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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

A Compact Cryogenic Environment for In Situ Neutron Diffraction Under Mechanical Loading

Understanding the deformation mechanisms of materials at cryogenic temperatures is crucial for cryogenic engineering applications. In situ neutron diffraction is a powerful technique for probing such mechanisms under cryogenic conditions. In this study, we present the development of a compact cryogenic environment (CCE) designed to facil-itate in situ neutron diffraction experiments under mechanical loading at tempera-tures as low as 77 K. The CCE features a polystyrene foam cryogenic chamber, alumi-num blocks serving as neutron-transparent cold sinks, a liquid nitrogen dosing system for cryogen delivery, a nitrogen gas flow control system for thermal management, a process controller for temperature control, and a pair of thermally isolated grip adapt-ers for mechanical testing. The CCE achieves reliable temperature control with mini-mal neutron attenuation. Utilizing this setup, we conducted three in situ neutron dif-fraction tensile tests on a 316L stainless steel at 77 , 173 , and 298 K, respectively. The results highlight the pronounced effects of cryogenic temperatures on the material's deformation mechanisms, underscoring both the significance of cryogenic deformation studies and the effectiveness of the CCE.

Yu, Dunji [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000189467851)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Long-range cooperative resonances in rare-earth ion arrays inside photonic resonators

Engineering arrays of active optical centers to control the interaction Hamiltonian between light and matter has been the subject of intense research recently. Collective interaction of atomic arrays with optical photons can give rise to directionally enhanced absorption or emission, which enables engineering of broadband and strong atom-photon interfaces. Here, we report on the observation of long-range cooperative resonances in an array of rare-earth ions controllably implanted into a solid-state lithium niobate micro-ring resonator. We show that cooperative effects can be observed in an ordered ion array extended far beyond the light’s wavelength. We observe enhanced emission from both cavity-induced Purcell enhancement and array-induced collective resonances at cryogenic temperatures. Engineering collective resonances as a paradigm for enhanced light-matter interactions can enable suppression of free-space spontaneous emission. The multi-functionality of lithium niobate hosting rare-earth ions can open possibilities of quantum photonic device engineering for scalable and multiplexed quantum networks.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Harnessing ferro-valleytricity in pentalayer rhombohedral graphene for memory and compute

Two-dimensional materials with multiple degrees of freedom, including spin, valleys, and orbitals, open up an exciting avenue for engineering multifunctional devices. Beyond spintronics, these degrees of freedom can lead to novel quantum effects such as valley-dependent Hall effects and orbital magnetism, which could revolutionize next-generation electronics. However, achieving independent control over valley polarization and orbital magnetism has been a challenge due to the need for large electric fields. A recent breakthrough involving pentalayer rhombohedral graphene has demonstrated the ability to individually manipulate anomalous Hall signals and orbital magnetic hysteresis, forming what is known as a valley-magnetic quartet. Here, we leverage the electrically tunable ferro-valleytricity of pentalayer rhombohedral graphene to develop nonvolatile memory and in-memory computation applications. We propose an architecture for a dense, scalable, and selector-less nonvolatile memory array that harnesses the electrically tunable ferro-valleytricity. In our designed array architecture, nondestructive read and write operations are conducted by sensing the valley state through two different pairs of terminals, allowing for independent optimization of read/write peripheral circuits. The power consumption of our PRG-based array is remarkably low, with only ∼6 nW required per write operation and ∼2.3 nW per read operation per cell. This consumption is orders of magnitude lower than that of the majority of state-of-the-art cryogenic memories. Additionally, we engineer in-memory computation by implementing majority logic operations within our proposed nonvolatile memory array without modifying the peripheral circuitry. In conclusion, our framework presents a promising pathway toward achieving ultra-dense cryogenic memory and in-memory computation capabilities.

2D materials↗
DOE OSTI2024

On the importance of species immiscibility in mixing-layer dynamics at supercritical pressures

The mixing dynamics of injected propellants is a key factor in determining the ignition performance and combustion-instability response of rocket engines, internal combustion engines, and gas turbines. A key source of uncertainty in the prediction of phase-exchange dynamics is the immiscibility of the injected propellants at supercritical pressure conditions, which induces liquid/vapor phase separation and surface-tension dynamics. While experimental observations indicate the presence of liquid/vapor interfacial structures, this interfacial dynamics is typically neglected in numerical analyses. To address this issue, the objective of the present study is to systematically evaluate the importance of species immiscibility on the phase-exchange dynamics of cryogenic LOX/GH2 mixing layers at typical rocket engine injection conditions. This is accomplished by comparing simulations of (i) a recently developed interface-capturing Regularized-Interface Method (RIM) formulation, and (ii) the commonly employed Diffuse-Interface Method (DIM) formulation. Analysis shows that the interfacial dynamics significantly impact the atomization and mixing of the propellants in the near-injector region, which is not captured by the DIM formulation. The findings of this study extend to other immiscible injection systems, such as LOX/kerosene and hydrocarbon-fuel/air, thereby highlighting the importance of resolving species immiscibility in simulating high-pressure combustion engines.

diffused-interface method↗
DOE OSTI2024

Overview and Status of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility Far Detectors Cryogenics System

The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) will host the Far Detectors of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), an international multi-kiloton Long-Baseline neutrino experiment that will be installed about a mile underground in Lead, SD. Detectors will be located inside four cryostats filled with almost 70,000 metric tons of ultrapure liquid argon, with a level of impurities lower than 100 parts per trillion of oxygen equivalent. The cryogenics infrastructure supporting this experiment is provided by the Long- Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF). This contribution presents modes of operation, layout and main features of the LBNF Far Detectors cryogenics system, which is composed of the following subsystems: argon receiving facilities, nitrogen system, argon distribution system, argon purification and regeneration systems, argon circulation system, argon condensers system, internal cryogenics, miscellaneous items, and process controls. An international engin eering tea m is designing these systems and will manufacture, install, test, commission, and qualify them. This contribution describes the main features, performance, functional requirements, and modes of operation of the LBNF Far Detectors cryogenics system. It also presents the status of the design, along with present and future needs to support the DUNE experiment.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Portable Miniature Cryogenic Environment for In Situ Neutron Diffraction

Neutron diffraction instruments offer a platform for materials science and engineering studies at extended temperature ranges far from ambient. As one of the widely used neutron sample environment types, cryogenic furnaces are usually bulky and complex, and they may need hours of beamtime overhead for installation, configuration, cooling, and sample change, etc. To reduce the overhead time and expedite experiments at the state-of-the-art high-flux neutron source, we developed a low-cost, miniature, and easy-to-use cryogenic environment (77–473 K) for in situ neutron diffraction. A travel-size mug serves for the environment where the samples sit inside. Immediate cooling and an isothermal dwell at 77 K are realized on the sample by direct contact with liquid N 2 in the mug. The designed Al inserts serve as the holder of samples and heating elements, alleviate the thermal gradient, and clear neutron pathways. Both a single-sample continuous measurement and multi-sample high-throughput measurements are demonstrated in this environment. High-quality and refinable in situ neutron diffraction patterns are acquired on model materials. The results quantify the orthorhombic-to-cubic phase transformation process in LiMn 2 O 4 and differentiate the anisotropic lattice thermal expansions and bond length evolutions between rhombohedral perovskite oxides with composition variation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

CRADA Number NFE-19-07867 with Neptune Fluid Flow Systems (CRADA Final Report)

Neptune Fluid Flow Systems is a rising engineering firm with a technology focus in improving cryogenic sample preparation for cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) studies. To advance the R&D of its innovative cryogenic preparation method, Neptune has teamed up with the Center for Nanophase Materials Science (CNMS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to achieve the following aims: (1) validate the technical feasibility of CryoSheet sample prep method, (2) design, fabricate and test the cryo-stage support, and (3) experiment and achieve success with the novel sample preparation method on different soft matters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cryogenic energy storage: Standalone design, rigorous optimization and techno-economic analysis

Energy storage allows flexible use and management of excess electricity and intermittently available renewable energy. Cryogenic energy storage (CES) is a promising storage alternative with a high technology readiness level and maturity, but the round-trip efficiency is often moderate and the Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) remains high. The complex flowsheets with intricate thermodynamics at cryogenic temperatures as well as the presence of multiple loops and refrigeration cycles pose considerable challenges for rigorous model-based design and optimization of CES systems. We present an optimization strategy that couples rigorous process simulation and Bayesian optimization with flowsheet decomposition and identification of hidden coupling constraints to optimally design standalone CES systems. Further refinement is done via a local search using the limited-memory Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno algorithm. Here our results indicate that it is possible to achieve more than 52% round-trip efficiency and an LCOS of $153/MWh for a standalone 100 MW/400 MWh CES system limited to short-term storage with daily charging–discharging. However, a detailed techno-economic assessment reveals that the LCOS considering total capital investment may exceed $267/MWh when all direct and indirect costs of installation and operation are considered.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cryo-EM, Protein Engineering, and Simulation Enable the Development of Peptide Therapeutics against Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as a viable structural tool for molecular therapeutics development against human diseases. However, it remains a challenge to determine structures of proteins that are flexible and smaller than 30 kDa. The 11 kDa KIX domain of CREB-binding protein (CBP), a potential therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia and other cancers, is a protein which has defied structure-based inhibitor design. Here, we develop an experimental approach to overcome the size limitation by engineering a protein double-shell to sandwich the KIX domain between apoferritin as the inner shell and maltose-binding protein as the outer shell. To assist homogeneous orientations of the target, disulfide bonds are introduced at the target–apoferritin interface, resulting in a cryo-EM structure at 2.6 Å resolution. We used molecular dynamics simulations to design peptides that block the interaction of the KIX domain of CBP with the intrinsically disordered pKID domain of CREB. The double-shell design allows for fluorescence polarization assays confirming the binding between the KIX domain in the double-shell and these interacting peptides. Further cryo-EM analysis reveals a helix–helix interaction between a single KIX helix and the best peptide, providing a possible strategy for developments of next-generation inhibitors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity between twisted cuprate superconductors

Twisted interfaces between stacked van der Waals (vdW) cuprate crystals present a platform for engineering superconducting order parameters by adjusting stacking angles. Using a cryogenic assembly technique, we construct twisted vdW Josephson junctions (JJs) at atomically sharp interfaces between Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+x crystals, with quality approaching the limit set by intrinsic JJs. Near 45° twist angle, we observe fractional Shapiro steps and Fraunhofer patterns, consistent with the existence of two degenerate Josephson ground states related by time-reversal symmetry (TRS). By programming the JJ current bias sequence, we controllably break TRS to place the JJ into either of the two ground states, realizing reversible Josephson diodes without external magnetic fields. Furthermore, our results open a path to engineering topological devices at higher temperatures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Practical implications of SFQ-based two-qubit gates

Scalability of today’s superconducting quantum computers is limited due to the huge costs of generating/routing microwave control pulses per qubit from room temperature. One active research area in both industry and academia is to push the classical controllers to the dilution refrigerator in order to increase the scalability of quantum computers. Superconducting Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) is a classical logic technology with low power consumption and ultra-high speed, and thus is a promising candidate for in-fridge classical controllers with maximized scalability. Prior work has demonstrated high-fidelity SFQ-based single-qubit gates. However, little research has been done on SFQ-based multi-qubit gates, which are necessary to realize SFQ-based universal quantum computing.In this paper, we present the first thorough analysis of SFQ-based two-qubit gates. Our observations show that SFQ-based two-qubit gates tend to have high leakage to qubit non-computational subspace, which presents severe design challenges. We show that despite these challenges, we can realize gates with high fidelity by carefully designing optimal control methods and qubit architectures. We develop optimal control methods that suppress leakage, and also investigate various qubit architectures that reduce the leakage. After carefully engineering our SFQ-friendly quantum system, we show that it can achieve similar gate fidelity and gate time to microwave-based quantum systems. Furthermore, the promising results of this paper show that (1) SFQ-based universal quantum computation is both feasible and effective; and (2) SFQ is a promising approach in designing classical controller for quantum machines because it can increase the scalability while preserving gate fidelity and performance.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Controllable strain-driven topological phase transition and dominant surface-state transport in HfTe5

Abstract The fine-tuning of topologically protected states in quantum materials holds great promise for novel electronic devices. However, there are limited methods that allow for the controlled and efficient modulation of the crystal lattice while simultaneously monitoring the changes in the electronic structure within a single sample. Here, we apply significant and controllable strain to high-quality HfTe 5 samples and perform electrical transport measurements to reveal the topological phase transition from a weak topological insulator phase to a strong topological insulator phase. After applying high strain to HfTe 5 and converting it into a strong topological insulator, we found that the resistivity of the sample increased by 190,500% and that the electronic transport was dominated by the topological surface states at cryogenic temperatures. Our results demonstrate the suitability of HfTe 5 as a material for engineering topological properties, with the potential to generalize this approach to study topological phase transitions in van der Waals materials and heterostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Conformable, Composite Tank for Liquid Hydrogen Storage in Heavy-duty Ground Transportation

Raytheon Technologies Research Center (RTRC), with its partners, Argonne National Labs and University of Dayton Research Institute proposed to design and manufacture a conformable composite tank prototype to store liquid Hydrogen (LH2) for heavy-duty truck applications. A dual-wall tank concept was proposed where an outer shell covers and protects an inner pressure vessel that stores liquid hydrogen. The inner pressure vessel is liner-less and designed with a conformable concept, derived from prior RTRC ARPA-E program where multiple vessels are coalesced into one, maximizing space utilization and reducing surface area for heat leak. The gap between the dual wall is evacuated of air pressure, and filled with multi-layer insulation to minimize radiative heat transfer. Fiber reinforced composites were proposed for light-weighting and conformable shape manufacture. To minimize LH2 leakage, carbon nanotubes-infused composites were proposed, in addition to use of thin plies. The project was divided into two 18-month budget periods (BP), BP1 and BP2, separated by a Go/No-Go gate review. The high-level goal for BP1 was to demonstrate the feasibility of the overall approach, the tank design, material selection, and manufacturing methodology, build and test a prototype tank; and the goal for BP2 was to design and manufacture a conformal tank per DOE requirements (minimum 20 kg of LH2) and perform a successful test of the tank. The program was terminated about two-thirds of the way through BP1. The outcome of this program would have permitted long-haul trucks and construction vehicles to use liquid Hydrogen, reducing the emission of green-house gases. This technology is applicable to other transportation sectors as well.

08 HYDROGEN↗