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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

FLASSH 1.0: Thermal Scattering Law Evaluation and Cross Section Generation

The Full Law Analysis Scattering System Hub ( FLASSH ) is an advanced code which evaluates the thermal scattering law (i.e. TSL, S(α,β)) for thermal scattering cross sections and resonance Doppler broadening. The ability to accurately capture these two key cross section features is dependent on accurate, high fidelity TSL evaluations. FLASSH 1.0 provides advanced physics capabilities resulting in an improved, generalized TSL to most accurately represent the lattice dynamics within any material. This improved TSL will allow for consistent analysis in both the thermal and epithermal energy ranges. The features for TSL analysis are packaged within the FLASSH GUI for easy user interface along with data output in many file formats including ENDF File 7 and ACE files.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ab Initio Evaluation of Plutonium Dioxide $S(α,β)$ and Thermal Neutron Cross Sections

Plutonium Dioxide (PuO 2 ) is an advanced fuel-cycle nuclear fuel material for thermal and fast reactors, with a melting point at 3261.8 K and thermal conductivity above 3 Wm -1 K -1 for temperatures below 1500 K. Plutonium from spent UO 2 is reprocessed to form chemically stable mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. In contrast to metallic fuels, the low PuO 2 conductivity results in high thermal gradients between fuel center and surface, resulting in structural annealing and efficient fission product migration over burnup. Crystal binding affects the doppler broadening of epithermal resonances for nuclear fuels and scattering behavior of thermal neutrons. Currently, there is no ENDF/B Thermal Scattering Law, i.e., $S(α,β)$, evaluation for PuO 2 , only free atom cross sections for Plutonium and Oxygen, respectively, which neglect lattice contributions to total cross section. Herein, ab initio lattice dynamics (AILD) techniques are employed to calculate the phonon density of states (DOS) using spin-orbit-coupling density functional theory (DFT) to predict the PuO2 paramagnetic ground-state structure. These results highlight the evaluation of $S(α,β)$ for Plutonium and Oxygen, respectively in PuO 2 and consequential generation of thermal neutron scattering cross sections for high fidelity criticality safety analysis and reactor calculations.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verification and Validation of the New MCNP6.3 Criticality Features

The MCNP6® code, version 6.3, has been extensively verified and validated for many applications. The use of the same default capabilities existing in the MCNP6.2 code are also used in the verification and validation (V&V) of the MCNP6.3 code. In this paper, selected new features, code enhancements, and bug fixes in the MCNP6.3 code that impact criticality safety applications are described and investigated. More specifically, the changes within the MCNP6.3 code that are studied in this work include both the new fission matrix and the Doppler broadening resonance correction (DBRC) features. For nuclear criticality safety applications, the V&V benchmark problems within the criticality, extended criticality, and Rossi-α suites are used to study the upgrades within the MCNP6.3 code. Some additional investigations into benchmarks at elevated temperatures are used to showcase the impacts of the temperature-specific capabilities.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analytical benchmark solution for 1-D neutron transport coupled with thermal conduction and material expansion

In this work we present fully analytical solutions for a class of finite, homogeneous, 1-D slab benchmark problems with nonlinear temperature feedback effects. The proposed class of benchmarks include multiplicative 1-D neutron transport (limited to quasistatic S{sub 2} with μ = ±1) coupled with thermal conduction, convection, Doppler broadening, and expansion effects along the length of the slab. This class of benchmark models, along with the corresponding analytical solutions, are valuable for validating multiphysics analysis frameworks that support coupled neutronics/thermal/structural calculations. Analytical solutions for the benchmarks are obtained by introducing an ansatz that the equilibrium flux and temperature distributions in the slab have the same shape. Specific values for the total microscopic cross section, σ{sub t,0}, and conductive heat transfer coefficient, h, that satisfy the assumed ansatz are then determined. A discussion of the procedure for generating benchmark models and analytical solutions is provided, along with numerical results for an example set of model parameters and thoughts on practical applications of the benchmarks for multiphysics code validation. (authors)

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Unstructured mesh-based multi-physics reactor transient simulation with iMC code

In this study, we present a time-dependent Monte Carlo simulation result about a complex fuel-loaded light water reactor system with thermal-hydraulic feedback using the KAIST iMC code. The intra-pin temperature distribution is calculated based on Monte Carlo-tallied detailed power distribution and the finite element heat transfer method. The temperature effect of fuel, absorber, and coolant are adequately reflected into the dynamic response by the on-the-fly Doppler broadened cross-section correction. For the time-dependent Monte Carlo transport simulation, the predictor-corrector quasi-static Monte Carlo method is used for this study. We tested the coupled analysis framework with a 17-by-17 fuel assembly loaded with the centrally-shielded burnable absorber (CSBA) fuel element. The temperature feedback effect on the material cross-section and the moderator density incurred negative reactivity in response to the external positive reactivity insertion, showing the inherent stability of the reactor system. The pin-wise power and temperature change during the system transient are presented and discussed. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fine Temperature Grid Continuous Energy Cross Section Generation for Monte Carlo Analysis of Xe-100 Design

The standard “A Compact ENDF (ACE)” data libraries used by Monte Carlo based reactor physics codes calculations are provided by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) with a temperature interval mostly of 300 K (e.g. 300 K, 600 K, 900 K) for the cross sections and between 100 K and 200 K for the thermal scattering libraries (TSL). However, some codes such as MCNP lack capability to perform on-the-fly temperature interpolation during simulation both for neutron and TSL cross-sections. To evaluate the impact related to Doppler broadening and spectrum shift associated with TSL changes, this paper explores the potential of adopting a temperature grid finer than the ones contained in the standard data libraries. A 50 K temperature grid was employed to quantify the error in neutronics calculations due to temperature grid resolution. This was achieved by comparing the results of this study (50 K temperature interval) against the results obtained with standard data libraries (>100 K temperature interval). While the adopted grid primarily relies on the ENDF/B-VII.1 library, for neutron cross-sections, it utilizes ENDF/B-VIII.0 library for TSL. The analyses confirmed that the accuracy of neutronics calculations is satisfactory when using a 50 K temperature grid. Notably, adopting a 50 K temperature grid, as opposed to standard libraries or coarser temperature grids, could lead to a difference of no more than a few hundred pcm in dk for both fresh fuel and burnt fuel. The most sensitive reaction type to the temperature grid was as expected identified as the capture cross-section of U-238.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1974

Correlation effects in the theory of combined Doppler and pressure broadening. I - Classical theory

An investigation is conducted of the combined effects of radiator-perturber collisions and radiator translational motion in the context of foreign gas broadening of optical transitions in neutral radiators. Questions concerning the speed-dependent collision frequency are considered and aspects of general theory are explored, taking into account the correlation function, the ensemble average, and the kinetic equation formalism. An elementary solution is discussed along with a one-perturber approximation, inverse power law model calculations, and a comparison with the Voigt profile.

Ward, J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Signal broadening in the laser Doppler velocimeter.

Critical review of a recent paper in which Denison, Stevenson, and Fox (1971) discussed the sources of spectral broadening in the laser Doppler velocimeter. It is pointed out that, in their discussion, the above-mentioned authors indicated that the spread in wave vectors of the incident and detected fields and the finite length of time a scattering center stayed in the sample volume each contributed separately and independently to the observed spectral width of the scattered radiation. This statement is termed incorrect, and it is shown that the two effects are one and the same.

Angus, J. C.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A near X-point charge exchange neutral spectroscopy (CENS) system for DIII-D

A 16 channel spectroscopy system has been installed on DIII-D to provide information about the energy distribution of the atomic neutrals using the Doppler shift and broadening of passive Balmer-α emission. Here, the lines of sight are dominantly in the toroidal direction, with tangencies near the lowest point on closed magnetic flux surfaces moving from the lower divertor upward into the confined plasma. This allows the system to provide details of the neutrals as they undergo various atomic physics processes while traveling upward from the lower divertor. The spectrally resolved measurements provide several advantages that complement typical optical filter based measurements of hydrogenic spectral lines. These include more direct measurements of the neutrals that fuel deeper in the plasma and capturing neutral velocity distribution information via the Doppler broadened and shifted line. In addition, the spectral separation of higher energy “thermal” neutrals and bright cold emission from the scrape-off layer allows for a more straightforward calculation of the underlying neutral densities based on the emission because of the dependence of the thermal emission on confined plasma properties that are approximately flux functions and well measured.

Atomic and molecular physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Wavelength modulation laser-induced fluorescence for plasma characterization

Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy is an essential tool for probing ion and atom velocity distribution functions (VDFs) in complex plasmas. VDFs carry information about the kinetic properties of species that is critical for plasma characterization. Accurate interpretation of these functions is challenging due to factors such as multicomponent distributions, broadening effects, and background emissions. Our research investigates the use of Wavelength Modulation (WM) LIF to enhance the sensitivity of VDF measurements. Unlike standard Amplitude Modulation (AM) methods, WM–LIF measures the derivative of the LIF signal. This approach makes variations in VDF shape more pronounced. VDF measurements with WM–LIF were investigated with both numerical modeling and experimental measurements. The developed model enables the generation of both WM and AM signals, facilitating comparative analysis of fitting outcomes. Experiments were conducted in a weakly collisional argon plasma with magnetized electrons and non-magnetized ions. Measurements of the argon ion VDFs employed a narrow-band tunable diode laser, which scanned the 4p 4 D 7/2 –3d 4 F 9/2 transition centered at 664.553 nm in vacuum. A lock-in amplifier detected the second harmonic WM signal, which was generated by modulating the laser wavelength with an externally controlled piezo-driven mirror of the diode laser. Finally, our findings indicate that the WM–LIF signal is more sensitive to fitting parameters, allowing for better identification of VDF parameters such as the number of distribution components, their temperatures, and velocities. In addition, WM–LIF can serve as an independent method to verify AM measurements and is particularly beneficial in environments with substantial light noise or background emissions, such as those involving thermionic cathodes and reflective surfaces.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Influence of Water, Vacuum, and Temperature on Surface Conditions of a Zeolite‐based Molecular Sieve

Molecular sieves such as zeolite-based materials are ubiquitous in industrial separation processes. However, there is a significant gap in understanding the surface properties and adsorption mechanisms for commercial zeolites, as most research focuses on pure zeolite powders rather than industrially relevant forms. Here, this work addresses this gap in understanding by employing advanced characterization techniques, including positron annihilation spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, liquid nitrogen sorption, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, to investigate the adsorption and desorption behavior of water in commercial zeolite 13X. Our research reveals insights into the pore-filling mechanisms, the impact of material binders on adsorption properties, and the dynamics of hydration and drying processes for zeolites. Monitoring changes on a minute scale allowed the distinction between fast and slow processes leading to sample drying. The identification of positronium bound to Na + ions indicated that water molecules remain in the vicinity of Na + ions after air-drying zeolite 13X. These findings highlight the importance of various environmental conditions in restoring zeolite properties to baseline after hydration, with significant implications for optimizing industrial processes. This work sets the direction for further research aimed at developing more efficient and robust separation techniques.

Beads Binder↗
DOE OSTI2021

Positron annihilation spectroscopy of defects in nuclear and irradiated materials- a review

Positron is the only probe that can detect individual atomic vacancies and small and large vacancy clusters induced by irradiation with remarkable sensitivity, providing information about their size, concentration, and chemical environment. The focus of this review article is to provide guidance to facilitate applications of positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) in irradiation-induced defect studies to advance the development of new radiation-tolerant materials. The principle of PAS, its techniques, and data analysis methods are described. PAS studies of defects in nuclear and irradiated materials are reviewed and discussed in depth. Future developments to advance PAS applications in nuclear materials research and studies of materials under extreme environments are presented.

Atomic scale defects↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measuring higher-order moments of neutron-time-of-flight data for cryogenic inertial confinement fusion implosions on OMEGA

Ion temperatures serve as an important diagnostic for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. In direct-drive ICF experiments on OMEGA, neutron-time-of-flight (nTOF) data are used to infer the ion temperature of the fusing plasma produced in the implosion experiment. The analysis of the nTOF data requires an assumption about the shape of the underlying source signal. Since the source nTOF signal is a near-replica of the neutron energy spectrum, an ideal Gaussian shape, corresponding to the neutron energy spectrum of a uniform temperature plasma, is routinely employed. However, spatial and temporal variations of the ion temperature in the plasma give rise to higher-order moments, which were first described by Munro [Nucl. Fusion 56, 036001 (2016)]. In this work, we show a simpler alternative analysis to derive moments of the neutron energy spectrum for a plasma with variations in ion temperature. We also present a revised analysis of measured nTOF signals that uses a model with an additional degree of freedom to take into account the effect of ion temperature variations on the shape of the spectrum. Compared to presently used nTOF analysis, the revised analysis yields on average ≈2× more accurate fits to the data and up to 15% higher ion temperatures for cryogenic experiments. As a result, we quantify the ion temperature inflation caused by radially symmetric fluid flows, which are present even in a symmetric implosion, and which serve as a lower bound on the ion temperature inflation in real implosions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Lifetime measurements of excited states in 15 O

The CNO cycle is the main energy source in stars more massive than our Sun, it defines the energy production and the cycle time that lead to the lifetime of massive stars, and it is an important tool for the determination of the age of globular clusters. One of the largest uncertainties in the CNO chain of reactions comes from the uncertainty in the 14 N(p,γ) 15 O reaction rate. This uncertainty arises predominantly from the uncertainty in the lifetime of the subthreshold state in 15 O at E x = 6792 keV. Previous measurements of this state's lifetime are significantly discrepant. Here, we report on a new lifetime measurement of this state, as well as the excited states in 15 O at E x = 5181 keV and E x = 6172 keV, populated via the 14 N(p,γ) 15 O reaction at proton energies of E p = 1020 keV and E p = 1570 keV. Furthermore, the lifetimes have been determined with the Doppler-Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) with three separate, nitrogen-implanted targets with Mo, Ta, and W backing. We obtained lifetimes from the weighted average of the three measurements, allowing us to account for systematic differences between the backing materials. For the 6792 keV state, we obtained a τ = 0.6 ± 0.4 fs. To provide cross-validation of our method, we measured the known lifetimes of the states at 5181 and 6172 keV to be τ = 7.5 ± 3.0 and τ = 0.7 ± 0.5 fs, respectively, in good agreement with previous measurements.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗
NASA NTRS1984

Line transfer in static and expanding spherical atmospheres

The integral-operator method is extended to line and continuum transfer calculations for static and expanding spherical radiating atmospheres. A relationship is defined between radiative transfer and the source function at particular optical depths. Linearized equations are developed for the mean intensity, monochromatic scattering, line transfer, and line transfer with absorption. Numerical solutions are obtained for each equation, as well as for background absorption and scattering, partial redistribution when the line source is frequency dependent, and line transfer in connection with the expansion velocity. Finally, a solution is found for spherical expansion in concert with partial redistribution and Doppler line broadening.

Avrett, E. H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Spaceborne Doppler Precipitation Radar: System Configurations and Performance Analysis

Knowledge of the global distribution of the vertical velocity of precipitation is important in in the study of energy transportation in the atmosphere, the climate and weather. Such knowledge can only be directly acquired with the use of spaceborne Doppler precipitation radars. Although the high relative speed of the radar with respect to the rainfall particles introduces significant broadening in the Doppler spectrum, recent studies have shown that the average vertical velocity can be measured to acceptable accuracy levels by appropriate selection of radar parameters. Furthermore, methods to correct for specific errors arising from NUBF effects and pointing uncertainties have recently been developed. In this paper we will present the results of the trade studies on the performances of a spaceborne Doppler radar with different system parameters configurations.

spaceborne radar↗