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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

High-speed volumetric imaging of formaldehyde in a lifted turbulent jet flame using an acousto-optic deflector

The development of high-speed volumetric laser-induced fluorescence measurements of formaldehyde (CH 2 O-LIF) using a pulse-burst laser operated at a repetition rate of 100 kHz is presented here. A novel laser scanning system employing an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) enables quasi-4D CH 2 O-LIF imaging at a scan frequency of 10 kHz. The diagnostic capability of time-resolved volumetric imaging is demonstrated in a partially premixed DME/air lifted turbulent jet flame near the flame base. Simultaneous imaging of laser beam profiles is performed to account for the laser pulse energy fluctuation and laser sheet inhomogeneity. With the accurate registration of laser sheet positions, the volumetric reconstruction of CH 2 O-LIF signals is performed within a detection volume of 17.3 × 11.9 × 2.3 mm 3 with an average out-of-plane spatial resolution of 250μm. A surface detection algorithm with adaptive thresholding is used to determine the global maximum intensity gradient by calculating gradient percentiles. The flame topology characteristics are investigated by evaluating the 3D curvatures of CH 2 O surfaces. Curvatures calculated using 2D data systematically underestimate the full 3D curvature due to the lack of out-of-plane information. The inner surfaces near the turbulent fuel jet exhibit higher probabilities of large mean curvature than the outer surfaces. The saddle and cylindrical structures are dominant on both the inner and outer surfaces and the elliptic structures occur with lower probability. The results suggest that the damping of turbulent fluctuations by the temperature increase through the CH 2 O region reduces the curvature, but the local structure topology remains self-similar.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2016

Polythiophene thin films by surface-initiated polymerization: Mechanistic and structural studies

The ability to control nanoscale morphology and molecular organization in organic semiconducting polymer thin films is an important prerequisite for enhancing the efficiency of organic thin-film devices including organic light-emitting and photovoltaic devices. The current “top-down” paradigm for making such devices is based on utilizing solution-based processing (e.g., spin-casting) of soluble semiconducting polymers. This approach typically provides only modest control over nanoscale molecular organization and polymer chain alignment. A promising alternative to using solutions of presynthesized semiconducting polymers pursues instead a “bottom-up” approach to prepare surface-grafted semiconducting polymer thin films by surface-initiated polymerization of small-molecule monomers. Herein, we describe the development of an efficient method to prepare polythiophene thin films utilizing surface-initiated Kumada catalyst transfer polymerization. In this study, we provided evidence that the surface-initiated polymerization occurs by the highly robust controlled (quasi-“living”) chain-growth mechanism. Further optimization of this method enabled reliable preparation of polythiophene thin films with thickness up to 100 nm. Extensive structural studies of the resulting thin films using X-ray and neutron scattering methods as well as ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy revealed detailed information on molecular organization and the bulk morphology of the films, and enabled further optimization of the polymerization protocol. One of the remarkable findings was that surface-initiated polymerization delivers polymer thin films showing complex molecular organization, where polythiophene chains assemble into lateral crystalline domains of about 3.2 nm size, with individual polymer chains folded to form in-plane aligned and densely packed oligomeric segments (7-8 thiophene units per each segment) within each domain. Achieving such a complex mesoscale organization is virtually impossible with traditional methods relying on solution processing of presynthesized polymers. Another significant advantage of surface-confined polymer thin films is their remarkable stability toward organic solvents and other processing conditions. In addition to controlled bulk morphology, uniform molecular organization, and stability, a unique feature of the surface-initiated polymerization is that it can be used for the preparation of large-area uniformly nanopatterned polymer thin films. Lastly, this was demonstrated using a combination of particle lithography and surface-initiated polymerization. In general, surface-initiated polymerization is not limited to polythiophene but can be also expanded toward other classes of semiconducting polymers and copolymers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

High quality epitaxial thin films and exchange bias of antiferromagnetic Dirac semimetal FeSn

FeSn is a topological semimetal (TSM) and kagome antiferromagnet (AFM) composed of alternating Fe 3 Sn kagome planes and honeycomb Sn planes. This unique structure gives rise to exotic features in the band structures such as the coexistence of Dirac cones and flatbands near the Fermi level, fully spin-polarized 2D surface Dirac fermions, and the ability to open a large gap in the Dirac cone by reorienting the Néel vector. In this paper, we report the synthesis of high-quality epitaxial (0001) FeSn films by magnetron sputtering. Using FeSn/Py heterostructures, we show a large exchange bias effect that reaches an exchange field of 220 Oe at 5 K, providing unambiguous evidence of antiferromagnetism and strong interlayer exchange coupling in our films. Field cycling studies show steep initial training effects, highlighting the complex magnetic interactions and anisotropy. Importantly, our work provides a simple, alternative means to fabricate FeSn films and heterostructures, making it easier to explore the topological physics of AFM TSMs and develop FeSn-based spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Crack formation in strained β-(AlxGa 1−x ) 2 O 3 films grown on (010) β-Ga 2 O 3 substrates

The cracking and local strain relaxation in (010) (Al x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 films grown on Ga 2 O 3 substrates are assessed in terms of film composition and thickness. We utilize x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques combined with simulation and modeling to investigate that film cracking on curvature (flatness) has a directly proportional relationship with film thickness and/or aluminum content. Cross section transmission electron microscopy reveals that cracks along both the (001) and (100) cleavage planes penetrate into the substrate. The diffuse scattered intensity observed in reciprocal space maps (RSMs) is directly correlated with the tilt that is introduced due to the change in the deformation conditions near the cracks. While asymmetric RSMs show that the layers are fully strained, the diffuse scattering distribution in reciprocal space can be interpreted to show that the cracking relaxes and locally tilts the lattice ∼350 nm from the crack edges, which is consistent with the larger radius of curvature associated with the films with higher crack densities. For example, a 200 nm (Al 0.13 Ga 0.87 ) 2 O 3 thick film has an average inter-crack spacing of 3.3 µm, so most of the epitaxial layer is fully strained except near the cracks where it deforms elastically and is consistent with the gallium oxide Poisson ratio. A reciprocal space model was developed, which imports the strain and tilt distributions (based on finite element modeling) to match the features observed in the experimental maps. We also note that previous studies involving (Al x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 films may show evidence of cracking as observed in their symmetric and asymmetric RSMs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Adaptive Grid Lens Modeling of the Cosmic Horseshoe Using Hubble Space Telescope Imaging

The Cosmic Horseshoe gravitational lensing system is an extraordinary example of strong gravitational lensing both due to the nearly complete Einstein ring formed in this system and due to the star-forming nature of the lensed $z$ = 2.38 Lyman-break galaxy. In this paper, we describe the development of a new lens modeling package and the lens models produced using the Hubble Space Telescope imaging. Our new lens modeling package uses adaptive grid methods, based especially on the algorithm described by Vegetti & Koopmans. The new lens modeling package introduces the K-means method to deal with multiple background sources. We utilize two parameterized models, the singular isothermal ellipsoid and the Navarro–Frenk–White model in order to optimize the Bayesian penalty function. Color–color diagrams show two distinct colors exist in the Einstein ring, which suggests that the Cosmic Horseshoe is formed from two background galaxies or from a highly irregular galaxy. We find that the best lens model includes two components and the total mass within the Einstein ring is $(5.43\pm 0.08)\times {10}^{12}\,{M}_{\odot }$. Furthermore, the background source reconstruction shows two peaks in the source plane and the most probable lens profile is consistent with the light profile of the foreground galaxy when comparing axis ratios and position angles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simultaneous Development of Antiferromagnetism and Local Symmetry Breaking in a Kagome Magnet (Co 0.45 Fe 0.55 )Sn

CoSn and FeSn, two kagome-lattice metals, have recently attracted significant attention as hosts of electronic flat bands and emergent physical properties. However, current understandings of their physical properties are limited to knowledge of the average crystal structure. Here, we report the Fe-doping induced coemergence of the antiferromagentic (AFM) order and local symmetry breaking in (Co 0.45 Fe 0.55 )Sn. Rietveld analysis on the neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction data indicates A-type antiferromagnetic order with the moment pointing perpendicular to the kagome layers, associated with the anomaly in the MSn(1) 2 Sn(2) 4 (M = Co/Fe) octahedral distortion and the lattice constant c. Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modeling of the synchrotron X-ray total scattering results captured the subtle local orthorhombic distortion involving off-axis displacements of Sn(2). Our results indicate that the stable hexagonal lattice above T N becomes unstable once the A-type AFM order is formed below T N . Here we argue that the local symmetry breaking has a magnetic origin, since the spatially varied M–Sn(2) bond lengths arise from out-of-plane magnetic exchange coupling J c via the exchange pathway M–Sn(2)–M. Our study provides comprehensive information on the crystal structure in both long-range scale and local scale, unveiling unique coupling between AFM order, octahedral distortion, and hidden local symmetry breaking.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Onset of surface stimulated emission at 260 nm from AlGaN multiple quantum wells

We demonstrated onset of deep-ultraviolet (DUV) surface stimulated emission (SE) from c-plane AlGaN multiple-quantum well (MQW) heterostructures grown on a sapphire substrate by optical pumping at room temperature. The onset of SE became observable at a pumping power density of 630 kW/cm{sup 2}. Spectral deconvolution revealed superposition of a linearly amplified spontaneous emission peak at λ ∼ 257.0 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ∼12 nm and a superlinearly amplified SE peak at λ ∼ 260 nm with a narrow FWHM of less than 2 nm. In particular, the wavelength of ∼260 nm is the shortest wavelength of surface SE from III-nitride MQW heterostructures to date. Atomic force microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements were employed to investigate the material and structural quality of the AlGaN heterostructures, showing smooth surface and sharp layer interfaces. This study offers promising results for AlGaN heterostructures grown on sapphire substrates for the development of DUV vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structural and magnetic properties of CoTeMo⁢O 6

Here, we have conducted a comprehensive investigation into the magnetic properties of the chiral multiferroic material CoTeMo⁢O 6 . In contrast with the previous claim of canted antiferromagnetic order with ferromagnetic components [Y. Doi et al., J. Solid State Chem. 182, 3232 (2009)], our investigation reveals an antiferromagnetic ground state with compensated moments, providing an interesting platform for exploring exotic material properties. Through careful measurements of magnetization under a series of applied fields, we demonstrate that there exist two sequential field-induced magnetic transitions in CoTeMo⁢O 6 , with one occurring at 𝐻 𝑐⁢1 =460 Oe along the 𝑎 axis, and the other at 𝐻 𝑐⁢2 =1.16 T with the field along the 𝑏 axis. The values of 𝐻 𝑐⁢1 and 𝐻 𝑐⁢2 exhibit strong angular dependence and diverge with different rates as the applied field is rotated 90 ° within the 𝑎⁢𝑏 plane. This reflects the distinct nature of these transitions, which is further supported by the different critical behavior of 𝐻 𝑐⁢1 and 𝐻 𝑐⁢2 , characterized by the values of 𝛾, in the function of 𝐻 𝑐 =𝐻 0 ⁡(1−𝑇/𝑇 𝑐 ) 𝛾 . Furthermore, we have demonstrated that there exist structural and magnetic twin domains in CoTeMo⁢O 6 that strongly affect the experimental measurement of their macroscopic properties. Intriguingly, these twin domains can be related to the orthorhombicity/chirality of the crystal structure with the space group 𝑃⁢2 1 ⁢2 1⁢ 2. We further explored the magnetic and structural domains with uniaxial pressure and polarized light microscopy. Our results suggest that CoTeMo⁢O 6 could be used as a unique platform for investigating the intriguing physics involving intertwined degrees of freedom. The tunability of the underlying domain distribution and its strong anisotropy could also be useful for developing functional devices and applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Improving spot-scanning proton therapy patient specific quality assurance with HPlusQA, a second-check dose calculation engine

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate the use of HPlusQA, spot-scanning proton therapy (SSPT) dose calculation software developed at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, as second-check dose calculation software for patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA). The authors also showed how HPlusQA can be used within the current PSQA framework.Methods: The authors compared the dose calculations of HPlusQA and the Eclipse treatment planning system with 106 planar dose measurements made as part of PSQA. To determine the relative performance and the degree of correlation between HPlusQA and Eclipse, the authors compared calculated with measured point doses. Then, to determine how well HPlusQA can predict when the comparisons between Eclipse calculations and the measured dose will exceed tolerance levels, the authors compared gamma index scores for HPlusQA versus Eclipse with those of measured doses versus Eclipse. The authors introduce the αβγ transformation as a way to more easily compare gamma scores.Results: The authors compared measured and calculated dose planes using the relative depth, z/R × 100%, where z is the depth of the measurement and R is the proton beam range. For relative depths than less than 80%, both Eclipse and HPlusQA calculations were within 2 cGy of dose measurements on average. When the relative depth was greater than 80%, the agreement between the calculations and measurements fell to 4 cGy. For relative depths less than 10%, the Eclipse and HPlusQA dose discrepancies showed a negative correlation, −0.21. Otherwise, the correlation between the dose discrepancies was positive and as large as 0.6. For the dose planes in this study, HPlusQA correctly predicted when Eclipse had and had not calculated the dose to within tolerance 92% and 79% of the time, respectively. In 4 of 106 cases, HPlusQA failed to predict when the comparison between measurement and Eclipse's calculation had exceeded the tolerance levels of 3% for dose and 3 mm for distance-to-agreement.Conclusions: The authors found HPlusQA to be reasonably effective (79%± 10%) in determining when the comparison between measured dose planes and the dose planes calculated by the Eclipse treatment planning system had exceeded the acceptable tolerance levels. When used as described in this study, HPlusQA can reduce the need for patient specific quality assurance measurements by 64%. The authors believe that the use of HPlusQA as a dose calculation second check can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the QA process.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2014

COE Task Order 4. Final Report: Automated Threat Recognition

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) was tasked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) with developing an automated target recognition algorithm for finding objects of interest in checked baggage at airports. The project used x-ray computed tomography (CT) data collected on a medical scanner of various simulated checked bags. Target objects of interest include clay, rubber, and saline in various concentrations. The final results are 93.9% probability of detection (P D ) with 11.9% probability of false alarm (PFA) on all targets and 100% detection for pseudo target sheets. This result is achieved by using a three-stage algorithm made up of segmentation, post-processing, and feature extraction and object classification. The segmentation proved to be the most important stage and it involves merging two distinct segmentation results followed by a set of algorithms for cleaning up the merged segmentations. The first segmentation algorithm operates on planar 10x10 voxel slabs (two- dimensional segments) in the three spatial planes. The segmenter calculates a probability that each slab in the image is a part of a target, determines if the probability was above a threshold, and then merges all connected slabs together. The second segmentation algorithm is an ensemble segmenter, which generates a set of possible segmentations through random permutations and computes an average behavior. The distinct properties of these segmenters results in a merged segmentation with superior results than either segmenter alone. The merged segmentation is “cleaned up” using post processing techniques to achieve the final labeled images. The final classification stage made use of a random forest classifier algorithm to discriminate targets from non-targets based on a set of features of the segmented objects partially from the voxel slabs and partially from the individual voxels. Features include standard statistics such as mean, median, and standard deviations of the density, features capturing some aspects of texture, and some features about the surrounding bag structure. In addition to the detection and false alarm results above, we show how the algorithms can be trained to “overfit” to the limited data set provided and achieve near perfect results (P D =100% and P FA =0%). This over-training is not recommended for long-term operation, but instead is meant to demonstrate how test design is an important factor in aviation security. Possible improvements to the algorithm and the testing methodology (including blind testing) are also presented.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

R&D of a high-performance DIRC detector for a future electron-ion collider

An Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) is proposed as the next big scientific facility to be built in the United States, costing over $1 billion in design and construction. Each detector concept for the electron/ion beam interaction point is integrated into a large solenoidal magnet. The necessity for excellent hadronic particle identification (pion/kaon/proton) in the barrel region of the solenoid has pushed research and development (R&D) towards a new, high-performance Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) detector design. The passage of a high energy charged particle through a fused silica bar of the DIRC generates optical Cherenkov radiation. A large fraction of this light propagates by total internal reflection to the end of the bar, where the photon trajectories expand in a large volume before reaching a highly segmented photo-detector array. The spatial and temporal distribution of the Cherenkov light at the photo-detector array allows one to reconstruct the angle of emission of the light relative to the incident charged particle track. In order to reach the desired performance of 3sigma pi/K separation at 6 GeV/c particle momentum a new 3-layer spherical lens focusing optic with a lanthanum crown glass central layer was designed to have a nearly at focal plane. In order to validate the EIC DIRC simulation package, a synergistic test beam campaign was carried out in 2015 at the CERN PS with the PANDA Barrel DIRC group using a prototype DIRC detector. Along with the analysis of the CERN test beam data, measurements of the focal plane of the 3-layer lens were performed using a custom-built laser setup at Old Dominion University. Radiation hardness of the lanthanum crown glass was tested using a 160 keV X-ray source and a monochromator at the Catholic University of America. Results of these test-bench experiments and the analysis of the 2015 CERN test beam data are presented here.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optomechanical Tuning of Second Harmonic Generation Anisotropy in Janus MoSSe/MoS 2 Heterostructures

Symmetry breaking in van der Waals materials enables the realization of quantum states and advanced device functionalities. Janus transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit distinctive nonlinear optical properties due to their broken out-of-plane mirror symmetry. However, the dynamic control of second harmonic generation (SHG) anisotropy and resonance behavior via optical excitation remains elusive. Here, in this work, we investigate the SHG response of Janus MoSSe/MoS 2 heterostructures with 2H and 3R stackings. We can tune the SHG response by varying the incident photon wavelength from 800 to 1000 nm, which shows a resonance-dependent enhancement in intensity and a deviation from 6-fold symmetry, indicating wavelength-dependent anisotropy. The ratio between maximum and minimum intensity in the armchair directions, associated with the SHG anisotropy, reaches a value of 1.73 at the excitation wavelength of 1000 nm. Group theory analysis and first-principles calculations reveal that the observed anisotropy arises from optically induced strain. Our findings highlight the role of symmetry breaking and optical resonance contributing to the optomechanical tuning of SHG anisotropy, offering opportunities for developing Janus TMD-based photonic devices for frequency conversion, light generation, and optical switching.

Janus transition metal dichalcogenides↗
DOE OSTI2018

Engineering the anchoring behavior of nematic liquid crystals on a solid surface by varying the density of liquid crystalline polymer brushes

Controlling the orientation of liquid crystal (LC) molecules towards contacting surfaces is a crucial requirement for the development of LC displays and passive electro-optical devices. Up to now, research has been focused on photo-responses of a LC azobenzene polymer system to obtain either planar or homeotropic orientation of LCs. It remains a challenge, however, to tune the polar angle of LC molecules on the solid surface and gain more insights about the polymer chain conformation extending in LC medium. Here, we deposit a liquid crystalline side chain polymer brush, poly(6-(4-methoxy-azobenzene-4'-oxy)hexyl methacrylate) (PMMAZO), onto the solid surface with film thickness varying between ~3 nm and 13 nm; therefore, the grafting density of the brush layer ranges from 0.0219 to 0.0924 chains per nm 2 . When LCs are confined in hybrid cells with a top surface eliciting uniform homeotropic anchoring and a bottom surface covered by the PMMAZO brush, the out-of-plane polar angle of 4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) on the brush layer gradually changes from ~0° to ~62° by simply increasing the grafting brush density. The surface forces apparatus (SFA) measurement is used to determine 5CB as a good solvent for the PMMAZO brush and understand the relationship between the chain conformation in 5CB and the anchoring behavior of LC molecules on the polymer brush layer. Here, for high grafting density, the polymer chain in 5CB extends significantly away from the substrate, making the side chain mesogens on average almost parallel to the substrate; for the low-density case, the main chain extends in the narrow region around the surface for aligning the mesogens perpendicular to the substrate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

ARE T TAURI STARS GAMMA-RAY EMITTERS?

T Tauri stars are young, low-mass, pre-main-sequence stars surrounded by an accretion disk. These objects present strong magnetic activity and powerful magnetic reconnection events. Strong shocks are likely associated with fast reconnection in the stellar magnetosphere. Such shocks can accelerate particles up to relativistic energies. We aim at developing a simple model to calculate the radiation produced by non-thermal relativistic particles in the environment of T Tauri stars. We want to establish whether this emission is detectable at high energies with the available or forthcoming {gamma}-ray telescopes. We assume that particles (protons and electrons) pre-accelerated in reconnection events are accelerated at shocks through the Fermi mechanism and we study the high-energy emission produced by the dominant radiative processes. We calculate the spectral energy distribution of T Tauri stars up to high energies and we compare the integrated flux obtained with that from a specific Fermi source, 1FGL J1625.8-2429c, that we tentatively associate with this kind of young stellar object. We suggest that under reasonable general conditions nearby T Tauri stars might be detected at high energies and be responsible for some unidentified Fermi sources on the Galactic plane.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-150: End to End Tests On the First Clinical EDGETM

Purpose: To quantify the sub millimeter overall accuracy of EDGETM, the dedicated linac based SRS/SABR treatment platform from Varian, using a novel End-to-End (E2E) test phantom. Methods: The new E2E test phantom developed by Varian consists of a cube with an outer dimension of 15x15x15 cm3. The phantom is equipped with an exchangable inner cube (7×7×7 cm3) to hold radiochromic films or a tungsten ball (diameter = 5 mm) for Winston-Lutz tests. 16 ceramic balls (diameter = 5 mm) are embedded in the outer cube. Three embedded Calypso transponders allow for Calypso based monitoring. The outer surface of the phantom is tracked using the Optical Surface Monitoring System (OSMS). The phantom is positioned using kV, MV and CBCT images. A simCT of the phantom was acquired and SRS/SABR plans were treated using the new phantom on the first clinical installed EDGETM. As a first step a series of EPID based Winston-Lutz tests have been performed. As a second step the calculated dose distribution applied to the phantom was verified with radiochromic films in orthogonal planes. The measured dose distribution is compared with the calculated (Eclipse) one based on the known isocenter on both dose distributions. The geometrical shift needed to match both dose distributions is the overall accuracy and is determined using dose profiles, isodose lines or gamma pass rates (3%, 1 mm). Results: Winston-Lutz tests using the central tungsten BB demonstrated a targeting accuracy of 0.44±0.18mm for jaw (2cm × 2cm) defined 0.39±0.19mm for MLC (2cm × 2cm) defined and 0.37±0.15mm for cone (12.5 mm) defined fields. A treated patient plan (spinal metastases lesion with integrated boost) showed a dosimetric dose localization accuracy of 0.6mm. Conclusion: Geometric and dosimetric E2E tests on EDGETM, show sub-millimeter E2E targeting and dose localisation accuracy.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Advanced Solar Resource Modeling and Analysis (Final Technical Report)

The SunShot Initiative coordinates research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities aimed at dramatically reducing the total installed cost of solar power. The SunShot Initiative focuses on removing critical technical and non-technical barriers to installing and integrating solar energy into the electricity grid. Uncertainty in projected power and energy production from solar power systems contributes to these barriers by increasing financial risks to photovoltaic (PV) deployment and by exacerbating the technical challenges to integration of solar power on the electricity grid. The dominant contribution to uncertainty in projected power and energy from solar power systems arises from uncertainty in the estimated solar resource. Most often, the solar resource is estimated from satellite measurements which may be supplemented by on-site ground measurements. To project system power and energy, irradiance must be estimated over the system’s footprint, separated into direct and diffuse components, and translated into the array’s plane. Uncertainty in the estimated irradiance thus arises from uncertainty in the models that: translate satellite measurements to estimated irradiance; portray the spatial and temporal variation in irradiance over a power plant’s footprint, or over a fleet of solar power systems; and separate global horizontal irradiance into its beam and diffuse components.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Development of FeNiMoB thin film materials for microfabricated magnetoelastic sensors

Metglas{sup TM} 2826MB foils of 25-30 {mu}m thickness with the composition of Fe{sub 40}Ni{sub 38}Mo{sub 4}B{sub 18} have been used for magnetoelastic sensors in various applications over many years. This work is directed at the investigation of {approx}3 {mu}m thick iron-nickel-molybdenum-boron (FeNiMoB) thin films that are intended for integrated microsystems. The films are deposited on Si substrate by co-sputtering of iron-nickel (FeNi), molybdenum (Mo), and boron (B) targets. The results show that dopants of Mo and B can significantly change the microstructure and magnetic properties of FeNi materials. When FeNi is doped with only Mo its crystal structure changes from polycrystalline to amorphous with the increase of dopant concentration; the transition point is found at about 10 at. % of Mo content. A significant change in anisotropic magnetic properties of FeNi is also observed as the Mo dopant level increases. The coercivity of FeNi films doped with Mo decreases to a value less than one third of the value without dopant. Doping the FeNi with B together with Mo considerably decreases the value of coercivity and the out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy properties, and it also greatly changes the microstructure of the material. In addition, doping B to FeNiMo remarkably reduces the remanence of the material. The film material that is fabricated using an optimized process is magnetically as soft as amorphous Metglas{sup TM} 2826MB with a coercivity of less than 40 Am{sup -1}. The findings of this study provide us a better understanding of the effects of the compositions and microstructure of FeNiMoB thin film materials on their magnetic properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Acceleration Factors for Combined‐Accelerated Stress Testing of Photovoltaic Modules

Combined‐accelerated stress testing (C‐AST) is developed to establish the durability of photovoltaic (PV) products, including for degradation modes that are not a priori known or examined in standardized tests. C‐AST aims to comprehensively represent the sample, stress factors, and their combinations using levels at the statistical tails of the natural environment. Acceleration factors for relevant climate sequences within the C‐AST cycle with respect to the Florida USA climate are estimated for selected degradation mechanisms. It is found that for degradation of the outer backsheet polymer layer, the acceleration factor of the tropical climate sequence (the longest of the climate sequences) is f ( T , G ) = 17.3 with ultraviolet photodegradation; for polyethylene terephthalate hydrolysis (backsheets), f ( T , RH ) = 426; for electrochemical corrosion (PV cell), f ( I ) = 14.1; and for PbSn solder fatigue f (Δ T , r ( T )) = 17.3. Here, T is the module temperature, G is the broadband spectrum irradiance on the plane of array of the module, RH is the relative humidity on the module surface, I is the leakage current through the module packaging, and r ( T ), the number of temperature reversals. The methods discussed herein are generally applicable for evaluating acceleration factors in other accelerated test methods.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

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