Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “spectrum analyzers”

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 OSTI2023

High-energy spin excitations in the quantum spin liquid candidate Zn-substituted barlowite probed by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

A quantum spin liquid is a novel ground state that can support long-range entanglement between magnetic moments, resulting in exotic spin excitations involving fractionalized $S$ = $\frac{1}{2}$ spinons. Here, we measure the excitations in single crystals of the spin liquid candidate Zn-barlowite using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. By analyzing the incident polarization and temperature dependences, we deduce a clear magnetic scattering contribution forming a broad continuum that surprisingly extends up to ~ $200$ meV (~14$J$, where $J$ is the magnetic exchange). In conclusion, the excitation spectrum reveals that significant contributions arise from multiple pairs of spinons and/or antispinons at high energies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Leveraging Machine Learning Capabilities for the Characterization of Irradiated Uranium: A Case Study of Analysis Methods for Nuclear Safeguards and Nuclear Forensics

Nondestructively determining the initial enrichment of irradiated uranium is a complex and laborious multivariable problem due to the presence of fission products. This work demonstrates the capabilities of machine learning to analyze gamma-ray spectral data to determine initial enrichment without knowledge of the decay time of the sample. The approach developed is agnostic to the particular scenario and is applicable to a wide variety of applications in nuclear forensics and nuclear safeguards. We irradiated 5 mg uranium standard reference materials at discrete enrichment values ranging from 0.02% to 97% 235 U (weight percent) in UT Austin’s Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory TRIGA Mark II 1.1 MW research reactor, allowed each to decay for 8 hours, and then measured each sample via gamma-ray spectrometry for 50 hours post-irradiation yielding 1,400 individual gamma-ray spectra discretized into 8,192 energy bins. We then trained decision trees models to analyze individual gamma-ray spectra and estimate the associated initial enrichment without knowledge of the time since end of irradiation. We evaluated the performance of the models with a reserved test set not used for training or calibrating the model. A decision tree model constructed with this procedure achieved a mean absolute error in initial enrichment determination of 2.3% (weight percent 235 U). Next, we implemented a principal component analysis pre-processing routine of the gamma-ray spectrometry data to reduce the dimensionality of the dataset from 8,192 channels in the spectrum to 10 principal components while retaining over 99% of the inherent variance in the data. Decision tree models constructed with these data demonstrated decreased mean absolute error in enrichment determination, reduced computational time, and decreased complexity. A single decision tree model constructed with this procedure achieved a mean absolute error in initial enrichment determination of 0.05% (weight percent 235 U). Furthermore, we analyzed these models with learning curves to ensure that overfitting did not occur. The capabilities provided by these models can be naturally extended to other application-focused measurements in the fields of nuclear safeguards, nuclear forensics, and nuclear non-proliferation.

Drescher, Adam↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Right-handed neutrino portal to the hidden sector: active neutrinos and their twins in an F-theory model

We analyze the neutrino phenomenology in an SU(5) F-theory model with both a visible sector and a twin hidden sector. At low energies, the strong and weak scales of the two sectors may differ but the spectrum of states is described by the MSSM (MSSM') in the visible (twin) sectors. What is special about the model is that there are right-handed neutrinos which couple to both sectors via Yukawa couplings. As a result, assuming 3 right-handed neutrinos with a large mass much greater than the weak scale, at tree-level the seesaw mechanism results in 3 massive Majorana neutrinos and 3 massless ones. The massless neutrinos acquire mass via radiative corrections. In our analysis, the massless neutrinos are predominantly active neutrinos, while the massive neutrinos are predominantly sterile neutrinos. We fit the active neutrino masses and mixing angles and discuss the phenomenology of the lightest sterile neutrino. Finally we consider some possible scenarios for cosmology.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Parametrized ion-distribution model for extended x-ray absorption fine-structure analysis at high-energy-density conditions

Experiments today can compress solids near isentropically to pressures approaching 100 × 106 atmospheres; however, determining the temperature of such matter remains a major challenge. Extended x-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is one of the few techniques sensitive to the bulk temperature of highly compressed solid matter, and the validity of this temperature measurement relies on constraining the local ion structure from the EXAFS spectrum. At high-energy-density (HED) conditions, the local ion structure often becomes distorted, which must be accounted for during the EXAFS analysis. Described here is a technique, using a parametrized ion-distribution model to directly analyze EXAFS spectra that provides a better constraint on the local structure than traditional second- or third-order cumulant expansion techniques at HED conditions. The parametrized ion-distribution model is benchmarked by analyzing EXAFS spectra from nickel molecular-dynamics simulations at ∼100 GPa and shown to provide a 10%–20% improvement in constraining the cumulants of the true ion distribution.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Robust qubit interactions mediated by photonic topological edge states

Here, we investigate the coupling of two spatially separated qubits via topologically protected edge states in a two-dimensional Hofstadter lattice. In this hybrid platform, the qubits are coupled to distinct edge sites of the lattice, enabling long-range interactions mediated by topological edge modes. We solve the full system Hamiltonian and analyze the resulting eigenstate structure to uncover the conditions under which coherent qubit interactions emerge. Our analysis reveals that the effective coupling is highly sensitive to the qubit placement, energy detuning, and the topological character of the edge spectrum. We obtain an analytical solution that goes beyond the perturbative regime, capturing the full interplay between the qubits and edge modes. These results provide a foundation for exploring information transport and many-body effects in engineered quantum systems where interactions are mediated by topological edge modes.

Chern insulators↗
DOE OSTI2025

Model-independent measurement of the matter-radiation equality scale in DESI 2024

The peak of the matter power spectrum, known as the turnover (TO) scale, is determined by the horizon size at the time of matter-radiation equality. This scale can serve as a standard ruler, independent of other features in the matter power spectrum, such as baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). Here, in this work, we present the first detection of the turnover in the galaxy autopower spectrum, utilizing the distribution of quasars and luminous red galaxies (LRG) measured by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) during its first year of survey operations in a model-independent manner. To avoid confirmation bias, we first analyze the data using data blinding methods designed for the DESI baryon acoustic oscillation, redshift space distortion and scale-dependent bias signals. We measure the angle-averaged dilation distance 𝐷 V ⁡(𝑧 = 1.651) = (38.1 ± 2.5)⁢𝑟 H from the quasars and 𝐷 V ⁡(𝑧 = 0.733) = (21.8 ± 1.0)⁢𝑟 H from the LRG sample in units of the horizon 𝑟 H at the matter-radiation-equality epoch. Combining these two constraints and assuming a flat Λ⁢CDM model with three standard neutrino species, we can translate this into a constraint of Ω m ⁢ℎ 2 = 0.13⁢9$^{+0.036}_{−0.046}$. We can break the Ω m −𝐻 0 degeneracy with low-redshift distance measurements from type-Ia supernova (SN) data from Pantheon+, we obtain a sound-horizon free estimate of the Hubble-Lemaître parameter of 𝐻 0 = 65.2$^{+4.9}_{−6.2}$ km/s/Mpc, consistent with sound-horizon dependent DESI measurements. On the other hand, combining the DESI BAO and TO, we find a truly DESI-only measurement of 𝐻 0 = 74.0$^{+7.2}_{−3.5}$ km/s/Mpc, in line with DESI-only full-shape results where the sound-horizon scale is marginalized out. This discrepancy in 𝐻 0 can be reconciled in a 𝑤 0 ⁢𝑤 𝑎 ⁢ CDM cosmology, where the combination of DESI BAO and TO data yields 𝐻 0 = 66.5 ± 7.2 km/s/Mpc.

cosmological parameters↗
DOE OSTI2024

IER-484 CED3b Report: AFRRI ER1 Dosimetry Characterization

This report presents the preliminary work for IER 484, the characterization of the leakage radia tion field from the TRIGA reactor at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI). The purpose of the dose characterization is to establish the reference dose needed to execute a NAD inter-comparison exercise. During the week of August 20th, a team from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) performed various measurements in AFRRI’s TRIGA ER1 (Exposure Room 1) with Passive Neutron Spectrometer (PNS) spheres and nuclear accident dosimeters (NADs) mounted on Bottle Manikin Absorption (BOMAB) phantoms (to simulate doses received by people) and additional NADs mounted on aluminum plates (to simulate doses in free air). Without Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), LLNL became responsible for measuring the neutron spectrum using PNS spheres. SNL is responsible for providing photon dose data. LLNL, SNL, and IRSN each deployed their own NADs, which will be compared to the reference dose measured. Final characterization of the dose field based on analyzed data will be presented in the CED4a report.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Threshold Ionization Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations of LnO (Ln = La and Ce)

Mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy was used to measure the vibronic spectra of LnO (Ln = La and Ce). Single-reference coupled cluster and relativistic multireference configuration calculations were carried out to compare with the measured vibronic energies. The spectrum of LaO displays a single vibronic band system, while that of CeO shows multiple ones. The ionization energies of LaO and CeO are measured as 5.2446 (6) and 5.3332(6) eV, respectively, which are a hundredfold improvement over the literature values. The vibrational energies of the neutral molecule and corresponding ion reveal the charge effect on the metal-oxygen bond of both species. The single band system in the spectrum of LaO arises from the transition of the ground state of the neutral molecule with the La(6s 1 )O(2p 6 ) valence configuration to the ground state of the singly charged ion with the La(6s o )O(2p 6 ) configuration. Here, the multiple band systems in the spectrum of CeO are attributed to the spin-orbit coupling for the Ce(4f 1 6s 1 )O(2p 6 ) configuration of the neutral molecule and an excited state for the Ce(4f 1 )O(2p 6 ) configuration of the ion.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Out-of-equilibrium Majorana zero modes in interacting Kitaev chains

Here, we employ a time-dependent real-space local density-of-states method to study the movement and fusion of Majorana zero modes in the one-dimensional interacting Kitaev model, based on the time evolution of many-body states. We analyze the dynamics and both fusion channels of Majoranas using time-dependent potentials, either creating walls or wells. For fast moving Majoranas, we unveil nonequilibrium signatures of the “strong-zero-mode” operator (quasiparity degeneracy in the full spectrum) and its breakdown in the presence of repulsive Coulomb interactions. Focusing on forming a full electron after fusion, we also discuss the upper and lower limits on the Majorana speed needed to reduce nonadiabatic effects and to avoid poisoning due to decoherence.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multi-cycle reload analysis of a long cycle gas-cooled fast modular reactor

There is currently significant interest in deploying HALEU-fueled fast reactors, including the General Atomics (GA) Fast Modular Reactor (FMR). Such reactors can achieve very long fuel cycles, but with multi-batch loading will take decades to reach equilibrium. This motivates design and analysis of both the initial core and multi-cycle reload, which is typically performed using fast-running, deterministic fast reactor codes such as the Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) codes. In this paper, multicycle reload of the GA FMR is analyzed using the ARC codes. The GA FMR utilizes 19.75 % enriched fuel in a 16 year cycle with a three-batch strategy, with twice-burned fuel placed on the core periphery. The GA FMR has a softened neutron spectrum due to reflecting elements in the core, so the neutronic solution is first benchmarked against the OpenMC Monte Carlo code. Discrepancy on k eff is 400–600 pcm, likely due to the softened neutron spectrum, heterogeneous fuel assembly design and central reflector. However, the rms discrepancy on the assembly power distribution is only 0.6 %, despite the presence of the central reflector. A reload strategy is devised for the first three cycles of such a reactor, ultimately spanning the first 45–48 years of its operation. The fresh core uses 19.75 %, 19.25 % and 16.75 % enriched fuel in place of fresh, once-burned and twice-burned and is then subsequently refueled with only 19.75 % enriched fuel. The cycle length is varied over 3 cycles of operation to balance fuel utilization and reactor availability, specifically with use of an extended 18-year Cycle 1, followed by a shortened 11-year Cycle 2. Cycle 3 is close to the target 16-year length. Finally, placing twice burned assemblies next to the GA FMR central reflector can reduce power peaking by 3 %, at the expense of slightly reducing the cycle length.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Insight into the Chemistry of PETN Under Shock Compression Through Ultrafast Broadband Mid-Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy

In this study, thin films of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were shock compressed using the laser driven shock apparatus at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Two spectroscopic probes were available to this apparatus: visible white light transient absorption spectroscopy (VIS) from 400 to 700 nm and mid-infrared transient absorption spectroscopy (MIR) from 1150 to 3800 cm –1 . Important PETN vibrational modes are the symmetric and antisymmetric NO 2 stretches at 1280 and 1650 cm –1 , respectively, as well as CH stretches at ~2900 cm –1 . Shock strength was varied from approximately 3 to 55 GPa to span from the chemically unreactive regime to the regime in which fast chemical reaction took place on the 250 ps time scale of the measurements. VIS and MIR results suggest irreversible chemistry was induced in PETN at pressures above 30 GPa. At lower shock pressures, the spectroscopy showed minimal changes attributable to pressure induced effects. Under the higher-pressure reactive conditions, the frequency region at the antisymmetric NO 2 stretch mode had a significantly increased absorption while the region around the symmetric NO 2 stretch did not. No observable increased absorption occurred in the higher frequency regions where CH-, NH-, and OH- bond absorptions would be observed. A broad absorption appeared on the shoulder at the red-edge of the CO 2 vibrational band around 2200 cm –1 . In addition to the experiments, reactive molecular dynamics were carried out under equivalent shock conditions to correlate the evolution of the infrared spectrum to molecular processes. The simulations show results consistent to experiments up to 30 GPa but suggest that NO and NO 2 related features provided the strongest contributions to the shocked infrared changes. Proposed mechanisms for shocked PETN chemistry are analyzed as consistent or inconsistent with the data presented here. Our experimental data suggests C≡O or N 2 O bond formation, nitrite formation, and absence of significant hydroxyl or amine concentrations in the initial chemistry steps in PETN shocked above 30 GPa.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Spectral dispersion of the linewidth enhancement factor and four wave mixing conversion efficiency of an InAs/GaAs multimode quantum dot laser

The spectral dependence of the linewidth enhancement factor (αH-factor) of a multimode InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser is analyzed. Amplified spontaneous and high-frequency modulation methods are used to experimentally retrieve the αH-factor of each longitudinal mode below and above the threshold. A dispersion of the αH-factor is unlocked across the entire optical spectrum, which is further illustrated in the context of four wave mixing experiments. The results show that the induced conversion efficiency is increased at lasing wavelengths where the linewidth enhancement is lower. These results highlight the importance of carefully monitoring the linewidth enhancement factor in quantum dot lasers especially for frequency combs and mode-locking applications in future optical communication systems.

Ding, Shihao (ORCID:0000000346416944)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Universal spin wave damping in magnetic Weyl semimetals

We analyze the decay of spin waves into Stoner excitations in magnetic Weyl semimetals. The lifetime of a mode is found to have a universal dependence on its frequency and momentum, and on a few parameters that characterize the relativistic Weyl spectrum. At the same time, uniform Gilbert damping by Weyl electrons is absent. Here, the decay rate of spin waves is calculated perturbatively using the s-d model of itinerant Weyl or Dirac electrons coupled to local moments. We show that many details of the Weyl spectrum, such as the momentum-space locations, dispersions, and sizes of the Weyl Fermi pockets, can be deduced indirectly by probing the spin waves of local moments using inelastic neutron scattering.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Si-based materials for lithium-ion batteries VIII. 90% surface-modified Si/C-lithiated polyacrylic acid electrode

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze a 90% Si/C-lithiated polyacrylic acid electrode fabricated at the Cell Analysis, Modeling, and Prototyping Facility (CAMP), Argonne National Laboratory. The spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al K α radiation at 1486.6 eV (0.834 01 nm). An initial survey spectrum together with O 1s, C 1s, and Si 2p are presented. A final survey spectrum was collected to ascertain the amount of beam-induced damage, which appears to be minimal. Finally, the spectra indicate the principal core level photoelectron and Auger electron signals with only minor lithium signal and show the expected silicon-carbon species related to the surface modification process in addition to oxidized carbon and silicon due to atmospheric exposure as well contributions related to the binder material.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Si-based materials for lithium-ion batteries X: 70% surface-modified Si/C/polyvinylidine difluoride-carbon black/lithiated polyacrylic acid electrode

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze a 70% Si/C/polyvinylidine difluoride/carbon black/lithiated polyacrylic acid electrode fabricated at the Cell Analysis, Modeling, and Prototyping Facility (CAMP), Argonne National Laboratory. The spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 1486.6 eV (0.834 01 nm). A survey spectrum together with O 1s, C 1s, and Si 2p are presented. The spectra indicate the principal core level photoelectron and Auger electron signals with only minor copper and lithium signals and show the expected silicon-carbon and silicon-fluorine species related to the surface modification process in addition to oxidized carbon and silicon due to atmospheric exposure.

Haasch, Richard T. (ORCID:0000000194792595)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Si-based materials for lithium-ion batteries XI. 70% surface-modified Si/C/perfluorooctene-carbon black/lithiated polyacrylic acid electrode

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze a 70% Si/C/perfluorooctene-carbon black/lithiated polyacrylic acid electrode fabricated at the Cell Analysis, Modeling, and Prototyping (CAMP) Facility, Argonne National Laboratory. The spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al K α radiation at 1486.6 eV (0.83 401 nm). A survey spectrum together with O 1s, C 1s, and Si 2p are presented. The spectra indicate the principal core level photoelectron and Auger electron signals with only minor sodium, copper, calcium, and lithium signals and show the expected silicon-carbon, carbon-fluorine, and silicon-fluorine species related to the surface modification process in addition to oxidized carbon and silicon due to atmospheric exposure.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

The influence of ambient light spectrum (LED, INC, CFL, Xenon…) on the efficiency of perovskite indoor photovoltaic solar cells for Internet of Things (IoT) applications

This record provides a numerical investigation of a MAGeI₃-based perovskite solar cell with the structure FTO/TiO₂/MAGeI₃/Spiro-OMeTAD, evaluated for both outdoor and indoor light-harvesting applications using the SCAPS-1D simulator. Device performance is analyzed under AM 1.5G sunlight and several artificial light sources, including LED, incandescent, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), flashlight, and xenon illumination. The study reports initial and optimized power conversion efficiencies and examines the influence of absorber layer thickness and bandgap on device performance under different lighting conditions. The results highlight the potential of MAGeI₃-based perovskite solar cells for indoor energy harvesting and low-power Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Analyzing Black Hole X-Rays with Simulations

We generate synthetic X-ray spectra of black holes from large-scale 3D GRMHD simulations performed on HPC machines. Here are a sampling of model spectra, characterized by the parameters indicated in the diagram below. The dashed red lines show power law fits to the parts of the spectrum observed by the X-ray telescope NuSTAR. How well these model spectra compare to real data helps us to characterize the physical realism of the underlying simulation techniques.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗