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17 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

A gas-jet transport and catcher technique for on-line production of radioactive ion beams using an electron cyclotron resonance ion-source

Radioactive ion beams (RIB) have been produced on-line, using a gas-jet recoil transport coupled Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion-source at the VECC-RIB facility. Radioactive atoms/molecules carried through the gas-jet were stopped in a catcher placed inside the ECR plasma chamber. A skimmer has been used to remove bulk of the carrier gas at the ECR entrance. The diffusion of atoms/molecules through the catcher has been verified off-line using stable isotopes and on-line through transmission of radioactive reaction products. Beams of {sup 14}O (71 s), {sup 42}K (12.4 h), {sup 43}K (22.2 h), and {sup 41}Ar (1.8 h) have been produced by bombarding nitrogen and argon gas targets with proton and alpha particle beams from the K130 cyclotron at VECC. Typical measured intensity of RIB at the separator focal plane is found to be a few times 10{sup 3} particles per second (pps). About 3.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 3} pps of 1.4 MeV {sup 14}O RIB has been measured after acceleration through a radiofrequency quadrupole linac. The details of the gas-jet coupled ECR ion-source and RIB production experiments are presented along with the plans for the future.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 41

Available information pertaining to the nuclear structure of all nuclei with mass numbers A=41 ranging from Al (Z=13) to Ti (Z=22) are presented. The experimental reaction and decay data are evaluated and any inconsistencies or discrepancies are noted. The adopted values for various level properties (such as the spin, parity and and halflife) and gamma properties (energy, intensity and multipole character) are given. Since the prior evaluation several new measurements have expanded our knowledge of A=41 nuclides. The half-life of the ground state of {sup 41}Si has been determined and a single excited state identified. Excited levels in {sup 41}P have been observed for the first time. In {sup 41}Cl, seven new excited states have been identified in deep inelastic and heavy ion transfer reactions. Half-lifes for four states in {sup 41}Ar have been updated and additional levels with gammas have been included from a new measurement using the multiple ion transfer reaction. In {sup 41}Ca via charge-exchange reaction measurements, several new excited states were observed. A number of new resonances in {sup 41}K have been identified via the (p,γ) reaction. There remains a significant discrepancy in the half-life of the first excited state (980 keV) in {sup 41}K, with measurements differing by more than an order of magnitude. Transfer reactions suggest that this M1 transition should be l-forbidden, however, several measurements yield a lifetime which suggests a sizable M1 strength. Further measurements to resolve the current conflicts would be beneficial.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Atmospheric {sup 41}Ar Plume Tracking of the UF Training Reactor Using a Large-Volume NaI Detector

The ability to track and monitor gaseous radioactive materials is important in the event of a radioactive release such as from a nuclear power plant accident, weapons testing, or other unintended release scenarios. The International Monitoring System (IMS) is currently in place to monitor for weapons testing and has been used to monitor nuclear power plant accidents. However, only 80 radionuclide stations for the IMS exist in the world and are stationary, limiting the resolution of any radioactive plumes detected. Furthermore, the IMS radionuclide stations are designed to be sensitive specifically to atmospheric radio-xenon and no other radionuclides. Historically, monitoring radioactive releases has been limited to the detection of radio-xenon and radio-krypton, both arising as fission products from nuclear fuel. After the accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2, scientists were interested in finding the dose the public received from released radioactive material. This was achieved by analyzing radiation monitors in the exhaust stack and filters within the reactor building. furthermore, a series of 20 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's), 8 air sampling station positioned around Three Mile Island, and a helicopter survey which used a NaI(Tl) detector array provided data on radionuclides, specifically {sup 137}Cs, that escaped the confines of the reactor building. The TLD's and air sampling stations were stationary, and therefore limited the resolution of the radioactive release plume. The helicopter survey using the NaI detectors was limited by the technology available at the time. The NaI detector array output was compressed from 1024 channels to 256 channels, limiting the energy resolution of the spectral data. The helicopter used a microwave ranging system to establish position. Since this survey was taken in October of 1982, advancements in technology allow spectral data to be saved in its full 1024 channel format and the advent of GPS can give a more accurate account of the detector position. An updated mobile system for tracking a radioactive release would help to alleviate these issues as well as gain the ability to track a radioactive release in real-time. We investigate the feasibility of mobile tracking through study and measurement of the {sup 41}Ar plume released from the University of Florida Training Reactor (UFTR) research reactor. We use a large-volume NaI(Tl) detector placed on the roof near the reactor. This detector may also be placed and moved on a cart to survey the area surrounding the reactor. We compare the spectral data taken when the reactor is running at full power to the background to analyze the effectiveness of the detector at identifying atmospheric {sup 41}Ar. Finally we discuss the implications of these measurements with regards to validation of plume models and the capability to track releases over a localized area from the source. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

The 40 Ar(d,p) 41 Ar cross section between 3–7 MeV

To determine the safety of using argon as a deuteron beam stopping material, the 40 Ar(d,p) 41 Ar cross section was measured at average deuteron energies of 3.6 MeV, 5.5 MeV, and 7.0 MeV using an activation method. A 16-MeV deuteron beam produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 88-Inch Cyclotron was degraded to each energy by nickel foils and the front wall of an aluminum gas chamber. The reduced-energy deuterons were used to activate a sample of nat Ar gas. After each irradiation, the gas chamber’s 41 Ar activation was measured with a high-purity germanium detector. The cross sections measured were larger than a previous measurement by ~40%.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

FY2017 Annual report on Darren Bleuel's research activities for neutron imaging facility development

The primary research activities in Fiscal Year 2017 by Dr. Darren Bleuel in support of the neutron imaging (NI) facility development can be categorized into four major projects: 1) Testing of equipment response to neutron damage; 2) Double-differential cross section and neutron spectral measurements of solid alternative neutron production targets; 3) Argon stopping-volume 40 Ar(n,p) 41 Ar cross section measurement and alternative gas stopping volume material identification; 4) Development of neutron energy spectral measurement techniques for future facility.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1971

An investigation of the normal momentum transfer for gases on tungsten

The near monoenergetic beam of neutral helium and argon atoms impinged on a single crystal tungsten target, with the (100) face exposed to the beam. The target was mounted on a torsion balance. The rotation of this torsion balance was monitored by an optical lever, and this reading was converted to a measurement of the momentum exchange between the beam and the target. The tungsten target was flashed to a temperature in excess of 2000 C before every clean run, and the vacuum levels in the final chamber were typically between 0.5 and 1 ntorr. The momentum exchange for the helium-tungsten surface and the argon-tungsten surface combination was obtained over approximately a decade of incoming energy (for the argon gas) at angles of incidence of 0, 30, and 41 deg on both clean and dirty (gas covered) surfaces. The results exhibited a significant variation in momentum transfer between the data obtained for the clean and dirty surfaces. The values of normal momentum accommodation coefficient for the clean surface were found to be lower than the values previously reported.

Moskal, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Isothermal fatigue mechanisms in Ti-based metal matrix composites

Stress-controlled isothermal fatigue experiments were performed at room temperature (RT) and 548 C (in argon) on (0)8 SCS6/Ti 15-3 metal matrix composites (MMC's) with 15 and 41 volume percent SCS6 (SiC) fibers. The primary objectives were to evaluate the mechanical responses, and to obtain a clear understanding of the damage mechanisms leading to failure of the MMC's. The mechanical data indicated that strain ranges attained fairly constant values in the stress-controlled experiments at both RT and 538 C, and remained so for more than 85 percent of life. The fatigue data for MMC's with different volume fraction fibers showed that MMC life was controlled by the imposed strain range rather than the stress range. At RT, and at low and intermediate strain ranges, the dominant fatigue mechanism was matrix fatigue, and this was confirmed metallurgically from fractographic evidence as well as from observations of channel type dislocation structures in the matrix of fatigued MMC specimens. Reaction-zone cracks acted as important crack initiating sites at RT, with their role being to facilitate slip band formation and consequent matrix crack initiation through classical fatigue mechanisms. MMC life agreed with matrix life at the lower strain ranges, but was smaller than matrix life at higher strain ranges. Unlike the case of monotonic deformation, debonding damage was another major damage mechanism during fatigue at RT, and it increased for higher strain ranges. At high strain ranges at RT, fractography and metallography showed an absence of matrix cracks, but long lengths of debonds in the outer layers of the SCS6 fibers. Such debonding and consequent rubbing during fatigue is believed to have caused fiber damage and their failure at high strain ranges. Thus, whereas life was matrix dominated at low and intermediate strain ranges, it was fiber dominated at high strain ranges. At 538 C, the mean stain constantly increased (ratchetting) with the number of cycles. At high strain ranges, such ratchetting led to overload failure of the fibers, and debonding of the type at RT was very small. At intermediate strain ranges, fractography showed large areas of matrix cracks. However, in spite of this matrix dominated mechanism, the MMC life at elevated temperatures was significantly less than the matrix fatigue life at all strain ranges. The reason for this difference is still unclear, although metallographic and fractographic evidences suggest that internal crack initiation sites at Mo-ribbons and reaction-zone cracks may have played a critical role, with the former tending to dominate.

Majumdar, Bhaskar S.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Probing mass orderings in presence of a very light sterile neutrino in a liquid argon detector

Results from experiments like LSND and MiniBooNE hint towards the possible presence of an extra eV scale sterile neutrino. The addition of such a neutrino will significantly impact the standard three flavor neutrino oscillations. In particular, it can give rise to additional degeneracies due to additional sterile parameters. For an eV scale sterile neutrino, the cosmological constraints dictate that the sterile state is heavier than the three active states. However, for lower masses of sterile neutrinos, the sterile state can be lighter than one and/or more of the three states. In such cases, the mass ordering of the sterile neutrinos also becomes unknown, along with the mass ordering of the active states. In this paper, we explore the mass ordering sensitivity in the presence of a sterile neutrino assuming the mass squared difference |Δ 41 | to be in the range 10 –4 –1 eV 2 . We study (i) how the ordering of the active states, i.e. the determination of the sign of Δ 31 gets affected by the presence of a sterile neutrino in the above mass range, (ii) the possible determination of the sign of Δ 41 for Δ 41 in the range 10 –4 –0.1 eV 2 . This analysis is done in the context of a liquid argon detector using beam neutrinos traveling a distance of 1300 km and atmospheric neutrinos that propagate through a distance ranging from 10 – 10000 km, allowing resonant matter effects. Apart from presenting separate results from these sources, we also do a combined study and probe the synergy between these two in giving an enhanced sensitivity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1981

Burner Rig Evaluation of Thermal Barrier Coating Systems for Nickel-Base Alloys

Eight plasma sprayed bond coatings were evaluated for their potential use with ZrO2-Y2O3 thermal barrier coatings (TECs) which are being developed for coal derived fuel fired gas turbines. Longer TBC lives in cyclic burner rig oxidation to 1050 C were achieved with the more oxidation resistant bond coatings. These were Ni-14.1Cr-13.4A1-0.10Ar, Ni-14.1C4-14.4Al-0.16Y, and Ni-15.8Cr-12.8Al-0.36Y on Rene 41. The TBC systems performed best when 0.015-cm thick bond coatings were employed that were sprayed at 20 kW using argon 3.5v/o hydrogen. Cycling had a more life limiting influence on the TBC than accumulated time at 1050 C.

Gedwill, M. A.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Synthesize and microstructure characterization of Ni{sub 43}Mn{sub 41}Co{sub 5}Sn{sub 11} Heusler alloy

The ferromagnetic heusler alloys are promising materials in many technical applications due to their multifunctional properties such as shape memory effect, magnetocaloric effect, giant magnetoresistance, etc. In this work, synthesize and characterization of polycrystalline Ni{sub 43}Mn{sub 41}Co{sub 5}Sn{sub 11} (NMCS) alloy are reported. Alloy preparation was conducted by melting the constitute elements under an innert Argon (Ar) atmosphere in a vacuum mini arc-melting furnace. Homogenization of the microstructure of the as-cast ingot was obtained after annealing process at 750°C for 48 hours. It is shown that the dendrites structure has changed to equaixed grains morphology after homogenization. Microstructure characteristics of material by x-ray diffraction revealed that the alloy has a L{sub 21}-type cubic crystal structure as the main phase at room temperature. In order to induce the shape anisotropy, a forging treatment was applied to show the shape orientation of material. Various enhancements of magnetic properties in a longitudinal direction were observed at various degree of anisotropy. The microstructure changes of as-cast NMCS and effects of homogenization treatments as studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) are discussed in details.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Analysis of activated air following high yield shots in the NIF

During the ignition experimental campaign, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is expected to perform shots with varying fusion yield (up to 20 MJ or 7.1 x 10 18 neutrons per shot) and a maximum annual yield of 1200 MJ. A detailed MCNP model of the Target Bay (TB) and the two switchyards (SY) has been developed to estimate the post-shot radiation environment inside the facility. During D-T shots, a pulse of 14.1 MeV neutrons streaming outside the Target Chamber (TC) will activate the air present inside the TB and the argon gas inside the laser tubes. Smaller levels of activity are also generated in the SY air and in the argon portion of the SY laser beam path. The activated TB air will be mixed with fresh air from the Operations Support Building (OSB) before release through the stack. Flow of activated air from the Target Bay is controlled by the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. 16 N (T 1/2 = 7.13 s) dominates the radiation levels during the first minute following the shot. It is expected that 16 N will decay away during the confinement time before releasing the TB air through the stack. The other major contributors are 13 N (T 1/2 = 9.97 min) and 41 Ar (T 1/2 = 1.83 h). In general a low dose rate of < 1 μSv/h is expected near the stack during the first few hours following a 20 MJ shot. Here, the amount of activated Target Bay air released through the stack is very small and does not pose significant hazard to personnel or the environment. In the mean time, due to a very small leakage rate out of the laser tubes, the activated argon gas decays within the tubes and any resulting release to the environment is insignificant.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
NASA NTRS2013

Method of Separating Oxygen From Spacecraft Cabin Air to Enable Extravehicular Activities

Extravehicular activities (EVAs) require high-pressure, high-purity oxygen. Shuttle EVAs use oxygen that is stored and transported as a cryogenic fluid. EVAs on the International Space Station (ISS) presently use the Shuttle cryo O2, which is transported to the ISS using a transfer hose. The fluid is compressed to elevated pressures and stored as a high-pressure gas. With the retirement of the shuttle, NASA has been searching for ways to deliver oxygen to fill the highpressure oxygen tanks on the ISS. A method was developed using low-pressure oxygen generated onboard the ISS and released into ISS cabin air, filtering the oxygen from ISS cabin air using a pressure swing absorber to generate a low-pressure (high-purity) oxygen stream, compressing the oxygen with a mechanical compressor, and transferring the high-pressure, high-purity oxygen to ISS storage tanks. The pressure swing absorber (PSA) can be either a two-stage device, or a single-stage device, depending on the type of sorbent used. The key is to produce a stream with oxygen purity greater than 99.5 percent. The separator can be a PSA device, or a VPSA device (that uses both vacuum and pressure for the gas separation). The compressor is a multi-stage mechanical compressor. If the gas flow rates are on the order of 5 to 10 lb (.2.3 to 4.6 kg) per day, the compressor can be relatively small [3 ~16 ~16 in. (.8 ~41 ~41 cm)]. Any spacecraft system, or other remote location that has a supply of lowpressure oxygen, a method of separating oxygen from cabin air, and a method of compressing the enriched oxygen stream, has the possibility of having a regenerable supply of highpressure, high-purity oxygen that is compact, simple, and safe. If cabin air is modified so there is very little argon, the separator can be smaller, simpler, and use less power.

Graf, John C.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Tuning Porosity and Surface Area in Mesoporous Silicon for Application in Li-Ion Battery Electrodes

This work aims to improve the poor cycle lifetime of silicon-based anodes for Li-ion batteries by tuning microstructural parameters such as pore size, pore volume, and specific surface area in chemically synthesized mesoporous silicon. In this paper, we have specifically produced two different mesoporous silicon samples from the magnesiothermic reduction of ordered mesoporous silica in either argon or forming gas. In situ X-ray diffraction studies indicate that samples made in Ar proceed through a Mg 2 Si intermediate, and this results in samples with larger pores (diameter ≈ 90 nm), modest total porosity (34%), and modest specific surface area (50 m 2 g –1 ). Reduction in forming gas, by contrast, results in direct conversion of silica to silicon, and this produces samples with smaller pores (diameter ≈ 40 nm), higher porosity (41%), and a larger specific surface area (70 m 2 g –1 ). The material with smaller pores outperforms the one with larger pores, delivering a capacity of 1121 mAh g –1 at 10 A g –1 and retains 1292 mAh g –1 at 5 A g –1 after 500 cycles. For comparison, the sample with larger pores delivers a capacity of 731 mAh g –1 at 10 A g –1 and retains 845 mAh g –1 at 5 A g –1 after 500 cycles. The dependence of capacity retention and charge storage kinetics on the nanoscale architecture clearly suggests that these microstructural parameters significantly impact the performance of mesoporous alloy type anodes. Our work is therefore expected to contribute to the design and synthesis of optimal mesoporous architectures for advanced Li-ion battery anodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Specific features of the optical and photoelectric properties of nanocrystalline indium oxide

The spectral dependences of the absorption coefficient and steady-state photoconductivity and the relaxation of photoconductivity (after illumination switch off) in nanocrystalline indium oxide (In{sub 2}O{sub 3}) films synthesized by the sol–gel method are investigated. The mean nanocrystal size varies from 7–8 to 39–41 nm, depending on the sample-preparation conditions. The optical band gap of nanocrystalline In{sub 2}O{sub 3} is determined as a result of combined analysis of the optical absorption spectra and the spectral dependence of the photoconductivity. The optical band gap in nanocrystalline In{sub 2}O{sub 3} is found to be much narrower than the optical band gap in In{sub 2}O{sub 3} single crystals. The photoconductivity decay kinetics in nanocrystalline In{sub 2}O{sub 3} in air, vacuum, and argon at room temperature are studied. A model explaining the observed photoconductivity decay is proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Bohm-criterion approximation versus optimal matched solution for a cylindrical probe in radial-motion theory

The theory of positive-ion collection by a probe immersed in a low-pressure plasma was reviewed and extended by Allen et al. [Proc. Phys. Soc. 70, 297 (1957)]. The numerical computations for cylindrical and spherical probes in a sheath region were presented by F. F. Chen [J. Nucl. Energy C 7, 41 (1965)]. Here, in this paper, the sheath and presheath solutions for a cylindrical probe are matched through a numerical matching procedure to yield “matched” potential profile or “M solution.” The solution based on the Bohm criterion approach “B solution” is discussed for this particular problem. The comparison of cylindrical probe characteristics obtained from the correct potential profile (M solution) and the approximated Bohm-criterion approach are different. This raises questions about the correctness of cylindrical probe theories relying only on the Bohm-criterion approach. Also the comparison between theoretical and experimental ion current characteristics shows that in an argon plasma the ions motion towards the probe is almost radial.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

First search for sterile neutrino oscillation leading to $ν_μ$ disappearance in the Booster Neutrino Beam at ICARUS

We present a search for muon neutrino disappearance in the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab using the ICARUS detector. Neutrino interactions identified as muon neutrinos interacting with argon nuclei via the charged current interaction and having only a muon and at least one proton in the final state (1$μ$Np) have been selected from data collected in 2022-2023 (ICARUS Run 2) and compared with a simulation-based expectation. In the context of a fit to a two-neutrino approximation of the sterile 3+1 model, including the impact of systematic uncertainty from the flux, neutrino interaction, and detector models, we find no statistically significant muon neutrino disappearance at the ICARUS baseline of 600 meters from the BNB target. Corresponding 90% C.L. exclusion contours in $Δm^2_{41}$ - sin$^22θ_{μμ}$ space are presented. This is the first oscillation analysis produced by ICARUS exposed to the BNB. We note that the analysis is systematics limited due to large unconstrained uncertainties from the flux and interaction models. In future joint analyses, data from ICARUS and the SBND detector, exposed to the BNB at 110 meters from target, will be combined to provide significant constraint of these uncertainties, enabling a robust, world-leading two-detector analysis.

Alrahman, F. Abd [Houston U.]↗
DOE OSTI2021

Muon-neutrino disappearance with multiple liquid argon time projection chambers in the Fermilab Booster neutrino beam

The Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program consists of three liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) experiments: SBND, MicroBooNE and ICARUS, with 110 m, 470 m and 600 m baselines respectively. The detectors are located in the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab which has a peak energy around 0.7 GeV and contains predominantly muon neutrinos. The baseline and energy range of the SBN program is conducive to measuring neutrino oscillation parameters under various sterile neutrino hypotheses. Sterile neutrinos have been proposed as a possible solution to the numerous short baseline anomalies. The proposed particles must be sterile in nature such that they do not interact via the weak force, however they may undergo oscillations with the active neutrino flavours. Their existence may consequently be confirmed through measurements of the appearance and disappearance of the active flavours. The analyses presented in this thesis aimed to calculate and understand the sensitivity of the SBN program to measuring the ?µ disappearance parameters under the (3+1) sterile neutrino oscillation hypothesis. The sensitivity of SBN to measuring the ?µ disappearance sterile oscillation parameters, sin2 2?µµ, ?m2 41, was calculated through semi-exclusive joint fits of the ?µ CC 0p and ?µ CC Other reconstructed neutrino energy spectra. The first iteration used truth-level Monte Carlo (MC) events, and determined that the 5s SBN sensitivity is comparable to the 90% MINOS/MINOS+ confidence level and supersedes the 90% MiniBooNE confidence level across entire phase space. Semi-exclusive joint fits of the aforementioned sample spectra were performed between the MC and multiple mock data sets in SBND. This analysis assessed the accuracy with which the near detector can disentangle systematic from physics effects in the oscillation analysis. The result was a 5.49% discrepancy between the ICARUS Monte Carlo and mock data event rates, when the systematic constraints from the near detector fit were extrapolated to the far detector. The second iteration of the SBN sensitivity analysis involved the application of an event selection procedure developed in SBND, following the full reconstruction chain. ?µ CC 0p events were selected from sample of neutrinos with 84.5% efficiency and 84.3% purity. The sterile neutrino sensitivity was determined once more at the near detector with these samples, and was shown to be consistent with the truth-level studies.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗