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At least 253 records · Page 14

Post-IOC space station: Models of operation and their implications for organizational behavior, performance and effectiveness

Issues of crew productivity during design work on space station are discussed. The crew productivity is defined almost exclusively in terms of human factors engineering and habitability design concerns. While such spatial environmental conditions are necessary to support crew performance and productivity, they are not sufficient to ensure high levels of crew performance and productivity on the post-Initial Operational Configurations (IOC) space station. The role of the organizational environment as a complement to the spatial environment for influencing crew performance in such isolated and confined work settings is examined. Three possible models of operation for post-IOC space station's organizational environment are identified and it is explained how they and space station's spatial environment will combine and interact to occasion patterns of crew behavior is suggested. A three phase program of research design: (1) identify patterns of crew behavior likely to be occasioned on post-IOC space station for each of the three models of operation; and (2) to determine proactive/preventative management strategies which could be adopted to maximize the emergence of preferred outcomes in crew behavior under each of the several spatial and organizational environment combinations.

Danford, S.↗

Stable and unstable tiling patterns formed by ABC miktoarm star triblock terpolymers of symmetric interactions

Several discrepancies exist among previous self-consistent field calculations of symmetrically interacting ABC miktoarm star triblock terpolymer melts. Here we address this issue by including all known tiling patterns, as well as several lamellar-type phases known to bound the regions in the parameter space occupied by these patterns. After carefully studying the effect of numerical parameters on the free-energy accuracy, the central region of the phase diagram is constructed in detail; both the (3.4.6.4) pattern and the three-dimensional phase of hierarchical-hexagonal lamellae are found to be stable for the first time. The energetic and entropic contributions to the free-energy density of several phases are analyzed and compared in detail to reveal their stability mechanisms, including the important ( 3 2 .4.3.4) pattern. Comparisons to previous studies of the same model system are present throughout, with our results resolving the aforementioned discrepancies and providing a sound basis for future work to build upon. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Materials Science↗

Probe corrected far-field reconstruction from measurements on a cylinder: A novel formulation and efficient algorithm

A novel and numerically efficient method of far field evaluation from measurements taken on a cylinder is based on the representation of both the antenna and the probe fields as superpositions of plane waves. A system of two integral equations are established whose unknown functions are the azimuthal and elevation components of the antenna pattern and whose known terms are the set of measurement data taken with two different probes - the second probe in most practical instances being simply the same probe with a different geometrical orientation. The equations express the known data - for each angular position of the antenna under measurement - as the integrals of the products of the corresponding components of the unknown antenna and known probe patterns multiplied by a phase term. The convolutional nature of the integral equations makes their solutions straight-forward. If, as is virtually always the case, the probe is small or of moderate size so that the axis of rotation of the antenna mount is in the far field of the probe, the intervention of asymptotic techniques makes the solution numerically very efficient. The agreement of calculated and experimental patterns is excellent.

Borgiotti, G. V.↗

WFSUITE: A PYTHON SOFTWARE SUITE FOR X-RAY WAVEFRONT SENDING AND AT-WAVELENGTH METROLOGY

SF-26-025 WFSuite is a graphical and command-line toolkit for coded-mask-based X-ray wavefront sensing and phase reconstruction at synchrotron beamlines. It integrates analysis tools for both relative and absolute speckle-based measurements. In the relative metrology module, WFSuite implements Wavelet-transform-based X-ray Speckle Tracking (WXST) and Wavelet-transform-based Speckle Vector Tracking (WSVT) methods to retrieve differential phase and wavefront distortions by comparing speckle patterns recorded with and without the test sample. In the absolute phase module, WFSuite uses coded-mask speckle patterns and replaces the measured reference with a numerically simulated one, enablingsingle-shot wavefront reconstruction using either WXST or a neural-network-based method (SPINNet).

Rebuffi, Luca [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), ↗

Single laser beam of spatial coherence from an array of GaAs lasers - Free-running mode

Spatially coherent radiation from a monolithic array of three GaAs lasers in a free-running mode is reported. The lasers, with their mirror faces antireflection coated, are operated in an external optical cavity built of spherical lenses and plane mirrors. The spatially coherent-beam formation makes use of the Fourier-transformation property of the internal lenses. Transverse mode control is accomplished by a spatial filter. The optical cavity is similar to that used for the phase-controlled mode of spatially coherent-beam formation; only the spatial filters are different. In the far field (when restored by an external lens), the intensities of the lasers in the array are concentrated in a single laser beam of spatial coherence, without any grating lobes. The far-field distribution of the laser array in the free-running mode differs significantly from the interference pattern of the phase-controlled mode. The modulation characteristics of the optical waveforms of the two modes are also quite different because modulation is related to the interaction of the spatial filter with the longitudinal modes of the laser array within the optical cavity. The modulation of the optical waveform of the free-running mode is nonperiodic, confirming that the fluctuations of the optical fields of the lasers are random.

Philipp-Rutz, E. M.↗

Longitudinal-mode control in integrated semiconductor laser phased arrays by phase velocity matching

The spectrum of semiconductor-laser arrays with separate contacts is investigated. It is demonstrated that the individual laser currents can be selected such that the array operates in a single longitudinal mode, in contrast to the multimode nature of its individual constituents. Moreover, it is possible to tune the lasing frequency by varying the laser currents. Wavelength tuning range of about 50 A, with tuning rate of about 5 A per milliampere, is demonstrated. It is suggested that these spectral features, characteristic of lasers which are coupled in parallel, result from the strong frequency dependence of their spatial mode pattern near the phase-matching frequency of their coupled waveguides.

Kapon, E.↗

Anti-Phase Vortex Reduction Control for Rotor Noise Suppression

An investigation is conducted in 2019 under the NASA Ames Center Innovation Funds (CIF) project entitled “Anti-Phase Vortex Reduction Control for Rotor Noise Suppression“ to experimentally validate an anti-phase rotor noise suppression concept. The first objective of the investigation is to conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the noise characteristics of several anti-phase rotor designs. The second objective is to conduct a series of acoustic tests of anti-phase rotors in an anechoic chamber at Pennsylvania State University (PSU) to evaluate the merit of the anti-phase rotor concept. The CFD investigation seeks to optimize the anti-phase alternating trailing edge patterns for rotor noise suppression. The design objective is to maximize the noise reduction while maintaining the aerodynamic thrust. The investigation is performed using a three-dimensional (3D) Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) commercial solver STAR-CCM+ together with the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) formula to obtain the aerodynamic thrust and far-field noise level. An acoustic study is conducted for 13 anti-phase design candidates based on a proprietary rotor design. The CAD geometry of the rotor is furnished by PSU. These design candidates include different alternating trailing edge (TE) waveforms, TE segment lengths, TE deflection amplitudes, and transition characteristics. The best design candidate among those explored is an anti-phase rotor that has a four-period TE waveform which results in a reduction in far-field noise level of 2.1 dB in the hover condition and a reduction of 1.1 dB in the forward flight condition at 9.7 m/s. A further acoustic study is conducted for a different rotor manufactured by APC. Five APC rotor design candidates are simulated. The best anti-phase design candidate for the APC rotor results in a reduction in far-field noise level of 4.0 dB in the hover condition. An in-phase design candidate is also studied. This in-phase design provides a noise reduction of 2.5 dB. A series of acoustic experiments in the PSU anechoic chamber have been conducted in July 2019 and October 2019. Both anti-phase and in-phase rotors fabricated for the left-hand and right-hand rotations are tested. In the hover condition, all the rotors do not provide sufficient evidence of improved acoustic performance. However, the experimental data in the hover condition are deemed to be inconclusive due to the flow recirculation in the anechoic chamber caused by the rotor downwash. In the forward flight condition at 9.7 m/s, the anti-phase right-hand rotor produces a noise reduction by as much as 6.5 dB in the frequency range of 2000-4000 Hz, while the in-phase right-hand rotor produces a noise reduction by as much as 5 dB in the same frequency range. Both the anti-phase and in-phase left hand rotors offer no evidence of noise reduction. The difference in the acoustic performance of the left-hand and right-hand rotors could be explained by the location of the microphone array which is placed to the left side of the rotors. This microphone array location could create a bias in the sound pressure level in favor of the right-hand rotor. Using the average noise reduction values, the anti-phase 4H rotor could offer a noise reduction by as much as 3.25 dB while the in-phase 4I rotor could produce up to a 2.5 dB noise reduction. Both the computational and experimental results have provided sufficient evidence to support the noise suppression capability of the proposed anti-phase rotor concepts.

Rotor noise↗

Revealing rotational symmetry breaking charge density wave order in the kagome superconductor (Rb, K)⁢V 3 ⁢Sb 5 by ultrafast pump-probe experiments

The recently discovered Kagome superconductor 𝐴⁢V 3 ⁢Sb 5 (where 𝐴 refers to K, Rb, Cs) has stimulated widespread research interest due to its interplay of nontrivial topology and unconventional correlated physics including charge-density waves (CDW) and superconductivity. The essential prerequisite to understanding the microscopic mechanisms of this complex electronic landscape is to unveil the configuration and symmetry of the charge-density wave order. As to now, little consensus has been made on what symmetry is broken. Herein, we clarify the microscopic structure and symmetry breaking of the CDW phase in RbV 3 ⁢Sb 5 and KV 3 ⁢Sb 5 by ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity. Our approach is based on extracting coherent phonon spectra induced by three-dimensional CDW and comparing them to calculated phonon frequencies via density-functional theory. The combination of these experimental results and calculations provides compelling evidence that the CDW structure of both compounds prevailing up to 𝑇 CDW is the 2 × 2 × 2 staggered inverse Star-of-David pattern with interlayer 𝜋 phase shift, in which the sixfold rotational symmetry is broken. Finally, these observations thus corroborate sixfold rotational symmetry breaking throughout the CDW phase of RbV 3 ⁢Sb 5 and KV 3⁢ Sb 5 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Trace Elemental Abundances in Calcium-Aluminum-Rich Inclusions in CV Chondrites

Introduction: Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), are the first formed solids that define the age of the Solar System [1,2]. CAIs are thought to have condensed from nebular gas [3,4] within the first <1 Ma of Solar System formation [5,6]. CAIs have experienced numerous early Solar System processes including condensation, evaporation, melting, recrystallization, and aqueous alteration [e.g., 7]. The chemical, mineralogical, and textural diversity among CAIs results from a range of chemical and physical processes recorded during nebular and parent body epoch. This study aims to explore the mineralogical, textural, and chemical compositions of CAIs including the trace elemental abundances in CAI phases to determine the early Solar System processes recorded in them. Samples and Analytical Methods: We analyzed one CAI each from CV3 chondrites Northwest Africa (NWA) 5508 designated as ‘Saguaro’, and Northwest Africa (NWA) 12772 designated as ‘Hoopoe’. Back-scatter electron (BSE) images were collected using a Phenom XL scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and the JEOL JXA-8530F electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) at Johnson Space Center (JSC)-NASA. Additionally, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) elemental maps of select areas for these samples were collected using a 15.0kV beam energy and a 40µA emission current. Using the EPMA, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) quantitative data were collected. In-situ trace element measurements for both CAIs were determined at JSC-NASA using a Photon Machines 193nm laser ablation system and a Thermo-Scientific Element-XR inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Analyses consisted of 30s ablations at 10Hz, spot sizes of 20-25µm, and a fluence of 6.0 J/cm2 for anorthite and melilite, and a 3.5 J/cm2 fluence for all other phases. NIST612 was used to correct for instrument drift, while BHVO-2g was used as a primary calibration standard. BCR-2g and in-house mineral standards were regularly measured as unknowns to ensure accuracy. Results: Saguaro is a coarse-grained CAI, ~11 x 6 mm in dimensions. Saguaro contains spinel, Al-rich pyroxene, anorthite, Mg-rich melilite, and minor perovskite in its interior and is therefore classified as a Type B CAI. Individual melilite grains shows normal compositional zoning with an Ak content ranging from ~24 to 54 with no apparent trend from the core to the edge of the CAI. The spinel appears euhedral and occurs both as clusters and as spinel palisades [8]. Two rim sequences surround most of the sample: the inner rim being a Wark-Lovering (WL) rim (~10-35 µm) containing pyroxene, spinel, and melilite (or anorthite), and the outer rim is a finer-grained, thicker (~100 µm), accretionary rim (Fig. 1). The mineral phases in Saguaro record an overall flat REE pattern with an average negative Eu anomaly in pyroxene, and an average positive Eu anomaly in anorthite and melilite respectively. Anorthite, melilite, and pyroxene have a minor depletion in Tm (Fig. 2). The Hoopoe CAI is a compact, coarse-grained ~6 × 4 mm in size. The major mineralogy includes hibonite, spinel, melilite, anorthite, and perovskite. Therefore, it is classified as a compact transitional type A and B. (?)zoning was observed in some hibonites. Individual melilite grains show both reverse and normal zoning, where the Ak content ranges from ~6- to 28. Melilite shows two distinct textures. One texture consisted of smooth melilite that appeared homogenous, while the second appeared to consist of many fine fractures. The spinel also often appears clustered. The WL-rim sequence surrounding Hoopoe is ~25 µm thick and composed of spinel, perovskite, hibonite, and melilite/anorthite. It is then partially surrounded by an outer accretionary rim (~75µm). Like before, refractory metal nuggets appeared concentrated near the WL rims. Other metal assemblages rich in Fe and Ni were also observed. All major mineral phases in Hoopoe display relatively flat REE patterns, except for varying Eu and Tm between phases (Fig. 2). There is a prominent negative Eu anomaly in perovskite and an average positive Eu anomaly in spinel, anorthite, and hibonite respectively (Fig. 2, 3). The mixed phases along the rim of the CAI also display a negative Eu anomaly, and all phases the CAI were depleted in Pb. Discussion: The CV3 CAIs analyzed in this study were classified based on their mineralogy and textures into Type A versus Type B CAIs [10]. Hibonite appears to be pseudomorphically replacing the spinel, (i.e., is hibonite in composition, but appears in the shape of spinel). Spinel palisades. The presence of spinel palisades present in Saguaro are consistent with the melting and recrystallization experienced by this CAI. Trace elemental analyses. Saguaro and Hoopoe display similar trace element patterns to each other, with both appearing generally flat, with anomalies in Eu, and Tm. Melilite and anorthite display positive Eu anomalies in both CAIs, in addition to the hibonite in Hoopoe (Fig. 2). The phases that are depleted in Eu are pyroxene and perovskite in both Saguaro and Hoopoe, respectively (Fig. 3). Given that Eu is volatile in reducing environments [11], this could possibly indicate reducing conditions at the time anorthite and melilite crystallized, with the gas they formed from containing Eu. As these CAIs continued to form, this gas as a result would become depleted in Eu. This also could be supported by the propensity of anorthite and melilite to take up Eu from its surroundings and incorporate it into their structure [12]. In addition, analyzing the assemblage of the phases in the Saguaro, melilite and anorthite (Eu enriched) often surround the pyroxene (Eu depleted) as they are crystallized. This intergrowth of phases and the proximity of the phases would support that the Eu is being incorporated into some phases, preventing it from incorporating into other. Trace elemental analyses of the CAI rims will be evaluated in more detail, as they are complicated by the transient signal being composed of a mixture of mineral phases. Broadly, however, the patterns in the rims of both CAIs are comparable to each other, and for Hoopoe, to the mixed phase patterns in the core (Fig. 3). Other studies have found that CAI rims can be depleted in Ce and Yb [13], however we did not observe these anomalies in the two CAIs discussed here. Given their similarity, the trace elemental analyses of the mixed interior (i.e. core) and rim phases could be interpreted as forming from similar, if not the same, reservoirs. The REE abundance between the rim and core of Hoopoe are also similar, indicating they may have formed from a gas of the same or similar composition. Acknowledgments: We thank the ASU Center for Meteorite Studies for loaning the samples used in this work and Tabb Prissel for his assistance with the analysis. Mouti Al-Hashimi thanks Sam Crossley and Cyrena Goodrich for their help with the LPI SEM training. This work was supported by the LPI Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science and the LPI Cooperative Agreement. References: [1] Connelly J.N. (2012) Science, 338, 651-655. [2] MacPherson G. J. (2014) Treatise on Geochem., 2, 139-179. [3] Grossman L. (1972) GCA, 36, 597-619. [4] Ebel, D.S. (2006) Meteorites and the Early Solar System II (D. S. Lauretta & H. Y. McSween, Eds.) 253-277. [5] MacPherson G. J. (2012) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 331-332, 43-54. [6] MacPherson G.J. (2017) GCA, 201, 65-82. [7] Krot A.N. (1995) Meteoritics & Planet. Sci., 30, 748-775. [8] Wark and Lovering (1982) GCA, 46, 2595-2607. [9] Palme H. and Jones A. (2003) Treatise on Geochemistry (H. D. Holland and K. K. Turekian Eds.), 1, 41-61. [10] Grossman L. (1980) Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 8, 559-608. [11] Floss C. et al. (1996) GCA, 60, 1975-1997. [12] Mason B. and Martin P. M. (1974) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 22, 141-144. [13] Wark B. and Boynton W. V. (2001) Meteoritics & Planet. Sci., 36, 1135-1166.

X Mouti↗

Trace element distributions in primitive achondrites

The primitive achondrites have approximately chondritic bulk chemical composition but achondritic textures. Clayton et al. show that nine of these meteorites, the acapulcoites and the lodranites, have similar oxygen isotopic compositions. The acapulcoites appear to be highly metamorphosed, but undifferentiated meteorites of chondritic composition; whereas, the lodranites appear to have lost a feldspathic partial melt. In order to learn more about metamorphic processes and partial melt removal, we have measured the trace element compositions of constituent phases of a number of primitive achondrites by ion microprobe. We have analyzed two acapulcoites, Acapulco and ALH81261 (paired with ALH77081), and three londranites, Lodran, LEW88280, and MAC88177. In addition, we analyzed LEW88663, which has the bulk composition, mineral chemistry, and oxygen isotopic composition of L-chondrites, but is metal-free and has an achondrite texture; and Divnoe, a plagioclase-poor, olivine-rich primitive achondrite with an oxygen isotopic composition similar to that of the group IAB iron meteorites. These meteorites show a variety of REE patterns in their constituent phases, and there are consistent differences between acapulcoites and lodranites that are consistent with removal of a LREE- and Eu-enriched melt that is apparently responsible for the low plagioclase content of lodranites.

Davis, Andrew M.↗

Hierarchical Phased-Array Antennas Coupled to Al KIDs: A Scalable Architecture for Multi-band Millimeter/Submillimeter Focal Planes

We present the optical characterization of two-scale hierarchical phased-array antenna kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) for millimeter/submillimeter wavelengths. Our KIDs have a lumped-element architecture with parallel plate capacitors and aluminum inductors. The incoming light is received with a hierarchical phased array of slot dipole antennas, split into 4 frequency bands (between 125 GHz and 365 GHz) with on-chip lumped-element band-pass filters, and routed to different KIDs using microstriplines. Individual pixels detect light for the 3 higher-frequency bands (190–365 GHz), and the signals from four individual pixels are coherently summed to create a larger pixel detecting light for the lowest frequency band (125–175 GHz). The spectral response of the band-pass filters was measured using Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS), the far-field beam pattern of the phased-array antennas was obtained using an infrared source mounted on a 2-axis translating stage, and the optical efficiency of the KIDs was characterized by observing loads at 294 K and 77 K. We report on the results of these three measurements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Quantifying Dissolution Dynamics in Porous Media Using a Spatial Flow Focusing Profile

Abstract The diverse range of patterns in porous media formed by dissolution processes depends on the relative magnitude of flow, transport, and chemical reactions at pore surfaces. However, distinguishing between regimes often relies solely on qualitative, visual comparisons of emergent structures. Here, we propose a quantitative measure capable of identifying different regimes using the concept of the spatial flow focusing profile, which segments the medium into cross sections along the flow direction to calculate the flow focusing index for each section. We employ this measure in numerical simulations of a dissolving porous medium using a pore network model. We obtain a morphological phase diagram of dissolution patterns, which we characterize using the flow focusing profile. In particular, we demonstrate that analyzing the temporal changes in the profile allows one to quantitatively distinguish between wormholing and channeling. The transition between them is shown to be affected by the heterogeneity of the system.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Coupling mechanism of gain-guided integrated semiconductor laser arrays

It is shown that a gain-guided laser array couples via propagating fields rather than the evanescent mode coupling typically responsible for directional coupling in passive (directional couplers) and active (laser array) devices. It is shown that these phase-locked modes exhibit an interference pattern, in the junction plane, which arises from the curvature of the phase fronts of optical fields of the interacting lasers. The experimental results are interpreted with the aid of a simple theoretical model, and the effect of the observed mode pattern on the coupling of gain-guided lasers is discussed.

Kapon, E.↗

Develop advanced nonlinear signal analysis topographical mapping system

The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) has been undergoing extensive flight certification and developmental testing, which involves some 250 health monitoring measurements. Under the severe temperature, pressure, and dynamic environments sustained during operation, numerous major component failures have occurred, resulting in extensive engine hardware damage and scheduling losses. To enhance SSME safety and reliability, detailed analysis and evaluation of the measurements signal are mandatory to assess its dynamic characteristics and operational condition. Efficient and reliable signal detection techniques will reduce catastrophic system failure risks and expedite the evaluation of both flight and ground test data, and thereby reduce launch turn-around time. The basic objective of this contract are threefold: (1) develop and validate a hierarchy of innovative signal analysis techniques for nonlinear and nonstationary time-frequency analysis. Performance evaluation will be carried out through detailed analysis of extensive SSME static firing and flight data. These techniques will be incorporated into a fully automated system; (2) develop an advanced nonlinear signal analysis topographical mapping system (ATMS) to generate a Compressed SSME TOPO Data Base (CSTDB). This ATMS system will convert tremendous amount of complex vibration signals from the entire SSME test history into a bank of succinct image-like patterns while retaining all respective phase information. High compression ratio can be achieved to allow minimal storage requirement, while providing fast signature retrieval, pattern comparison, and identification capabilities; and (3) integrate the nonlinear correlation techniques into the CSTDB data base with compatible TOPO input data format. Such integrated ATMS system will provide the large test archives necessary for quick signature comparison. This study will provide timely assessment of SSME component operational status, identify probable causes of malfunction, and indicate feasible engineering solutions. The final result of this program will yield an ATMS system of nonlinear and nonstationary spectral analysis software package integrated with the Compressed SSME TOPO Data Base (CSTDB) on the same platform. This system will allow NASA engineers to retrieve any unique defect signatures and trends associated with different failure modes and anomalous phenomena over the entire SSME test history across turbo pump families.

Source record↗

Evolution of microstructures in radiation fields using a coupled binary-collision Monte Carlo phase field approach

The simulation of radiation effects in materials broadly falls into two categories. At short time and length scales lies the modeling of primary radiation damage, such as point defect creation, energy deposition, and ballistic mixing. This is followed by the modeling at longer time scales of thermally activated microstructure evolution and defect reactions, such as recombination, clustering, and coarsening. The binary collision Monte Carlo method is an established, numerically efficient method for the computation of primary radiation damage. Conversely, the phase field method is a state of the art method for microstructure evolution on longer time and length scales. Here we present a concurrent coupling of these two methods, overcoming the difference between the discrete object Monte Carlo paradigm for primary radiation damage and the continuum field variable approach for microstructure evolution. The coupling is bidirectional, in which the microstructure evolution in the MOOSE finite element frame- work provides the spatial scattering data set for the charged particle trans- port and receives point defect, mass transport, and heat source terms from the simulated collision cascades that contribute to the field variable evolution. The concurrent coupling scheme is implemented in the code Magpie and demonstrated by investigating patterning for a model irradiated immiscible binary alloy. The results from the coupled binary collision Monte Carlo/phase field simulations reproduce the results of analytical models for phase separation, phase mixing, and patterning, supporting the approach and indicating its utility for modeling real materials systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structure and Dynamics of Domains in Ferroelectric Nanostructures – Phase-Field Modeling (Final Technical Report)

Domain pattern formation is one of the most common phenomena in nature and is a topic of immense interest in many fields ranging from materials science and physics to chemistry and biology. This DOE sponsored research project explored the basic science concerning the thermodynamic stability of mesoscale polarization domain patterns and their temporal evolution mechanisms during formation and subsequent switching in ferroelectric nanostructures and heterostructures. The project employed the computational phase-field method in combination of microelasticity and electrostatic theories. The research was carried out in close collaboration with a number of experimental groups who used High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), in situ TEM with Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), or Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) to characterize the domain structures and dynamics of ferroelectric thin films and heterostructures and who grow high-quality ferroelectric and multiferroic thin films using advanced growth techniques such as Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLLD), and sputtering. The research efforts of the project help establish the phase-field method as the most powerful method for understanding and predicting domain structures in ferroelectric thin films and nanostructures. The findings of the project led to the basic understanding of stability and switching mechanisms of ferroelectric domains under different mechanical boundary conditions and under either homogeneous capacitor configurations or local fields using metallic probes as electrodes and the emergence of charged domain walls during domain switching. The project predicted the spatial length scales, temperature ranges, and electromechanical conditions for different polar states in heterostructures and guided the discovery of both transient and stable novel polarization states containing vortex lattices in oxide superlattices. The project resulted in 134 journal publications and 6 PhD theses with all the PhD graduates currently working in either academia or industry within the United States. The basic understanding on the stability of mesoscale polar states and pattern evolution achieved by the project improved our ability to control and engineer properties of ferroelectric thin films and heterostructures for potential applications in nanoscale electronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

FY23 Report on Water NSTF Testing at Two-Phase Conditions: Off-normal Scenarios

Under support from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Office of Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART), a large-scale test facility has been constructed at Argonne National Laboratory to generate NQA-1 qualified validation data for passive decay heat removal systems in advanced reactors. The Natural convection Shutdown heat removal Test Facility (NSTF) reflects key features of a ½ scale, water-based, Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) and is intended to study the behavior, bound performance, and ultimately guide design decisions for passive decay heat removal systems for advanced reactors. In addition to the experimental activities detailed in this report, a supportive computational modeling effort is on-going which has been demonstrated to significantly strengthen the experimental program while also improving accuracy of the computer models. Together these create a mutually beneficial relationship integral to meeting the overall program objective of examining the heat removal performance of the RCCS concept. This report details the experimental activities and upgrades performed during the program’s fifth year of water-based operation. The theme of this year of testing was examining off-normal scenarios. In practice, that meant examining scenarios with blockages or other design basis conditions. From a maintenance and capability standpoint that meant assessing valving options for implementing blockages, assessing drain and refill capabilities, and ensuring in all cases that operators could safely, efficiently, and repeatably bring the facility to an off-normal condition and return it to the normal operating state. In one notable case, no solution existed, nor was a solution commercially available, that met the facility needs for implementing blockages within the two-phase region of the chimney. A valve and feedthrough were custom-designed for NSTF to operate submerged in saturated water while being safely actuated from outside the tank. The fifth year of testing included eight matrix tests consisting of 162 hours of active heating, 9,735 kWh of electrical heating, with seven tests classified as Accepted per NQA-1 and one as Trending. All matrix tests were performed at two-phase flow conditions. The power parametric series from previous years was extended to include another scenario with a decay load equivalent to 1.75 MWt, full scale, further resolving the system flow oscillation response as a function of input power. A depletion test was performed to extend previous work and examine the system’s approach to stagnation and geysering that were not previously observed. This test began at an initial inventory level of 50%, prototypic power of 2.1 MWt, and employed an accelerated drain of 0.75 gpm plus boiloff until stagnation conditions were achieved and multiple geysering events were recorded. Further exploring the geysering phenomenon was a separate effects test examining static boiling in the risers and chimney. This static boiling test was performed at 48 kWe, a higher power than testing in the previous year, and included enhancements to the drain system to remove inventory in a better-controlled and more reliable manner. Two tests were performed, at prototypic conditions of 1.4 MWt and 2.4 MWt, respectively, examining the system response to throttled conditions in the singlephase region of the piping. A ball valve immediately before he riser inlet header was increasingly throttled, progressing the system through a repeatable pattern of two-phase oscillations and stable regimes before ultimately inducing stagnation and geysering. Concluding the year, two tests were performed at baseline conditions of 70% initial inventory level and 2.1 MWt of prototypic decay heat to examine both repeatability and the response to throttling within the two-phase region, at the inventory tank inlet using the custom valve mentioned above. The first such test repeated transient operating conditions and revealed significant sensitivity t

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗