Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Ryan, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Ryan, E..

Development of diamond-based diagnostics for next-generation XFELs

The composition and performance of three different diamond sensor based pass-through diagnostics are presented. A position-sensitive quadrant sensor was designed and characterized using the XPP beam at the SLAC LCLS, demonstrating a generated-charge resolution of 0.025 pC and a position sensitivity of 2 μm, measurable pulse-by-pulse at a repetition rate of up to 50 MHz. A compact signal path capable of repetition rates up to 1 GHz was used to characterize the charge collection properties of diamond sensors as a function of the density of electron-hole pairs created within the sensor, finding a limit of approximately 10 16 electron-hole pairs per cm 3 beyond which the collection efficiency and time began to degrade. Finally, a proposed scheme for measuring ionizing radiation at multi-GHz rates is presented, along with results preliminarily demonstrating signal transport capability in excess of 5 GHz.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

First test results of the trans-impedance amplifier stage of the ultra-fast HPSoC ASIC

Abstract We present the first results from the HPSoC ASIC designed for readout of Ultra-fast Silicon Detectors. The 4-channel ASIC manufactured in 65 nm CMOS by TSMC has been optimized for 50 μm thick AC-LGAD. The evaluation of the analog front end with β-particles impinging on 3 × 3 AC-LGAD arrays (500 μm pitch, 200 × 200 μm 2 metal) confirms a fast output rise time of 600 ps and good timing performance with a jitter of 45 ps. Further calibration experiments and TCT laser studies indicate some gain limitations that are being investigated and are driving the design of the second-generation pre-amplification stages to reach a jitter of 15 ps.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

Use of diamond sensors for a high-flux, high-rate X-ray pass-through diagnostic

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) deliver pulses of coherent X-rays on the femtosecond time scale, with potentially high repetition rates. While XFELs provide high peak intensities, both the intensity and the centroid of the beam fluctuate strongly on a pulse-to-pulse basis, motivating high-rate beam diagnostics that operate over a large dynamic range. The fast drift velocity, low X-ray absorption and high radiation tolerance properties of chemical vapour deposition diamonds make these crystals a promising candidate material for developing a fast (multi-GHz) pass-through diagnostic for the next generation of XFELs. A new approach to the design of a diamond sensor signal path is presented, along with associated characterization studies performed in the XPP endstation of the LINAC Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at SLAC. Qualitative charge collection profiles (collected charge versus time) are presented and compared with those from a commercially available detector. Quantitative results on the charge collection efficiency and signal collection times are presented over a range of approximately four orders of magnitude in the generated electron–hole plasma density.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Complementary Metagenomic Approaches Improve Reconstruction of Microbial Diversity in a Forest Soil

ABSTRACT Soil ecosystems harbor diverse microorganisms and yet remain only partially characterized as neither single-cell sequencing nor whole-community sequencing offers a complete picture of these complex communities. Thus, the genetic and metabolic potential of this “uncultivated majority” remains underexplored. To address these challenges, we applied a pooled-cell-sorting-based mini-metagenomics approach and compared the results to bulk metagenomics. Informatic binning of these data produced 200 mini-metagenome assembled genomes (sorted-MAGs) and 29 bulk metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). The sorted and bulk MAGs increased the known phylogenetic diversity of soil taxa by 7.2% with respect to the Joint Genome Institute IMG/M database and showed clade-specific sequence recruitment patterns across diverse terrestrial soil metagenomes. Additionally, sorted-MAGs expanded the rare biosphere not captured through MAGs from bulk sequences, exemplified through phylogenetic and functional analyses of members of the phylum Bacteroidetes . Analysis of 67 Bacteroidetes sorted-MAGs showed conserved patterns of carbon metabolism across four clades. These results indicate that mini-metagenomics enables genome-resolved investigation of predicted metabolism and demonstrates the utility of combining metagenomics methods to tap into the diversity of heterogeneous microbial assemblages. IMPORTANCE Microbial ecologists have historically used cultivation-based approaches as well as amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics to characterize microbial diversity in soil. However, challenges persist in the study of microbial diversity, including the recalcitrance of the majority of microorganisms to laboratory cultivation and limited sequence assembly from highly complex samples. The uncultivated majority thus remains a reservoir of untapped genetic diversity. To address some of the challenges associated with bulk metagenomics as well as low throughput of single-cell genomics, we applied flow cytometry-enabled mini-metagenomics to capture expanded microbial diversity from forest soil and compare it to soil bulk metagenomics. Our resulting data from this pooled-cell sorting approach combined with bulk metagenomics revealed increased phylogenetic diversity through novel soil taxa and rare biosphere members. In-depth analysis of genomes within the highly represented Bacteroidetes phylum provided insights into conserved and clade-specific patterns of carbon metabolism.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Irradiation-induced amorphization in the zirconium suboxide on Zr-0.5Nb alloys

For the first time, the observation of irradiation-induced amorphization of the zirconium suboxide formed during aqueous corrosion of Zr-0.5Nb alloys is discussed. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy results reveal amorphization of the hexagonal-ZrO suboxide under heavy ion irradiation at cryogenic temperatures. This irradiation-induced amorphization behaviour is discussed in relation to the arrangement of oxygen interstitials and the formation of stable superlattices. The sensitivity of the suboxide to irradiation damage can lead to phase changes and the accumulation of defects near the oxide/metal interface, which needs to be considered in the development of mechanistic models addressing radiation-assisted acceleration of corrosion rates in zirconium alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The UT 7/8 February 2013 Sila-Nunam Mutual Event and Future Predictions

A superior mutual event of the Kuiper Belt binary system (79360) Sila-Nunam was observed over 15.47 h on UT 7/8 February 2013 by a coordinated effort at four different telescope facilities; it started approximately 1.5 h earlier than anticipated, the duration was approximately 9.5 h (about 10% longer than predicted), and was slightly less deep than predicted. It is the first full event observed for a comparably sized binary Kuiper Belt object. We provide predictions for future events refined by this and other partial mutual event observations obtained since the mutual event season began.

Satellites↗

Ejecting basaltic achondrites from Vesta: Hydrodynamical impact models

Vesta is a large asteroid whose crust is mostly basaltic. Spectral heterogeneity suggests a sizable olivine feature which may be explained as impact excavation. The spectral data probably show a localized feature approximately 200 km in diameter or a diffuse feature approximately 400 km in diameter. Lightcurve irregularities suggest heterogeneity on a similar scale. This heterogeneity may represent the crater bowl, the extent of its ejecta deposit, or indeed something unrelated to cratering. In any case, drawing direct inferences about the state of Vesta's surface on the basis of these observations involves substantial speculation. We are still far from understanding the boundary between cratering and catastrophic disruption, particularly on targets for which strength and self-gravity both matter. But we are now able to model the underlying physical process -- dynamic fragmentation -- accurately with fragmentation hydrocodes such as SALE 2D and SPH3D. We present several impact scenarios for Vesta; our study is similar to a previous impact model for the formation of Stickney crater on Phobos. We illustrate the effects of impactors of different sizes and velocities, and the effect of gravity and structural inhomogeneity.

Asphaug, E.↗

Impact processes in the Solar System: New understandings through numerical modeling

A collision of two rocky objects circling the sun in space, each roughly the size and mass of a large mountain range, was modeled. A fragmentation hydrocode was developed to perform dynamical computations of collisional outcomes. Explosive framentation and fluid dynamics were used and drawn together into a single application. To model a solid, certain material parameters, such as density, elasticity, rigidity, and energies of melting and vaporization were input. These parameters are well-known for a variety of important materials, such as ice, iron, granite, and basalt. Another important parameter used is the distribution of initial flaws within the material.

Asphaug, E.↗

Experiments and scaling laws for catastrophic collisions

The existing data on shattering impacts are reviewed using natural silicate, ice, and cement-mortar targets. A comprehensive data base containing the most important parameters describing these experiments was prepared. The collisional energy needed to shatter consolidated homogeneous targets and the ensuing fragment size distributions have been well studied experimentally. However, major gaps exist in the data on fragment velocity and rotational distributions, as well as collisional energy partitioning for these targets. Current scaling laws lead to predicted outcomes of asteroid collisions that are inconsistent with interpretations of astronomical data.

Fujiwara, A.↗

NASA PERT time II

Program Evaulation and Review Technique (PERT) is disciplined management technique involving computer processing. NASA PERT Time 11 gives project manager insight into current and future project development and forewarns of potential problems. Program utilizes modular technique. Module is "fragnet"; once aspects of project are described in terms of fragnets, control network is automatically generated. Program is written in FORTRAN IV and OS Assembler for batch execution and has been implemented on IBM 370.

Bainbridge, R. C.↗

A request-oriented information selection program

General purpose information retrieval program written entirely in FORTRAN 4 was developed and can be used with any file of fixed format documents. This program is easily used by noncomputer personnel and provides flexibility in search requests and output format.

Ryan, E.↗

Nasa pert time ii

Compiler language for NASA PERT Time II COMPUTER processing

PERT PROJECT↗