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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

Searching for the Best Protein Crystals: Synchrotron Based Measurements of Protein Crystal Quality

We are developing X-ray diffraction methods to quantitatively evaluate the quality of protein crystals. The ultimate use for these crystal quality will be to optimize crystal growth and freezing conditions to obtain the best diffraction data. We have combined super fine-phi slicing with highly monochromatic, low divergence synchrotron radiation and the ADSC Quantum 4 CCD detector at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation laboratory beamline 1.5 to accurately measure crystal mosaicity. Comparisons of microgravity versus earth-grown insulin crystals using these methods will be presented.

Borgstahl, Gloria↗

Optimizing indium antimonide (InSb) detectors for low background operation

The various noise sources that affect InSb detectors (and similar voltaic devices) are discussed and calculated. Methods are given for measuring detector resistance, photon loading, detector and amplifier capacitance, amplifier frequency response, amplifier noise, and quantum efficiency. A photovoltaic InSb detector with increased sensitivity in the 1 to 5.6 mu region is dicussed.

Treffers, R. R.↗

BFS Method for Alloys Optimized and Verified for the Study of Ordered Intermetallic Material

The aerospace industry has a need for new metallic alloys that are lightweight and have high strength at elevated temperatures. The BFS (Bozzolo, Ferrante, and Smith) method is a new, computationally efficient and physically sound quantum semi-perturbative approach for describing metals and their defects. Based on a simple interpretation of the alloy formation process that identifies strain and chemical contributions to the energy of the alloy, the method provides an atom-by-atom description of an alloy. Its implementation requires little more than algebra and the solution of transcendental equations. At the NASA Lewis Research Center, we have demonstrated that BFS can investigate the properties of a large number of alloys with a minimum computational effort on low-level computers. This screening allows the selection of the best alloy candidates for a particular application and, therefore, promises large cost savings over current approaches.

Source record↗

Optical vector receiver operating near the quantum limit

An optical receiver concept or binary signals with performance approaching the quantum limit at low average signal background photons has been devised by Dolinar, however this receiver requires ideal optical combining and complicated real-time shaping of the local field, hence tends to be difficult to implement at high data rates. A simpler nulling receiver that approaches the quantum limit without complex optical processing, suitable for high-rate operation has been suggested earlier by Kennedy. Here we formulate a vector receiver concept that incorporates the Kennedy receiver together with a physical beamsplitter, but also utilizes the reflected signal component to improve signal detection. It is found that augmenting the Kennedy receiver with classical coherent detection at the auxiliary beamsplitter output, and optimally processing the vector observations, always improves on the performance of the Kennedy receiver alone, significantly so at low average photon rates. This is precisely the region of operation where modern codes approach channel capacity. It is also shown that the addition of background radiation has little effect on the performance of the coherent receiver component, suggesting a viable approach for near quantum-limited performance in high background environments

Lau, Chi-Wung↗

Stressed photoconductive detector for far-infrared space applications

An optimized leaf-spring apparatus for applying uniaxial stress to a Ge:Ga far-IR photoconductor has been designed and tested. This design has significant advantages for space applications which require high quantum efficiency and stable operation over long periods of time. The important features include adequate spring deflection with relatively small overall size, torque-free stress, easy measurement of applied stress, and a detector configuration with high responsivity. One-dimensional arrays of stressed photoconductors can be constructed using this design. A peak responsivity of 38 A/W is achieved in a detector with a cutoff wavelength of 200 microns, which was operated at a temperature of 2.0 K and a bias voltage equal to one-half of the breakdown voltage.

Wang, J.-Q.↗

Integrated Electron-tunneling Refrigerator and TES Bolometer for Millimeter Wave Astronomy

We describe progress in the development of a close-packed array of bolometers intended for use in photometric applications at millimeter wavelengths from ground- based telescopes. Each bolometer in the may uses a proximity-effect Transition Edge Sensor (TES) sensing element and each will have integrated Normal-Insulator-Superconductor (NIS) refrigerators to cool the bolometer below the ambient bath temperature. The NIS refrigerators and acoustic-phonon-mode-isolated bolometers are fabricated on silicon. The radiation-absorbing element is mechanically suspended by four legs, whose dimensions are used to control and optimize the thermal conductance of the bolometer. Using the technology developed at NIST, we fabricate NIS refrigerators at the base of each of the suspension legs. The NIS refrigerators remove hot electrons by quantum-mechanical tunneling and are expected to cool the biased (approx.10 pW) bolometers to <170 mK while the bolometers are inside a pumped 3He-cooled cryostat operating at approx.280 mK. This significantly lower temperature at the bolometer allows the detectors to approach background-limited performance despite the simple cryogenic system.

Silverberg, R. F.↗

Applications of Quantum Chemistry to the Study of Carbon Nanotubes

For several years, scientists at NASA Ames have been studying the properties of carbon nanotubes using various experimental and computational methods. In this talk, I will compare different strategies for using quantum chemistry calculations to describe the electronic structure, deformation and chemical functionalization of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and the physisorption of small molecules on nanotube surfaces. The SWNT can be treated as an infinite (periodic) or finite length carbon cylinder or as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecule with an imposed curvature maintained by external constraints (as if it were cut out of the SWNT surface). Calculations are carried out using DFT and MP2 methods and a variety of atomic orbital basis sets from minimal (STO-3G) to valence triple zeta. The optimal approach is based on the particular SWNT property of interest. Examples to be discussed include: nanotube fluorination and other functionalization reactions; coating of nanotubes by water vapor and low-molecular weight organic molecules; and the nature of the interface between SWNT and liquids such as water and amines. In many cases, the quantum chemistry calculations are used to parameterize or validate force fields for molecular dynamics simulations. The results of these calculations have helped explain experimental data and contributed to the design of novel materials and sensors based on carbon nanotubes. Some of this research is described in the following papers:

Jaffe, Richard L.↗

Shallow-homojunction GaAs solar cells

Single-crystal GaAs shallow-homojunction solar cells on GaAs or Ge substrates, without Ga sub 1-x Al sub x As window layers, that have conversion efficiencies exceeding 20% at AM1 (17% at AMO). Using a simple theoretical model, good fits were obtained between computer calculations and experimental data for external quantum efficiency and conversion efficiency of cells with different values of n+ layer thickness. The calculations not only yield values for material properties of the GaAs layers composing the cells but will also permit the optimization of cell designs for space and terrestrial applications. Preliminary measurements indicate that the shallow-homojunction cells are resistant to electron irradiation. In the best test so far, bombardment with 1 x 10 to the 16th power/sq cm fluence of 1 MeV electrons reduced the short-circuit current by only about 6%.

Fan, J. C. C.↗

Transition-Edge Sensor Pixel Parameter Design of the Microcalorimeter Array for the X-Ray Integral Field Unit on Athena

The focal plane of the X-ray integral field unit (X-IFU) for ESA's Athena X-ray observatory will consist of approximately 4000 transition edge sensor (TES) x-ray microcalorimeters optimized for the energy range of 0.2 to 12 kiloelectronvolts. The instrument will provide unprecedented spectral resolution of approximately 2.5 electronvolts at energies of up to 7 kiloelectronvolts and will accommodate photon fluxes of 1 milliCrab (90 counts per second) for point source observations. The baseline configuration is a uniform large pixel array (LPA) of 4.28 arcseconds pixels that is read out using frequency domain multiplexing (FDM). However, an alternative configuration under study incorporates an 18 by × 18 small pixel array (SPA) of 2 arcseconds pixels in the central approximately 36 arcseconds region. This hybrid array configuration could be designed to accommodate higher fluxes of up to 10 milliCrabs (900 counts per second) or alternately for improved spectral performance (less than 1.5 electronvolts) at low count-rates. In this paper we report on the TES pixel designs that are being optimized to meet these proposed LPA and SPA configurations. In particular we describe details of how important TES parameters are chosen to meet the specific mission criteria such as energy resolution, count-rate and quantum efficiency, and highlight performance trade-offs between designs. The basis of the pixel parameter selection is discussed in the context of existing TES arrays that are being developed for solar and x-ray astronomy applications. We describe the latest results on DC biased diagnostic arrays as well as large format kilo-pixel arrays and discuss the technical challenges associated with integrating different array types on to a single detector die.

Smith, S. J.↗

Resonant Transmissive Modulator Construction for Use in Beam Steering Array

An agile electronically configurable optical beam steering device for use in directional free-space transmission of optical signals is described. The device design employs an array of tunable resonant transmissive modulators constructed from multi-layered stacks of electro-optically active dielectric materials. Each modulator may be individually configured to transmit an optical signal with a specific amount of phase and group velocity modulation. The resulting diffractive interactions between modulator outputs provide a method for directional optical signal transmission. Of particular focus within this presentation is the optimized design of the individual modulator. It is widely known that periodic multi-layered stacks of dielectric materials exhibit reflective and transmissive resonances as described by the stack's transmission function. If an electric field is applied normal to the stack's layers, phenomena such as the electro-optic effect and/or the quantum-confined Stark effect may be employed to change the effective refractive index within the stack. This refractive index change alters the stack's transmission function and modulates the phase and group velocity of the transmitted optical signal. By varying the parameters that describe the stack's specific construction and operation, such as number of layers within the stack, refractive indexes of stack materials, layer thicknesses, and combinations of periodic verses non-periodic layer repetitions, custom transmittance functions may be generated. The transmitted optical signal carrier frequency and bandwidth must be carefully selected to maximize transmission and to minimize absorption. A computational optimization of the variables describing the stack's construction strives to maximize the amount of optical signal modulation verses applied voltage. Trade-offs between methods of increasing device performance verses the limitations of fabrication technologies are considered.

Keys, Andrew S.↗

Development of Transition Edge Sensor Detectors Optimized for Single-Photon Spectroscopy in the Optical and Near-Infrared

The search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets will be a key focus of future space telescopes that operate in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared bands. Detection of biosignatures requires an instrument with moderate spectral resolving power (R ~ 100) and a large bandwidth (~ 400 nm – ~ 1.8 µm). Additionally, biosignature detection is a photon-starved science; instruments designed for these measurements would ideally combine high optical efficiency with quantum-limited photon detectors (i.e., detectors that exhibit zero dark current). In this work, we report on our efforts to develop energy resolving transition edge sensor (TES)-based detectors designed for biosignature detection. TESs operated as microcalorimeters are compelling detectors for this application. Unlike semiconductor detectors, TESs eliminate the need for dispersive optics and are truly single photon detectors – fundamental TES noise yields uncertainty in the energies of detected photons, not in the number of detected photons. We introduce TESs designed for this application and discuss the path toward realizing a TES-based dispersionless spectrometer optimized for biosignature detection.

Instrumentation and Photography↗

Development of Transition Edge Sensor Detectors Optimized for Single-Photon Spectroscopy in the Optical and Near-Infrared

The search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets will be a key focus of future space telescopes that operate in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared bands. Detection of biosignatures requires an instrument with moderate spectral resolving power ($R \sim 100$) and a large bandwidth ($\sim 400$ nm -- $\sim 1.8$ $\mu$m). Additionally, biosignature detection is a photon-starved science; instruments designed for these measurements would ideally combine high optical efficiency with quantum-limited photon detectors (i.e., detectors that exhibit zero dark current). In this work, we report on our efforts to develop energy resolving transition edge sensor (TES)-based detectors designed for biosignature detection. TESs operated as microcalorimeters are compelling detectors for this application. Unlike semiconductor detectors, TESs eliminate the need for dispersive optics and are truly single photon detectors -- fundamental TES noise yields uncertainty in the energies of detected photons, not in the number of detected photons. We introduce TESs designed for this application and discuss the path toward realizing a TES-based dispersionless spectrometer optimized for biosignature detection.

Instrumentation and Photography↗

High Performance GaN/AlGaN Ultraviolet Avalanche Photodiode Detector Technologies

Detection of ultraviolet (UV) bands provides distinct advantages for NASA, defense, and commercial applications, including increased spatial resolution, small pixel sizes, and large format arrays. AlxGa1-xN semiconductor alloys have attracted great interest for detection in the UV spectral region because of their potential for high optical gain, high sensitivity, and low dark current performance in ultraviolet avalanche photodiodes (UV-APDs). We are developing GaN/AlGaN UV-APDs that demonstrate consistent and reliable UV-APD performance and operation. For these UV detectors we have measured gains of above 5×10(exp 6) and high quantum efficiencies at ~350 nm enabled by a strong avalanche multiplication process. These UV-APDs are fabricated through high quality metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth on lattice-matched, low dislocation density GaN substrates with optimized GaN/AlGaN UV-APD material growth and doping parameters. The high performance, variable-area GaN/AlGaN UV-APD detectors and arrays can be customized to a wide variety of sizes including large-area formats to enable sensing and high-resolution detection over UV bands of interest.

Sood, Ashok K.↗

Recommended DSMC Collision Model Parameters for Planetary Entry

Hybrid simulation frameworks combining Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) are frequently employed to efficiently perform high-fidelity simulations of environments consisting of both continuum and rarified flow. DSMC is a stochastic, particle-based method which solves the fundamental Boltzmann equation and is therefore necessary for high-Knudsen flow where continuum-based assumptions governing CFD break down. However, the DSMC methodology is generally computationally inefficient to model the continuum regime. In a CFD/DSMC hybrid approach, obtaining an accurate, high-fidelity solution hinges on the consistent treatment of transport properties and the thermo-chemical models employed within the two solvers. In principle, in regions where CFD and DSMC are both employed, the same gas mixture under the same conditions should have the same properties, regardless of simulation type. Observed differences should be due to non-equilibrium processes, rather than differences in physical models. The goal of this work is to provide a comprehensive DSMC transport database encompassing the vast majority of known gas species encountered during Earth or other planetary atmospheric entry. This goal is largely possible due to recently performed ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. Combined with other high-fidelity data, the planned database will consist of collision integral data for over 200 neutral and ionized species and over 20000 binary collisions. From these collision integrals, Nelder-Mead optimization is used to compute collision-specific Variable Soft Sphere (VSS) collision model parameters, fitted from 300 K to 20000 K. Initial comparisons of transport properties of relevant equilibrium gas mixtures show great agreement between CFD and DSMC-derived results. The completed database can be readily applied to model binary collisions of any gas mixture containing the included species over the specified temperature range, making it a valuable tool for future planetary probe modeling efforts. An example is shown below in Fig. 1. Equilibrium mixture transport properties for a 35-species mixture composed originally of 10% air and 90% pyrolysis species of a carbon-phenolic ablator material [4] are computed using both fitted VSS Parameters and the original CFD collision integral values. Deviations in computed properties between the two approaches are less than 5% for the entire temperature range.

M. R. Gosma↗

Diffused junction p(+)-n solar cells in bulk GaAs. II - Device characterization and modelling

The photovoltaic characteristics of p(+)-n junction solar cells fabricated on bulk GaAs by an open tube diffusion technique are presented in detail. Quantum efficiency measurements were analyzed and compared to computer simulations of the cell structure in order to determine material parameters such as diffusion length, surface recombination velocity and junction depth. From the results obtained it is projected that proper optimization of the cell parameters can increase the efficiency of the cells to close to 20 percent.

Keeney, R.↗

Microwave SQUID Multiplexing for the Lynx X-Ray Microcalorimeter

The Lynx x-ray microcalorimeter (LXM) is an imaging spectrometer for the Lynx satellite mission, an x-ray telescope being considered by NASA to be a new flagship mission. Lynx will enable unique astrophysical observations into the x-ray universe due to its high angular resolution and large field of view. The LXM consists of an array of over 100,000 pixels and poses a significant technological challenge to achieve the high degree of multiplexing required to read out these sensors. We discuss the details of microwave superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexing and describe why it is ideally suited to the needs of the LXM. This case is made by summarizing the current and predicted performance of microwave SQUID multiplexing and describing the steps needed to optimize designs for all the LXM arrays. Finally, we describe our plan to advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of microwave SQUID multiplexing of the LXM microcalorimeters to TRL-5 by 2024.

Bennett, Douglas A.↗