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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 271 records · Page 15

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NASA NTRS1984

Interactions between volume and surface EM waves in layered structures

Using light scattering spectroscopy, the interaction of Surface Plasmon Polariton SPP in silver films on a glass substrate is with the incident radiation and with optical phonons of an external medium in contact with the film. The mean free path and the field strength of SPP are determined. The same SPP plays an important role in light emitting tunnel junctions (LETJ) in which an electrical current is converted into Volume Electromagnetic Wave VEW. The efficiency of light emission from LETJ through a prism coupler rather than through surface roughness is discussed. The coupling between phonon surface polaritons (PhSP) and optical guided waves (OGW) in thin films of GaP is also examined.

Ushioda, S.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Fundamental Research Aimed at Diverting Excess Reducing Power in Photosynthesis to Orthogonal Metabolic Pathways

Photosystems are incredible biological machines that use sunlight to drive the conversion of carbon dioxide to sugar. The amount of sunlight available for photosynthesis sometimes exceeds the amount of energy plants can use. This excess energy has to be safely dissipated through non-productive biological processes. The ultimate goal of this project is to understand whether we can utilize that otherwise unused excess energy. In our previous work, we showed that, in principle, it is possible to attach a catalyst to photosystem I and generate H2 using light. Our current strategy is to genetically fuse parts of the photosystem I complex with a recently discovered oxygen-tolerant [FeFe] hydrogenase. Our rationale is that such chimeric proteins may potentially result in the natural incorporation of the photosystem I-hydrogenase link using the inherent genetic machinery of the cell. In this project, we aim to verify that light-driven hydrogen production in this construction is possible. Throughout the project, we designed nanoconstructs that showcase the plausibility of this technology, at least in vitro. We take advantage of these constructs to investigate details of the coupling between photosystem I and a H2-producing enzyme called [FeFe] hydrogenase. This part of the project reveals details of the electron transfer between photosystem I and the attached hydrogenase, providing information that can lead to new strategies for improved biological photocatalysis. We also researched efficient and robust tethering of the [FeFe] hydrogenase to photosystem I in cyanobacteria. This work will highlight successful design strategies to guide the future development of photosynthetic biohybrids. Uncovering the principles governing the utilization of otherwise unusable energy significantly further our understanding of cyanobacterial photosynthesis. The work proposed establishes the feasibility of diverting excess energy under high light conditions to orthogonal enzymatic pathways and set design rules for efficient utilization of such a strategy for scientific and industrial applications in biosensing, renewable energy, and high-value chemicals production. The work addresses the DOE-BES Photosynthetic Systems program goal to develop a multidimensional understanding of photosystems that would provide specific metrics that instruct strategies for improving biological photosynthesis and for guiding the future development of bioreactors and biomimetic energy systems.

Photosynthetic systems, hydrogenase, cyanobacteria↗

NASA NTRS1979

The space telescope observatory

A guide to the expected characteristics of the space telescope (ST) observatory is presented. The general objectives of the ST observatory are summarized. The plans for the development of the observatory are described with a brief history of the scientific activities; an account of the scope of the present program; a summary of the major responsibilities of the contractors; and a list of the project milestones are included. The performance characteristics of the observatory are provided including the imaging and stray light characteristics, pointing capability, and operational access. The expected performance characteristics of all six of the first generation science instruments are summarized. The mode of operations is described which includes a discussion of program options, guide star selection, methods of acquisition, and quick look data capabilities.

Bahcall, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Efficiency of core light injection from sources in the cladding - Bulk distribution

The behavior of the power efficiency of an optical fiber with bulk distribution of sources in its cladding is analyzed. Marcuse's (1988) results for weakly guiding cylindrical fibers with fluorescent sources uniformly distributed in the cladding are confirmed for the bulk distribution case. It is found that power efficiency increases with wavelength and with difference in refractive indices. A new independent variable for the bulk distribution is found, and it is shown that the power efficiency does not always increase with the V number.

Egalon, Claudio O.↗

DOE OSTI2021

X-ray-Based Techniques to Study the Nano–Bio Interface

X-ray-based analytics are routinely applied in many fields, including physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. The full potential of such techniques in the life sciences and medicine, however, has not yet been fully exploited. We highlight current and upcoming advances in this direction. We describe different X-ray-based methodologies (including those performed at synchrotron light sources and X-ray free-electron lasers) and their potentials for application to investigate the nano–bio interface. The discussion is predominantly guided by asking how such methods could better help to understand and to improve nanoparticle-based drug delivery, though the concepts also apply to nano–bio interactions in general. We discuss current limitations and how they might be overcome, particularly for future use in vivo.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Review of Technical Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources in Chile

This document compares the technical requirements in the grid code of Chile (NTSyCS) against the EirGrid (Ireland transmission system operator) and National Grid Electricity System Operator (NESO) grid codes and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 2800-2022 standard for conventional inverter technology at the transmission and subtransmission levels in the process of being adopted by system operators in the U.S. The document is intended to be a guide and reference for future updates of the NTSyCS, considering the local system requirements and present improvements in inverter-based resource (IBR) technology. In light of the findings of the aforementioned comparative review, this document proposes and describes the requirements for conventional IBRs that could be incorporated and updated into the Chilean grid code. The document is structured around the main grid challenges posed by the transition to an IBR-dominated grid and conventional IBRs capabilities to help address them. This document does not provide guidance on how this specification should be implemented (e.g., through a mandate or market solution).

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

NASA NTRS1991

Photonics: Technology project summary

Photonics involves the use of light (photons) in conjunction with electronics for applications in communications, computing, control, and sensing. Components used in photonic systems include lasers, optical detectors, optical wave guide devices, fiber optics, and traditional electronic devices. The goal of this program is to develop hybrid optoelectronic devices and systems for sensing, information processing, communications, and control. It is hoped that these new devices will yield at least an order of magnitude improvement in performance over existing technology. The objective of the program is to conduct research and development in the following areas: (1) materials and devices; (2) networking and computing; (3) optical processing/advanced pattern recognition; and (4) sensing.

Depaula, Ramon P.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Characterizing Canopy Openness in Open Forests: Spherical Densiometer and Canopy Photography Are Equivalent but Less Sensitive than Direct Measurements of Solar Radiation

In forest ecosystems, canopy openness affects understory light availability, plant growth, and tree species recruitment, thus shaping future forest composition, structure, and functional diversity. Foresters must correctly and quickly measure canopy openness to meet their management objectives. To help guide the selection of an appropriate method for measuring canopy openness, we compared three common techniques that vary in cost, complexity, and time required for measurements and data processing: smartphone-based hemispherical photography, spherical densiometer measurements, and direct measurements of solar radiation (using AccuPAR ceptometer). We measured canopy openness using these three methods on 28 permanent forest health monitoring plots in pine-oak forests of the Central Pine Barrens of Long Island in New York State. By analysis of variance and regression analyses, we found the three methods (particularly densiometer and hemispherical photographs) yielded broadly equivalent and strongly positively correlated descriptions of canopy openness. The direct measurements of solar radiation seemed to have a greater potential to detect subtle variation in forest understory light. Forest managers may sufficiently characterize canopy openness using quick and cheap methods (e.g., spherical densiometers) and avoid larger costs of devices for direct light measurements (e.g., ceptometers) and the larger data processing times of hemispherical photography.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

NIRDye 812: A molecular platform tailored for multimodal bioimaging applications of targeted fluorescence- and photoacoustic-guided surgery

The primary treatment for malignant tumors remains to be surgical removal of the diseased tissue. The presence or absence of residual diseased tissue at the tumor margin is the strongest predictor of postoperative prognosis and recurrence. Accordingly, reliance on the ability of surgeons to visually distinguish diseased tissue from healthy tissue unambiguously in real time is crucial. Near infrared-I (NIRsingle bondI) fluorescence-emitting targeting biomolecular constructs such as anticancer antibody-fluorophore conjugates, namely cetuximab-IRDye® 800CW (CTB-IRDye® 800CW), are FDA-approved for clinical trial usage in the fluorescence-guided resection of diseased tissue due to affording improved direct visualization of tumor tissue when compared to the use of either the unaided eye under standard white light illumination (WLI) surgical techniques or non-targeting fluorophores. Unfortunately, though helpful, CTB-IRDye® 800CW affords limited (i) identification of diseased tissue and (ii) tumor margin delineation, because the immunoconjugate generates suboptimal tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) as a result of its spectral/photophysical profiles poorly aligning with the fixed optical windows of pre-/clinical setups. As such, CTB-IRDye® 800CW is more prone to affording incomplete resection compared to if TBRs were higher due to otherwise. Here, to aid in accurately identifying deep-seated diseased tissue, photoacoustic (PA) tomography has been implemented alongside CTB-IRDye® 800CW to achieve PA signals that could result in higher TBRs. However, in clinical trial practice, using IRDye® 800CW for PA imaging also yields subpar TBRs due to it affording low PA signals. To overcome such limitations, we developed NIRDye 812, a structurally-modified topological equivalent of IRDye® 800CW, to confer it the capability to yield both higher TBRs and superior PA signal than that of the equivalent CTB-conjugate and fluorophore IRDye® 800CW itself, respectively. To do so, we substituted the oxygen atom at its meso-position with a sulfur atom. CTB-NIRDye 812 demonstrated a red-shifted absorption wavelength at 796 nm and a peak NIR-I fluorescence emission wavelength at 820 nm, which better dovetails with the fixed windows of preinstalled fixed emission filters within commercial pre-/clinical NIR-I fluorescence imaging instruments. Overall, CTB-NIRDye 812 provided a ~ 2-fold increase in TBRs compared to those of CTB-IRDye® 800CW in vivo. Also, NIRDye 812 displayed an ~60% higher PA signal than that of IRDye® 800CW. Collectively, we achieved our goal of improving upon the spectral/photophysical and PA properties of IRDye® 800CW via introducing a subtle modification to its electronic core such that its CTB immunoconjugate could potentially allow for fast track or breakthrough designation by the FDA due to its near-identical structure displaying considerably improved efficacy.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1993

Are the C delta light nitrogen and noble gases located in the same carrier?

Light nitrogen and the HL family noble gas components of C(sub delta) appear to be separable by high resolution pyrolysis experiments. Thus C(sub delta) is not a homogeneous material and probably consists of debris of many stars. The question of whether the N and Xe(HL) actually reside in different carriers continues to be addressed. It is well known that C(sub delta) which was identified as nanometer sized diamonds contains isotopically anamalous elements, in particular noble gases including Xe(HL) and its family and light nitrogen (delta(N-15) down to -350 percent). Before the true nature of C(sub delta) was recognized, it was easy to suppose that the Xe(HL) and light nitrogen were located in the same carrier. However, recognition that light nitrogen in diamond from different samples varies by greater than a factor of six compared to Xe(HL) fluctuations of ca. 20 percent makes such an assumption questionable. On the basis of simple arithmetic logic, the Xe and nitrogen cannot be absolutely co-located. The average diamond grain consists of only about 1000-2000 atoms of carbon; one grain among a few x 10(exp 6) contains an atom of Xe(HL) while 5-30 atoms of light nitrogen are the typical number which need to be in every diamond grain to account for observed concentrations. If some grains are devoid of N, the others have to have a higher N concentration. Even if we were able to analyze an individual grain of the diamond for noble gases and nitrogen, we would be faced with the monumental task of locating the one amongst 10(exp 6) identical grains containing the Xe atom to examine its nitrogen content. The problem can be simplified to some extent if instead of Xe, He which is 10(exp 4) times more abundant is assumed to be a member of the HL family. Attempts to fractionate the separate carriers might be attempted using He and N as guiding indicators but even experiments of this nature are for the future. Faced with apparently insoluble problems, we have returned to an investigation we last used in our original efforts to find isotopically light nitrogen, that is to compare release patterns of the different components during stepped pyrolysis and combustion.

Verchovsky, A. B.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Ultrafast spin-nematic and ferroelectric phase transitions induced by femtosecond light pulses

We report, optically induced phase transitions of the manganite Pr 1/3 Ca 2/3 MnO 3 have been simulated by using a model Hamiltonian that captures the dynamics of strongly correlated charge, orbital, lattice, and spin degrees of freedom. Its parameters have been extracted from first-principles calculations. Beyond a critical intensity of a femtosecond light pulse, the material undergoes an ultrafast and nonthermal magnetic phase transition from a noncollinear to collinear antiferromagnetic phase. The light-pulse excites selectively either a spin-nematic or a ferroelectric phase, depending on the light polarization. The behavior can be traced to an optically induced ferromagnetic coupling between Mn trimers, i.e., polarons which are delocalized over three Mn sites. The polarization guides the polymerization of the polaronic crystal into distinct patterns of ferromagnetic chains determining the target phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1985

Sudden stratospheric warmings as catastrophes

The sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) process is qualitatively studied using a conceptual and numerical approach guided by catastrophe theory. A simple example of a catastrophe taken from nonlinear dynamics is given, and results from previous modelling studies of SSW are interpreted in light of catastrophe theory. Properties of this theory such as hysteresis, cusp, and triggering essential to SSW are numerically demonstrated using the truncated quasi-geostrophic beta-plane model of Holton and Mass (1976). A qualitative explanation of the transition from the steady regime to the vacillation regime is given for the Holton and Mass model in terms of the topographically induced barotropic Rossby wave instability. Some implications for the simulation and prediction of SSW are discussed.

Chao, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

M and D SIG progress report: Laboratory simulations of LDEF impact features

Laboratory impact experiments are needed to understand the relationship between a measured penetration hole diameter and associated projectile dimension in the thermal blankets of experiment A0178, which occupied some 16 sq. m. These blankets are composed of 125 micron thick Teflon that has an Ag/enconel second mirror surface, backed by organic binder and Chemglaze paint for a total thickness of some 170 microns. While dedicated experiments are required to understand the penetration behavior of this compound target in detail, we report here on impact simulations sponsored by other projects into pure Teflon and aluminum targets. These experiments will allow first order interpretations of impact features on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), and they will serve as guides for dedicated experiments that employ the real LDEF blankets, both exposed and unexposed, for a refined understanding of the LDEF's collisional environment. We employed a light gas gun to launch soda-lime glass spheres from 50 to 3200 microns in diameter that impacted targets of variable thickness. Penetration measurements are given.

Horz, Friedrich↗

DOE OSTI2020

Mid-infrared frequency doubling using strip-loaded silicon nitride on epitaxial barium titanate thin film waveguides

Broadband mid-infrared (mid-IR) frequency doubling was demonstrated using nonlinear barium titanate (BTO) thin films. The device has a strip-loaded waveguide structure consisting of top silicon nitride (SiN) strips and an underneath BTO guiding layer. The epitaxial BTO was deposited on a strontium titanate (STO) substrate by pulsed-laser deposition. Through a SiN grating coupler, the pumping mid-IR light at wavelength λ = 3.30 − 3.45 µ m was coupled into the nonlinear BTO layer, where the spectrum of the near-infrared (NIR) second-harmonic generation was characterized. The developed BTO waveguides provide a platform for mid-IR nonlinear integrated photonics and on-chip quantum optics.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Microscopic Visualization of Cell-Cell Adhesion Complexes at Micro and Nanoscale

Considerable progress has been made in our knowledge of the morphological and functional varieties of anchoring junctions. Cell-cell adhesion contacts consist of discrete junctional structures responsible for the mechanical coupling of cytoskeletons and allow the transmission of mechanical signals across the cell collective. The three main adhesion complexes are adherens junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes. Microscopy has played a fundamental role in understanding these adhesion complexes on different levels in both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we discuss the main light and electron microscopy techniques used to unravel the structure and composition of the three cell-cell contacts in epithelial and endothelial cells. It functions as a guide to pick the appropriate imaging technique(s) for the adhesion complexes of interest. We also point out the latest techniques that have emerged. At the end, we discuss the problems investigators encounter during their cell-cell adhesion research using microscopic techniques.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1998

Enhancement of Aircraft Ground Handling Simulation Capability

This report is a guide to methods of representing in a flight simulator, the stability and control of an aircraft on the ground. It updates an earlier publication, AGARDograph 285, in the light of simulation technology improvements over a ten year period. Emphasis is placed on the modeling of the vehicle dynamics, and on the modeling of the tire forces generated by the runway surface. Areas are identified where some current simulators are deficient. The different needs of pilot-in-the-loop and non-real-time simulations are discussed, and topics for further research are identified.

Barnes, A. G.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Evanescent Mode Photoemission

Photoemission of electrons from solid surfaces into vacuum is routinely used in two configurations: reflection mode, in which light is incident on the emitting surface, and transmission mode, in which light illuminates the photoemissive material from behind. Here, using silicon nitride waveguides integrated beneath a high quantum efficiency cesium antimonide thin film, we demonstrate a new photoemission regime─the evanescent mode photoemission─in which light travels parallel to the surface in the waveguide while evanescently coupling into the thin film to excite and emit photoelectrons. Furthermore, our experiments show that this configuration enables direct visualization of guided optical modes over an unprecedented range (∼100 nm to 1 mm) and allows electron beam shaping at the source with transverse features well below ∼600 nm, establishing evanescent mode photoemission as a new platform for nanoscale optical field mapping and precise generation of electron beams.

Electron Sources↗

DOE OSTI2024

Constituent model of light hybrid meson decays

A model of light hybrid mesons and their strong decays is developed. The model employs a gluonic quasiparticle to describe low energy gluodynamics and uses the QCD Hamiltonian in Coulomb gauge to guide the construction of states and decay amplitudes. We compute the partial widths of the twelve low lying isovector and vector hybrids. Implications of these results on hybrid searches are also made, with the chief conclusions being that direct observation of the vector states will be difficult, that a hybrid π ( 1800 ) has distinctive decay characteristics, a narrow η ( 1900 ) hybrid should exist, an η 1 ( 1750 ) should be sought, and that the exotic nature of J P C = 2 − + hybrid mesons should be discernible with sufficient data. We argue that the isovector π 2 hybrid has been discovered, giving a total of four possible hybrid mesons, π 1 ( 1600 ) , η 1 ( 1855 ) , π ( 1800 ) , and π 2 ( 2360 ) , which appear to be filling out the low lying hybrid supermultiplet in the expected fashion. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗