines: • Boost • HDF5 • nuflux (https://github.com/icecube/nuflux) • nuSQuIDS (https://github.com/arguelles/nuSQuIDS) • Photospline (https://github.com/icecube/photospline) • SuiteSparse (https://github.com/DrTimothyAldenDavis/SuiteSparse) Nature of problem: LeptonInjector: Generate neutrino interaction events of all possible topologies and energies throughout and around a detector volume. LeptonWeighter: Reweight Monte Carlo events, generated by a set of LeptonInjector Generators, to any desired physical neutrino flux or cross section. Solution method: LeptonInjector: Projected ranges of generated leptons and the extent of the detector, in terms of column depth, are used to inject events in and around the detector volume. Event kinematics follow distributions provided in cross section files. LeptonWeighter: Event generation probabilities are calculated for each Generator, which are then combined into a generation weight and used to calculate an overall event weight.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Simulating low-energy neutrino interactions with MARLEY

Monte Carlo event generators are a critical tool for the interpretation of data obtained by neutrino experiments. Several modern event generators are available which are well-suited to the GeV energy scale used in studies of accelerator neutrinos. However, theoretical modeling differences make their immediate application to lower energies difficult. In this paper, I present a new event generator, MARLEY, which is designed to better address the simulation needs of the low-energy (tens of MeV and below) neutrino community. The code is written in C++14 with an optional interface to the popular ROOT data analysis framework. The current release of MARLEY (version 1.2.0) emphasizes simulations of the reaction 40 Ar ( ν e , e − ) 40 K ⁎ but is extensible to other channels with suitable user input. This paper provides detailed documentation of MARLEY's implementation and usage, including guidance on how generated events may be analyzed and how MARLEY may be interfaced with external codes such as Geant4. Further information about MARLEY is available on the official website at http://www.marleygen.org. Program title:MARLEY 1.2.0 CPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/4v7zxnc8j3.1 Developer's respository link:http://github.com/MARLEY-MC/marley Code Ocean capsule:https://codeocean.com/capsule/9868179 Licensing provisions: GNU General Public License 3.0 Programming language: C++14 External routines/libraries used: GNU Scientific Library [1,2] (required), ROOT [3,4] (optional) Nature of problem: Simulation of neutrino-nucleus scattering events at energies of tens-of-MeV and below Solution method: Initial two-to-two scattering kinematics are sampled using the allowed approximation differential cross section and tables of precomputed nuclear matrix elements. Subsequent de-excitations of the remnant nucleus are simulated using a Monte Carlo implementation of the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model and tabulated γ-ray decay schemes for discrete nuclear levels. Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: Input data are provided with the code that are suitable for producing simulations of the charged-current reaction 40 Ar ( ν e , e − ) 40 K ⁎ , coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering on spin-zero target nuclei, and neutrino-electron elastic scattering on any atomic target. Preparation of new reaction input files (whose format is documented in Appendix B) would enable other reaction channels and nuclear targets to be handled by the existing code framework. Although there is no maximum neutrino energy enforced by the code itself, realistic neutrino-nucleus scattering events may be generated up to roughly 50 MeV. Above this energy, the effects of forbidden nuclear transitions, which are neglected in the current treatment of the cross sections (see section 2.1), become increasingly important.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

tapir: A tool for topologies, amplitudes, partial fraction decomposition and input for reductions

The demand for precision predictions in the field of high energy physics has dramatically increased over recent years. Experiments conducted at the LHC, as well as precision measurements at the intensity frontier such as Belle II require equally precise theoretical predictions to make full use of the acquired data. To match the experimental precision, second-, third- and, for certain quantities, even higher-order calculations in perturbative quantum field theory are required. To facilitate such calculations, computer software automating as many steps as possible is required. Yet, each calculation poses different challenges and thus, a high level of configurability is required. In this context we present tapir: a tool for identification, manipulation and minimization of Feynman integral families. It is designed to integrate in toolchains based on the computer algebra system FORM, the use of which is common practice in the field. tapir can be used to reduce the complexity of multi-loop problems with cut-filters, topology mapping, partial fraction decomposition and alike. Program Title:tapir CPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/ptc9t46xyn.1 Developer's repository link:https://gitlab.com/tapir-devs/tapir Licensing provisions: GPLv3 Programming language:python 3, C++ Nature of problem: Multi-loop computations require the automatization of a large number of different tasks related to Feynman integral topologies. Among them are the identification and minimization of integral topologies, partial fraction decomposition of topologies in the case of linearly dependent propagators as well as mapping scalar products of loop momenta to scalar functions. Solution method: The minimization of topologies is performed by comparison of their respective Nickel indices [1], even further minimization utilizes Pak's algorithm [2]. To efficiently map scalar products of loop momenta to scalar functions FORM [3] code is generated. Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: Minimization based on Pak's algorithm slows down for many lines and scales. A coarser minimization using the Nickel indices, however, is still possible. [1]B. Nickel, D. Meiron, G.A.J. Baker, Compilation of 2-pt and 4-pt graphs for continuous spin model, Report, University of Guelph, 1977.[2]A. Pak, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 368 (2012) 012049, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/368/1/012049, arXiv:1111.0868.[3]B. Ruijl, T. Ueda, J. Vermaseren, FORM version 4.2, arXiv:1707.06453, 7 2017.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A universal implementation of radiative effects in neutrino event generators

Due to the similarities between electron-nucleus (eA) and neutrino-nucleus scattering (νA), eA data can contribute key information to improve cross-section modeling in eA and hence in νA event generators. However, to compare data and generated events, either the data must be radiatively corrected or radiative effects need to be included in the event generators. We implemented a universal radiative corrections program that can be used with all reaction mechanisms and any eA event generator. Our program includes real photon radiation by the incident and scattered electrons, and virtual photon exchange and photon vacuum polarization diagrams. It uses the “extended peaking” approximation for electron radiation and neglects charged hadron radiation. This method, validated with GENIE, can also be extended to simulate νA radiative effects. This work facilitates data-event-generator comparisons used to improve νA event generators for the next-generation of neutrino experiments. Program Title: emMCRadCorr CPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/hmsxg82vnf.1 Developer's repository link:https://github.com/e4nu/emMCRadCorr Licensing provisions: AGPLv3 Programming language:C++ Nature of problem: Radiative effects can significantly modify the event kinematics and the resulting cross-sections. Such effects must be accounted for when comparing event generators to eA data. Existing radiative correction codes are tailored to specific processes and topologies, and are limited to a restricted phase space defined by the spectrometer acceptance. Therefore, a more general approach is required to apply radiative corrections to semi-inclusive and exclusive eA measurements. Solution method: Our program incorporates real photon radiation from both the incident and scattered electrons, as well as virtual photon exchange and photon vacuum polarization effects. It employs the “extended peaking” approximation for electron radiation while neglecting contributions from charged hadron radiation. The code is fully decoupled from event generator codes and can be used for all event generators in the market.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Rapid measurement of sub-micrometer aerosol size distribution using a fast integrated mobility spectrometer

We present rapid measurement of submicron particle size distributions enables the characterization of aerosols with fast changing properties, and is often necessary for measurements onboard mobile platforms (e.g., research aircraft). Aerosol mobility size distribution is commonly measured by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), which relies on voltage scanning or stepping to classify particles of different sizes, and may take up to several minutes to obtain a complete size spectrum of aerosol particles. The recently developed fast integrated mobility spectrometer (FIMS) with enhanced dynamic size range classifies and detects particles from 10 to ~600 nm simultaneously, allowing submicron aerosol mobility size distributions to be captured at a time resolution of 1 second. In this study, we present a detailed data inversion routine for deriving aerosol size distribution from FIMS measurements. The inversion routine takes into consideration the FIMS transfer function, particle penetration efficiency in the FIMS, and multiple charging of aerosols. The accuracy of the FIMS measurement is demonstrated by comparing parallel FIMS and SMPS measurements of stable aerosols with a wide range of size spectrum shapes, including ambient aerosols and aerosols classified by a differential mobility analyzer (DMA). The FIMS and SMPS-derived size distributions show excellent agreements for all aerosols tested. In addition, total number concentrations of ambient aerosols were integrated from 1 Hz FIMS size distributions, and compared with those directly measured by a condensation particle counter (CPC) operated in parallel. Finally, the integrated and measured total particle concentrations agree well within 5%.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2010

Experimental analysis of thermal performance of flat plate and evacuated tube solar collectors in stationary standard and daily conditions

New comparative tests on two different types of solar collectors are presented in this paper. A standard glazed flat plate collector and an evacuated tube collector are installed in parallel and tested at the same working conditions; the evacuated collector is a direct flow through type with external compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) reflectors. Efficiency in steady-state and quasi-dynamic conditions is measured following the standard and it is compared with the input/output curves measured for the whole day. The first purpose of the present work is the comparison of results in steady-state and quasi-dynamic test methods both for flat plate and evacuated tube collectors. Besides this, the objective is to characterize and to compare the daily energy performance of these two types of collectors. An effective mean for describing and analyzing the daily performance is the so called input/output diagram, in which the collected solar energy is plotted against the daily incident solar radiation. Test runs have been performed in several conditions to reproduce different conventional uses (hot water, space heating, solar cooling). Results are also presented in terms of daily efficiency versus daily average reduced temperature difference: this allows to represent the comparative characteristics of the two collectors when operating under variable conditions, especially with wide range of incidence angles. (author)

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

In vivo and in vitro study of osteogenic potency of endothelin-1 on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a major source of osteoblasts and are crucial for bone remolding and repair and thus they are widely used for tissue engineering applications. Tissue engineering in combination with gene therapy is considered as a promising approach in new bone regeneration. Endothelin-1（EDN-1）is produced by vascular endothelial cells which plays an important role during bone development. However, its role in BMSCs remains largely unknown. We established EDN-1 overexpressed BMSCs, proliferation ability and osteogenesis differentiation were detected respectively. Transduced BMSCs were then combined with CPC-scaffold to repair calvarial defects in rats to evaluate the in-vivo osteogenic potential of EDN-1. EDN-1 overexpressed BMSCs showed increased proliferation and significantly increased osteogenesis potential ability than vector transfected control. The in-vivo data also revealed more new bone formation with higher bone mineral density and number of trabeculae in EDN-1 overexpressed BMSCs. These findings have demonstrated the influence of EDN-1 on differentiation potential of BMSCs, which suggest that EDN-1 may be a new promising agent for bone tissue engineering. - Highlights: • Endothelin-1 can promote osteogenesis differentiation of BMSCs both in vivo and in vitro. • Endothelin-1 can enhance proliferation of BMSCs. • Endothelin-1 paly an important role in bone tissue regeneration and may be applied in repairing bone defects in the future.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Electrocatalytic Ammonia Oxidation Mediated by a Polypyridyl Iron Catalyst

Electrocatalytic ammonia oxidation (AO) mediated by iron(II) tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) bis-ammine triflate, [(TPA)Fe(NH 3 ) 2 ]OTf 2 , is reported. Interest in (electro)catalytic AO is growing rapidly, and this report adds a first-row transition metal (iron) complex to the known Ru catalysts recently reported. The featured system is well behaved and has been studied in detail by electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammetry experiments in the presence of ammonia indicate an onset potential corresponding to ammonia oxidation at 0.7 V vs Fc/Fc + . Controlled potential coulometry (CPC) at an applied bias of 1.1 V confirms the generation of 16 equiv of N 2 with a Faradaic efficiency for N 2 of ~80%. Employing 15 NH 3 yields exclusively 30 N 2 , demonstrating the conversion of ammonia to N 2 . A suite of electrochemical studies is consistent with an initial EC step that generates an Fe III –NH 2 intermediate (at 0.4 V) followed by an anodically shifted catalytic wave. The data indicate a rate-determining step that is first order in both [Fe] and [NH 3 ] and point to a fast catalytic rate (k obs ) of ~10 7 M –1 ·s –1 as computed by foot of the wave analysis (FOWA).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Oxidative Catalytic Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass Using a Co-N-P-C Catalyst and One-Step Isolation of Aromatic Monomers via Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

Methods for catalytic fractionation of biomass provide a means to convert lignin directly into monomers while generating a high-quality cellulosic stream, contrasting conventional biomass pretreatment strategies that prioritize the cellulosic fraction. Here, a nonprecious-metal Co-N-P-C catalyst is identified for aerobic oxidative catalytic fractionation (OCF) of poplar feedstock in dimethyl carbonate that achieves significantly higher yields of aromatic monomers (24 wt %) relative to those obtained with a recently reported Co-N-C catalyst in acetone solvent (15 wt %). Mechanistic studies indicate that the acidic properties of the catalyst contribute to its improved performance by promoting extraction of lignin from insoluble polysaccharides. This OCF process is complemented by the development of a new centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) method that supports isolation of all five major aromatic monomers (syringic acid, syringaldehyde, vanillic acid, vanillin, and para-hydroxybenzoic acid) in a single liquid–liquid extraction purification step. Furthermore, this OCF/CPC sequence has important implications for future lignin valorization efforts.

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

Coal-Filler-Based Thermoplastic Composites as Construction Materials: A New Sustainable End-Use Application

This paper investigates coal’s viability as an alternative filler to wood flour in Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) – a class of materials used in building applications in lieu of pressure-treated wood. Coal Plastic Composites (CPCs) were fabricat-ed with 15 – 60 wt.% coal combined with high density polyethylene and their physical (mechanical, water absorption and metal leaching) and chemical (oxidative degradation and flammability) properties were compared with commercial WPCs. In addition, mass and energy balances (10 tonne/hr basis) and life cycle analyses (60 wt.% filler and 1 tonne ba-sis) were conducted on CPCs and WPCs to assess environmental impact during manufacturing. At 60 wt.%, CPCs had a higher flexural strength, slower oxidative degradation and burn rate, and lower water absorption in comparison to com-mercial WPCs, suggesting better performance and stability in building applications. Furthermore, CPC manufacturing showed 44% lower greenhouse gas emissions and 62% less energy usage in comparison with WPC. These results indi-cate that direct utilization of coal as a filler in construction composite applications may yield lower cost products with lower associated emissions and energy demand compared to existing WPC materials, potentially yielding a more sustain-able end-use for coal than current uses such as power production.

Coal Plastic Composites, Wood Plastic Composites, ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Scaling analysis of bio-molecular dynamics derived from elastic incoherent neutron scattering experiments

Numerous neutron scattering studies of bio-molecular dynamics employ a qualitative analysis of elastic scattering data and atomic mean square displacements. We provide a new quantitative approach showing that the intensity at zero energy exchange can be a rich source of information of bio-structural fluctuations on a pico- to nano-second time scale. Elastic intensity scans performed either as a function of the temperature (back-scattering) and/or by varying the instrumental resolution (time of flight spectroscopy) yield the activation parameters of molecular motions and the approximate structural correlation function in the time domain. The two methods are unified by a scaling function, which depends on the ratio of correlation time and instrumental resolution time. The elastic scattering concept is illustrated with a dynamic characterization of alanine-dipeptide, protein hydration water, and water-coupled protein motions of lysozyme, per-deuterated c-phycocyanin (CPC) and hydrated myoglobin. The complete elastic scattering function versus temperature, momentum exchange, and instrumental resolution is analyzed instead of focusing on a single cross-over temperature of mean square displacements at the apparent onset temperature of an-harmonic motions. Our method predicts the protein dynamical transition (PDT) at T{sub d} from the collective (α) structural relaxation rates of the solvation shell as input. By contrast, the secondary (β) relaxation enhances the amplitude of fast local motions in the vicinity of the glass temperature T{sub g}. The PDT is specified by step function in the elastic intensity leading from elastic to viscoelastic dynamic behavior at a transition temperature T{sub d}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Plasma expansion and relativistic filamentation in intense laser-irradiated cone targets

We report that compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) cone targets have been shown to produce increased MeV photons on the NIF-ARC by 10× over flat targets. Multiple x-ray frames can potentially be generated by firing the NIF-ARC's beamlets into distinct cone targets at few nanosecond relative delays. This requires that the cone targets with delayed beams are not degraded by their proximity to previous targets. One concern is that the spatial wings of a beam fired into one target can fall on neighboring targets, producing a preformed plasma that may interfere with laser light reaching the tip of the cone. In this work, 3D hydra simulations of realistic targets and beam parameters show that hundreds of micrometer scale length preplasmas are produced in cones within 1 mm of the laser spot. 2D particle-in-cell simulations of the intense main pulse in this preplasma indicate a density threshold for the onset of relativistic filamentation in our conditions. Applying our modeling approach to a NIF-ARC shot with an intentional 15 J prepulse yields good agreement with experimental results.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

First Measurements of Neutral Atmospheric Cluster and 1–2 nm Particle Number Size Distributions During Nucleation Events

Recent observations throughout the atmosphere have shown that nucleation occurs frequently (Kulmala et al. 2004). Modeling studies and observations have shown that nucleated particles contribute significantly to concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (Spracklen et al. 2008), thereby affecting climate (IPCC 2007). Size-resolved measurements extending down to molecular dimensions can provide information on processes that lead to nucleation and would enable development and verification of theories for particle nucleation and growth in the atmosphere and other aerosol systems. This article describes measurements of the complete number size distribution, spanning the size range from vapor molecules and molecular clusters to submicrometer particles, during atmospheric nucleation events. The measurements used two new instruments, the cluster chemical ionization mass spectrometer (Cluster CIMS) and the DEG SMPS. The Cluster CIMS measures neutral molecular clusters from 50 to 900 amu. The DEG SMPS is a scanning mobility particle spectrometer (SMPS) equipped with a diethylene glycol (DEG)-based condensation particle counter (CPC) capable of 1.1 nm mobility diameter particle detection, and overlapping the sizes detected by the Cluster CIMS (Iida et al. 2009; Jiang et al. 2011). The Cluster CIMS distinguishes neutral clusters from ions formed by ion-induced clustering by varying the reaction time for ions with the sampled air (Zhao et al. 2010). It distinguishes clusters from high molecular weight gases by measuring the incremental signal at a specified mass detected during nucleation events. The clusters that were measured in this study contain sulfuric acid, which is known to participate in atmospheric nucleation (Kuang et al. 2008).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Electrical Mobility Spectrometer Using a Diethylene Glycol Condensation Particle Counter for Measurement of Aerosol Size Distributions Down to 1 nm

We report a new scanning mobility particle spectrometer (SMPS) for measuring number size distributions of particles down to {approx}1 nm mobility diameter. This SMPS includes an aerosol charger, a TSI 3085 nano differential mobility analyzer (nanoDMA), an ultrafine condensation particle counter (UCPC) using diethylene glycol (DEG) as the working fluid, and a conventional butanol CPC (the 'booster') to detect the small droplets leaving the DEG UCPC. The response of the DEG UCPC to negatively charged sodium chloride particles with mobility diameters ranging from 1-6 nm was measured. The sensitivity of the DEG UCPC to particle composition was also studied by comparing its response to positively charged 1.47 and 1.70 nm tetra-alkyl ammonium ions, sodium chloride, and silver particles. A high resolution differential mobility analyzer was used to generate the test particles. These results show that the response of this UCPC to sub-2 nm particles is sensitive to particle composition. The applicability of the new SMPS for atmospheric measurement was demonstrated during the Nucleation and Cloud Condensation Nuclei (NCCN) field campaign (Atlanta, Georgia, summer 2009). We operated the instrument at saturator and condenser temperatures that allowed the efficient detection of sodium chloride particles but not of air ions having the same mobility. We found that particles as small as 1 nm were detected during nucleation events but not at other times. Factors affecting size distribution measurements, including aerosol charging in the 1-10 nm size range, are discussed. For the charger used in this study, bipolar charging was found to be more effective for sub-2 nm particles than unipolar charging. No ion induced nucleation inside the charger was observed during the NCCN campaign.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

On the validity of the Poisson assumption in sampling nanometer-sized aerosols

A Poisson process is traditionally believed to apply to the sampling of aerosols. For a constant aerosol concentration, it is assumed that a Poisson process describes the fluctuation in the measured concentration because aerosols are stochastically distributed in space. Recent studies, however, have shown that sampling of micrometer-sized aerosols has non-Poissonian behavior with positive correlations. The validity of the Poisson assumption for nanometer-sized aerosols has not been examined and thus was tested in this study. Its validity was tested for four particle sizes - 10 nm, 25 nm, 50 nm and 100 nm - by sampling from indoor air with a DMA- CPC setup to obtain a time series of particle counts. Five metrics were calculated from the data: pair-correlation function (PCF), time-averaged PCF, coefficient of variation, probability of measuring a concentration at least 25% greater than average, and posterior distributions from Bayesian inference. To identify departures from Poissonian behavior, these metrics were also calculated for 1,000 computer-generated Poisson time series with the same mean as the experimental data. For nearly all comparisons, the experimental data fell within the range of 80% of the Poisson-simulation values. Essentially, the metrics for the experimental data were indistinguishable from a simulated Poisson process. The greater influence of Brownian motion for nanometer-sized aerosols may explain the Poissonian behavior observed for smaller aerosols. Although the Poisson assumption was found to be valid in this study, it must be carefully applied as the results here do not definitively prove applicability in all sampling situations.

concentration measurement↗