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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,621 records · Page 90
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Role of sheared E × B flow in self-organized, improved confinement states in magnetized plasmas

A great scientific success story of magnetic fusion research in the past several decades is the theoretical development and experimental testing of the process of turbulence decorrelation and stabilization by sheared E×B flow which shows that E×B shear effects are ubiquitous in magnetized plasmas. This concept of turbulence decorrelation and stabilization has the universality needed to explain the H-mode edge transport barriers seen in limiter and divertor tokamaks, stellarators, and mirror machines; the broader edge transport barrier seen in VHmode plasmas; and the core transport barriers formed in tokamaks. Similar effects are seen in linear devices. These examples of confinement improvement are of considerable physical interest; it is not often that a system self-organizes to reduce transport when an additional source of free energy is applied to it. The transport decrease associated with E×B velocity shear is also of great practical benefit to fusion research, since it contributed to substantially increased fusion yield in all DT magnetic fusion experiments conducted to date. The fundamental physics involved in transport reduction is the effect of E×B shear on the growth, radial extent, and phase correlation of turbulent eddies in the plasma. The same basic transport reduction process can be operational in various portions of the plasma because there are a number of ways to change the radial electric field Er. An important secondary theme in this area is the synergistic effect of E×B velocity shear and magnetic shear. Although the E×B velocity shear appears to have an effect on broader classes of microturbulence, magnetic shear can mitigate some potentially harmful effects of E×B velocity shear and facilitate turbulence stabilization. Our present understanding in this area is the result of a multi-decade, intertwined effort in theory, modeling and diagnostic development combined with continuing experimental investigations. These experiments have clearly demonstrated that increased E×B shear causes reductions in turbulence and transport. Finally, the experimental findings are generally consistent with the basic theoretical models although considerable work remains to be done before we have a fully predictive theory of transport in magnetized plasmas including E×B shear effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
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

Measurements of Normalized Differential Cross Sections of Inclusive η Production in e + e − Annihilation at Energy from 2.0000 to 3.6710 GeV

Using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, the cross section of the inclusive process e + e − → η + X , normalized by the total cross section of e + e − → hadrons , is measured at eight center-of-mass energy points from 2.0000 to 3.6710 GeV. These are the first measurements with momentum dependence in this energy region. Our measurement shows a significant discrepancy compared to the existing fragmentation functions. To address this discrepancy, a new QCD analysis is performed at the next-to-next-to-leading order with hadron mass corrections and higher twist effects, which can explain both the established high-energy data and our measurements reasonably well. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Softening of a flat phonon mode in the kagome ScV 6 Sn 6

Geometrically frustrated kagome lattices are raising as novel platforms to engineer correlated topological electron flat bands that are prominent to electronic instabilities. Here, we demonstrate a phonon softening at the k z = π plane in ScV 6 Sn 6 . The low energy longitudinal phonon collapses at ~98 K and q = $\tfrac{1}{3}$ $\tfrac{1}{3}$ $\tfrac{1}{2}$ due to the electron-phonon interaction, without the emergence of long-range charge order which sets in at a different propagation vector q CDW = $\tfrac{1}{3}$ $\tfrac{1}{3}$ $\tfrac{1}{3}$. Theoretical calculations corroborate the experimental finding to indicate that the leading instability is located at $\tfrac{1}{3}$ $\tfrac{1}{3}$ $\tfrac{1}{2}$ of a rather flat mode. We relate the phonon renormalization to the orbital-resolved susceptibility of the trigonal Sn atoms and explain the approximately flat phonon dispersion. Our data report the first example of the collapse of a kagome bosonic mode and promote the 166 compounds of kagomes as primary candidates to explore correlated flat phonon-topological flat electron physics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1993

The astrophysical interpretation of isotope anomalies in graphite and SiC grains of chondrites

The C, N, and Mg isotopic compositions in graphite and SiC grains of carbonaceous chondrites can be explained by nuclear processes in massive O,B stars of second generation passed a stage of WR star with intensive stellar wind, where grain condensation had taken place. The interstellar graphite and SiC grains with anomalous isotopic compositions of C, N, Ne, and Si and other elements of nucleosynthetic origin, found in non-equilibrated chondrites, are most suitable for determination of astro-physical objects, where nucleosynthesis had taken place. Two objects were examined: (1) massive O,B stars of second generation passed a stage of WR star with intensive stellar wind (O,B-WR model) and (2) low-mass stars (1 less than or equal to M/solar mass less than or equal to 3) during thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch phase (TP-AGB model).

Lavrukhina, A. K.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations

Magnetic fields (B-fields) are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium (ISM), and they play an essential role in the formation of molecular clouds and subsequent star formation. However, B-fields in interstellar environments remain challenging to measure, and their properties typically need to be inferred from dust polarization observations over multiple physical scales. In this work, we seek to use a recently proposed approach called the velocity gradient technique (VGT) to study B-fields in star-forming regions and compare the results with dust polarization observations in different wavelengths. The VGT is based on the anisotropic properties of eddies in magnetized turbulence to derive B-field properties in the ISM. We investigate that this technique is synergistic with dust polarimetry when applied to a turbulent diffused medium for the purpose of measuring its magnetization. Specifically, we use the VGT on molecular line data toward the NGC 1333 star-forming region ( 12 CO, 13 CO, C 18 O, and N 2 H + ), and we compare the derived B-field properties with those inferred from 214 and 850 μm dust polarization observations of the region using Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy/High-Resolution Airborne Wide-band Camera Plus and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope/POL-2, respectively. We estimate both the inclination angle and the 3D Alfvénic Mach number M A from the molecular line gradients. Crucially, testing this technique on gravitationally bound, dynamic, and turbulent regions, and comparing the results with those obtained from polarization observations at different wavelengths, such as the plane-of-sky field orientation, is an important test on the applicability of the VGT in various density regimes of the ISM. We in general do not find a close correlation between the velocity gradient inferred orientations and the dust inferred magnetic field orientations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1985

IRAS observations of Seyfert galaxies

Infrared Astronomy Satellite measurements at 25, 60 and 100 microns were used to analyze the infrared properties of Seyfert galaxies from the Markarian and NGC Catalogs. One hundred and sixteen of 186 Seyfert galaxies were detected. About 50% of all Seyfert galaxies in the sample have 60 micron luminosities in excess of 10 to the 10th power solar luminosity, and the mean 60 micron luminosity increase with the optical B absolute magnitude. The luminosity functions of the Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies appear quite similar. It is possible, however, to statistically separate the two types of galaxies in color-color plots. The 100- to 60- micron energy distributions flatten systematically with increasing 60- micron luminosity. The infrared measurements provide a measure of the bolometric luminosity of the Seyfert galaxies, but do not discriminate between the physical processes involved.

Miley, G. K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

IRAS observations of Seyfert galaxies

Infrared Astronomy Satellite measurements at 25, 60 and 100 microns were used to analyze the infrared properties of Seyfert galaxies from the Markarian and NGC Catalogs. One hundred and sixteen of 186 Seyfert galaxies were detected. About 50 percent of all Seyfert galaxies in the sample have 60 micron luminosities in excess of 10 to the 10th power solar luminosity, and the mean 60 micron luminosity increase with the optical B absolute magnitude. The luminosity functions of the Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies appear quite similar. It is possible, however, to statistically separate the two types of galaxies in color-color plots. The 100- to 60-micron energy distributions flatten systematically with increasing 60-micron luminosity. The infrared measurements provide a measure of the bolometric luminosity of the Seyfert galaxies, but do not discriminate between the physical processes involved.

Miley, G. K.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Alkali element (Li, Na, K, and Rb) doping of Cu 2 BaGe 1– x Sn x Se 4 films

Cu 2 BaGe 1–x Sn x Se 4 (CBGTSe) represents an exemplary system within the I 2 –II–IV–X 4 (I = Ag, Cu; II = Sr, Ba; IV = Ge, Sn; X = S, Se) family, which has been introduced to target suppressing the formation of anti-site defects and associated defect clusters within the analogous kesterite Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 . Previous studies on CBGTSe films showed relatively low hole carrier densities (<10 13 cm –3 ), which may limit their corresponding application as active layers within photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic devices. In the current study, we explore the incorporation of alkali elements (Li, Na, K, and Rb) into CBGTSe films as prospective dopants to address the low hole carrier density and to allow for property tunability. First, incorporation of Na-, K-, and Rb-dopants noticeably increases the average grain sizes for CBGTSe films, while the Li-dopant has relatively limited impact. In addition, the alkali-dopants lead to a 1 to 3 orders of magnitude increase in hole carrier density (up to 10 15 cm –3 is achieved using K doping, corresponding to the alkali element yielding the highest doping efficiency). Here, the alkali-doped films show slightly lower minority carrier lifetimes and carrier mobility values than the non-doped samples, and these values are found to follow an approximate universal dependence with carrier density (also considering data derived from other previously explored vacuum-deposited I 2 –II–IV–X 4 chalcogenide films). As alkali-doping can significantly increase carrier densities, alkali elements can be considered useful p-type dopants for CBGTSe, as well as prospectively for other analogous I 2 –II–IV–X 4 systems.

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

Annual Site Environment Report for Calendar Year 2023 - Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

This report provides the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the public with information on the level of radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) operations. This report fulfills the annual public reporting requirements of DOE Order 231.1B. The results of PPPL’s 2023 environmental surveillance and monitoring program are presented and discussed. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and community involvement programs that were undertaken in 2023. This report provides the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the public with information on the level of radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) operations. This report fulfills the annual public reporting requirements of DOE Order 231.1B. The results of PPPL’s 2023 environmental surveillance and monitoring program are presented and discussed. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and community involvement programs that were undertaken in 2023. In 2023, PPPL’s radiological environmental monitoring program measured tritium in the air at onsite sampling stations. Using highly sensitive air monitors, PPPL is capable of detecting small changes in the ambient levels of tritium. The operation of monitors located on D-site is used to demonstrate compliance with the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) regulations. Also included in PPPL’s radiological environmental monitoring program, are water monitoring – ground, surface, and waste waters. PPPL’s radiological monitoring program characterized the background levels of tritium in the environment and those data are presented in this report. Ground water monitoring continued under New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Site Remediation Program regulations. PPPL monitored for non-radiological contaminants, mainly volatile organic compounds (components of common degreasing solvents). In 2023, PPPL complied with permit limits for surface water and sanitary wastewater discharges. PPPL was honored with an award for EPEAT-certified electronics purchasing from the Global Electronics Council on July 27, 2023.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Di-Higgs production in the 4b channel and gravitational wave complementarity

We present a complementarity study of gravitational waves and double Higgs production in the 4 b channel, exploring the gauge singlet scalar extension of the SM. This new physics extension serves as a simplified benchmark model that realizes a strongly first-order electroweak phase transition necessary to generate the observed baryon asymmetry in the universe. In calculating the signal-to-noise ratio of the gravitational waves, we incorporate the effect of the recently discovered significant suppression of the gravitational wave signals from sound waves for strong phase transitions, make sure that supercooled phase transitions do complete and adopt a bubble wall velocity that is consistent with a successful electroweak baryogenesis by solving the velocity profiles of the plasma. The high-luminosity LHC sensitivity to the singlet scalar extension of the SM is estimated using a shape-based analysis of the invariant 4 b mass distribution. We find that while the region of parameter space giving detectable gravitational waves is shrunk due to the new gravitational wave simulations, the qualitative complementary role of gravitational waves and collider searches remain unchanged.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cross sections of 𝜂 mesons in 𝑝 +𝑝 collisions at forward rapidity at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 500 GeV and central rapidity at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 510 GeV

We present the first measurements of the forward and midrapidity 𝜂-meson cross sections from 𝑝 + 𝑝 collisions at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 500 and 510 GeV, respectively. We also report the midrapidity 𝜂/𝜋 0 ratio at 510 GeV. The forward cross section is measured differentially in 𝜂-meson transverse momentum (𝑝 𝑇 ) from 1.0 to 6.5 GeV/𝑐 for pseudorapidity 3.0 < |𝜂| < 3.8. The midrapidity cross section is measured from 3.5 to 44 GeV/𝑐 for pseudorapidity |𝜂| < 0.35. Both cross sections serve as critical inputs to an updated global analysis of the 𝜂-meson fragmentation functions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ferromagnetic gyroscopes for tests of fundamental physics

Abstract A ferromagnetic gyroscope (FG) is a ferromagnet whose angular momentum is dominated by electron spin polarization and that will process under the action of an external torque, such as that due to a magnetic field. Here we model and analyze FG dynamics and sensitivity, focusing on practical schemes for experimental realization. In the case of a freely floating FG, we model the transition from dynamics dominated by libration in relatively high externally applied magnetic fields, to those dominated by precession at relatively low applied fields. Measurement of the libration frequency enables in situ determination of the magnetic field and a technique to reduce the field below the threshold for which precession dominates the FG dynamics. We note that evidence of gyroscopic behavior is present even at magnetic fields much larger than the threshold field below which precession dominates. We also model the dynamics of an FG levitated above a type-I superconductor via the Meissner effect, and find that for FGs with dimensions larger than about 100 nm the observed precession frequency is reduced compared to that of a freely floating FG. This is due to an effect akin to negative feedback that arises from the distortion of the field from the FG by the superconductor. Finally we assess the sensitivity of an FG levitated above a type-I superconductor to exotic spin-dependent interactions under practical experimental conditions, demonstrating the potential of FGs for tests of fundamental physics.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy Spectrum of Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic Rays across Declinations -90° to +44.8° as Measured at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays above 2.5 EeV has been measured across the declination range - 9 0 ° ≤ δ ≤ + 44.8 ° using ∼ 310 000 events accrued at the Pierre Auger Observatory from an exposure of ( 104 900 ± 3 100 ) km 2 sr yr . No significant variations of energy spectra with declination are observed, after allowing or not for nonuniformities across the sky arising from the well-established dipolar anisotropies in the arrival directions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. Here, the instep feature in the spectrum at ≃ 10 EeV reported previously is now established at a significance above 5 σ . Within the statistics, the energy spectra are indistinguishable across declinations so disfavoring an origin for the instep from a few distinctive sources.

Abdul Halim, A. [University of Adelaide]↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ultrafast light-induced shear strain probed by time-resolved x-ray diffraction: Multiferroic BiFeO 3 as a case study

Enabling the light control of complex systems on ultrashort timescales gives rise to rich physics with promising applications. Although crucial, the quantitative determination of both the longitudinal and the shear photoinduced strains still remains challenging. Here, by scrutinizing asymmetric Bragg peaks pairs (±h01) in BiFeO 3 using picosecond time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiments, we simultaneously determine the longitudinal and shear strains. Importantly, we reveal a difference in the dynamical response of the longitudinal strain with respect to the shear one due to an interplay of quasilongitudinal and quasitransverse acoustic modes, well reproduced by our model. Lastly, we show that the relative amplitude of those strains can be explained only if both thermal and nonthermal processes contribute to the acoustic phonon photogeneration process.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

The DECam MAGIC Survey: A Wide-field Photometric Metallicity Study of the Sculptor Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

The metallicity distribution function (MDF) and internal chemical variations of a galaxy are fundamental to understand its formation and assembly history. In this work, we analyze photometric metallicities for 3883 stars over 7 half-light radii (rh) in the Sculptor (Scl) dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy, using new narrowband imaging data from the Mapping the Ancient Galaxy in CaHK (MAGIC) survey conducted with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) at the 4 m Blanco Telescope. This work demonstrates the scientific potential of MAGIC using the Scl dSph galaxy, one of the most well-studied satellites of the Milky Way. Our sample ranges from [Fe/H] ≈ –4.0 to [Fe/H] ≈ –0.6, includes six new extremely metal-poor candidates ([Fe/H] ≤ –3.0), and is almost 3 times larger than the largest spectroscopic metallicity data set in the Scl dSph. Our spatially unbiased sample of metallicities provides a more accurate representation of the MDF, revealing a more metal-rich peak than observed in the most recent spectroscopic sample. It also reveals a break in the metallicity gradient, with a strong change in the slope: from −3.26 ± 0.18 dex deg −1 for stars inside ∼1 rh to −0.55 ± 0.26 dex deg −1 for the outer part of the Scl dSph. Our study demonstrates that combining photometric metallicity analysis with the wide field of view of DECam offers an efficient and unbiased approach for studying the stellar populations of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗