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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 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Overview of IMPACT Data Acquisition System and Data Reduction Process

This report documents the development of the data acquisition system (DAS) and data reduction methodologies for the Irradiated Material Property Accelerated Characterization Test (IMPACT) experiment at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The IMPACT experiment is designed to enable in-pile measurement of thermal conductivity in metallic nuclear fuels, specifically U-10Zr, using an instrumented thermal conductivity probe. The DAS supports both passive temperature monitoring and active thermal interrogation of the probe through controlled AC and DC excitation. Significant modifications to laboratory-scale systems were required to accommodate the higher resistance paths associated with the in-pile application. Custom electronics and relay-controlled measurement sequencing were developed to enable the measurement and sufficient power delivery to the sensing region. A reduced-order, axisymmetric thermal model based on the thermal quadrupoles method is presented to support data interpretation. This model enables efficient evaluation of transient heat transfer behavior and facilitates solution of the inverse problem required to extract thermal properties from measured signals. Multiple boundary condition formulations are discussed to address varying experimental time scales and geometries. Additionally, machine learning techniques are introduced to support data reduction and improve confidence in inverse solutions. Convolutional neural networks are applied to identify the presence of gas gaps and other evolving geometric features that significantly impact thermal response during irradiation. These efforts contribute to the broader integration of digital twin frameworks and real-time modeling capabilities within the Advanced Fuels Campaign.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy gain scale calibration of the XRISM Resolve microcalorimeter spectrometer: ground calibration results and on-orbit comparison

The Resolve instrument aboard the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is a 36-pixel microcalorimeter spectrometer that provides nondispersive spectroscopy with ∼ 5 eV spectral resolution in the soft X-ray waveband. Resolve has a requirement to provide an absolute energy-scale calibration of ± 2 eV from 0.3 to 12 keV. We describe our ground calibration strategy and results of a subset of the ground calibration campaigns, including a discussion of improvements in the energy scale ground calibration compared with Hitomi’s. These improvements include calibration of the low-energy band below 4 keV with the instrument in the flight dewar and the dewar aperture door open, which was not performed for Hitomi, and thorough measurements over an extended high-energy waveband to 22 keV. We also developed an improved technique for gain calibration of “mid-res” secondary events, which have suppressed gain due to proximity to a preceding X-ray event (18 to 70 ms) on the same pixel. We provide a discussion of the on-orbit energy scale monitoring campaigns and an assessment of the Resolve energy scale uncertainties, a key parameter for astrophysics analysis. Energy-scale calibration approaches for future space-based instruments, including the X-ray Integral Field Unit on Athena and microcalorimeter spectrometers proposed or under discussion for future X-ray observatory concepts, have heritage in the calibration of XRISM. We briefly comment on lessons learned from Resolve calibration that are relevant for these future instruments.

Aluminum↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multi-purpose quantum laboratories from superconducting circuits

Superconducting circuits (SCs) are the cornerstone of modern quantum technology, enabling scalable computing through coherent control of macroscopic quantum states. Through a legacy that predates modern quantum computing, SCs have emerged as high-precision instruments for discovery. In this review, we highlight the role of SCs as general-purpose quantum laboratories, outlining the emerging landscape of correlated matter-circuit science. We review and unify the capabilities of superconducting quantum hardware across condensed matter, high energy and quantum information sciences. We trace the technical evolution of these architectures, illustrating how their foundational development has culminated in a toolkit for resolving the complexities of macroscopic quantum states.

Arora, Arpit [UCLA, Los Angeles (main); UCLA; Haim↗
DOE OSTI2026

Light-tight Skipper-CCDs for X-Ray Detection in Space

Skipper Charge-Coupled Devices (skipper-CCDs) are pixelated silicon detectors with deep sub-electron resolution. Their radiation hardness and capability to reconstruct energy deposits with unprecedented precision make them a promising technology for space-based X-ray astronomy. In this scenario, optical and near-infrared photons may saturate the sensor, distorting the reconstructed signal. We present a light-tight shield for skipper-CCDs to suppress optical backgrounds while preserving X-ray detection efficiency. We deposited thin aluminum layers on the CCD surface using an e-beam evaporator and evaluated their blinding performance across wavelengths from 650 to 1000 nm using a monochromator, as well as the X-ray transmission using an 55 Fe source. We find that 50 and 100 nm layers provide >99.6% light suppression, with no efficiency loss for 5.9 and 6.4 keV X-rays. In addition, we used Geant4 simulations to extend these results to a broader energy range and quantify the efficiency loss for different aluminum thicknesses. Results show that thin aluminum coatings are an effective, low-cost solution for optical suppression in skipper-CCDs intended for X-ray detection and space instrumentation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Modeling the Cosmological Lyman-𝛼 Forest at the Field Level

The distribution of absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars, called the Lyman-𝛼 (Ly-𝛼) forest, is a unique probe of cosmology and the intergalactic medium at high redshifts and small scales. The statistical power of ongoing redshift surveys demands precise theoretical tools to model the Ly-𝛼 forest. We address this challenge by developing an analytic, perturbative forward model to predict the Ly-𝛼 forest at the field level for a given set of cosmological initial conditions. Our model shows a remarkable performance when compared with the Sherwood hydrodynamic simulations: it reproduces the Ly-𝛼 forest flux power spectrum, its cross-correlation with dark matter halos, and the one-point probability distribution function of both fields at the percent level down to scales of a few Mpc. Our work provides crucial tools that bridge analytic modeling on large scales with simulations on small scales, enabling field-level inference from Ly-𝛼 forest data and simulation-based priors for cosmological analyses. Furthermore, this is especially timely for realizing the full scientific potential of the Ly-𝛼 forest measurements by the dark energy spectroscopic instrument.

Cosmological parameters↗
DOE OSTI2026

Merged Aerosol Value-Added Product Report

The Merged Aerosol Value-Added Product (VAP) simplifies scientists’ use of Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility aerosol data by performing several tedious, time-consuming tasks for the users. First, the VAP identifies the best data available when multiple datastreams exist for a single geophysical quantity so that ARM users do not have to research this for themselves. Second, the VAP consolidates multiple ARM aerosol datastreams into a single file for ARM data users so that they do not have to download, open, and read multiple files for their analysis. Next, the VAP transforms all measurements onto a common one-hour timestamp. The one-hour resolution matches the time resolution of the slowest instrument. Instruments with faster sampling rates than one measurement per hour are averaged over the time interval. Finally, the VAP reads the QA/QC variables and marks data with known issues as missing, so that users do not have to spend excessive time cleaning data. This includes incorporating Data Quality Reports (DQRs) that exist at the time when the VAP data is generated. DQRs are reports filed by instrument mentors or data users that indicate a problem with the output data of individual instruments.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

INSTRUMENTATION FOR IN-CORE REAL-TIME MECHANICAL TESTING OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS (INCREASE) PROJECT

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Nuclear Regulatory Commission, French Atomic and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), Joint Research Centre, Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group, and Research Center Rez, is the operating agent of the In-Core Real-Time Mechanical Testing of Structural Materials (INCREASE) joint experimental program (JEEP) project that operates within the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)’s Framework for Irradiation Experiments (FIDES-II) program. The first objective of the INCREASE project is to design a shared capsule that can house a variety of in-core mechanical testing instrumentation for enabling smart irradiation experiments. The second objective is to collect in core stress relaxation data pertaining to high priority stainless steel (SS) materials under light water reactor conditions with target temperature of 340°C +/-20°C and a minimum neutron damage of 2 displacement per atom (dpa). The INCREASE project will be demonstrated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Research Reactor (MITR).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluating multistation phase picking algorithm phase neural operator (PhaseNO) on local seismic networks

Reliable automatic phase picking is important for many seismic applications. With the development of machine learning approaches, many algorithms are proposed, evaluated and applied to different areas. Many of these algorithms are single station based, while recent proposed methods start to combine surrounding stations into consideration in the problem of phase picking. Among these algorithms, the phase neural operator (PhaseNO) shows promising results on regional data sets comparing to existing algorithms. But there are many use cases for the local seismic networks in our community, therefore in this paper we evaluate the performance of PhaseNO on four different local data sets and compare the results to PhaseNet and EQTransformer. We used both individual phase picking metrics as well as association metrics to illustrate the performance of PhaseNO. By manually reviewing the newly detected events, we find that the PhaseNO model outperforms the single station-based approaches in the local-scale use cases due to its consideration of coherent signals from multiple stations. We also explored PhaseNO’s behaviours when only using one station, as well as gradually increasing the number of stations in the seismic network to better understand its behaviour. Overall, using the off-the-shelf machine learning based phase pickers, PhaseNO demonstrated its good performance on local-scale seismic networks.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

S&TR July-August: Beyond Ignition

On December 5, 2022, Lawrence Livermore’s National Ignition Facility achieved the first-ever successful positive-gain ignition shot. This scientific advance, heralded worldwide, required a multidecadal effort to synthesize physics theory, laser technologies, computation and diagnostic capabilities, as well as engineering, materials development, and other inputs. The question, “Can ignition be achieved?” had been answered. Since then, the Laboratory has answered the question, “Can we do it again?” with additional ignition shots at increasing yield. Now Lawrence Livermore researchers ask, “Can we improve ignition outcomes?” for the benefit of the Stockpile Stewardship Program. Interrelated articles presenting the Laboratory’s ignition science, the role of supercomputing in achieving ignition, the evolution of diagnostic instruments to measure ignition data, and the ambitious steps required to realize a fusion energy future lead to one answer: “Yes, we can.”

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultrasonic Transducer Irradiation Test Results

Ultrasonic technologies offer the potential for high accuracy and resolution in-pile measurement of a range of parameters, including geometry changes, temperature, crack initiation and growth, gas pressure and composition, and microstructural changes. Many Department of Energy-Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) programs are exploring the use of ultrasonic technologies to provide enhanced sensors for in-pile instrumentation during irradiation testing. For example, the ability of small diameter ultrasonic thermometers (UTs) to provide a temperature profile in candidate metallic and oxide fuel would provide much needed data for validating new fuel performance models. These efforts are limited by the lack of identified ultrasonic transducer materials capable of long term performance under irradiation test conditions. To address this need, the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) was awarded an Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility (ATR NSUF) project to evaluate the performance of promising magnetostrictive and piezoelectric transducers in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor (MITR) up to a fast fluence of at least 1021 n/cm2 . A multi-National Laboratory collaboration funded by the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation (NEET ASI) program also provided initial support for this effort. This irradiation, which started in February 2014, is an instrumented lead test and real-time transducer performance data are collected along with temperature and neutron and gamma flux data. The irradiation is ongoing and will continue to approximately mid-2015. To date, very encouraging results have been attained as several transducers continue to operate under irradiation.

Daw, Joshua↗
DOE OSTI2025

Defining the Shape Density of Cerium Oxide and Titanium Dioxide Aerosol

The “shape density” of CeO 2 (cerium oxide) powder (American Elements, Los Angeles CA) is estimated to be 0.82 ± 0.02 g cm -3 and the shape density for TiO 2 (titanium dioxide) powder (American Elements, Los Angeles CA) is estimated as 0.54 ± 0.01 g cm -3 . The “shape density” is defined as the measured loose density (ASTM 2018 and ASTM 2021) of a powder divided by the ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) default aerosol shape factor (Valetin 2002). This information is used for experimental measurements of the RRF (respirable release factor) and other respirable source term parameter (US DOE 1994) experiments at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The shape density is the input parameter to the TSI Inc (Shoreview MN) AIM (Aerosol Instrument Manager) software for the TSI model 3321 APS (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer) (Figure 1).

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Assessment of Needs for a Neptunium Certified Reference Material

This document describes the results of a detailed assessment of needs within the Nuclear Analytical Chemistry (NAC) section at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for a neptunium certified reference material (CRM) used for instrument calibrations and measurement control. Also included is a summary of input from several other organizations that expressed interest for such a reference material as well as a general needs analysis within the broader nuclear analytical community based on a literature search of publications describing measurements for neptunium.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

TRAC Time Tags of individual particle samples collected for microscopy analysis at RMBL [AMF2] from June 2023 to August 2023

The dataset presents the time tags of individual particle samples collected on microscopy substrates during the Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) campaign in Gothic, CO. A Time Resolved Aerosol Collector was deployed at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, 200 m north of AMF2 to collect ambient particles. The instrument inlet was placed 5 m above ground level. Particles are deposited on 400 mesh copper carbon-B film TEM grids (Ted Pella 01814-F). Samples are sealed and currently stored at Purdue University. A subset of the samples can be shared. Please contact dataset authors for more information. The dataset reports the sample start times in UTC and MST along with the sample ID, used to guide its location and retrieval from the storage plate. TRAC sampling started on June 17, 2023, and ended on July 31, 2023.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

AMICE2 measurements of lab-generated and ambient aerosols at BNL from 2025-07-21 to 2025-08-22

From July 21 through August 22, 2025 the Absorption Measurement Inter-Comparison Experiment phase 2 (AMICE2) was conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The experiment included concurrent operation of several filter-based instruments and in situ instruments sampling from a common sample line. The common sample line provided all instruments with either lab-generated aerosols composed of external mixtures of nigrosin, cabojet, and ammonium sulfate, or with ambient aerosol drawn through an external stack. This data set contains measurements from the CAPS PMssa instrument taken as a reference instrument at 532 nm and against which the effectiveness of the filter corrections may be assessed. It also contains attenuation coefficients from all filter-based instruments and filter transmittances in order to permit correction for filter loading, and the SSA and COA to permit corrections for aerosol darkness. Finally, two sets of multiplicative corrections are provided for the AE-33, TAP, and MA-350 instruments: the first one, Corr1, corrects for filter amplification factor and loading, the second one, Corr2, corrects for the aerosol darkness in terms of the natural log of COA.

Aerosol Extinction↗
DOE OSTI2024

ASMS 2024 Investigation of Uranyl Perchlorate Anion Complexes in the Gas Phase via Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation and Collision Induced Dissociation

Investigation of Uranyl Perchlorate Anion Complexes in the Gas Phase via Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation and Collision Induced Dissociation Brittany D. M. Hodges, Christopher A. Zarzana, JungSoo Kim, Jonathan Martens, and W. C. M. Berden Introduction (120 words max) Effects of electronic structure on chemical bonding and reactivity play critical roles shaping the chemical bonding and reactivity behaviors of heavy elements. Understanding the role of f electrons in bond formation between the actinide-series elements like uranium with other ligands is critical for solving technical challenges associated with these heavy elements, important to nuclear fuel cycles, efficient separations of rare earth metals, and understanding the chemistry of stored nuclear fuels and related environmental management sites. In this study, we further examine the interactions between uranyl and the perchlorate ion in order to understand the structures of these ions through the use of IRMPD. Here we report the IRMPD spectra of [UO2(ClO4)3]-, [UO3(ClO4)2]-, and a proposed transition state. Methods (120 word max) IRMPD spectra and CID spectra were acquired using a Bruker amaZon QIT/MS instrument at the Free-Electron Lasers for Infrared eXperiments (FELIX) laboratory at Radboud University. The FELIX QIT/MS is modified to allow for the high-intensity tunable IR beam from FELIX to be directed into the ion packet, resulting in multiphoton dissociation that is measured only when the IR frequency is in resonance with an adequately high absorption vibrational mode of the mass-selected complex. DFT geometry optimizations and frequency calculations using the Gaussian suite of programs were performed using B3LYP, TPSSh, and PBE0 level of theory with 6-31+G(d) basis for the O, C, H, and N atoms and the SDD basis set for U. The SDD basis set employs the Stuttgart/Dresden effective core potential. Preliminary Data or Plenary Speakers Abstract (300 words max) Metal ion clusters of uranyl perchlorate were formed via direct electrospray ionization. For each metal ligand complex of interest, the parent ion was isolated and collision induced dissociation fragmentation and Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation (IRMPD) fragmentation spectra were acquired. Results presented here are the first look at the IRMPD spectra of [UO3(ClO4)2]-, [UO2(ClO4)3]-. Structures were examined using Gaussian at different levels of theory B3LYP level of theory, TPPSh and PBE0 levels, to reflect the behaviors of uranium metal ligand complexes most accurately. In these structures, we identified an overlap between each of these uranyl stretches resulting in their largely being obscured by a perchlorate mode. The CID product spectra agree with similar structures reported by Groenewold for uranyl nitrate in 2006 (10.1021/ja058106n).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Instrumentation for the In-Core Real-Time Mechanical Testing of Structural Materials (INCREASE) Project

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the French Atomic and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), the Joint Research Center (JRC), the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG), and the Research Center Rez (CVR), started a Joint Experimental Program (JEEP) project that operates within the Nuclear Energy Agency’s Framework for Irradiation Experiments (FIDES II) program in order to develop capabilities for the in-core real-time mechanical testing of structural materials. This effort will focus on designing a shared capsule capable of housing a variety of in-core mechanical testing instrumentation allowing enhanced experiments for the material science community. The outcome of the project would be high-priority, stress relaxation data for stainless-steel-based materials provided by EPRI and CEA. Stress relaxation is a major phenomenon that contributes to material degradation in nuclear reactor components. Currently, nuclear material stress relaxation is assessed both before and after irradiation, using complex and costly post-irradiation examination (PIE) activities. In-situ data would support the development of precision modeling and simulation of this degradation phenomena and would provide validation and benchmarking for existing models using the PIE data. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Sensor and Instrumentation (ASI) program, INL has fabricated and tested out-of-core mechanical test instrumentation. This instrumentation was designed for easy adaptation to the irradiation capsule proposed under this JEEP, and can be deployed to measure real-time stress relaxation under pressurized-water reactor (PWR) conditions. This initial effort will partially serve to replace the testing capabilities lost because of shutting down the Halden Boiling Water Reactor (HBWR). The project would provide these capabilities to the international community via a shared capsule design that is easily adaptable to additional material test reactors. The design features will incorporate expansion to PWR and non-light-water reactor (LWR) environments that will be developed in future work. The capsule and instrumentation will be demonstrated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor (MITR) for phase I and the Petten High Flux Reactor (HFR) for phase II irradiations to deliver real-time stress relaxation data on high priority stainless steel structural materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Focusing of relativistic electron beams with permanent magnetic solenoid

Achieving strong focusing of MeV electron beams is a critical requirement for advanced beam applications such as compact laboratory x-ray sources, high gradient accelerators, and ultrafast electron scattering instrumentation. To address these needs, a compact radially magnetized permanent magnetic solenoid (PMS) has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The solenoid provides a compact and inexpensive solution for delivering high axial magnetic fields (1 T) to focus MeV electron beams. Field characterization of the solenoid demonstrates good agreement with analytical models, validating the PMS design. The electron beam test employs a high-brightness photoinjector to study the focusing properties of the PMS. The results indicate a focal length of less than 10 cm and a significant reduction in beam size with small spherical aberrations. Two application cases are evaluated: angular magnification in ultrafast electron diffraction setups and strong focusing for Compton scattering or other microfocus uses.

Electron diffraction↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real Time, In-line Monitoring of Hanford Tank Wastes - Year 1 Report

The team comprised of students, postdocs, early, mid and senior career scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Savanah River National Laboratory, Georgia Tech and Florida International University, with the guidance of H2C, is developing a suite of in-line instruments for the Hanford high level waste (HLW) and low active waste (LAW) processes to provide near-real-time analysis of waste form physical properties and composition. The work builds on results from the recent DOE-ORP, EM Technology Development and other projects that demonstrated promise for the use of real-time in-line monitoring (RTIM) to measure chemical compositions of slurries of up to 20 weight % solids. The goal is for this instrument suite is to substantially reduce the need for sampling for process control. Sample waste, exposure associated with sample analysis, and the demand for an external laboratory facility would be greatly reduced. The throughput of waste treatment systems would be improved by elimination of the downtime caused by waiting for sample results. This translates into reduced process storage as process knowledge will be continuously updated in near-real-time. These breakthrough technologies would significantly reduce the life cycle cost and accelerate the schedule for the Hanford tank waste mission.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗