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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 OSTI2016

Laser based analysis using a passively Q-switched laser employing analysis electronics and a means for detecting atomic optical emission of the laser media

A device for Laser based Analysis using a Passively Q-Switched Laser comprising an optical pumping source optically connected to a laser media. The laser media and a Q-switch are positioned between and optically connected to a high reflectivity mirror (HR) and an output coupler (OC) along an optical axis. The output coupler (OC) is optically connected to the output lens along the optical axis. A means for detecting atomic optical emission comprises a filter and a light detector. The optical filter is optically connected to the laser media and the optical detector. A control system is connected to the optical detector and the analysis electronics. The analysis electronics are optically connected to the output lens. The detection of the large scale laser output production triggers the control system to initiate the precise timing and data collection from the detector and analysis.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1992

Giotto data analysis: Electron plasma and heavy ion composition measurements at Comet Halley

This investigation involved the analysis of electron plasma and heavy ion composition measurements made by the COPERNIC (COmplete Positive ion, Electron, and Ram Negative Ion measurements near Comet Halley) plasma experiment during the close fly-by of Halley by the European Space Agency's Giotto spacecraft. The experiment provided measurements of the full 3-dimensional distribution of 10 eV-30 keV electrons, and mass analysis of cold cometary ions from 10-210 amu. The analysis of the COPERNIC data has yielded some remarkable results, including: The discovery of negatively charged ions in the inner coma; the discovery of far heavier (mass is greater than 50 amu) ions than predicted, dominated by complex molecular ions made up of C, H, O, and N; the discovery of an adiabatic heating effect on electrons from the compression of the solar wind plasma; the identification of several organic and sulfur bearing ions; and the discovery of a new 'mystery region' where electrons are accelerated to high energies. These discoveries were in addition to the detailed analysis of 'expected' features at Comet Halley. Although this grant has expired, analysis continues on the data at a low (unfunded) level, and it is expected that more significant results will be obtained. A bibliography of the papers resulting from this research is attached, and a copy of each paper is included.

Lin, Robert P.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Photoabsorption Imaging at Nanometer Scales Using Secondary Electron Analysis

Optical imaging with nanometer resolution offers fundamental insights into light–matter interactions. Traditional optical techniques are diffraction limited with a spatial resolution >100 nm. Optical super-resolution and cathodoluminescence techniques have higher spatial resolutions, but these approaches require the sample to fluoresce, which many materials lack. Here, we introduce photoabsorption microscopy using electron analysis, which involves spectrally specific photoabsorption that is locally probed using a scanning electron microscope, whereby a photoabsorption-induced surface photovoltage modulates the secondary electron emission. We demonstrate spectrally specific photoabsorption imaging with sub-20 nm spatial resolution using silicon, germanium, and gold nanoparticles. Theoretical analysis and Monte Carlo simulations are used to explain the basic trends of the photoabsorption-induced secondary electron signal. Based on our current experiments and this analysis, we expect that the spatial resolution can be further improved to a few nanometers, thereby offering a general approach for nanometer-scale optical spectroscopic imaging and material characterization.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Wide-Bandgap Electronics Analysis

Electrical energy constitutes 40% of total primary energy consumption in the United States, and this is only expected to increase with broad adoption of electric vehicles and the proliferation of renewables. Building on its existing wide-bandgap (WBG) R&D and analysis activities, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are investigating new power electronic technologies based on WBG semiconductors, which are essential for advanced electrical energy generation, transmission, storage, and use. This work supports efforts by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) to identify solutions to address the increase in electrical energy consumption through the development of more efficient power electronic devices.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS1983

Plasma electron analysis: Voyager plasma science experiment

The Plasma Science Experiment (PLS) on the Voyager spacecraft provide data on the plasma ions and electrons in the interplanetary medium and the magnetospheres of the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn. A description of the analysis used to obtain electron parameters (density, temperature, etc.) from the plasma science experiment PLS electron measurements which cover the energy range from 10 eV to 5950 eV is presented. The electron sensor (D cup) and its transmission characteristics are described. A derivation of the fundamental analytical expression of the reduced distribution function F(e) is given. The electron distribution function F(e), used in the moment integrations, can be derived from F(e). Positive ions produce a correction current (ion feedthrough) to the measured electron current, which can be important to the measurements of the suprathermal electron component. In the case of Saturn, this correction current, which can either add to or subtract from the measured electron current, is less than 20% of the measured signal at all times. Comments about the corrections introduced by spacecraft charging to the Saturn encounter data, which can be important in regions of high density and shadow when the spacecraft can become negatively charged are introduced.

Sittler, E. C., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Open Reproducible Electron Microscopy Data Analysis

Electron microscopy (EM) is a cornerstone technique in the materials and biological sciences capable of imaging structures at nano- to atomic-scale resolution. Advances in technologies mean that one acquires datasets at increasing data rates and sizes. These advancements present enormous opportunities for researchers to understand complex systems. However, processing the resulting large-scale, complex data in a reproducible and shareable way is a real challenge for researchers. The building, managing, and maintaining complex workflows in a reproducible manner requires extensive knowledge in several areas outside the researchers’ core skill sets, such as software engineering, data science, and high-performance computing (HPC). Our work demonstrates an innovative approach to solving these problems, enabling reproducible EM data analysis through container encapsulated pipelines. Using modern container technologies, we encapsulate processing elements and connect them using shared memory. We expose user-friendly, advanced algorithms and tools to allow end users to utilize without expert programming skills. The platform enables reproducible, scalable, shareable pipelines for the analysis and visualization of EM data. Focusing on interoperability, we leverage the DOE and other agencies’ existing investments to provide a powerful software platform for EM data analysis.

Harris, Christopher↗
DOE OSTI2014

High-Temperature Thermoelectric Properties of the Solid-Solution Zintl Phase Eu 11 Cd 6 Sb 12-x As x (x < 3)

Zintl phases are compounds that have shown promise for thermoelectric applications. The title solid–solution Zintl compounds were prepared from the elements as single crystals using a tin flux for compositions x = 0, 1, 2, and 3. Eu 11 Cd 6 Sb 12–x As x (x < 3) crystallize isostructurally in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group C2/m (no. 12, Z = 2) as the Sr 11 Cd 6 Sb 12 structure type (Pearson symbol mC58). Efforts to make the As compositions for x exceeding ~3 resulted in structures other than the Sr 11 Cd 6 Sb 12 structure type. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that As does not randomly substitute for Sb in the structure but is site specific for each composition. The amount of As determined by structural refinement was verified by electron microprobe analysis. Electronic structures and energies calculated for various model structures of Eu 11 Cd 6 Sb 10 As 2 (x = 2) indicated that the preferred As substitution pattern involves a mixture of three of the six pnicogen sites in the asymmetric unit. In addition, As substitution at the Pn4 site opens an energy gap at the Fermi level, whereas substitution at the other five pnicogen sites remains semimetallic with a pseudo gap. Thermoelectric properties of these compounds were measured on hot-pressed, fully densified pellets. Samples show exceptionally low lattice thermal conductivities from room temperature to 775 K: 0.78–0.49 W/mK for x = 0; 0.72–0.53 W/mK for x = 1; and 0.70–0.56 W/mK for x = 2. Eu 11 Cd 6 Sb 12 shows a high p-type Seebeck coefficient (from +118 to 153 μ V/K) but also high electrical resistivity (6.8 to 12.8 mΩ·cm). The value of zT reaches 0.23 at 774 K. The properties of Eu 11 Cd 6 Sb 12–x As x are interpreted in discussion with the As site substitution.

Kazem, Nasrin↗
DOE OSTI2016

Analysis of compositional uniformity in Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N thin films using atom probe tomography and electron microscopy

Calculated frequency distributions of atom probe tomography reconstructions (∼80 nm field of view) of very thin Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N (0.18 ≤ x ≤ 0.51) films grown via metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy on both (0001) GaN/AlN/SiC and (0001) GaN/sapphire heterostructures revealed homogeneous concentrations of Al and chemically abrupt Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N/GaN interfaces. The results of scanning transmission electron microscopy and selected area diffraction corroborated these results and revealed that neither superlattice ordering nor phase separation was present at nanometer length scales.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

Electron density analysis of the effects of sugars on the structure of lipid bilayers at low hydration - a preliminary study

Small angle X-ray scattering is used to study the effects of sugars on membranes during dehydration. Previous work has shown that the bilayer and chain-chain repeat spacings of DPPC bilayers are relatively unaffected by the presence of sugars. In this work we present a preliminary analysis of the electron density profiles of DPPC in the presence of sugars at low hydration. The difficulties of determining the correct phasing are discussed. Sugars and other small solutes have been shown to have an important role in improving the tolerance of a range of species to desiccation and freezing. In particular it has been shown that sugars can stabilize membranes in the fluid membrane phase during dehydration, and in the fully dehydrated state. Equivalently, at a particular hydration, the presence of sugars lowers the transition temperature between the fluid and gel phases. There are two competing models for explaining the effects of sugars on membrane phase transition temperatures. One, designated the water replacement hypothesis (WRH) states that sugars hydrogen bond to phospholipid headgroups, thus hindering the fluid-gel phase transition. One version of this model suggests that certain sugars (such as trehalose) achieve the measured effects by inserting between the phospholipid head groups. An alternative model explains the observed effects of sugars in terms of the sugars effect on the hydration repulsion that develops between opposing membranes during dehydration. The hydration repulsion leads to a lateral compressive stress in the bilayer which squeezes adjacent lipids more closely together, resulting in a transition to the gel phase. When sugars are present, their osmotic and volumetric effects reduce the hydration repulsion, reduce the compressive stress in the membranes, and therefore tend to maintain the average lateral separation between lipids. This model is called the hydration forces explanation (HFE). We recently showed that neither mono- nor di-saccharides affect the average distance between lipid chains in the bilayer, supporting the predictions of the HFE. In this paper we further investigate the effects of sugars on membrane structure by conducting electron density analysis of recent data. This preliminary analysis sheds additional light onto the effects of sugars on membrane structure.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS1980

Electron microprobe mineral analysis guide

Electron microprobe mineral analysis guide is a compilation of X-ray tables and spectra recorded from various mineral matrices. Spectra were obtained using electron microprobe, equipped with LiF geared, curved crystal X-ray spectrometers, utilizing typical analytical operating conditions: 15 Kv acceleration potential, 0.02 microampere sample current as measured on a clinopyroxene standard (CP19). Tables and spectra are presented for the majority of elements, fluorine through uranium, occurring in mineral samples from lunar, meteoritic and terrestrial sources. Tables for each element contain relevant analytical information, i.e., analyzing crystal, X-ray peak, background and relative intensity information, X-ray interferences and a section containing notes on the measurement. Originally intended to cover silicates and oxide minerals the tables and spectra have been expanded to cover other mineral phases. Electron microprobe mineral analysis guide is intended as a spectral base to which additional spectra can be added as the analyst encounters new mineral matrices.

Brown, R. W.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electron microscopy analysis of high burnup commercial fuel

Modern electron microscopy analysis can provide detailed insight into the microstructure and chemistry of high burnup UO{sub 2} fuel. This more complete understanding of fuel evolution and performance in reactor can provide critical insight necessary to validate fuel performance models and optimize reactor operations. Preliminary results from the investigation of a polished cross-section of high burnup UO{sub 2} fuel (seven cycles) from the H.B. Robinson pressurized water reactor will be discussed. The analysis focuses on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the complete cross-section, while scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) was performed on targeted features identified by SEM where specimens were fabricated by traditional focused ion beam lift-out techniques. Analysis of the complete cross-section allowed for investigation of the microstructural variations from centerline to fuel/clad interface, pellet/pellet interface, and cladding. Secondary electron imaging and backscatter electron imaging was performed to identify variations in the distribution of fission product secondary phases and bubbles/voids. The analysis of the pellet/pellet interface is a unique feature of this sample where initial analysis shows segregation of fission product phases at the pellet/pellet interface and also indicates an interface microstructure lacking of bubbles and voids. X-ray spectrum imaging was performed by both SEM and STEM techniques to identify the composition of the secondary phases present in the fuel. Multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) of the X-ray spectrum images has been applied to improve the sensitivity of the analysis and highlight minor variations in the fuel chemistry and secondary phases comprised of fission product as well as the distribution of sub-surface Xe gas bubbles in the high burnup structure. The results presented demonstrate the level of microstructural understanding that is attainable with a combination of SEM techniques along with S/TEM techniques.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗