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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 OSTI2026

ORBIT CORRECTION STUDIES ON THE ELECTRON TRANSPORT LINE FROM RCS TO ESR

A dedicated electron transfer line from Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) to Electron Storage Ring (ESR), referred to as the RTE line has been designed for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The beamline follows a straight-line geometry, with a length of 133 m, and is consists with two matching sections and a FODO section for beam diagnostics. Imperfections with magnet alignments introduce orbit distortions, making orbit correction scheme a critical component in the design. To facilitate orbit correction, each quadrupole magnet is equipped with a pair of beam position monitors (BPMs) and kickers. The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) algorithm is used for orbit correction and tolerance studies. This paper presents the ongoing progress in the optics design and error correction scheme of the RTE line.

Neththikumara, I. [Thomas Jefferson National Accel↗
NASA NTRS1972

Low-energy electron transport with the method of discrete ordinates

The one-dimensional discrete ordinates code ANISN was adapted to transport low energy (a few MeV) electrons. Calculated results obtained with ANISN were compared with experimental data for transmitted electron energy and angular distribution data for electrons normally incident on aluminum slabs of various thicknesses. The calculated and experimental results are in good agreement for a thin slab (0.2 of the electron range), but not for the thicker slabs (0.6 of the electron range). Calculated results obtained with ANISN were also compared with results obtained using Monte Carlo methods.

Bartine, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Beem Spectroscopy of Electron Transport Through A1As/GaAs Heterostructures

BEEM spectroscopy has been used to characterize hot carrier transport through A1As/GaAsheterostructures. The dependence of electron transmission on A1As thickness has been directlymeasured, and the position of the A1As L_1 minima, which has been subject to some uncertainty inthe past, has been determined. First-principles transmission calculations, based on a tight-bindingformalism, are compared to the results of BEEM spectroscopy.

Kaiser, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Electron transport and the magnetic field in the Crab Nebula

Observational data obtained at radio, optical, and X-ray frequencies on the size of the emission region in the Crab Nebula are used to examine various energy-transport models. It is shown that the data cannot be fitted by diffusion models, even when the energy-injection region is extended. A more favorable comparison is made with an extended source model in which bulk motion is the transport mechanism. Assuming a point source of electrons and a uniform nebular magnetic field, a perpendicular magnetic-field component of less than 0.0008 gauss is determined. Combining this with the lower limit obtained from gamma-ray observations, a perpendicular field component of between 0.0005 and 0.0008 gauss is obtained. A break in the size dependence is predicted at about 12 microns and 45 keV. Above 45 keV, the size should decrease as the inverse square root of proton energy.

Wolff, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Inter-cusp Ion and Electron Transport in a Nstar-derivative Ion Thruster

Diffusion of electrons and ions to anode surfaces between the magnetic cusps of a NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness ion thruster has been characterized. Ion flux measurements were made at the anode and at the screen grid electrode. The measurements indicated that the average ion current density at the anode and at the screen grid were approximately equal. Additionally, it was found that the electron flux to the anode between cusps is best described by the classical cross-field diffusion coefficient.

Foster, John E.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Ion and Electron Transport in an Nstar-derivative Ion Thruster

Diffusion of electrons and ions to anode surfaces between the magnetic cusps of a NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness ion thruster has been characterized. Ion flux measurements were made at the anode and at the screen grid electrode. The measurements indicated that the average ion current density at the anode and at the screen grid were approximately equal. Additionally, it was found that the electron flux to the anode between cusps is best described by the classical cross-field diffusion coefficient.

Foster, John E.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electronic transport mechanisms in a thin crystal of the Kitaev candidate α -RuCl 3 probed through guarded high impedance measurements

α-RuCl 3 is considered to be the top candidate material for the experimental realization of the celebrated Kitaev model, where ground states are quantum spin liquids with interesting fractionalized excitations. It is, however, known that additional interactions beyond the Kitaev model trigger in α-RuCl 3 a long-range zigzag antiferromagnetic ground state. In this work, we investigate a nanoflake of α-RuCl 3 through guarded high impedance measurements aimed at reaching the regime where the system turns into a zigzag antiferromagnet. We investigated a variety of temperatures (1.45–175 K) and out-of-plane magnetic fields (up to 11 T), finding a clear signature of a structural phase transition at ≈160 K as reported for thin crystals of α-RuCl 3 , as well as a thermally activated behavior at temperatures above ≈30 K, with a characteristic activation energy significantly smaller than the energy gap that we observe for α-RuCl 3 bulk crystals through our angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments. Additionally, we found that below ≈30 K, transport is ruled by Efros–Shklovskii variable range hopping (VRH). Most importantly, our data show that below the magnetic ordering transition known for bulk α-RuCl 3 in the frame of the Kitaev–Heisenberg model (≈7 K), there is a clear deviation from VRH or thermal activation transport mechanisms. Finally, our work demonstrates the possibility of reaching, through specialized high impedance measurements, the thrilling ground states predicted for α-RuCl 3 at low temperatures in the frame of the Kitaev–Heisenberg model and informs about the transport mechanisms in this material in a wide temperature range.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1972

Some new results on electron transport in the atmosphere

The penetration, diffusion and slowing down of electrons in a semi-infinite air medium has been studied by the Monte Carlo method. The results are applicable to the atmosphere at altitudes up to 300 km. Most of the results pertain to monoenergetic electron beams injected into the atmosphere at a height of 300 km, either vertically downwards or with a pitch-angle distribution isotropic over the downward hemisphere. Some results were also obtained for various initial pitch angles between 0 deg and 90 deg. Information has been generated concerning the following topics: (1) the backscattering of electrons from the atmosphere, expressed in terms of backscattering coefficients, angular distributions and energy spectra of reflected electrons, for incident energies T(o) between 2 keV and 2 MeV; (2) energy deposition by electrons as a function of the altitude, down to 80 km, for T(o) between 2 keV and 2 MeV; (3) the corresponding energy depostion by electron-produced bremsstrahlung, down to 30 km; (4) the evolution of the electron flux spectrum as function of the atmospheric depth, for T(o) between 2 keV and 20 keV. Energy deposition results are given for incident electron beams with exponential and power-exponential spectra.

Berger, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Some new results on electron transport in the atmosphere

The penetration, diffusion and slowing down of electrons in a semiinfinite air medium has been studied by the Monte Carlo method. The results are applicable in the atmosphere at altitudes up to 300 km. Most of the results pertain to monoenergetic electron beams, with energies between 2 keV and 2 MeV, injected into the atmosphere at a height of 300 km, either vertically downwards or with a pitch-angle distribution isotropic over the downward hemisphere. Some results were also obtained for various initial pitch angles between 0 and 90 deg. Information has been generated concerning the backscattering of electrons from the atmosphere, the altitude dependence of energy deposition by electrons and by secondary bremsstrahlung, and the evolution of electron flux spectra as function of the atmospheric depth.

Berger, M. J.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization of an imploding cylindrical plasma for electron transport studies using x-ray emission spectroscopy

We report here on the characterization of the conditions of an imploding cylindrical plasma by time-resolved x-ray emission spectroscopy. Knowledge about this implosion platform can be applied to studies of particle transport for inertial confinement fusion schemes or to astrophysical plasmas. A cylindrical Cl-doped CH foam within a tube of solid CH was irradiated by 36 beams (I total ~5×10 14 W/cm 2 , 1.5ns square pulse, and E total ~ 16.2kJ) of the OMEGA-60 laser to radially compress the CH toward the axis. The analysis of the time-resolved spectra showed that the compression can be described by four distinct phases, each presenting different plasma conditions. First the ablation of the cylinder is dominant; second, the foam is heated and induces a significant jump in emission intensities; third, the temperature and density of the foam reaches a maximum; and finally, the plasma expands. Ranges for the plasma temperature were inferred with the atomic physics code SCRAM (Spectroscopic Collisional-Radiative Atomic Model) and the experimental data have been compared to hydrodynamic simulations performed with the 2D code FLASH, which showed a similar implosion dynamic over time.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Effect of magnetic field ripple on parallel electron transport during microwave plasma heating in the Proto-MPEX linear plasma device

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) is a linear plasma device located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop the plasma source concept for the Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX). Recent experiments have demonstrated the heating of electrons in a high-density deuterium plasma (n e ~ 5 × 10 19 m -3 ) via electron Bernstein waves and source plasma production via helicon waves in this linear configuration. Moreover, experimental observations suggest that the magnetic ripple adversely affects the parallel transport of the heated electrons toward the target where material samples are to be exposed to the plasma. In order to understand the transport process during microwave application, a test-particle Monte-Carlo (MC) code has been developed that incorporates the effects of Coulomb collisions, magnetic mirror adiabatic trapping and electron cyclotron interaction via a quasilinear RF heating operator. MC calculations indicate that the absence of 2nd turning points along the trajectory of cyclotron heated electrons significantly reduces adiabatic trapping and maximizes power transport to the Target surface. Thermalization of cyclotron heating electrons is analyzed with the MC code and it is found that for conditions relevant to ProtoMPEX, a significant fraction of the absorbed heating power is coupled to the Target surface via ballistic fast electrons; however, under certain conditions, up to 60% of the absorbed RF power can be dissipated via thermalization of the fast electrons on the background plasma. Results are compared with experimental measurements. Finally, the implications of the results are discussed in the context of the upcoming MPEX device.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electron Scattering from 1-Methyl-5-Nitroimidazole: Cross-Sections for Modeling Electron Transport through Potential Radiosensitizers

In this study, we present a complete set of electron scattering cross-sections from 1-Methyl-5-Nitroimidazole (1M5NI) molecules for impact energies ranging from 0.1 to 1000 eV. This information is relevant to evaluate the potential role of 1M5NI as a molecular radiosensitizers. The total electron scattering cross-sections (TCS) that we previously measured with a magnetically confined electron transmission apparatus were considered as the reference values for the present analysis. Elastic scattering cross-sections were calculated by means of two different schemes: The Schwinger multichannel (SMC) method for the lower energies (below 15 eV) and the independent atom model-based screening-corrected additivity rule with interferences (IAM-SCARI) for higher energies (above 15 eV). The latter was also applied to calculate the total ionization cross-sections, which were complemented with experimental values of the induced cationic fragmentation by electron impact. Double differential ionization cross-sections were measured with a reaction microscope multi-particle coincidence spectrometer. Using a momentum imaging spectrometer, direct measurements of the anion fragment yields and kinetic energies by the dissociative electron attachment are also presented. Cross-sections for the other inelastic channels were derived with a self-consistent procedure by sampling their values at a given energy to ensure that the sum of the cross-sections of all the scattering processes available at that energy coincides with the corresponding TCS. This cross-section data set is ready to be used for modelling electron-induced radiation damage at the molecular level to biologically relevant media containing 1M5NI as a potential radiosensitizer. Nonetheless, a proper evaluation of its radiosensitizing effects would require further radiobiological experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analytic model of electron transport through and over non-linear barriers

Tunneling barriers are an essential component of electron sources, sensors, detectors, and vacuum nanoelectronics, and a pivotal factor in their performance, but the barriers themselves routinely depart from the analytic models used to model their behavior. Here, a new formalism is developed to analytically and accurately model emission through and over barriers associated with depletion layers, nanotip barriers, and MIM structures. The transmission probability for depletion layer and metal-insulator-metal (MIM) and metaloxide-semiconductor (MOS) barriers is accurately modeled as the electron energy exceeds the barrier height using approaches designed for rapid implementation demanded by simulation codes, and extensible to general barriers. The models supersede conventional thermal and field models in depletion and MIM/MOS barrier studies. Thermal-field methods are used to treat the transmission probability, and shape factor methods to treat the tunneling factor. Analytic formulae for current density are obtained. The methods ease device simulation and characterization of current-voltage relations for emerging technologically interesting barriers with better accuracy.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS2005

Electronic Transport through Self Assembled Thiol Molecules: Effect of Monolayer Order, Dynamics and Temperature

We present the charge transport and tunneling conductance of self assembled organic thiol molecules and discuss the influence of order and dynamics in the monolayer on the transport behavior and the effect of temperature. Conjugated thiol molecular wires and organometals such as terpyridine metal complexes provide a new platform for molecular electronic devices and we study their self assembly on Au(111) substrates by the scanning tunneling microscope. Determining the organization of the molecule and the ability to control the nature of its interface with the substrate is important for reliable performance of the molecular electronic devices. By concurrent scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy studies on SAMs formed from oligo (phenelyne ethynelyne) monolayers with and without molecular order, we show that packing and order determine the response of a self assembled monolayer (SAM) to competing interactions. Molecular resolution STM imaging in vacuum shows that the OPES adopt an imcommensurate SAM structure on Au(111) with a rectangular unit cell. Tunneling spectroscopic measurements were performed on the SAM as a function of junction resistance. STS results show that the I-Vs are non linear and asymmetric due to the inherent asymmetry in the molecular structure, with larger currents at negative sample biases. The asymmetry increases with increasing junction resistance due to the asymmetry in the coupling to the leads. This is brought out clearly in the differential conductance, which also shows a gap at the Fermi level. We also studied the effect of order and dynamics in the monolayer on the charge transport and found that competing forces between the electric field, intermolecular interactions, tip-molecule physisorption and substrate-molecule chemisorption impact the transport measurements and its reliability and that the presence of molecular order is very important for reproducible transport measurements. Thus while developing new electronic platforms based on molecules, it is important to have a good control of the molecule-substrate interface, for the devices to perform reliably. While such a control would minimize fluctuations and dynamics in the ensemble, the real challenge is to develop device architectures that are tolerant to fluctuations, since they cannot be totally eliminated in these low dimensional soft systems. Results of temperature dependent STS measurements will also be discussed.

Dholakia, Geetha↗
NASA NTRS1992

Simulation of electron transport in quantum well devices

Double barrier resonant tunneling diodes (DBRTD) have received much attention as possible terahertz devices. Despite impressive experimental results, the specifics of the device physics (i.e., how the electrons propagate through the structure) are only qualitatively understood. Therefore, better transport models are warranted if this technology is to mature. In this paper, the Lattice Wigner function is used to explain the important transport issues associated with DBRTD device behavior.

Miller, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS2017

A First-Principles Model Based on Saturation of the Electron Cyclotron Drift Instability for Electron Transport in Hydrodynamics Simulations of Hall Thruster Plasmas

We present a computational model based on the hypothesis that the higher-than-expected electron mobility across magnetic field lines observed in Hall thrusters is due to the growth and eventual saturation of the electron cyclotron drift instability. The key improvement of this model with respect to previous work is that it decouples the saturation of the instability from the correlation that exists between mobility and magnitude of the wave perturbations in linear theory, thereby enabling first-principles simulations. The model has been incorporated in the 2-D (r-z) multi-fluids code Hall2De and simulations of the H6 thruster at 300 V, 20 A are numerically stable and achieve a steady-state solution at a computational cost that is not significantly higher than previous Hall2De simulations. The computed location of the acceleration region is found to be within 10% of the length of the acceleration channel compared to that inferred by experiments. The simulations also capture well the plasma gradients along the channel centerline of this thruster. To further establish the validity of this model, we plan to conduct simulations of other thrusters and/or operating conditions.

Lopez Ortega, Alejandro↗
DOE OSTI2020

ElectroMon Geometry Considerations: Simulations of Electron Transport to a Diamond-Based Detector

Particle-in-Cell simulations were performed to investigate the effects of electrode bias and pitch on the expected number of electrons arriving at a diamond-based detector at a set of relevant incident electron energies for electron cloud monitoring. Results of these simulations indicate that the pitch of the electrodes directly impacts the number of incident electrons based on complete opacity of the electrodes to the electrons; image charge does not play a role at any relevant electron energy. Positive bias on the incident electrodes directly increases the energy of the incident electrons, while negative bias reduces the energy and completely repels incoming electrons of energies lower than the applied bias. These results are intended to be used as input parameters for a solid-state simulation which will determine the collection efficiency of the electron-hole pairs produced within the diamond as a function of position and energy.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗