Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “KTe”

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.

Materials Data on KTe by Materials Project

KTe crystallizes in the hexagonal P-62m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are two inequivalent K1+ sites. In the first K1+ site, K1+ is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six Te1- atoms. There are two shorter (3.62 Å) and four longer (3.66 Å) K–Te bond lengths. In the second K1+ site, K1+ is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six Te1- atoms. There are four shorter (3.58 Å) and two longer (3.62 Å) K–Te bond lengths. There are two inequivalent Te1- sites. In the first Te1- site, Te1- is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to six K1+ and two equivalent Te1- atoms. There are one shorter (2.84 Å) and one longer (3.66 Å) Te–Te bond lengths. In the second Te1- site, Te1- is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to six K1+ and one Te1- atom. The Te–Te bond length is 2.83 Å.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Materials Data on KTe by Materials Project

KTe crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mmc space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are two inequivalent K1+ sites. In the first K1+ site, K1+ is bonded to six equivalent Te1- atoms to form edge-sharing KTe6 octahedra. All K–Te bond lengths are 3.68 Å. In the second K1+ site, K1+ is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six equivalent Te1- atoms. All K–Te bond lengths are 3.56 Å. Te1- is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to six K1+ and one Te1- atom. The Te–Te bond length is 2.84 Å.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Spectral State Evolution of 4U 1820-30: the Stability of the Spectral Index of Comptonization Tail

We analyze the X-ray spectra and their timing properties of the compact Xray binary 4U 1820-30. We establish spectral transitions in this source seen with BeppoSAX and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). During the RXTE observations (1996 - 2009), the source were approximately approximately 75% of its time in the soft state making the lower banana and upper banana transitions combined with long-term low-high state transitions. We reveal that all of the X-ray spectra of 4U 1820-30 are fit by a composition of a thermal (blackbody) component, a Comptonization component (COMPTB) and a Gaussian-line component. Thus using this spectral analysis we find that the photon power-law index Gamma of the Comptonization component is almost unchangeable (Gamma approximately 2) while the electron temperature kTe changes from 2.9 to 21 keV during these spectral events. We also establish that for these spectral events the normalization of COMPTB component (which is proportional to mass accretion rate ˙M) increases by factor 8 when kTe decreases from 21 keV to 2.9 keV. Before this index stability effect was also found analyzing X-ray data for Z-source GX 340+0 and for atolls, 4U 1728-34, GX 3+1. Thus, we can suggest that this spectral stability property is a spectral signature of an accreting neutron star source. On the other hand in a black hole binary Γ monotonically increases with ˙Mand ultimately its value saturates at large ˙M.

evolution↗

Phase Discovery and Selected Synthesis of Subvalent Niobium Tellurides Using a Polytelluride Flux Strategy

Transition metal subchalcogenides involve electron-rich metals and can facilitate an in-depth understanding of the relationships among quantum properties such as superconductivity, charge density wave, and topological band structures. However, effective experimental routes toward synthesizing transition metal subchalcogenides are still lacking, hindering the development of new quantum materials. Herein, we propose a eutectic polytelluride flux strategy as an excellent solution to address phase discovery and crystal growth in transition metal subtelluride systems. We report new phases easily and selectively synthesized using a eutectic “K 3 Te 4 ” polytelluride flux upon adjusting the ratio of Nb metal to flux in the starting materials (K/Nb/Te = 3:x:4). Using a high Nb content in the solvent (x = 2 and 1), crystals of KNb 3 Te 3 O 0.38 and K 0.9 Nb 3 Te 4 are obtained. Both subtellurides exhibit diverse Nb clusters, including face-sharing and edge-sharing Nb 6 octahedral columns and zig-zag Nb chains. Reducing the Nb content to x = 0.33 leads to the formation of a layered compound, K 1.06 NbTe 2 . This compound comprises a NbTe 6 trigonal prism with K intercalated between the layers. Single crystals of known binary Nb tellurides can also be grown using another eutectic flux “KTe 3 . 2 ”, and the obtained NbTe 2 exhibits a new polymorphism with extra trimerization along the b-axis in the Nb–Nb bonded double zig-zag cluster. Finally, precise control over the structural dimensionality and oxidation state, combined with the facile crystal growth process, makes our synthetic strategy an efficient route to explore quantum materials in transition metal subchalcogenides.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Formation of hard X-ray tails

X-ray observations of Cygnus X-1 have shown a power-law spectrum. A natural way that this spectrum might arise is discussed. Inverse Compton scattering of a soft photon flux in a very hot accretion disk, kTe at approximately 100 keV is a possible cause. The slope of the spectrum may vary if source conditions vary.

Eardley, D. M.↗

Low-luminosity accretion onto magnetized neutron stars

The behavior of matter accreting at low rates (M is less than 10 to the 16th g/s) onto the polar caps of a highly magnetized (B = 10 to the 12th G) neutron star is investigated. Flow solutions are found for the case in which the matter undergoes a stationary collisionless shock. It is found that the cyclotron emission is the dominant energy loss mechanism and can yield continuum spectra resembling those observed from X-ray pulsars. A number of relations among the accretion rate, the surface magnetic field, the shock height, and the characteristic electron and ion temperatures are obtained. For magnetic fields greater than 10 to the 12th G, typical values of KTe are several times the cyclotron energy at the surface of the neutron star. When the field drops below 10 to the 12th G, the electrons become very hot and emit gamma-rays.

Langer, S. H.↗

Three-dimensional currents of electrodynamic tethers obtained from laboratory models

Magnetic probe measurements in three dimensions (greater than 15,000 positions) and time in a large laboratory plasma (n(sub e) greater than or equal to 10(exp 11)/cc, kTe greater than or equal to 1eV, B(sub 0) = 20 G, 1 m diam. x 2.5 m length) reveal the plasma currents J = del(vector differential operator) x B/mu(sub 0) excited by a pulsed (delta-t = 100 ns), stationary, tethered pair of electrodes (approximately equals 1 cm diam., 20 cm spacing perpendicular to B(sub 0)). The plasma currents for a moving, dc-current carrying electrodynamic tether are obtained by a superposition of delayed pulses emitted at successively displaced tether positions. The transient plasma currents are carried by low-frequency whistlers instead of Alfven waves and form a 3D wing structure but no long phantom loop due to cross-field Hall current shunting.

Urrutia, J. M.↗

X-Ray Synchrotron Emission From 10-100 TeV Cosmic-Ray Electrons In The Supernova Remnant SN 1006

We present the results of a joint spectral analysis of RXTE PCA, ASCA SIS, and ROSAT PSPC data of the supernova remnant SN 1006. This work represents the first attempt to model both the thermal and nonthermal X-ray emission over the entire X-ray energy band from 0.12 to 17 key. The thermal flux is described by a nonequilibrium ionization model with an electron temperature kTe = 0.6 key, an ionization timescale n(sub 0)t = 9 x 10(exp 9)/cc s, and a relative elemental abundance of silicon that is 10 - 18 times larger than the solar abundance. The nonthermal X-ray spectrum is described by a broken power law model with low- and high-energy photon indices Gamma(sub 1) = 2.1 and Gamma(sub 2) = 3.0, respectively. Since the nonthermal X-ray spectrum steepens with increasing energy, the results of the present analysis corroborate previous claims that the nonthermal X-ray emission is produced by synchrotron radiation. We argue that the magnetic field strength is significantly larger than previous estimates of about 10 micro G and arbitrarily use a value of 40 micro G to estimate the parameters of the cosmic-ray electron, proton, and helium spectra of the remnant. The results for the ratio of the number densities of protons and electrons (R = 160 at 1 GeV), the total energy in cosmic rays (E(sub cr) = 1 x 10(exp 50) ergs), and the spectral index of the electrons at 1 GeV (Gamma(sub e) = 2.14 +/- 0.12) are consistent with the hypothesis that Galactic cosmic rays are accelerated predominantly in the shocks of supernova remnants. Yet, the remnant may or may not accelerate nuclei to energies as high as the energy of the "knee," depending on the reason why the maximum energy of the electrons is only 10 TeV.

Allen, G. E.↗

GX 3+1: The Stability of Spectral Index as a Function of Mass Accretion Rate

We present an analysis of the spectral and timing properties observed in X-rays from neutron star (NS) binary GX 3+1 (4U 1744-26) during long-term transitions between the faint and bright phases superimposed on short-term transitions between lower banana (LB) and upper banana (UB) branches in terms of its color-color diagram, We analyze all observations of this source obtained with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer and BeppoSAX satellites, We find that the X-ray broadband energy spectra during these spectral transitions can be adequately reproduced by a composition of a low-temperature blackbody component, a Comptonized component (COMPTB), and Gaussian component We argue that the electron temperature kTe of the Compton cloud monotonically increases from 2.3 keY to 4.5 keY, when GX 3+1 makes a transition from UB to LB. We also detect an evolution of noise components (a very low frequency noise and a high-frequency noise) during these LB-UB transitions. Using a disk seed photon normalization of COMPTB, which is proportional to the mass accretion rate, we find that the photon power-law index Gamma is almost constant (Gamma = 2.00 +/- 0.02) when mass accretion rate changes by factor four. In addition, we find that the emergent spectrum is dominated by the strong Comptonized component We interpret this quasi-stability of the index Gamma and a particular form of the spectrum in the framework of a model in which the energy release in the transition layer located between the accretion disk and NS surface dominates that in the disk. Moreover, this index stability effect now established for GX 3+ I was previously found in the atoll source 4U 1728-34 and suggested for a number of other low-mass X-ray NS binaries. This intrinsic behavior of NSs, in particular for atoll sources, is fundamentally different from that seen in black hole binary sources where the index monotonically increases during spectral transition from the low state to the high state and then finally saturates at high values of mass accretion rate.

Seifana, Elena↗

NuSTAR and XMM-Newton Observations of the Hard X- Ray Spectrum of Centaurus A

We present simultaneous XMM-Newton and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observations spanning 3-78 keV of the nearest radio galaxy, Centaurus A (Cen A). The accretion geometry around the central engine in Cen A is still debated, and we investigate possible configurations using detailed X-ray spectral modeling. NuSTAR imaged the central region of Cen A with subarcminute resolution at X-ray energies above 10 keV for the first time, but found no evidence for an extended source or other off-nuclear point sources. The XMM-Newton and NuSTAR spectra agree well and can be described with an absorbed power law with a photon index Gamma = 1.8150 +/- 0.005 and a fluorescent Fe Kaline in good agreement with literature values. The spectrum is greater than 1 MeV. A thermal Comptonization continuum describes the data well, with parameters that agree with values measured by INTEGRAL, in particular an electron temperature kTe between approximately 100-300 keV and seed photon input temperatures between 5 and 50 eV. We do not find evidence for reflection or a broad iron line and put stringent upper limits of R is less than 0.01 on the reflection fraction and accretion disk illumination. We use archival Chandra data to estimate the contribution from diffuse emission, extra-nuclear point sources, and the outer X-ray jet to the observed NuSTAR and XMM-Newton X-ray spectra and find the contribution to be negligible. We discuss different scenarios for the physical origin of the observed hard X-ray spectrum and conclude that the inner disk is replaced by an advection-dominated accretion flow or that the X-rays are dominated by synchrotron self-Compton emission from the inner regions of the radio jet or a combination thereof.

Galaxies: active - galaxies: individual (Centaurus↗

NuSTAR and XMM-Newton Observations of 1E1743.1-2843: Indications of a Neutron Star LMXB Nature of the Compact Object

We report on the results of NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observations of the persistent X-ray source 1E1743.1-2843, located in the Galactic Center region. The source was observed between 2012 September and October by NuSTAR and XMM-Newton, providing almost simultaneous observations in the hard and soft X-ray bands. The high X-ray luminosity points to the presence of an accreting compact object. We analyze the possibilities of this accreting compact object being either a neutron star (NS) or a black hole, and conclude that the joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR spectrum from 0.3 to 40 keV fits a blackbody spectrum with kT approximately 1.8 keV emitted from a hot spot or an equatorial strip on an NS surface. This spectrum is thermally Comptonized by electrons with kTe approximately 4.6 keV. Accepting this NS hypothesis, we probe the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) or high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) nature of the source. While the lack of Type-I bursts can be explained in the LMXB scenario, the absence of pulsations in the 2 MHz-49 Hz frequency range, the lack of eclipses and of an IR companion, and the lack of a Kaline from neutral or moderately ionized iron strongly disfavor interpreting this source as a HMXB. We therefore conclude that 1E1743.1-2843 is most likely an NS-LMXB located beyond the Galactic Center. There is weak statistical evidence for a soft X-ray excess which may indicate thermal emission from an accretion disk. However, the disk normalization remains unconstrained due to the high hydrogen column density (N(sub H) approximately 1.6 x 10(exp 23) cm(exp -2)).

accretion↗

Requalification and Declaration of High-alpha Cemented TRU-waste from the Late 70's and Early 80's - 20499

KTE and Siemens launched a project to qualify a series of 391 waste drums and 115 concrete containers produced from 1979 to 1984. The waste is characterized by a high content of long-lived alpha-nuclides (TRU-waste - Pu, U, Am in the range of 1 E+11-1 E+12 Bq/ drum. This high radionuclide inventory requires a special packaging according to the waste acceptance criteria (WAC) of the repository Konrad [1] despite the fact, that the waste was treated manually. The raw waste originally was delivered in nitric acid solution and was solidified using ordinary Portland cement. The existing documentation comprises analyses, transfer documentation for the nuclear fuel nuclides and waste treatment documentation yielding information, which waste was treated together in a batch. Additionally all drums were subjected to non-destructive gamma-spectrometry assay. A small number of 7 drums were opened and sampled to support the existing declaration. For the entire series the waste products were attributed to defined batches using the accountancy data supported by the analyses and the gamma-spectrometry. Each batch was produced from a homogeneous stock of waste solution and can therefore be declared and documented together. The declaration concept is based on the gamma spectrometry results performed on the entire drums, which were corrected and extended for the uncertainty of the analyses. The declaration concept is verified by the regulator and its independent expert. The state of the project is in the documentation of the solidification campaigns followed by the planning of the container configuration. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗