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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 1,639 records · Page 91
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Ytterbium laser system for studying parametric amplification of femtosecond pulses with a centre wavelength of ∼2 μm

A laser system is developed with an optical synchronisation of a femtosecond signal with a pump channel. The signal of a driving ytterbium fibre laser with a 60 MHz repetition rate of stretched femtosecond pulses is amplified in energy from several nanojoules to 0.4 mJ at a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz in a wideband amplifier and then is compressed in time to 250 fs. The obtained radiation is used for generating femtosecond laser pulses with a centre wavelength of ∼2 μm, pulse energy of above 20 μJ, duration of several field oscillations, and phase stabilisation between the electromagnetic field and envelope. The other pulse of the driving fibre laser provides optical synchronisation and a minimal time delay and is directed to a regenerative Yb : YAG disk amplifier for amplification to an energy of 4 mJ at a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz and duration of 20 ps. A multipass disk amplifier is developed for further increasing the energy of pump chirped pulses to an energy of 70 mJ at a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz and duration of 400 ps for studying parametric amplification under sub-nanosecond pumping. (paper)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Templated Self Assemble of Nano-Structures

This project will identify and model mechanisms that template the self-assembly of nanostructures. We focus on a class of systems involving a two-phase monolayer of molecules adsorbed on a solid surface. At a suitably elevated temperature, the molecules diffuse on the surface to reduce the combined free energy of mixing, phase boundary, elastic field, and electrostatic field. With no template, the phases may form a pattern of stripes or disks. The feature size is on the order of 1-100 nm, selected to compromise the phase boundary energy and the long-range elastic or electrostatic interaction. Both experimental observations and our theoretical simulations have shown that the pattern resembles a periodic lattice, but has abundant imperfections. To form a perfect periodic pattern, or a designed aperiodic pattern, one must introduce a template to guide the assembly. For example, a coarse-scale pattern, lithographically defined on the substrate, will guide the assembly of the nanoscale pattern. As another example, if the molecules on the substrate surface carry strong electric dipoles, a charged object, placed in the space above the monolayer, will guide the assembly of the molecular dipoles. In particular, the charged object can be a mask with a designed nanoscale topographic pattern. A serial process (e.g., e-beam lithography) is necessary to make the mask, but the pattern transfer to the molecules on the substrate is a parallel process. The technique is potentially a high throughput, low cost process to pattern a monolayer. The monolayer pattern itself may serve as a template to fabricate a functional structure. This project will model fundamental aspects of these processes, including thermodynamics and kinetics of self-assembly, templated self-assembly, and self-assembly on unconventional substrates. It is envisioned that the theory will not only explain the available experimental observations, but also motivate new experiments.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Theoretical Research at the High Energy Frontier: Cosmology and Beyond

During the one year term of this DOE award, Vachaspati has continued to work on the interface of particle physics and cosmology, with a focus on primordial magnetic fields, cosmic phase transitions, quantum mechanical effects on classical dynamics, and black hole formation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multi-scale modeling of the evolution of structure and properties in materials for nuclear energy applications

Nuclear energy is an important component of an overall strategy to address climate change. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary facility for research and development in nuclear science and technology for energy generation, supporting the improvement and life extension of the existing reactor fleet and the development and licensing of new reactor designs. Computational modeling is an important component of these activities, particularly in the area of materials for nuclear applications, where experimental data can be very challenging and expensive to acquire, and where data is especially scarce for new reactor designs. INL has used multi-scale modeling – linking atomistic, mesoscale, and engineering scales – to improve the ability to predict the performance of materials for nuclear energy applications. These modeling efforts make extensive of MOOSE (Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment), a general-purpose open source finite element framework developed at INL. In this talk, I will give an overview of the approach and tools used, and several examples of application, including performance of nuclear fuels, understanding radiation-driven formation of nanoscale void and gas bubble superlattices, and powder densification through electric field assisted sintering.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Temperature- and field-driven spin reorientations in triple-layer ruthenate Sr 4 Ru 3 O 10

Sr 4 Ru 3 O 10 , the n = 3 member of the Ruddlesden-Popper type ruthenate Sr n+1 Ru n O 3n+1 , is known to exhibit a peculiar metamagnetic transition in an in-plane magnetic field. However, the nature of both the temperature- and field-dependent phase transitions remains as a topic of debate. Here, we have investigated the magnetic transitions of Sr 4 Ru 3 O 10 via single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements. At zero field, we find that the system undergoes a ferromagnetic transition with both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic components at T c ≈ 100 K. Below T * = 50 K, the magnetic moments incline continuously toward the out-of-plane direction. At T = 1.5 K, where the spins are nearly aligned along the c axis, a spin reorientation occurs above a critical field Bc, giving rise to a spin component perpendicular to the plane defined by the field direction and the c axis. We suggest that both the temperature- and field-driven spin reorientations are associated with a change in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is strongly coupled to the lattice degrees of freedom. This study elucidates the long-standing puzzles on the zero-field magnetic orders of Sr 4 Ru 3 O 10 and provides new insights into the nature of the field-induced metamagnetic transition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ion distributions at the dayside magnetopause

Ion phase space distribution, from the AMPTE UKS ion instrument, for a crossing of the dayside magnetopause on October 2, 1984, during typical southward IMF conditions are presented. D-shaped field-aligned phase space distributions of magnetosheath plasma earthward of and hot magnetospheric ions sunward of the magnetopause current layer are observed. The existence of such D-shaped magnetosheath plasma distributions has been predicted as a signature of reconnection. In addition, the observed ion distributions are in stress balance across the magnetopause, and the de Hoffman-Teller frame velocity obtained from the stress balance calculation is in agreement with the observed distribution function cutoff speed. These new observations thus provide further evidence that, at least for southward IMF conditions, reconnection is an important mechanism by which solar wind plasma penetrates into the magnetosphere.

Smith, M. F.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Observation of transient electric fields in particle-in-cell simulation of capacitively coupled discharges

The analytical prediction of the presence of transient electric field regions between the bulk plasma and sheath edge in radio frequency capacitively coupled plasma (RF-CCP) discharges has been reported by Kaganovich [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 265006 (2002)]. In this paper, we have used the semi-infinite particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation technique to verify the theoretical prediction for the existence of transient electric field in the linear regime; it is shown that the PIC simulation results are in good agreement with the results predicted by analytical model in this regime. It is also demonstrated that the linear theory overestimates the transient electric field as one moves from linear to weakly nonlinear regime. The effect of applied RF current density and electron temperature on evolution of transition field and phase mixing regime has been explored.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

An in-situ study of magnetic domain structures in undercooled Fe-29.5 at. %Pd magnetostrictive alloys by Lorentz microscopy and electron holography

Understanding of correlation between magnetic domain structure and functional properties is of importance for the magnetic field driven phase transition (e.g., martensitic transformation) or microstructure variation (e.g., twin boundary motion) materials. In this work, we report a Fe-29.5 at. %Pd shape memory alloy treated by undercooling processing upon a degree of 320 K below the liquid temperature. The effect of high undercooling on the solidified microstructure and martensitic transformation temperatures was investigated. By in-situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and electron holography, magnetic domain structure and the field-induced domain wall motion behavior in as-cast and undercooled samples have been schematically studied. The irregular domain structure can be observed in these alloys. On the application of a field up to 300 Oe, the domain walls for both samples are able to move along the direction of the external magnetic field, but structural transition and rearrangement of variants are not observed in the undercooled alloy. The large magnetostriction of Fe-29.5 at. %Pd undercooled alloy originates from the irregular domain walls motion instead of the rearrangement of martensitic twin variants.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Diffeomorphism-invariant lattice actions

We present a lattice-discretization procedure which is based on the simplicial lattice preserves diffeomorphism invariance. The presented procedure is the straightforward generalization for the procedure used for discretization of the spinor gravity [7]. As a stable way to guarantee the removing of the lattice regularization, i.e. the continuum limit, for lattice diffeomorphism invariant theories, we propose to tune the system to point of the phase transition. We expect that the Einstein gravitation is achieved at this point.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ergodicity reflected in macroscopic and microscopic field-dependent behavior of BNT-based relaxors

The effect of heterovalent B-site doping on ergodicity of relaxor ferroelectrics is studied using (1 − y)(0.81Bi{sub 1/2}Na{sub 1/2}TiO{sub 3}-0.19Bi{sub 1/2}K{sub 1/2}TiO{sub 3})-yBiZn{sub 1/2}Ti{sub 1/2}O{sub 3} (BNT-BKT-BZT) with y = (0.02;0.03;0.04) as a model system. Both the large- and small-signal parameters are studied as a function of electric field. The crystal structure is assessed by means of neutron diffraction in the initial state and after exposure to a high electric field. In order to measure ferroelastic domain textures, diffraction patterns of the poled samples are collected as a function of sample rotation angle. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is employed to probe the microstructure for polar regions at a nanoscopic scale. For low electric fields E < 2 kV·mm{sup −1}, large- and small-signal constitutive behavior do not change with composition. At high electric fields, however, drastic differences are observed due to a field-induced phase transition into a long-range ordered state. It is hypothesized that increasing BZT content decreases the degree of non-ergodicity; thus, the formation of long-range order is impeded. It is suggested that frozen and dynamic polar nano regions exist to a different degree, depending on the BZT content. This image is supported by PFM measurements. Moreover, PFM measurements suggest that the relaxation mechanism after removal of the bias field is influenced by surface charges.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Field-induced topological Hall effect and double-fan spin structure with a $c$-axis component in the metallic kagome antiferromagnetic compound YMn 6 Sn 6

Geometric frustration in the kagome lattice makes it a great host for the flat electronic band, nontrivial topological properties, and novel magnetism. In this work, we use magnetotransport measurements to map out the field-temperature phase diagram of the centrosymmetric YMn 6 Sn 6 with a Mn kagome lattice and show that the system exhibits the topological Hall effect (THE) with an in-plane applied magnetic field around 240 K. In addition, our neutron diffraction results demonstrate that the observed THE cannot arise from a magnetic skyrmion lattice, but instead from an in-plane field-induced double-fan spin structure with c-axis components. This paper provides a platform to understand the influence of a field-induced novel magnetic structure on magnetoelectric response in topological kagome metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Quantum entangled ground states of two spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

We revisit in detail the non-mean-field ground-state phase diagram for a binary mixture of spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates including quantum fluctuations. The noncommuting terms in the spin-dependent Hamiltonian under the single-spatial-mode approximation make it difficult to obtain exact eigenstates. Utilizing spin-z-component conservation and total spin angular momentum conservation, we numerically derive information on the building blocks and evaluate the von Neumann entropy to quantify the ground states. The mean-field phase boundaries are found to remain largely intact, yet the ground states show fragmented and entangled behaviors within large parameter spaces of interspecies spin-exchange and singlet-pairing interactions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Precise magnetic field mapping of the EMPHATIC Phase 1 magnet with COMSOL

A compact Halbach array magnet is used to measure the momentum of the secondary particles in EMPHATIC(Experiment to Measure the Production ofHadrons At a Test beam InChicagoland). Hall probe data was taken for the central cylindrical bore of the magnet and a field map was constructed. COMSOL Multiphysics® Software is used for modeling the magnet and constructing the corresponding magnetic field map. Here, we present a fitting approach where the hall probe data is used to determine a 1mm-spacing map of the entire volume of the magnet using COMSOL. The new map will allow for linear interpolation within the volume, and expand the map to outside the measurement volume, thus increasing the acceptance and precision of EMPHATIC's tracking system.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Magnetic order and physical properties of the kagome metal UNb 6 ⁢Sn 6

The 𝑅⁢𝑀 6 ⁢𝑋 6 family of materials (𝑅 = rare-earth, 𝑀 = transition metal, 𝑋 = Ga, Si, Ge, Sn) produces an array of emergent phenomena, such as charge density waves, intrinsic Hall effects, and complex magnetic order, due to its kagome net of transition metal atoms, its local-moment magnetic anisotropies, and its extensive chemical tunability. Here, in this study, we report UNb 6⁢ Sn 6 , a new “166” material containing both an actinide and a 4⁢𝑑 transition metal, along with its nonmagnetic analog ThNb6⁢Sn6, to investigate the properties of a 5⁢𝑓−4⁢𝑑 electron 166 system. UNb 6 ⁢Sn 6 crystallizes in the hexagonal 𝑃⁢6/𝑚⁢𝑚⁢𝑚 space group with a small degree of disorder due to shifts in the size of the CoSn-like cages along the 𝑐 axis. Upon cooling at zero magnetic field, the material undergoes two magnetic phase transitions at 𝑇 2 = 46K and 𝑇 N = 43K. The low-temperature, zero-field phase is an antiferromagnet with ordered uranium moments and a k = (0,0,1/2) propagation vector determined by neutron diffraction. Remarkably, with a magnetic field applied along the 𝑐 axis, five additional magnetic transitions occur, evidenced by magnetization and resistivity data, before the moment saturates at 2.62 𝜇 B /U at 2 K and ≥ 13.6T. In two magnetic phase regions, the Hall resistivity of UNb 6⁢ Sn 6 significantly deviates from the magnetization, suggesting that the phases have a large Berry curvature or a change in the Fermi surface. The unknown magnetic ordering of the field-dependent phases of UNb 6⁢ Sn 6 demonstrates the complexity of the 5⁢𝑓−4⁢𝑑 166 system and encourages further study of its properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Consolidation of cubic and hexagonal boron nitride composites

When we Consolidate cubic boron nitride (cBN) it typically requires either a matrix of metal bearing materials that are undesirable for certain applications, or very high pressures within the cBN phase stability field that are prohibitive to manufacturing size and cost. We present new methodology for consolidating high stiffness cBN composites within a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) matrix (15–25 vol%) with the aid of a binder phase (0–6 vol%) at moderate pressures (0.5–1.0 GPa) and temperatures (900–1300 °C). The composites are demonstrated to be highly tailorable with a range of compositions and resulting physical/mechanical properties. Ultrasonic measurements indicate that in some cases these composites have elastic mechanical properties that exceed those of the highest strength steel alloys. Moreover, two methods were identified to prevent phase transformation of the metastable cBN phase into hBN during consolidation: 1. removal of hydrocarbons, and 2. increased cBN particle size. Lithium tetraborate worked better as a binder than boron oxide, aiding consolidation without enhancing cBN to hBN phase transformation kinetics. These powder mixtures consolidated within error of their full theoretical mass densities at 1 GPa, and had only slightly lower densities at 0.5 GPa. This shows potential for consolidation of these composites into larger parts, in a variety of shapes, at even lower pressures using more conventional manufacturing methods, such as hot-pressing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterizing Physical Properties of Streambed Interface Sediments Using In Situ Complex Electrical Conductivity Measurements

Streambed sediment physical properties such as surface area, are difficult to quantify in situ but exert a high-level control on a wide range of biogeochemical processes and sorption of contaminants. We introduce the use of complex electrical conductivity (CC) methods (also known as spectral-induced polarization (SIP)) that measure both real and imaginary conductivity to noninvasively and efficiently characterize shallow streambed sediments. We explore the method through synthetic modeling, laboratory, and field measurements to demonstrate the sensitivity of imaginary conductivity to sediment surface area, controlled in part by fine-grained iron oxides produced by anoxic groundwater discharge. Laboratory measurements verify expected relationships between CC parameters and sediment properties. Synthetic modeling using a 1D analytical model illustrates the influence of water layer depth and conductivity on the field CC measurements made at the streambed-stream water interface. Specifically, the inverted sediment imaginary conductivity is less impacted by uncertainty in the water layer depth and conductivity relative to the real conductivity and phase shift. Field CC measurements along a landfill-impacted river reveal discrete streambed zones with enhanced bulk surface area generally corresponding to anoxic groundwater discharge zones with high concentrations of fine-grained iron oxide precipitates.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗