Experimental Physical Sciences Vitae 2015
Vitaes related to experimental physical science are included.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS”
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
OECD-NEA Expert Group on Multi-Physics Experimental Data, Benchmarks and Validation
High-fidelity, multi-physics modeling and simulation (M&S) tools are being developed and utilized for a variety of applications in nuclear science and technology and show great promise in their abilities to reproduce observed phenomena for many applications. Even with the increasing fidelity and sophistication of coupled multi-physics M&S tools, the underpinning models and data still need to be validated against experiments that may require a more complex array of validation data because of the great breadth of the time, energy and spatial domains of the physical phenomena that are being simulated. The Expert Group on Multi-Physics Experimental Data, Benchmarks and Validation (MPEBV) of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was formed to address the challenges with the validation of such tools. The work of the MPEBV expert group is shared among three task forces to fulfill its mandate and specific exercises are being developed to demonstrate validation principles for common industrial challenges. This paper describes the overall mission of the group, the specific objectives of the task forces, the linkages among the task forces, and the development of a validation exercise that focuses on a specific reactor challenge problem.
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
Experimental Physical Sciences Vistas Performance through Science Winter 2017
This issue of Experimental Physical Sciences Vistas focuses on the integrated science that plays a critical role in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s support of the nation’s nuclear deterrent. I hope you will enjoy reading about these accomplishments, opportunities, and challenges.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Joint Actinide Shock Physics Experimental Research - JASPER
Commonly known as JASPER the Joint Actinide Shock Physics Experimental Research facility is a two stage light gas gun used to study the behavior of plutonium and other materials under high pressures, temperatures, and strain rates.
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
Experimental Physical Sciences Vitae 2014
This a vitae for all scientists of the Experimental Physical Sciences department at LANL.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Experimental Physical Sciences Vistas: MaRIE (draft)
To achieve breakthrough scientific discoveries in the 21st century, a convergence and integration of world-leading experimental facilities and capabilities with theory, modeling, and simulation is necessary. In this issue of Experimental Physical Sciences Vistas, I am excited to present our plans for Los Alamos National Laboratory's future flagship experimental facility, MaRIE (Matter-Radiation Interactions in Extremes). MaRIE is a facility that will provide transformational understanding of matter in extreme conditions required to reduce or resolve key weapons performance uncertainties, develop the materials needed for advanced energy systems, and transform our ability to create materials by design. Our unique role in materials science starting with the Manhattan Project has positioned us well to develop a contemporary materials strategy pushing the frontiers of controlled functionality - the design and tailoring of a material for the unique demands of a specific application. Controlled functionality requires improvement in understanding of the structure and properties of materials in order to synthesize and process materials with unique characteristics. In the nuclear weapons program today, improving data and models to increase confidence in the stockpile can take years from concept to new knowledge. Our goal with MaRIE is to accelerate this process by enhancing predictive capability - the ability to compute a priori the observables of an experiment or test and pertinent confidence intervals using verified and validated simulation tools. It is a science-based approach that includes the use of advanced experimental tools, theoretical models, and multi-physics codes, simultaneously dealing with multiple aspects of physical operation of a system that are needed to develop an increasingly mature predictive capability. This same approach is needed to accelerate improvements to other systems such as nuclear reactors. MaRIE will be valuable to many national security science challenges. Our first issue of Vistas focused on our current national user facilities (the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center [LANSCE], the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory-Pulsed Field Facility, and the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies) and the vitality they bring to our Laboratory. These facilities are a magnet for students, postdoctoral researchers, and staff members from all over the world. This, in turn, allows us to continue to develop and maintain our strong staff across the relevant disciplines and conduct world-class discovery science. The second issue of Vistas was devoted entirely to the Laboratory's materials strategy - one of the three strategic science thrusts for the Laboratory. This strategy has helped focus our thinking for MaRIE. We believe there is a bright future in cutting-edge experimental materials research, and that a 21st-century facility with unique capability is necessary to fulfill this goal. The Laboratory has spent the last several years defining MaRIE, and this issue of Vistas presents our current vision of that facility. MaRIE will leverage LANSCE and our other user facilities, as well as our internal and external materials community for decades to come, giving Los Alamos a unique competitive advantage, advancing materials science for the Laboratory's missions and attracting and recruiting scientists of international stature. MaRIE will give the international materials research community a suite of tools capable of meeting a broad range of outstanding grand challenges.
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
Joint Actinide Shock Physics Experimental Research (JASPER): System Design Requirements: Trigger Unit
One of the key systems required for the Joint Actinide Shock Physics Experimental Research (JASPER) facility is the timely triggering of the Prompt System (PS). The Trigger Unit (TU) is the critical component that determines when the PS is to be triggered. There are two redundant TUs within the JASPER system, and each TU creates three redundant triggers for the PS. In this fashion, the Prompt Trigger System (PTS) can suffer the loss of one sensor, as well as the loss of one TU, and still function correctly. The TU is designed to receive signals from five separate sensors along the flight of the projectile on its way to the target. The TU uses three pairs of these detectors to create a trigger pulse at the appropriate time, based on the actual velocity of the projectile as it passes between the two sensors.
42 ENGINEERING↗
MO-FG-BRC-00: Joint AAPM-ESTRO Symposium: Advances in Experimental Medical Physics
Experimental research in medical physics has expanded the limits of our knowledge and provided novel imaging and therapy technologies for patients around the world. However, experimental efforts are challenging due to constraints in funding, space, time and other forms of institutional support. In this joint ESTRO-AAPM symposium, four exciting experimental projects from four different countries are highlighted. Each project is focused on a different aspect of radiation therapy. From the USA, we will hear about a new linear accelerator concept for more compact and efficient therapy devices. From Canada, we will learn about novel linear accelerator target design and the implications for imaging and therapy. From France, we will discover a mature translational effort to incorporate theranostic nanoparticles in MR-guided radiation therapy. From Germany, we will find out about a novel in-treatment imaging modality for particle therapy. These examples of high impact, experimental medical physics research are representative of the diversity of such efforts that are on-going around the globe. J. Robar, Research is supported through collaboration with Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab AGD. Westerly, This work is supported by the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. COI: NONEK. Parodi, Part of the presented work is supported by the DFG (German Research Foundation) Cluster of Excellence MAP (Munich-Centre for Advanced Photonics) and has been carried out in collaboration with IBA.
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
Developing an Undergraduate Research Laboratory for Experimental Physical Chemistry [Book Chapter]
Embarking on a faculty career in physical chemistry at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) is exciting, but also overwhelming. Becoming both an effective teacher and a productive researcher requires a good plan, hard work and support from others who understand what it takes to be successful. The phrase, “building a laboratory,” calls to mind the physical construction of a research instrument, but beginning a career at a PUI involves much more than assembling equipment. Funding for the lab must be secured, students must be recruited and mentored, and the lab must be overseen to keep things running on a daily basis. While many of these tasks would also be part of starting a career at a doctoral level institution, there are many special considerations that must be taken into account when working with undergraduate students because their laboratory experience and chemical knowledge are still within those beautiful but nascent stages. Here, this unique aspect makes building a research program challenging, but also very rewarding. Exposing young minds to the wonders of physical chemistry and building personal relationships through the mentoring process can be immensely gratifying. This chapter is a compilation of holistic advice for building an experimental physical chemistry research laboratory for undergraduates, reflecting a typical experience found in the United States.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Progress in end-to-end optimization of fundamental physics experimental apparata with differentiable programming
In this article we examine recent developments in the research area concerning the creation of end-to-end models for the complete optimization of measuring instruments. The models we consider rely on differentiable programming methods and on the specification of a software pipeline including all factors impacting performance — from the data-generating processes to their reconstruction and the inference on the parameters of interest — along with the careful specification of a utility function well aligned with the end goals of the experiment. Building on previous studies originated within the MODE Collaboration, we focus specifically on applications involving instruments for particle physics experimentation, as well as industrial and medical applications that share the detection of radiation as their data-generating mechanism. This report illustrates the most recent advancements in the area, and outlines, for each of the discussed applications as well as for automatic differentiation itself, ongoing and future work.
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
Zirconium and Yttrium (p, d) Surrogate Nuclear Reactions: Measurement and determination of gamma-ray probabilities: Experimental Physics Report
This technical report documents the surrogate reaction method and experimental results used to determine the desired neutron induced cross sections of 87 Y(n,g) and the known 90 Zr(n,g) cross section. This experiment was performed at the STARLiTeR apparatus located at Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute using the K150 Cyclotron which produced a 28.56 MeV proton beam. The proton beam impinged on Y and Zr targets to produce the nuclear reactions 89 Y(p,d) 88 Y and 92 Zr(p,d) 91 Zr. Both particle singles data and particle-gamma ray coincident data were measured during the experiment. This data was used to determine the γ-ray probability as a function of energy for these reactions. The results for the γ-ray probabilities as a function of energy for both these nuclei are documented here. For completeness, extensive tabulated and graphical results are provided in the appendices.
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
Experimental Physical Sciences Vistas: Los Alamos NPAC Research
The nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology (NPAC) capability at Los Alamos National Labora tory has a rich tradition of attracting and supporting some of the best scientists in the world to conduct fundamental research and to direct those talents to support the Lab’s national security science mission. Early luminaries such as Enrico Fermi and Hans Bethe were world renowned be fore they came to Los Alamos to work on the Manhattan Project; Fermi for his skills in experimental and theoretical nuclear physics and Bethe for his theoretical skills in nuclear physics and astrophysics—skills that were critical in the development of nuclear weapons. Later, as an outgrowth of their weapons physics research, scientists Frederick Reines and Clyde Cowan made the first confirmed measurement of the elusive neutrino, a discovery that led to Reines receiv ing the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1995. (Cowan died in 1974 before he was recognized for his contributions.)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Theoretical and experimental physical methods of neutron-capture therapy
This review is based to a substantial degree on our priority developments and research at the IR-8 reactor of the Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute. New theoretical and experimental methods of neutron-capture therapy are developed and applied in practice; these are: A general analytical and semi-empiric theory of neutron-capture therapy (NCT) based on classical neutron physics and its main sections (elementary theories of moderation, diffuse, reflection, and absorption of neutrons) rather than on methods of mathematical simulation. The theory is, first of all, intended for practical application by physicists, engineers, biologists, and physicians. This theory can be mastered by anyone with a higher education of almost any kind and minimal experience in operating a personal computer. Methods: of phantom experimental studies for the semi-empiric theory of NCT using epithermal neutrons. Experimental methods for measuring and monitoring the spectral composition of therapeutic, research, and analytical neutron beams for NCT and other investigations with neutrons. Experimental methods of remote neutron dosimetry of biological objects with intentional modification of the element composition of tissues in NCT. Methods: of mass investigations in pharmacokinetics and biologic efficiency of novel dose-forming preparations. Methods: for tailoring of therapeutic, research, and analytical neutron beams for NCT and other investigations with neutrons. Methods: of capillary neutron optics application for NCT and other fundamental and applied studies with neutrons.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Experimental Physics of Elementary Particles
The year 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, an international intergovernmental organization for basic research in the fields of elementary particles, atomic nuclei, and condensed matter. Highly productive advances over this long road clearly show that the international basis and diversity of research guarantees successful development (and maintenance) of fundamental science. This is especially important for experimental research. In this review, the most significant achievements are briefly described with an attempt to look into the future (seven to ten years ahead) and show the role of JINR in solution of highly important problems in elementary particle physics, which is a fundamental field of modern natural sciences. This glimpse of the future is full of justified optimism.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
The transparent overdense regime of plasma physics: experimental demonstration of high efficiency particle acceleration, coherent photon generation, and relativistic pulse shaping
Abstract Not Provided
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
$|\Delta \mathcal{B}| =2$: A State of the Field, and Looking Forward--A brief status report of theoretical and experimental physics opportunities
The origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry apparently obligates the laws of physics to include some mechanism of baryon number ($\mathcal{B}$) violation. Searches for interactions violating $\mathcal{B}$ and baryon-minus-lepton number $\mathcal{(B-L)}$ represent a rich and underutilized opportunity. These are complementary to the existing, broad program of searches for $\mathcal{L}$-violating modes such as neutrinoless double $\beta$-decay which could provide deeper understandings of the plausibility of leptogenesis, or $\mathcal{B}$-violating, $\mathcal{(B-L)}$-conserving processes such as proton decay. In particular, a low-scale, post-sphaleron violation mechanism of $\mathcal{(B-L)}$ could provide a \textit{testable} form of baryogenesis. Though theoretically compelling, searches for such $\mathcal{(B-L)}$-violating processes like $\Delta\mathcal{B}=2$ dinucleon decay and $n\rightarrow\bar{n}$ remain relatively underexplored experimentally compared to other rare processes. By taking advantage of upcoming facilities such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the European Spallation Source, this gap can be addressed with new intranuclear and free searches for neutron transformations with very high sensitivity, perhaps greater than three orders of magnitude higher than previous experimental searches. This proceedings reports on recent theoretical and experimental advances and sensitivities of next-generation searches for neutron transformations were detailed as part of the Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions Workshop, "Theoretical Innovations for Future Experiments Regarding Baryon Number Violation," directly coordinated with the Rare Processes and Precision Measurements Frontier.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Radio-frequency sheaths physics: Experimental characterization on Tore Supra and related self-consistent modeling
During the 2011 experimental campaign, one of the three ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) antennas in the Tore Supra tokamak was equipped with a new type of Faraday screen (FS). The new design aimed at minimizing the integrated parallel electric field over long field lines as well as increasing the heat exhaust capability of the actively cooled screen. It proved to be inefficient for attenuating the radio-frequency (RF)-sheaths on the screen itself on the contrary to the heat exhaust concept that allowed operation despite higher heat fluxes on the antenna. In parallel, a new approach has been proposed to model self-consistently RF sheaths: the SSWICH (Self-consistent Sheaths and Waves for IC Heating) code. Simulations results from SSWICH coupled with the TOPICA antenna code were able to reproduce the difference between the two FS designs and part of the spatial pattern of heat loads and Langmuir probe floating potential. The poloidal pattern is a reliable result that mainly depends on the electrical design of the antenna while the radial pattern is on the contrary highly sensitive to loosely constrained parameters such as perpendicular conductivity that generates a DC current circulation from the private region inside the antenna limiters to the free scrape off layer outside these limiters. Moreover, the cantilevered bars seem to be the element in the screen design that enhanced the plasma potential.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Inertial Confinement Fusion—Experimental Physics: Laser Drive
Laser-driven inertial confinement fusion creates a central hot-spot plasma by irradiating a spherical target containing a thermonuclear fuel layer of deuterium (D) and tritium (T) with temporally-shaped, high-intensity lasers or X rays. Inertial confinement fusion relies on the DT-fusion alpha particles depositing their energy in a hot-spot plasma, causing its temperature to rise sharply and a thermonuclear burn wave to propagate out through the surrounding cold, dense DT fuel, producing significantly more energy than was used to heat and compress the fuel. Alpha heating has been demonstrated and burning plasma (i.e., yield amplification due to alpha heating >3.5) is being explored with megajoule-scale lasers on the path to ignition (i.e., yield amplification due to alpha heating >20)
alpha particles↗