Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “HIGH ENERGY”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Exploring high-intensity laser-driven secondary sources via high-order spectral pulse shaping for high-energy-density experiments

We present here the results of an investigation that aims to explore the impact of spectral pulse shaping on the generation of high-energy electrons (>1 MeV) and x rays (∼5–9 keV) using a high-intensity (I∼10 21 W/cm 2 ) laser system. The study involved a systematic scan of a broad parameter space in group delay dispersion and third-order dispersion, with variations up to 4 × 10 3 fs −2 and 6 × 10 4 fs −3 , respectively, to identify optimal conditions for enhancing secondary source yields. Several spectral phase conditions were found to significantly enhance the generation of hot electrons and x rays by amounts reaching up to 50% relative to the transform-limited pulse. The experiment, conducted at the Scarlet laser facility (800 nm, 5 J, 30 fs) at the Ohio State University, highlights the potential of spectral pulse shaping as a powerful tool for tuning secondary laser-driven sources. These findings are particularly relevant for advancing brighter x-ray and electron probes for high-energy-density science.

Physics - Plasma physics↗
DOE OSTI2019

Solid-State Chemistries Stable with High-Energy Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In the pursuit of higher-energy-density lithium-ion batteries, one big challenge is the stability of high-capacity or high-voltage cathodes with electrolytes. An understanding of how different chemistries interact with high-energy cathodes is required to enable the rational design of coatings or solid electrolyte materials that offer long-term stability with the cathode. Herein, we systematically evaluated the thermodynamic stability among a broad range of solid-state chemistries with common cathodes. Our thermodynamic analyses confirmed that the strong reactivity of lithiated and delithiated cathodes greatly limits the possible choice of materials that are stable with the cathode under voltage cycling. Our computation reaffirmed previously demonstrated coating and solid electrolyte chemistries and suggested several new stable chemistries. In particular, the lithium phosphates and lithium ternary fluorides, which have high oxidation limits, are promising solid-state chemistries stable with high-voltage cathodes. Our research offers guiding principles for selecting materials with long-term stability with high-energy cathodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Higgs boson width and couplings at high energy muon colliders with forward muon detection

We propose a novel method using the ZZ-fusion channel and forward muon detection at high energy muon colliders to address the challenge of the Higgs coupling-width degeneracy. Our approach enables inclusive Higgs rate measurement to 0.75% at 10 TeV muon collider, breaking the coupling-width degeneracy. Results indicate the potential to refine Higgs coupling to subpercent levels and estimate its total width within (–0.41%, +2.1%). Key insights include the effectiveness of forward muon tagging in signal-background separation despite broad recoil mass distribution due to muon energy reconstruction and beam energy spread. The study emphasizes the significance of muon rapidity coverage up to |η⁡(μ)| < 6, enhancing measurement precision. Our findings highlight the unique capabilities of high energy lepton colliders for model-independent Higgs coupling determination and lay the groundwork for future advancements in muon collider technology and Higgs physics research.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optical interferometry of high-energy nanosecond pin-to-pin discharges in atmospheric air

This paper describes the construction and application of an optical-frequency Michelson interferometer for measuring electron number density within high-energy, high-power nanosecond pin-to-pin discharges (>10 mJ pulse energy, >1 MW pulse power). A 21 mJ, 11 ns spark across a 3 mm pin-to-pin electrode gap was analyzed at 7 ns into the discharge to demonstrate the operation of the interferometer. A peak electron density of 2.3 × 10 17 cm −3 was observed at these conditions, and it was consistent with estimates of plasma channel resistance based on V–I measurements. This initial work paves the way for a larger parametric study of the spatial and temporal dynamics of electron number density in nanosecond pin-do-pin discharges under various conditions.

electron number density↗
DOE OSTI2022

Calibrating the scintillation and ionization responses of xenon recoils for high-energy dark matter searches

We report liquid xenon-based direct detection dark matter experiments have recently expanded their searches to include high-energy nuclear recoil events as motivated by effective field theory dark matter and inelastic dark matter interaction models, but few xenon recoil calibrations above 100 keV are currently available. In this work, we measured the scintillation and ionization yields of xenon recoils up to 426 keV. The experiment uses 14.1 MeV neutrons to scatter off xenon in a compact liquid xenon time projection chamber and produce quasimonoenergetic xenon recoils between 39 and 426 keV. We report the xenon recoil responses and their electric field dependence for recoil energies up to 306 keV; due to the low event statistics and the relatively mild field dependence, the yield values at higher energies are reported as the average of xenon responses for electric fields between 0.2 and 2.0 kV/cm. This result will enable xenon-based dark matter experiments to significantly increase their high-energy dark matter sensitivities by including energy regions that were previously inaccessible due to lack of calibrations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pair production of charged IDM scalars at high energy CLIC

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) was proposed as the next energy-frontier infrastructure at CERN, to study e ^+ + e ^- − collisions at three centre-of-mass energy stages: 380,GeV, 1.5,TeV and 3,TeV. The main goal of its high-energy stages is to search for the new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). The Inert Doublet Model (IDM) is one of the simplest SM extensions and introduces four new scalar particles: H ^\pm ± , A and H; the lightest, H, is stable and hence a natural dark matter (DM) candidate. A set of benchmark points is considered, which are consistent with current theoretical and experimental constraints and promise detectable signals at future colliders. Prospects for observing pair-production of the IDM scalars at CLIC were previously studied using signatures with two leptons in the final state. In the current study, discovery reach for the IDM charged scalar pair-production is considered for the semi-leptonic final state at the two high-energy CLIC stages. Full simulation analysis, based on the current CLIC detector model, is presented for five selected IDM scenarios. Results are then extended to the larger set of benchmarks using the Delphes fast simulation framework. The CLIC detector model for Delphes has been modified to take pile-up contribution from the beam-induced \gamma\gamma γ γ interactions into account, which is crucial for the presented analysis. Results of the study indicate that heavy, charged IDM scalars can be discovered at CLIC for most of the proposed benchmark scenarios, with very high statistical significance.

Klamka, Jan↗
DOE OSTI2023

High Energy Arcing Fault (HEAF) Photometrics 2022 Test Report

High Energy Arcing Faults (HEAFs) are hazardous events in which an electrical arc leads to the rapid release of energy in the form of heat, vaporized metal, and mechanical force. In Nuclear Power Plants, these events are often accompanied by loss of essential power and complicated shutdowns. To confirm the probabilistic risk analysis (PRA) methodology in NUREG/CR-6850, which was formulated based on limited observational data, the NRC led an international experimental campaign from 2014 to 2016. The results of these experiments uncovered an unexpected hazard posed by aluminum components in or near electrical equipment and the potential for unanalyzed equipment failures. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), in support of the NRC work, collaborated with NIST, BSI, KEMA, and NRC to support the full-scale HEAF test campaign in 2022. SNL provided high speed visible and infrared video/data of ten tests that collected data from HEAFs originated on copper and aluminum buses inside switchgears and bus ducts. Part of the SNL scope was to place cameras with high-speed data collection at different vantage points within the test facility to provide NRC a more complete and granular view of the test events.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characteristics of the Diffuse Astrophysical Electron and Tau Neutrino Flux with Six Years of IceCube High Energy Cascade Data

In this work, we report on the first measurement of the astrophysical neutrino flux using particle showers (cascades) in IceCube data from 2010-2015. Assuming standard oscillations, the astrophysical neutrinos in this dedicated cascade sample are dominated (~90%) by electron and tau flavors. The flux, observed in the sensitive energy range from 16 TeV to 2.6 PeV, is consistent with a single power-law model as expected from Fermi-type acceleration of high energy particles at astrophysical sources. We find the flux spectral index to be γ=2.53±0.07 and a flux normalization for each neutrino flavor of $\phi$ astro =1.66$_{-0.27}^{+0.25}$ at E 0 =100 TeV, in agreement with IceCube's complementary muon neutrino results and with all-neutrino flavor fit results. In the measured energy range we reject spectral indices γ≤2.28 at ≥3σ significance level. Because of high neutrino energy resolution and low atmospheric neutrino backgrounds, this analysis provides the most detailed characterization of the neutrino flux at energies below ~100 TeV compared to previous IceCube results. Results from fits assuming more complex neutrino flux models suggest a flux softening at high energies and a flux hardening at low energies (p value ≥0.06). The sizable and smooth flux measured below ~100 TeV remains a puzzle. In order to not violate the isotropic diffuse gamma-ray background as measured by the Fermi Large Area Telescope, it suggests the existence of astrophysical neutrino sources characterized by dense environments which are opaque to gamma rays.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Searching for superheavy decaying particles with ultra-high-energy neutrino observatories

If there exist unstable but long-lived relics of the early universe, their decays could produce detectable fluxes of gamma rays and neutrinos. In this paper, we point out that the decays of superheavy particles, m χ ≳ 10 10 GeV, would produce an enhanced flux of ultra-high-energy neutrinos through the processes of muon and pion pair production in the resulting electromagnetic cascades. These processes transfer energy from electromagnetic decay products into neutrinos, relaxing the constraints that can be derived from gamma-ray observations, and increasing the sensitivity of high-energy neutrino telescopes to superheavy particle decays. Taking this into account, we derive new constraints on long-lived superheavy relics from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, and from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. We find that IceCube-Gen2, and other next generation neutrino telescopes, will provide unprecedented sensitivity to the decays of superheavy dark matter particles and other long-lived relics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-energy synchrotron flares powered by strongly radiative relativistic magnetic reconnection: 2D and 3D PIC simulations

ABSTRACT The time evolution of high-energy synchrotron radiation generated in a relativistic pair plasma energized by reconnection of strong magnetic fields is investigated with 2D and 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The simulations in this 2D/3D comparison study are conducted with the radiative PIC code OSIRIS, which self-consistently accounts for the synchrotron radiation reaction on the emitting particles, and enables us to explore the effects of synchrotron cooling. Magnetic reconnection causes compression of the plasma and magnetic field deep inside magnetic islands (plasmoids), leading to an enhancement of the flaring emission, which may help explain some astrophysical gamma-ray flare observations. Although radiative cooling weakens the emission from plasmoid cores, it facilitates additional compression there, further amplifying the magnetic field B and plasma density n, and thus partially mitigating this effect. Novel simulation diagnostics utilizing 2D histograms in the n-B space are developed and used to visualize and quantify the effects of compression. The n-B histograms are observed to be bounded by relatively sharp power-law boundaries marking clear limits on compression. Theoretical explanations for some of these compression limits are developed, rooted in radiative resistivity or 3D kinking instabilities. Systematic parameter-space studies with respect to guide magnetic field, system size, and upstream magnetization are conducted and suggest that stronger compression, brighter high-energy radiation, and perhaps significant quantum electrodynamic effects such as pair production, may occur in environments with larger reconnection-region sizes and higher magnetization, particularly when magnetic field strengths approach the critical (Schwinger) field, as found in magnetar magnetospheres.

Schoeffler, K. M. (ORCID:0000000276447381)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Homogeneous, Micron-Scale High-Energy-Density Matter Generated by Relativistic Laser-Solid Interactions

Short-pulse, laser-solid interactions provide a unique platform for studying complex high-energy-density mat ter. We present the first demonstration of solid density, micron-scale keV plasmas uniformly heated by a high contrast, 400 nm laser at intensities up to 2×10 21 W/cm 2 . High-resolution spectral analysis of X-ray emission reveals uniform heating up to 3.0 keV over 1 µm depths. Particle-in-cell simulations indicate the production of a uniformly heated keV plasma to depths of 2 µm. The significant bulk heating and presence of highly-ionized ions deep within the target are attributed to the few MeV hot electrons that become trapped and undergo refluxing within the target sheath fields. In conclusion, these conditions enable the differentiation of atomic physics models such as ionization potential depression in high energy density environments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Testing emission models on the extreme blazar 2WHSP J073326.7+515354 detected at very high energies with the MAGIC telescopes

ABSTRACT Extreme high-energy-peaked BL Lac objects (EHBLs) are an emerging class of blazars. Their typical two-hump-structured spectral energy distribution (SED) peaks at higher energies with respect to conventional blazars. Multiwavelength (MWL) observations constrain their synchrotron peak in the medium to hard X-ray band. Their gamma-ray SED peaks above the GeV band, and in some objects it extends up to several TeV. Up to now, only a few EHBLs have been detected in the TeV gamma-ray range. In this paper, we report the detection of the EHBL 2WHSP J073326.7+515354, observed and detected during 2018 in TeV gamma rays with the MAGIC telescopes. The broad-band SED is studied within an MWL context, including an analysis of the Fermi-LAT data over 10 yr of observation and with simultaneous Swift-XRT, Swift-UVOT, and KVA data. Our analysis results in a set of spectral parameters that confirms the classification of the source as an EHBL. In order to investigate the physical nature of this extreme emission, different theoretical frameworks were tested to model the broad-band SED. The hard TeV spectrum of 2WHSP J073326.7+515354 sets the SED far from the energy equipartition regime in the standard one-zone leptonic scenario of blazar emission. Conversely, more complex models of the jet, represented by either a two-zone spine-layer model or a hadronic emission model, better represent the broad-band SED.

Acciari, V. A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cryomodules for LCLS-II High Energy

1.3 GHz cryomodules for LCLS-II High Energy (HE) at SLAC will utilize the proven design from LCLS-II. There will be a number of small changes to capture the as-built design for LCLS-II and optimize assembly, but the overall design concept is the same.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

New directions for surrogate models and differentiable programming for High Energy Physics detector simulation

The computational cost for high energy physics detector simulation in future experimental facilities is going to exceed the current available resources. To overcome this challenge, new ideas on surrogate models using machine learning methods are being explored to replace computationally expensive components. Additionally, differentiable programming has been proposed as a complementary approach, providing controllable and scalable simulation routines. In this document, new and ongoing efforts for surrogate models and differential programming applied to detector simulation are discussed in the context of the 2021 Particle Physics Community Planning Exercise (`Snowmass').

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Infrared MBE-Grown HgCdTe Focal Plane Arrays and Cameras After High Energy Neutron Irradiation

HgCdTe is one of the most important materials for the fabrication of infrared detectors and focal plane arrays (FPAs) deployed in environments where high-energy particles, such as protons and neutrons, are present. We designed and fabricated HgCdTe-based FPAs that can be used in high neutron radiation environments and we measured their characteristics. The influence of the radiation on the infrared FPAs and cameras is investigated. HgCdTe material and devices are capable of maintaining high performances in a high energy neutron irradiation environment. For MWIR FPA directly facing a $2.59 × 10^8$ n/cm$^2$ s neutron flux beam (with the highest energy 66 MeV) for 1 h, the noise equivalent differential temperature (NEDT) increased ~8 times after irradiation. However, NEDT decreased to 33 mK (compared to the original value of 21 mK) after one warming-up (to room temperature) and cooling-down cycle. The NEDT for the MWIR FPAs mounted parallel to the beam did not degrade (16 mK and 28 mK before irradiation, changed to 18 mK and 26 mK after irradiation, respectively).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Report on High Energy Arcing Fault Experiments

This report documents an experimental program designed to investigate High Energy Arcing Fault (HEAF) phenomena for medium voltage electrical switchgear containing aluminum conductors. This report covers full-scale laboratory experiments using representative nuclear power plant (NPP) three-phase electrical equipment. Electrical, thermal, and pressure data were recorded for each experiment and documented in this report. This report covers four of the fourteen planned medium voltage electrical enclosure experiments. Subsequent reports will document the additional experiments performed in the future. The experiments were performed at KEMA Labs located in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. The experimental design, setup, and execution were completed by staff from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and KEMA. In addition, representatives from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) observed some of the experimental setups and execution. The HEAF experiments were performed on four near-identical units of General Electric metal-clad medium voltage switchgear. The three-phase arcing fault was initiated on the primary cable connection bus. All four experiments used the same system voltage (6.9 kV) but varied the current and duration. Real-time electrical operating conditions, including voltage, current and frequency, were measured during the experiments. Heat fluxes and incident energies were measured with plate thermometers and slug calorimeters at various locations around the electrical enclosures. Internal enclosure pressures were measured during the experiments. The experiments were documented with normal and high-speed videography, infrared imaging, and photography. Insights from the experimental series included timing information related to enclosure breach, event progression, mass loss measurements for electrodes and steel enclosures, peak pressure rise, particle analysis, along with visual and thermal imaging data to better understand and characterize the hazard. These results will be used in subsequent efforts to advance the state of knowledge related to HEAF.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

EXPLORING THE STRUCTURE OF GLASS-FORMING LIQUIDS USING HIGH ENERGY X-RAY DIFFRACTION, CONTAINERLESS METHODOLOGY AND STATE-OF-THE-ART MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION

High energy X-ray diffraction can be combined with containerless techniques to provide information on the atomic arrangements in glass-forming liquids in stable and metastable regimes. The high incident energies provide bulk diffraction data to high values of scattering vector which enables significantly more robust analysis of the local and medium-range order that influences important physical properties such as viscosity and crystal nucleation. These combined techniques have been applied to a range of oxide liquids. In this contribution we illustrate addition of further dimensions to phase space by controlling the partial pressure of oxygen that permits the study liquids containing iron. The advantages of rapid data acquisition are also demonstrated in a study of tellurite glass-forming systems where a transition from ergodic to non-ergodic regimes in the deeply supercooled liquid is shown. Finally we demonstrate how descriptions of the liquid structure can be developed by combining HEXRD with molecular dynamics simulations.

containerless techniques↗
DOE OSTI2023

Suppressing Universal Cathode Crossover in High‐Energy Lithium Metal Batteries via a Versatile Interlayer Design**

Abstract The universal cathode crossover such as chemical and oxygen has been significantly overlooked in lithium metal batteries using high‐energy cathodes which leads to severe capacity degradation and raises serious safety concerns. Herein, a versatile and thin (≈25 μm) interlayer composed of multifunctional active sites was developed to simultaneously regulate the Li deposition process and suppress the cathode crossover. The as‐induced dual‐gradient solid‐electrolyte interphase combined with abundant lithiophilic sites enable stable Li stripping/plating process even under high current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Moreover, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron X‐ray experiments revealed that N‐rich framework and CoZn dual active sites can effectively mitigate the undesired cathode crossover, hence significantly minimizing Li corrosion. Therefore, assembled lithium metal cells using various high‐energy cathode materials including LiNi 0.7 Mn 0.2 Co 0.1 O 2 , Li 1.2 Co 0.1 Mn 0.55 Ni 0.15 O 2 , and sulfur demonstrate significantly improved cycling stability with high cathode loading.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗