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At least 235 records · Page 13

CSEM, BHP, Salinity, Flow-Rate, Fiber, and Tilt Data Collected in Jan. 2022 for Proj. DE-FE0031785

This dataset consists of four directories: first directory named as EM for the controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey data that are zipped per day for January 18-21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, 2022; second directory named as "Fiber" for the fiber optic slow-strain and microseismic data that are zipped per well; the third file that contains bottomhole pressure (BHP) and salinity and pump flow rate data during the CSEM surveys; and the fourth file that contained tiltmeter data.

CSEM↗

Center for the Study of Plasma Microturbulence

We have discovered a possible "natural fueling" mechanism in tokamak fusion reactors using large scale gyrokinetic turbulence simulation. In the presence of a heat flux dominated tokamak plasma, cold ions naturally pinch radially inward. If cold DT fuel is introduced near the edge using shallow pellet injection, the cold fuel will pinch inward, at the expense of hot helium ash going radially outward. By adjusting the cold DT fuel concentration, the core DT density profiles can be maintained. We have also shown that cold source ions from edge recycling of cold neutrals are pinched radially inward. This mechanism may be important for fully understanding the edge pedestal buildup after an ELM crash. Work includes benchmarking the gyrokinetic turbulence codes in the electromagnetic regime. This includes cyclone base case parameters with an increasing plasma beta. The code comparisons include GEM, GYRO and GENE. There is good linear agreement between the codes using the Cyclone base case, but including electromagnetics and scanning the plasma beta. All the codes have difficulty achieving nonlinear saturation as the kinetic ballooning limit is approached. GEM does not saturate well when beta gets above about 1/2 of the ideal ballooning limit. We find that the lack of saturation is due to the long wavelength k{sub y} modes being nonlinearly pumped to high levels. If the fundamental k{sub y} mode is zeroed out, higher values of beta nonlinearly saturate well. Additionally, there have been studies to better understand CTEM nonlinear saturation and the importance of zonal flows. We have continued our investigation of trapped electron mode (TEM) turbulence. More recently, we have focused on the nonlinear saturation of TEM turbulence. An important feature of TEM is that in many parameter regimes, the zonal flow is unimportant. We find that when zonal flows are unimportant, zonal density is the dominant saturation mechanism. We developed a simple theory that agrees with the simulation and predicts zonal density generation and feedback stabilization of the most unstable mode even in the absence of zonal flow. We are using GEM to simulate NSTX discharges. We have also done verification and validation on DIII-D. Good agreement with GYRO and DIII-D flux levels were reported in the core region.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Reactor Power Level Estimation by Fusing Multi-Modal Sensor Measurements

Estimates of the power level of a nuclear reactor based on measurements from an independent monitoring sensor system can help in the compliance verification of its declared operations. We present a three-level fusion method to estimate the power level of a nuclear reactor using features derived from infrared, electromagnetic, and acoustic sensor measurements collected in proximity to the reactor. Based on a simplified analytical model of the secondary coolant system of the reactor, we identify partial regression functions of the power level in terms of the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of coolant pipes, and the activity levels of four fans and four pumps, which are estimated as features from the sensor measurements. The power level estimator employs a combination of aggregate and complementary fusion steps at three levels to incorporate the multi-modal features in a structure that reflects the secondary cooling system and its partial regression functions. Using the measurements from a test campaign at an operational reactor, we show that this estimator achieves 3.47% or lower root mean square error under 5-fold cross validation. More generally, these results illustrate a progressive reduction in estimation error as additional modalities are appropriately incorporated, and that the fuser outperforms single modality features and their sub-combinations.

Rao, Nageswara↗

On second-harmonic generation in nonuniformly magnetized media

This paper presents a theoretical study of new effects of double-frequency optical signal generation in magnetic media with a nonuniform magnetization distribution. The study is based on the hydrodynamic approximation of the motion of conduction electrons in the field of an electromagnetic wave and equations for the mean electron spin. Within this approach, the mechanisms of the toroidal moment effect, which was experimentally discovered earlier in a system of magnetic particles with a vertical magnetization distribution as well as in a multilayered magnetic system (which is a collinear nonuniform magnetic system), are demonstrated. A new effect that appears due to the presence of equilibrium spin currents in a nonuniform magnetic system is studied in detail. This effect was predicted from the symmetry and can occur only in noncollinearly magnetized media. It is shown that this effect has a resonance nature with a resonance at a pump frequency equal to the plasma frequency of conduction electrons. Estimates of the susceptibility at the double frequency for the parameters of nickel and the typical scale of variation in the magnetization, which is equal to 10 nm, show that the susceptibility near the frequency of the plasma resonance at the chosen parameters is on the order of 10{sup –9} esu, which holds up a hope of the experimental detection of this effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Josephson Fluxonic Diode as a Pixel with Radiation Pumping of Fluxons in Gigahertz Imaging Systems

Josephson fluxonic diode (JFD) has been studied and applied for gigahertz (GHz) imaging using the principle of generation of fluxons by an irradiated standing wave at gigahertz frequencies. In this device, the creation, movement, and dynamics of fluxon and anti-fluxon pairs as the magnetic field carriers in JFD have been examined in two separate modes of operation including forward and reverse bias. In both modes, the high nonlinearity feature is used for electromagnetic radiation detection. To verify this capability, an experimentally fabricated JFD based on Nb/AlO{sub x}/Nb trilayer technology has been deployed without being coupled to any patterned antenna or frontal optics. Also, the junction design parameters and DC biasing values have accordingly been chosen to achieve the best sensitivity to gigahertz radiations. As a result, the device well respond to the specified frequency, and an image is acquired at 71 GHz which proves the potential application of JFD as a pixel of the millimeter wave imaging systems with the direct detection mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Research investigation directed toward extending the useful range of the electromagnetic spectrum

The lifetimes and fine structure of He(-) were studied using time-of-flight techniques and quenching by a static axial magnetic field. Using level-crossing spectroscopy the hyperfine constants A and B and the lifetime of the 3 2P3/2 state of Li-7 were measured. Polarization of the Ru 7S level was created as a first step in determining the hyperfine structure of the alkali excited S state. The parametric interaction between light and microwaves in optically pumped Rb-87 vapor were investigated. Measurements and analyses of transitions in formaldehyde and its isotopic species and in the lowest two excited vibrational states of H2CO were also made, as well as of transitions in furan, pyrrole, formic acid, and cyanoacetylene. The Hanle effect was studied in the NO molecule, and RF oscillators were developed with flat, wideband output to observe excited state hyperfine transitions at zero field. Data was generated on the time-dependent behavior of photon echoes in ruby. Stimulated Raman scattering was studied in atomic Tl vapor. A Q switched, temperature-tuned ruby laser was developed which operates between 6934 and 6938 A. The frequency shift due to resonant interaction between identical radiating atoms was calculated.

Hartmann, S. R.↗

High vacuum facility for hydrazine thruster testing

An ongoing modification is described of a large vacuum chamber to accommodate the ignition of an arcjet hydrazine thruster while maintaining a vacuum level of 1 x 10(exp -5) torr or less. The vacuum facility consists of a 20 ft stainless steel vacuum tank with an internal LN2 shroud, four 35 in. cryopumps and an 8 in. turbopump. To maintain a vacuum level of 1 x 10(exp -5) torr or less, 900 sq ft of liquid helium (LHe) shroud surface was installed to maintain the vacuum level and pumping requirements. A vacuum level of 1 x 10(exp -5) torr or less will allow the hydrazine thrust to exit the thruster nozzle and radiate into a space type environment so that the plume flow field can be analyzed and compared to the analytical model density distribution profile. Some other arcjet thruster characteristics measured are the electromagnetic interference (EMI) and exhaust contamination. This data is used to evaluate if the arcjet thruster with its high specific impulse in comparison to current chemical propulsion thruster can be used for the next generation of communication satellites.

Neary, Patrick F.↗

A high-power, high-repetition-rate THz source for pump–probe experiments at Linac Coherent Light Source II

Experiments using a THz pump and an X-ray probe at an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facility like the Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS II) require frequency-tunable (3 to 20 THz), narrow bandwidth (~10%), carrier-envelope-phase-stable THz pulses that produce high fields (>1 MV cm –1 ) at the repetition rate of the X-rays and are well synchronized with them. Herein, a two-bunch scheme to generate THz radiation at LCLS II is studied: the first bunch produces THz radiation in an electromagnet wiggler immediately following the LCLS II undulator that produces X-rays from the second bunch. The initial time delay between the two bunches is optimized to compensate for the path difference in THz transport. The two-bunch beam dynamics, the THz wiggler and radiation are described, as well as the transport system bringing the THz pulses from the wiggler to the experimental hall.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Four-channel optically pumped magnetometer for a magnetoencephalography sensor array

We present a novel four-channel optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) for magnetoencephalography that utilizes a two-color pump/probe scheme on a single optical axis. We characterize its performance across 18 built sensor modules. The new sensor implements several improvements over our previously developed sensor including lower vapor-cell operating temperature, improved probe-light detection optics, and reduced optical power requirements. The sensor also has new electromagnetic field coils on the sensor head which are designed using stream-function-based current optimization. We detail the coil design methodology and present experimental characterization of the coil performance. The magnetic sensitivity of the sensor is on average 12.3 fT/rt-Hz across the 18 modules while the average gradiometrically inferred sensitivity is about 6.0 fT/rt-Hz. The sensor 3-dB bandwidth is 100 Hz on average. The on-sensor coil performance is in good agreement with the simulations.

Iivanainen, Joonas (ORCID:0000000160344604)↗

Design of a hydraulic actuator for active control of rotating machinery

A hydraulic actuator is described which consists of a pump, a hydraulic servo-valve, and a thin elastic plate which transduces the generated pressure variations into forces acting on a mass which simulates the bearing of a rotor system. An actuator characteristic number is defined to provide a base for an optimum design of force actuators with combined weight, frequency, and force considerations. This characteristic number may also be used to compare hydraulic and electromagnetic force actuators. In tests, this actuator generated 182.3 Newton force at a frequency of 100 Hz and a displacement amplitude of 5.8 x 10 exp -5 meter.

Rashidi, Majid↗

Non-equilibrium radiation nuclear reactor

An externally moderated thermal nuclear reactor is disclosed which is designed to provide output power in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The reactor is a gaseous fueled nuclear cavity reactor device which can operate over wide ranges of temperature and pressure, and which includes the capability of processing and recycling waste products such as long-lived transuranium actinides. The primary output of the device may be in the form of coherent radiation, so that the reactor may be utilized as a self-critical nuclear pumped laser.

Thom, K.↗

Cryogenic Hybrid Magnetic Bearing

Cryogenic hybrid magnetic bearing is example of class of magnetic bearings in which permanent magnets and electromagnets used to suspend shafts. Electromagnets provide active control of position of shaft. Bearing operates at temperatures from -320 degrees F (-196 degrees C) to 650 degrees F (343 degrees C); designed for possible use in rocket-engine turbopumps, where effects of cryogenic environment and fluid severely limit lubrication of conventional ball bearings. This and similar bearings also suitable for terrestrial rotating machinery; for example, gas-turbine engines, high-vacuum pumps, canned pumps, precise gimbals that suspend sensors, and pumps that handle corrosive or gritty fluids.

Meeks, Crawford R.↗

A research program to measure the lifetime of spin polarized fuel

The use of spin polarized fuel could increase the deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion cross section by a factor of 1.5 and, owing to alpha heating, increase the fusion power by an even larger factor. Issues associated with the use of polarized fuel in a reactor are identified. Theoretically, nuclei remain polarized in a hot fusion plasma. The similarity between the Lorentz force law and the Bloch equations suggests polarization can be preserved despite the rich electromagnetic spectrum present in a magnetic fusion device. The most important depolarization mechanisms can be tested in existing devices. The use of polarized deuterium and 3 He in an experiment avoids the complexities of handling tritium, while encompassing the same nuclear reaction spin-physics, making it a useful proxy to study issues associated with full D-T implementation. 3 He fuel with 65% polarization can be prepared by permeating optically-pumped 3 He into a shell pellet. Dynamically polarized 7 Li-D pellets can achieve 70% vector polarization for the deuterium. Cryogenically-frozen pellets can be injected into fusion facilities by special injectors that minimize depolarizing field gradients. Alternatively, polarized nuclei could be injected as a neutral beam. Once injected, the lifetime of the polarized fuel is monitored through measurements of escaping charged fusion products. Multiple experimental scenarios to measure the polarization lifetime in the DIII-D tokamak and other magnetic-confinement facilities are discussed, followed by outstanding issues that warrant further study.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Megawatt Electromagnetic Plasma Propulsion

The NASA Glenn Research Center program in megawatt level electric propulsion is centered on electromagnetic acceleration of quasi-neutral plasmas. Specific concepts currently being examined are the Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster and the Pulsed Inductive Thruster (PIT). In the case of the MPD thruster, a multifaceted approach of experiments, computational modeling, and systems-level models of self field MPD thrusters is underway. The MPD thruster experimental research consists of a 1-10 MWe, 2 ms pulse-forming-network, a vacuum chamber with two 32 diffusion pumps, and voltage, current, mass flow rate, and thrust stand diagnostics. Current focus is on obtaining repeatable thrust measurements of a Princeton Benchmark type self field thruster operating at 0.5-1 gls of argon. Operation with hydrogen is the ultimate goal to realize the increased efficiency anticipated using the lighter gas. Computational modeling is done using the MACH2 MHD code, which can include real gas effects for propellants of interest to MPD operation. The MACH2 code has been benchmarked against other MPD thruster data, and has been used to create a point design for a 3000 second specific impulse (Isp) MPD thruster. This design is awaiting testing in the experimental facility. For the PIT, a computational investigation using MACH2 has been initiated, with experiments awaiting further funding. Although the calculated results have been found to be sensitive to the initial ionization assumptions, recent results have agreed well with experimental data. Finally, a systems level self-field MPD thruster model has been developed that allows for a mission planner or system designer to input Isp and power level into the model equations and obtain values for efficiency, mass flow rate, and input current and voltage. This model emphasizes algebraic simplicity to allow its incorporation into larger trajectory or system optimization codes. The systems level approach will be extended to the pulsed inductive thruster and other electrodeless thrusters at a future date.

Gilland, James↗

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves stimulated by modest magnetospheric compressions

AMPTE/CCE magnetic field and particle data are used to test the suggestion that increased hot proton temperature anisotropy resulting from convection during magnetospheric compression is responsible for the enhancement in Pc 1 emission via generation of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the dayside outer equatorial magnetosphere. The relative increase in magnetic field is used to gauge the strength of the compression, and an image dipole model is used to estimate the motion of the plasma during compression. Proton data are used to analyze the evolution of the proton distribution and the corresponding changes in EMIC wave activity expected during the compression. It is suggested that enhancements in dynamic pressure pump the energetic proton distributions in the outer magnetosphere, driving EMIC waves. Waves are expected to be generated most readily close to the magnetopause, and transient pressure pulses may be associated with bursts of EMIC waves, which would be observed on the ground in association with ionospheric transient signatures.

Anderson, B. J.↗

Enhancement of terahertz fields in LiTaO 3 waveguides using a conical pulse front

The development of methods for the generation of strong ultrafast electromagnetic pulses in the terahertz (THz) spectral range has led to a surge of progress in nonlinear THz spectroscopy and THz control of molecular and collective responses. For spectroscopy in the 1-THz range, the submillimeter wavelengths and associated large spot sizes, large optical elements, and short distances between final focusing elements and samples can lead to cumbersome experimental setups that are incompatible with some sample environments. Here, we introduce a novel terahertz ring excitation (TREx) optical pumping geometry to generate superposing, focusing fields in planar THz waveguides made out of the electro-optic material lithium tantalate. High THz fields, >175 kV/cm, are generated and measured optically with no free-space THz propagation. The field level achieved by pumping with a sequence of concentric rings of excitation light exceeds by about 20× the result of a single cylindrically focused line of pump light that has been used routinely in previous work. The technique opens new prospects for compact waveguide-based linear and nonlinear THz spectroscopy and signal processing.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Geomechanical and Hydrogeological Evaluation of a Shallow Hydraulic Fracture at the Devine Fracture Pilot Site, Medina County, Texas

UT-Austin’s Devine Fracture Pilot Site, 50 miles southwest of San Antonio, Texas, has been targeted for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary development of fracture diagnostic techniques that are cross-validated by ground-truth data acquisition near a recently created, 175-ft-deep, horizontal hydraulic fracture (Ahmadian et al. 2018 Demonstration of proof of concept of electromagnetic geophysical methods for high resolution illumination of induced fracture networks. In Proceedings of the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 23–25 January 2018. SPE-189858-MS.). To evaluate the fracture diagnostic methods at this site, we conducted injection tests with a predefined volumetric flow-rate profile, resembling a diagnostic fracture injection test on September 2020. Subsequently, we developed hydrogeological and geomechanical models based on flow-rate and bottomhole-pressure measurements. History-matching efforts using a simplified layer-cake hydrogeological model resulted in the field-scale formation permeability of 9.87 × 10 –15 m 2 (10 mD) and Darcy-scale fracture permeability. The analysis of the bottomhole pressure and injection-rate history showed that (1) the newly created horizontal fracture was closed adjacent to the injection well pre-injection and (2) the initial pump-pressure increase at a nominal volumetric injection rate led to near-well fracture reopening, fluid conductivity increase, and abrupt injection-rate increase. To overcome hydrogeological-model limitations of predicting fracture reopening throughout injection, we extended the modeling to a finite-element, poroelastic analysis of horizontal-fracture growth using a cohesive-zone model. Using this fracture-reopening model, we improved the history match of the transient-pressure response during the experiment by adjusting the hydromechanical properties. Furthermore, post-injection pressure transient analyses helped reduce uncertainty in the overburden-stress gradient, and the initial hydraulic-fracturing simulation verified the plausibility of achieving the surveyed propped fracture area.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Potential aerospace applications of high temperature superconductors

The recent discovery of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) with superconducting transition temperature, T(sub c), above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen has opened the door for using these materials in new and practical applications. These materials have zero resistance to electric current, have the capability of carrying large currents and as such have the potential to be used in high magnetic field applications. One of the space applications that can use superconductors is electromagnetic launch of payloads to low-earth-orbit. An electromagnetic gun-type launcher can be used in small payload systems that are launched at very high velocity, while sled-type magnetically levitated launcher can be used to launch larger payloads at smaller velocities. Both types of launchers are being studied by NASA and the aerospace industry. The use of superconductors will be essential in any of these types of launchers in order to produce the large magnetic fields required to obtain large thrust forces. Low Temperature Superconductor (LTS) technology is mature enough and can be easily integrated in such systems. As for the HTS, many leading companies are currently producing HTS coils and magnets that potentially can be mass-produced for these launchers. It seems that designing and building a small-scale electromagnetic launcher is the next logical step toward seriously considering this method for launching payloads into low-earth-orbit. A second potential application is the use of HTS to build sensitive portable devices for the use in Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE). Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID's) are the most sensitive instruments for measuring changes in magnetic flux. By using HTS in SQUID's, one will be able to design a portable unit that uses liquid nitrogen or a cryocooler pump to explore the use of gradiometers or magnetometers to detect deep cracks or corrosion in structures. A third use is the replacement of Infra-Red (IR) sensor leads on Earth Orbit Systems (EOS) with HTS leads. IR detectors on these EOS missions are cooled to a 4.2K to improve their signal to noise ratio. They are connected to data acquisitions systems using manganin wires (low thermal conductors) to reduce the heat load on the cryogen. Replacing these wires with HTS leads will increase the lifetime of these missions by about 50 percent. This is a promising application that is ready for actual implementation on such systems. The analysis also show that an the number of IR detectors increase in larger EOS systems, substantial increase in the lifetime of each mission will be realized by using HTS leads instead of the manganin ones.

Selim, Raouf↗