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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

The coherent Cerenkov radiated power from a group of field-aligned test particles in a magnetoplasma

An expression is derived that describes the coherent Cerenkov radiated power from a group of test particles in a plasma medium moving parallel to a magnetic field. In this analysis, each particle has an arbitrary position and velocity along a field line and, as a consequence, both the spatial and temporal coherence of the radiation are considered. As an example, it is demonstrated that a monoenergetic electron beam consisting of small pulses can generate wave powers well above incoherent levels if the pulse spacing is comparable to an integer number of emission wavelengths. It is also shown that, if the beam particles have a velocity spread, Delta-V, the wave powers will decrease in time due to the reduced temporal coherence of the particle radiators, where this coherence scales as 1/Delta-V. This latter effect applies to any charged particle beam propagating in a magnetoplasma, because even an initially monoenergetic beam becomes thermalized by electrostatic wave-particle interactions reducing the radiated power.

Farrell, W. M.↗

Characterization of transverse electron pulse trains using RF powered traveling wave metallic comb striplines

Advancements in ultrafast electron microscopy have allowed elucidation of spatially selective structural dynamics. However, as the spatial resolution and imaging capabilities have made progress, quantitative characterization of the electron pulse trains has not been reported at the same rate. In fact, inexperienced users have difficulty replicating the technique because only a few dedicated microscopes have been characterized thoroughly. Systems replacing laser driven photoexcitation with electrically driven deflectors especially suffer from a lack of quantified characterization because of the limited quantity. The primary advantages to electrically driven systems are broader frequency ranges, ease of use and simple synchronization to electrical pumping. Here, we characterize the technical parameters for electrically driven UEM including the shape, size and duration of the electron pulses using low and high frequency chopping methods. At high frequencies, pulses are generated by sweeping the electron beam across a chopping aperture. For low frequencies, the beam is continuously forced off the optic axis by a DC potential, then momentarily aligned by a countering pulse. Using both methods, we present examples that measure probe durations of 2 ns and 10 ps for the low and high frequency techniques, respectively. Here, we also discuss how the implementation of a pulsed probe affects STEM imaging conditions by adjusting the first condenser lens.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-Speed, High-Resolution Time-to-Digital Conversion

This innovation is a series of time-tag pulses from a photomultiplier tube, featuring short time interval between pulses (e.g., 2.5 ns). Using the previous art, dead time between pulses is too long, or too much hardware is required, including a very-high-speed demultiplexer. A faster method is needed. The goal of this work is to provide circuits to time-tag pulses that arrive at a high rate using the hardwired logic in an FPGA - specifically the carry chain - to create what is (in effect) an analog delay line. High-speed pulses travel down the chain in a "wave." For instance, a pulse train has been demonstrated from a 1- GHz source reliably traveling down the carry chain. The size of the carry chain is over 10 ns in the time domain. Thus, multiple pulses will travel down the carry chain in a wave simultaneously. A register clocked by a low-skew clock takes a "snapshot" of the wave. Relatively simple logic can extract the pulses from the snapshot picture by detecting the transitions between logic states. The propagation delay of CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) logic circuits will differ and/or change as a result of temperature, voltage, age, radiation, and manufacturing variances. The time-to-digital conversion circuits can be calibrated with test signals, or the changes can be nulled by a separate on-die calibration channel, in a closed loop circuit.

Katz, Richard↗

Optical Spectrometer With a Pulse-to-Pulse Resolution for Terahertz and mm-Wave Signals

The development of ultra-compact particle accelerators and accelerator-based high-power THz generators are some of the top priorities for research and development programs around the world. These tools require the development of accelerating structures, operating in the mm-Wave and THz range, where diagnostics are not available or are insufficient. This article presents the design of a pulse-to-pulse THz spectrometer, primarily developed for diagnostics of accelerating structures and THz radiation sources. In particular, this spectrometer can be used to detect RF pulse shortening caused by vacuum breakdown and beam misalignment in THz accelerators, as well as for bunch length monitoring and radiation source diagnostics. The spectrometer is based on a diffraction grating and is capable of covering a frequency range where RF-based breakdown measurements are not possible. We have built and tested the first prototype with different sources in a frequency range of 0.1-1.0 THz. In this article, we present the physical design, supported numerical simulations, electronics development, and test results.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

On the Evolution of Localized Disturbances and their Spanwise Interactions Leading to Breakdown

Localized disturbances in a laminar boundary layer represent a more realistic model of transition than the extensively studies, two or quasi three-dimensional perturbations regardless of the fact if they evolve in a linear manner or not. Localized disturbances can originate by surface imperfections, insects or dust. The disturbances can be harmonic (i.e. containing a single frequency and a complete set of spanwise wave numbers) or Pulsed (i.e. containing a band of streamwise and spanwise wave numbers). At sufficiently low amplitudes localized disturbances behave according to a linear stability model. It is highly probably that in a natural transition process such localized disturbances will overslap and interact. These interactions could either delay transition because of a partial wave cancellation resulting in an attenuation of the disturbance, or adversely enhance it by promoting nonlinear interactions. The nonlinearity could be simply amplitude dependent or cause a triad resonance. Nonlinear processes in a wave packet lead to breakdown and to the formation of turbulent spots. When the amplitude of the harmonic disturbance saturates, nonlinear processes widen the band of the lower amplified frequencies adjacent to the frequency of excitation. Experimental results describing the spanwise interactions of harmonic and pulsed localized disturbances leading to breakdown will be presented and discussed. A comparison to the evolution and breakdown of a single localized disturbance will be provided.

Seifert, Avi↗

Characterization of the Elastic Constants of Unidirectional Laminates Using Oblique-Incidence Pulsed Data

From Intro: In this paper, wer apply the LLW (leaky Lamb Wave) technique to determine the stiffness constants of unnidirectional graphite/epoxy materials...In this paper, we describe a new technique which can be used to determine all five stiffness constants by analyzing the times-of-flight of the recorded reflected acoustic waves in a pulsed LLW experiment.

composites composite components ultrasonics ultras↗

Pulsed response of a traveling-wave tube

The consequence of frequency-domain multiple access (FDMA) channelization in a satellite communications system is that the ground- and space-based components are often required to operate at reduced output power to prevent the generation of distortions. However, the components of a time-division multiple access (TDMA) satellite system, such as a traveling-wave tube (TWT), can operate at the highest output power because the channelization technique is relatively insensitive to the distortions resulting from saturated operation. A Hughes 30-GHz TWT was tested to determine the suitability of such a device in a TDMA system. Testing was focused on the ability of the TWT to rise up to full power at the leading edge of TDMA bursts, which were simulated by a pulse train. A Wavetek model 8502A peak power meter was used to display and measure the pulsed signal waveform. Measurements of the TWT output signal rise time indicate that the TWT lengthened the rise time by 10 to 20 nsec. Imposing a modulator turn-on time that precedes the data burst by the TWT rise time is a logical approach to coordinating the traveling-wave tube amplifier and modulator specifications.

May, Brian D.↗

Accurate simulation of direct laser acceleration in a laser wakefield accelerator

In a laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA), an intense laser pulse excites a plasma wave that traps and accelerates electrons to relativistic energies. When the pulse overlaps the accelerated electrons, it can enhance the energy gain through direct laser acceleration (DLA) by resonantly driving the betatron oscillations of the electrons in the plasma wave. The traditional particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm, although often the tool of choice to study DLA, contains inherent errors due to numerical dispersion and the time staggering of the electric and magnetic fields. Furthermore, conventional PIC implementations cannot reliably disentangle the fields of the plasma wave and laser pulse, which obscures interpretation of the dominant acceleration mechanism. Here, a customized field solver that reduces errors from both numerical dispersion and time staggering is used in conjunction with a field decomposition into azimuthal modes to perform PIC simulations of DLA in an LWFA. Comparisons with traditional PIC methods, model equations, and experimental data show improved accuracy with the customized solver and convergence with an order-of-magnitude fewer cells. Furthermore, the azimuthal-mode decomposition reveals that the most energetic electrons receive comparable energy from DLA and LWFA.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Dynamic Bubbling Balanced Proactive CO 2 Capture and Reduction on a Triple-Phase Interface Nanoporous Electrocatalyst

The formation and preservation of the active phase of the catalysts at the triple-phase interface during CO 2 capture and reduction is essential for improving the conversion efficiency of CO 2 electroreduction toward value-added chemicals and fuels under operational conditions. Designing such ideal catalysts that can mitigate parasitic hydrogen generation and prevent active phase degradation during the CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR), however, remains a significant challenge. Herein, we developed an interfacial engineering strategy to build a new SnO x catalyst by invoking multiscale approaches. This catalyst features a hierarchically nanoporous structure coated with an organic F-monolayer that modifies the triple-phase interface in aqueous electrolytes, substantially reducing competing hydrogen generation (less than 5%) and enhancing CO 2 RR selectivity (~90%). This rationally designed triple-phase interface overcomes the issue of limited CO 2 solubility in aqueous electrolytes via proactive CO 2 capture and reduction. Concurrently, we utilized pulsed square-wave potentials to dynamically recover the active phase for the CO 2 RR to regulate the production of C1 products such as formate and carbon monoxide (CO). This protocol ensures profoundly enhanced CO 2 RR selectivity (~90%) compared with constant potential (~70%) applied at -0.8 V (V vs RHE). We further achieved a mechanistic understanding of the CO 2 capture and reduction processes under pulsed square-wave potentials via in situ Raman spectroscopy, thereby observing the potential-dependent intensity of Raman vibrational modes of the active phase and CO 2 RR intermediates. Finally, this work will inspire material design strategies by leveraging triple-phase interface engineering for emerging electrochemical processes, as technology moves toward electrification and decarbonization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pulse Response of the Short-Wave Infrared Detection System of the Ocean Color Instrument for the NASA Pace Mission

The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) on NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a hyperspectral Earth imager with a spatial resolution of 1 km x 1 km and a spectral resolution of 5 nm in 2.5 nm steps over 342-887 nm. In addition, OCI provides 7 discrete bands in the 940-2260 nm Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR) range. The front-end optical imager is a rotating mirror-based system that images the ground scene onto a slit with an instantaneous field of view of 16 km x 1 km. For the SWIR bands, the slit-image is re-imaged onto a 16x1 micro-lens array that effectively acts as the focal plane since each lens element is fiber coupled to wavelength filtered InGaAs and HgCdTe Photo Diodes (PDs). The pulse response of the detection system is critical to OCI SWIR performance. We find that PDs introduce an inherent slow tail in the pulse response due to slow diffusion moving carriers in their n and p regions. We show that this introduces response errors ranging from 1 down to 0.01 % for up to tens of science pixels after the pulse depending on the PD design and materials. It is shown that the response is distinctly different for the InGaAs and HgCdTe PDs. We explain how the front-end design can further increase this error. Finally, we detail the cause of the slow pulse response tail, how to model it, its impact on OCI performance and how it is characterized and corrected to meet OCI requirements.

ocean color↗

Pulse Response of the Short-Wave Infrared Detection System of the Ocean Color Instrument for the NASA PACE Mission

The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) on NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a hyperspectral Earth imager with a spatial resolution of 1 km x 1 km and a spectral resolution of 5 nm in 2.5 nm steps over 342-887 nm. In addition, OCI provides 7 discrete bands in the 940-2260 nm Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR) range. The front-end optical imager is a rotating mirror-based system that images the ground scene onto a slit with an instantaneous field of view of 16 km x 1 km. For the SWIR bands, the slit-image is re-imaged onto a 16x1 micro-lens array that effectively acts as the focal plane since each lens element is fiber coupled to wavelength filtered InGaAs and HgCdTe Photo Diodes (PDs). The pulse response of the detection system is critical to OCI SWIR performance. We find that PDs introduce an inherent slow tail in the pulse response due to slow diffusion moving carriers in their n and p regions. We show that this introduces response errors ranging from 1 down to 0.01 % for up to tens of science pixels after the pulse depending on the PD design and materials. It is shown that the response is distinctly different for the InGaAs and HgCdTe PDs. We explain how the front-end design can further increase this error. Finally, we detail the cause of the slow pulse response tail, how to model it, its impact on OCI performance and how it is characterized and corrected to meet OCI requirements.

ocean color↗

Influence of phase cancellation and pulse shape artifacts on ultrasonic spectrum analysis

Both continuous wave and Fourier transformed pulse ultrasonic spectroscopy are being applied to material and flow characterization. Ideal samples and flaws (flat, parallel, and homogeneous) and ideal ultrasonic apparatus (producing delta function stress waves) provide acoustic spectra which can be partially inverted. However, in the presence of material inhomogeneity, lack of sample flatness or parallelism, or finite risetime pulses, the spectra become quite complex and produce phase cancellations at the transducer as well as pulse shape spectral artifacts. In this paper, we examine the nature of these artifacts for both simple and practical samples. Sample spectra are contrasted for several different transducer/electronic systems. Spectra obtained with a phase insensitive acousto-electric transducer (AET) combined with a frequency tracked tone-burst spectroscopy (TBS) method are presented. Analysis of the test configuration is shown to produce spectra consistent with that obtained with the AET-TBS combination.

Heyman, J. S.↗

Ultra high resolution molecular beam cars spectroscopy with application to planetary atmospheric molecules

The measurement of high resolution pulsed and continuous wave (CW) coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) measurements in pulsed and steady state supersonic expansions were demonstrated. Pulsed molecular beam sources were characterized, and saturation of a Raman transition and, for the first time, the Raman spectrum of a complex molecular cluster were observed. The observation of CW CARS spectra in a molecular expansion and the effects of transit time broadening is described. Supersonic expansion is established as a viable technique for high resolution Raman spectroscopy of cold molecules with resolutions of 100 MH2.

Byer, R. L.↗

Laser Doppler technology applied to atmospheric environmental operating problems

Carbon dioxide laser Doppler ground wind data were very favorably compared with data from standard anemometers. As a result of these measurements, two breadboard systems were developed for taking research data: a continuous wave velocimeter and a pulsed Doppler system. The scanning continuous wave laser Doppler velocimeter developed for detecting, tracking and measuring aircraft wake vortices was successfully tested at an airport where it located vortices to an accuracy of 3 meters at a range of 150 meters. The airborne pulsed laser Doppler system was developed to detect and measure clear air turbulence (CAT). This system was tested aboard an aircraft, but jet stream CAT was not encountered. However, low altitude turbulence in cumulus clouds near a mountain range was detected by the system and encountered by the aircraft at the predicted time.

Weaver, E. A.↗

Pulse-burst spontaneous Raman thermometry of unsteady wave phenomena in a shock tube

A high-speed temperature diagnostic based on spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) was demonstrated using a pulse-burst laser. The technique was first benchmarked in near-adiabatic H 2 -air flames at a data-acquisition rate of 5 kHz using an integrated pulse energy of 1.0 J per realization. Both the measurement precision and accuracy in the flame were within 3% of adiabatic predictions. Furthermore, this technique was then evaluated in a challenging free-piston shock tube environment operated at a shock Mach number of 3.5. SRS thermometry resolved the temperature in post-incident and post-reflected shock flows at a repetition rate of 3 kHz and clearly showed cooling associated with driver expansion waves. Collectively, this Letter represents a major advancement for SRS in impulsive facilities, which had previously been limited to steady state regions or single-shot acquisition.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗