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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Scintillation of liquid nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is commonly used in cryogenic applications and is a promising medium for the direct immersion cooling of sensors used for nuclear and particle physics experiments. The scintillation properties of gaseous nitrogen are well-documented, but little is known about the scintillation of liquid nitrogen. If present, scintillation light from interactions of ambient radioactivity could produce backgrounds for rare event searches such as the direct detection of dark matter. Using a coincidence-tagged alpha decay, we demonstrate that liquid nitrogen exhibits measurable, albeit very faint, scintillation. Assuming the same scintillation wavelengths as gaseous nitrogen, we estimate a relative scintillation yield of $Y_{\liquidn}/Y^{\STP}_{\gasn} =$ \num[uncertainty-descriptors={stat,sys}]{0.0142(0.0005)(0.0030)} with respect to gaseous nitrogen at standard temperature and pressure. Considering the average scintillation yield from alpha decays in gaseous nitrogen, this implies a scintillation yield for alpha decays in liquid nitrogen of $Y_{\liquidn} = \qty[]{2.39(0.56)}{photons~per~MeV}$. To our knowledge this is the first measurement of scintillation in liquid nitrogen.

Pagani, Luca (ORCID:0000000234692581)↗
DOE OSTI2016

Complete equation of state for shocked liquid nitrogen: Analytical developments

The thermodynamic response of liquid nitrogen has been studied extensively, in part, due to the long-standing interest in the high pressure and high temperature dissociation of shocked molecular nitrogen. Previous equation of state (EOS) developments regarding shocked liquid nitrogen have focused mainly on the use of intermolecular pair potentials in atomistic calculations. Here, we present EOS developments for liquid nitrogen, incorporating analytical models, for use in continuum calculations of the shock compression response. The analytical models, together with available Hugoniot data, were used to extrapolate a low pressure reference EOS for molecular nitrogen [Span, et al., J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 29, 1361 (2000)] to high pressures and high temperatures. Using the EOS presented here, the calculated pressures and temperatures for single shock, double shock, and multiple shock compression of liquid nitrogen provide a good match to the measured results over a broad range of P-T space. Our calculations provide the first comparison of EOS developments with recently-measured P-T states under multiple shock compression. The present EOS developments are general and are expected to be useful for other liquids that have low pressure reference EOS information available.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Stability of liquid-nitrogen-jet laser-plasma targets

Microscopic jets of cryogenic substances such as liquid nitrogen are important regenerative high-density targets for high-repetition rate, high-brightness laser-plasma soft x-ray sources. When operated in vacuum such liquid jets exhibit several non-classical instabilities that negatively influence the x-ray source's spatial and temporal stability, yield, and brightness, parameters that all are important for applications such as water-window microscopy. In the present paper, we investigate liquid-nitrogen jets with a flash-illumination imaging system that allows for a quantitative stability analysis with high spatial and temporal resolution. Direct and indirect consequences of evaporation are identified as the key reasons for the observed instabilities. Operating the jets in an approximately 100 mbar ambient atmosphere counteracts the effects of evaporation and produces highly stable liquid nitrogen jets. For operation in vacuum, which is necessary for the laser plasmas, we improve the stability by introducing an external radiative heating element. The method significantly extends the distance from the nozzle that can be used for liquid-jet laser plasmas, which is of importance for high-average-power applications. Finally, we show that laser-plasma operation with the heating-element-stabilized jet shows improved short-term and long-term temporal stability in its water-window x-ray emission.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Waterless fracturing technologies for unconventional reservoirs-opportunities for liquid nitrogen

During the past two decades, hydraulic fracturing has significantly improved oil and gas production from shale and tight sandstone reservoirs in the United States and elsewhere. Considering formation damage, water consumption, and environmental impacts associated with water-based fracturing fluids, efforts have been devoted to developing waterless fracturing technologies because of their potential to alleviate these issues. Herein, key theories and features of waterless fracturing technologies, including Oil-based and CO 2 energized oil fracturing, explosive and propellant fracturing, gelled LPG and alcohol fracturing, gas fracturing, CO 2 fracturing, and cryogenic fracturing, are reviewed. We then experimentally elaborate on the efficacy of liquid nitrogen in enhancing fracture initiation and propagation in concrete samples, and shale and sandstone reservoir rocks. In our laboratory study, cryogenic fractures generated were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized by pressure decay tests, acoustic measurements, gas fracturing, and CT scans. The capacity and applicability of cryogenic fracturing using liquid nitrogen are demonstrated and examined. Furthermore, by properly formulating the technical procedures for field implementation, cryogenic fracturing using liquid nitrogen could be an advantageous option for fracturing unconventional reservoirs.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2020

A high efficiency and low vibration liquid nitrogen cooling system for silicon crystal based x-ray optics

A compact low-cost cryocooling system has been designed, constructed, and tested at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The cooling power is provided by natural convection and phase change of the liquid nitrogen. The initial application was to cool silicon crystal optics to the sub-100 K range. A silicon crystal of dimension (width × depth × height) 50 × 50 × 30 mm3 has been used with an electric heater on the top surface in this prototyping test. This system can effectively provide more than 80 W of cooling power to the optics with a consumption of liquid nitrogen less than 2.1 l/h. The vibration of the silicon crystal was monitored during the tests with added electric heater power on the crystal. We note the vibration of the silicon crystal due to liquid nitrogen boiling is negligible.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Homogeneous nucleation in liquid nitrogen at negative pressures

The kinetics of spontaneous cavitation in liquid nitrogen at positive and negative pressures has been studied in a tension wave formed by a compression pulse reflected from the liquid–vapor interface on a thin platinum wire heated by a current pulse. The limiting tensile stresses (Δp = p{sub s}–p, where p{sub s} is the saturation pressure), the corresponding bubble nucleation frequencies J (10{sup 20}–10{sup 22} s{sup –1} m{sup –3}), and temperature induced nucleation frequency growth rate G{sub T} = dlnJ/dT have been experimentally determined. At T = 90 K, the limiting tensile stress was Δp = 8.3 MPa, which was 4.9 MPa lower than the value corresponding to the boundary of thermodynamic stability of the liquid phase (spinodal). The measurement results were compared to classical (homogeneous) nucleation theory (CNT) with and without neglect of the dependence of the surface tension of critical bubbles on their dimensions. In the latter case, the properties of new phase nuclei were described in terms of the Van der Waals theory of capillarity. The experimental data agree well with the CNT theory when it takes into account the “size effect.”.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Can of Soda in Liquid Nitrogen!

A sealed can of soda is placed in a bath of liquid nitrogen. Trapped within its can, what will happen as the soda freezes solid?

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization of Silicon Photomultiplier Photon Detection Efficiency at Liquid Nitrogen Temperature

The detection of individual photons at cryogenic temperatures is of interest to many experiments searching for physics beyond the Standard Model. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are often deployed in liquid argon or liquid xenon to detect scintillation light either directly or after it has been wavelength-shifted. Maximizing the photon detection efficiency (PDE) of the SiPMs used in these experiments optimizes the sensitivity to new physics; however, the PDEs of commercial SiPMs, although well known at room temperature, are not well characterized at the cryogenic temperatures at which many experiments operate them. Here we present results from an experimental setup that measures the photon detection efficiencies of silicon photomultipliers at liquid nitrogen temperature, 77 K. Results from a KETEK PM3325-WB-D0 and a Hamamatsu S13360-3050CS silicon photomultiplier — of R&D interest to the LEGEND experiment — exhibit a decrease in photon detection efficiency greater than 20% at liquid nitrogen temperature relative to room temperature for 562 nm light.

Cryogenic detectors↗
DOE OSTI2020

A cantilevered liquid-nitrogen-cooled silicon mirror for the Advanced Light Source Upgrade

This paper presents a novel cantilevered liquid-nitrogen-cooled silicon mirror design for the first optic in a new soft X-ray beamline that is being developed as part of the Advanced Light Source Upgrade (ALS-U) (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA). The beamline is optimized for photon energies between 400 and 1400 eV with full polarization control. Calculations indicate that, without correction, this design will achieve a Strehl ratio greater than 0.85 for the entire energy and polarization ranges of the beamline. With a correction achieved by moving the focus 7.5 mm upstream, the minimum Strehl ratio is 0.99. This design is currently the baseline plan for all new ALS-U insertion device beamlines.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Experimental testing of a prototype cantilevered liquid-nitrogen-cooled silicon mirror

This report presents testing of a prototype cantilevered liquid-nitrogen-cooled silicon mirror. This mirror was designed to be the first mirror for the new soft X-ray beamlines to be built as part of the Advanced Light Source Upgrade. Test activities focused on fracture, heat transfer, modal response and distortion, and indicated that the mirror functions as intended.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Studies of event burst phenomenon with SiPMs in liquid nitrogen

Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) are used to collect scintillation photons in many cryogenic noble liquid detectors deployed around the world, such as DarkSide, nEXO, MEGII, ProtoDUNE and DUNE. An event burst phenomenon was observed during routine characterization on many models of SiPMs operated in liquid nitrogen. These bursts of consecutive pulses are initiated by an intense dark photoelectron pulse with an event rate much lower than the time-uncorrelated thermal dark pulse. Although the rate of these burst events is very low, it can potentially compromise some dedicated rare physics event searches which are also anticipated to be of extremely low rate. Here, we systematically studied the behavior of the event burst phenomenon and identified the probable cause of the phenomenon. Here, this investigation is important for the selection of SiPMs for use in noble liquid detectors, high energy physics experiments, and industrial applications where SiPMs are used in cryogenic environment.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Liquid Nitrogen Yule Log

Is the standard 'log burning in fireplace' video just not setting the right atmosphere? Would you rather that the atmosphere be set using the actual atmosphere? If so, you can now relax to the sights and sounds of liquid nitrogen as it merrily boils away atop a 1/2" thick block of room temperature aluminum. No true scientist would dare to delight their guests with anything less! For those who are super into this, an extended cut is available: https://youtu.be/qn1RX12zEp8 Special thanks to freepic.com for the snowflake designs! (Handdrawn Snowflakes II)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Long-term stability-degradation analysis of DUNE SiPMs in Liquid Nitrogen

We developed a cryogenic photon readout system to monitor arrays of DUNE SiPMs operating at various over-voltages in liquid nitrogen (LN2) for over three months. Photoelectron signals were read out simultaneously via weak capacitive coupling to the micro-FEMB, a 32-channel charge sensitive readout board designed for 77 K to 300 K operation in liquid argon time projection chambers (LAr-TPCs). A waveform snippet acquisition scheme was implemented to capture waveform signals whenever they exceeded a predetermined trigger level; consequently, empty waveforms were discarded. Selected SiPM parameters were monitored to detect any deviations beyond statistical fluctuations. While some parameters exhibited ~1σ variations over the 3-month test period, there was no evidence of drift being enhanced when operating at 4 V or 5 V compared to a 3 V over-voltage. However, a discernible PDE drop was observed across all channels, which warrants further investigation. In addition, we demonstrated that our system can simultaneously read out single photons from a selected group of SiPMs at room temperature.

Tsang, Thomas [Brookhaven]↗
DOE OSTI2015

Single photon emission up to liquid nitrogen temperature from charged excitons confined in GaAs-based epitaxial nanostructures

We demonstrate a non-classical photon emitter at near infrared wavelength based on a single (In,Ga)As/GaAs epitaxially grown columnar quantum dot. Charged exciton complexes have been identified in magneto-photoluminescence. Photon auto-correlation histograms from the recombination of a trion confined in a columnar dot exhibit sub-Poissonian statistics with an antibunching dip yielding g{sup (2)}(0) values of 0.28 and 0.46 at temperature of 10 and 80 K, respectively. Our experimental findings allow considering the GaAs-based columnar quantum dot structure as an efficient single photon source operating at above liquid nitrogen temperatures, which in some characteristics can outperform the existing solutions of any material system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Liquid nitrogen historical and current usage of the central helium liquefier at SNS

The main cryogenic system for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is comprised of a 4-K cold box, a 2-K cold box, six warm compressors, and ancillary support equipment. This system has been cold and operating with little disruption since 2005. Design and operation of liquid nitrogen (LN2) supplied from a single 20,000-gallon supply Dewar will be discussed. LN2 used to precool the 4-K cold box heat exchanger started to increase around 2011. LN2 Consumption during 2012 and 2013 was almost double the nominal usage rate. Studies of this data, plant parameter changes to respond to this information, and current interpretations are detailed in this paper. The usage rate of LN2 returned to normal in late 2013 and remained there until recent additional changes. Future study plans to understand potential causes of this including contamination migration within the 4-K cold box will also be addressed.

Neustadt, Thomas S↗
DOE OSTI2015

Liquid nitrogen tests of a Torus coil for the Jefferson Lab 12GeV accelerator upgrade

A magnet system consisting of six superconducting trapezoidal racetrack-type coils is being built for the Jefferson Lab 12-GeV accelerator upgrade project. The magnet coils are wound with Superconducting Super Collider-36 NbTi strand Rutherford cable soldered into a copper channel. Each superconducting toroidal coil is force cooled by liquid helium, which circulates in a tube that is in good thermal contact with the inside of the coil. Thin copper sheets are soldered to the helium cooling tube and enclose the superconducting coil, providing cooling to the rest of the coil pack. As part of a rigorous risk mitigation exercise, each of the six coils is cooled with liquid nitrogen (LN2) to 80 K to validate predicted thermal stresses, verify the robustness and integrity of electrical insulation, and evaluate the efficacy of the employed conduction cooling method. This paper describes the test setup, the tests performed, and the findings.

Torus, SSC-NbTi, LN2 cold test, FEA, epoxy potting↗
DOE OSTI2016

Persistent-current switch for pancake coils of rare earth-barium-copper-oxide high-temperature superconductor: Design and test results of a double-pancake coil operated in liquid nitrogen (77–65 K) and in solid nitrogen (60–57 K)

We present design and test results of a superconducting persistent current switch (PCS) for pancake coils of rare-earth-barium-copper-oxide, REBCO, high-temperature superconductor (HTS). Here, a REBCO double-pancake (DP) coil, 152-mm ID, 168-mm OD, 12-mm high, was wound with a no-insulation technique. We converted a ∼10-cm long section in the outermost layer of each pancake to a PCS. The DP coil was operated in liquid nitrogen (77–65 K) and in solid nitrogen (60–57 K). Over the operating temperature ranges of this experiment, the normal-state PCS enabled the DP coil to be energized; thereupon, the PCS resumed the superconducting state and the DP coil field decayed with a time constant of 100 h, which would have been nearly infinite, i.e., persistent-mode operation, were the joint across the coil terminals superconducting.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗