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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Innovative duo-recombination layer design for effective hydrogen crossover mitigation in advanced MEAs for PEM water electrolyzers

Hydrogen crossover in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) poses a safety hazard, reduces the overall efficiency, and limits the operational differential pressure range. Here, in this study, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with innovative Pt duo-recombination layer (DRL) design is developed by the unique reactive spray deposition technology (RSDT). The novel design comprises two thin RLs integrated within the volume of the membrane and has a total Pt loading of only 0.04 mg Pt cm −2 . Long-term durability test for over 3000 h is performed with as-fabricated MEA at steady-state conditions typical for an industrial hydrogen production system. The results from the durability test show that the newly developed DRL design effectively suppresses the H2 crossover to below 0.5 vol%. Furthermore, comprehensive post-test characterization of the MEA is performed and potential failure mechanisms in the Pt RLs observed during the durability test are identified and discussed in detail for the first time.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Alkaloids are associated with increased microbial diversity and metabolic function in poison frogs

Shifts in host-associated microbiomes can impact both host and microbes. It is of interest to understand how perturbations, like the introduction of exogenous chemicals, impact microbiomes. In poison frogs (family Dendrobatidae), the skin microbiome is exposed to alkaloids that the frogs sequester for defense. These alkaloids are antimicrobial; however, their effect on the frogs’ skin microbiome is unknown. To test this, we characterized microbial communities from field-collected dendrobatid frogs. Then, we conducted a laboratory experiment to monitor the effect of the alkaloid decahydroquinoline (DHQ) on the microbiome of two frog species with contrasting alkaloid loads in nature. In both datasets, we found that alkaloid-exposed microbiomes were more phylogenetically diverse, with an increase in diversity among rare taxa. Further, to better understand the isolate-specific response to alkaloids, we cultured microbial isolates from poison frog skin and found that many isolates exhibited enhanced growth or were not impacted by the addition of DHQ. To further explore the microbial response to alkaloids, we sequenced the metagenomes from high- and low-alkaloid frogs and observed a greater diversity of genes associated with nitrogen and carbon metabolism in high-alkaloid frogs. From these data, we hypothesized that some strains may metabolize the alkaloids. We used stable isotope tracing coupled to nanoSIMS (nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry), which supported the idea that some of these isolates are able to metabolize DHQ. Together, these data suggest that poison frog alkaloids open new niches for skin-associated microbes with specific adaptations, such as alkaloid metabolism, that enable survival in this environment.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Henkin-McGill critical temperature test for explosives revisited: An overview of historical and modern method development

Many overarching standards, regulations, or other requirements necessitate that the critical temperature (T crit ) of an energetic material be known or estimate prior to operations such as heating. However, they rarely, if ever, provide a specific method for doing so. While other methods exist to calculate T crit , such as the Frank-Kamenetskii equation, computer simulation, etc., these cannot be readily utilized for energetics that are physical mixtures (i.e. most pyrotechnics) or materials where detailed material properties required for such calculations are lacking. Here, in this study, a COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) SBAT (Simulated Bulk Auto-ignition Test) apparatus is modified to perform Henkin cookoff tests. This creates a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution to estimate required T crit values for energetic materials. After a historical overview of the evolution of the Henkin test, several common energetic materials (PETN, RDX, etc.) for which T crit has been readily calculated, and historical data is available, were analyzed for comparison and verification purposes. This was followed by a variety of pyrotechnic mixtures and other materials to where calculation methods cannot be readily used. The modified apparatus, as well as an updated sample shell sealing method, produced results that aligned well with historical data. It also produced reasonable T crit estimates for those materials where the Frank-Kamenetskii equation cannot be applied.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance Evaluation of Drain Water Heat Recovery Exchangers for Heat Pump Water Heaters

Water heating constitutes approximately 18% of energy consumption and is the second largest energy expenses in United States homes. Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are energy efficient technologies with lower carbon footprints as compared to conventional water heating technologies, such as gas and electrical resistance heaters. The performance of water-source HPWHs can be improved by recovering heat from blackwater using drain heat recovery heat exchangers. Depending on water draw patterns of single family and multifamily residences, the operation and heat transfer performance of these heat exchangers are highly transient. This paper examines the thermo-hydraulic performance of a drain heat recovery heat exchanger during its transient and steady-state operations. The heat recovery performance of the exchanger was evaluated at different inlet temperatures and flow rates ranging from 9°C to 36°C and 0.03 kg/s to 0.28 kg/s, respectively. The obtained effectiveness varies from 45%–85% depending on the operating conditions. The test facility, steady-state and transient experimental procedures are reported in detail. Further, the effect of operating conditions on the effectiveness is discussed. The experimental approach and results of the study will provide insights into the transient operation of drain recovery heat exchangers as well as, guide sizing for various steady state conditions.

Krishnan, Easwaran↗
DOE OSTI2024

International fuel performance study of fresh fuel experiments for PCMI effects during RIA experiments

This paper presents the results of High-burnup Experiments for Reactivity-initiated Accident (HERA) Modeling & Simulation (M&S) exercise. The HERA project under the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Second Framework for Irradiation Experiments (FIDES-II) program is focused on studying Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel behavior during Reactivity-Initiated Accident (RIA) conditions. The Part I M&S cases are based on a series of tests in the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility in the United States and the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) in Japan. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the test design to accomplish its goals in establishing clearer understanding of the effects of power pulse width during RIA conditions. Further, the blind predictions using various computational tools have been performed and compared amongst to interpret the behaviors of high burnup fuels during RIA. While many international participants evaluate the thermal–mechanical behavior of fuel rod under different conditions, a considerable scatter of outputs comes out for the cases due to the disparity between codes in predicting mechanical behaviors. In general, however, the results of thermal–mechanical analysis elaborate that nominal design conditions the shorter pulse width tests in NSRR should cause cladding failures while the TREAT tests appear to have more split prediction of failure or not. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis varying key testing parameters reveals the considerable effect of power pulse width and total energy deposition on prediction of fuel rod failure.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Water reactive polyurethane grouting for deep vadose zone contaminant immobilization

Contaminants in the deep vadose zone (DVZ) pose a long-term threat to groundwater, human health, and the environment. Polyurethane grouting is a type of chemical grouting that is potentially advantageous in immobilizing contaminants in DVZs. Polyurethane resin has low viscosity that makes it feasible to penetrate and fill the pore space between fine particles. Here, in this study a series of laboratory pressure grouting and leaching tests were conducted to simulate and assess the effectiveness of polyurethane grouting for immobilizing contaminants in DVZs. Soil with fine particles was prepared with 127 I (as iodide) that served as a non-radioactive surrogate for radioactive 129 I. After grouting and curing, leaching tests were used to measure and compare contaminant diffusivity and leachability index values. Additionally, changes in porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity of grouted soil were measured. X-Ray Computer Tomography (XCT) results showed that the cured polyurethane was distributed nearly homogeneously and approximately half of the voids were filled with cured polyurethane. Grouting reduced the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil by 37 %. The effective diffusivity decreased by more than 80 % as compared with the ungrouted soil. The leachability index of the grouted soil was 6.5; meeting the criteria established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) standard. The results obtained in this study provide a valuable assessment of polyurethane grouting for iodide immobilization in the DVZ and indicate this approach may be a viable method for contaminant remediation in DVZ soils.

Contaminant Diffusion↗
DOE OSTI2024

Large Area Near‐Field Thermophotovoltaics for Low Temperature Applications

Abstract Thermophotovoltaics, devices that convert thermal infrared photons to electricity, offer a key pathway for a variety of critical renewable energy technologies including thermal energy storage, waste heat recovery, and direct solar‐thermal power generation. However, conventional far‐field devices struggle to generate reasonable powers at lower temperatures. Near‐field thermophotovoltaics provide a pathway to substantially higher powers by leveraging photon tunneling effects. Here a large area near‐field thermophotovoltaic device is presented, created with an epitaxial co‐fabrication approach, that consists of a self‐supported 0.28 cm 2 emitter‐cell pair with a 150 nm gap. The device generates 1.22 mW at 460 °C, a 25‐fold increase over the same cell measured in a far‐field configuration. Furthermore, the near‐field device demonstrates short circuit current densities greater than the far‐field photocurrent limit at all the temperatures tested, confirming the role of photon tunneling effects in the performance enhancement. Modeling suggests several practical directions for cell improvements and further increases in power density. These results highlight the promise of near‐field thermophotovoltaics, especially for low temperature applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fast Neutron Irradiation of a Multichannel JFET-Based Optical Encoder

Modern electrical components are susceptible to damage from high levels of radiation and extreme temperatures found near reactors in terrestrial nuclear power plants and in aerospace applications. Radiation-hardened electronics are being developed, largely for the aerospace industry, but they sometimes rely on application-specific, small-batch semiconductor fabrication processes. These processes tend to be prohibitively expensive to develop and maintain outside major industrial facilities or governmental agencies. Recently, commercially available, nonradiation-rated junction-gate field-effect transistors (JFETs) were shown to maintain their functionality at gamma doses exceeding 1 MGy, suggesting that nonrated, commercially available electrical components could be used to develop systems that are tolerant to ionizing radiation. However, gamma ray survival is not indicative of neutron dose survival, and few studies characterize JFETs under neutron irradiation. To address this knowledge gap, a JFET-based analog multiplexer and optical pulsewidth modulation (PWM) encoder was developed and irradiated using a 252 Cf source to 1.6×10 13 n/cm 2 . The multiplexed optical encoder (MOE) system maintained functionality throughout testing and showed little evidence of radiation effects. These results indicate that circuitry tolerant to fast neutron damage can be developed using low-cost, nonradiation-rated, commercially available JFETs, which could provide a lower production cost alternative to specialized semiconductor processes when designing and building electronics better able to survive neutron irradiation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Disentangling the gap between pure and mixed-gas performance of thin film composite membranes through improved cell design and testing methods

Testing thin film composite (TFC) membrane coupons at low stage-cuts (≤5%) in a sweep-gas permeation system is a common practice to obtain mixed-gas separation properties for benchmarking performance and making scale-up decisions. However, even under these idealized conditions, mixed-gas permeance and selectivity can be more than 30% lower than their pure-gas values, partially due to concentration polarization, an effect that typically intensifies with increased membrane permeance. This study investigates the effect of cell design on mixed-gas testing using PolyActive TM TFC membranes with pure-gas CO 2 permeance of 1700 – 3100 gas permeance unit (GPU), covering the permeance range of most state-of-the-art CO 2 /N 2 separation membranes. Here, we designed and 3D-printed a counter-current permeation cell with enhanced feed and sweep flow efficiency, resulting in a 33 – 41% increase in mixed-gas CO 2 permeance compared to traditional permeation cells. Furthermore, we compared sweep-gas and vacuum permeation methods using traditional permeation cells, revealing that the latter delivers 41% higher mixed-gas CO 2 permeance, because vacuuming effectively minimizes the downstream concentration polarization. These findings highlight the importance of cell design and permeation apparatus selection in lab-scale mixed-gas testing, with strong implications for module design and process optimization at the industrial scale.

mixed gas performance↗
DOE OSTI2026

Image Distinguishability Analysis Testing Through Principal Components and Its Application to Hot Spot Scale Invariance

Hot spots are spatial regions of intense energy localization that govern initiation of secondary high explosives. Studies that characterize or compare simulated hot spots are frequently either qualitatively descriptive or resort to quantitative distribution functions that neglect stochastic variations and spatial correlations—effects that are also neglected in common comparison tests like the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. To this end, we develop an image distinguishability analysis (IDA) test based on principal component (PC) analysis that makes pixel-by-pixel comparisons between small, for example, O(<10), image data sets. The IDA test makes comparisons through a generalized distance metric in the PC space and a test statistic that is derived to calculate mathematical equation-values. Here, we derive a statistical distribution and criticality criterion to determine whether images are distinguishable from established baselines. We apply the IDA test on images generated from molecular dynamics simulations of hot spots from pore collapse in TATB to assess scale invariance in the complex patterns of hot spots that form in a representative high explosive crystal. The IDA test shows that TATB hot spot spatial temperature fields and their derived temperature histograms exhibit scale-invariant features over specific intervals of shock orientation, strength, and initial pore diameter. However, the IDA test also shows that qualitatively different conclusions regarding invariance can be reached depending on whether the hot spot is treated as a spatially correlated field as opposed to a distribution function that lacks spatial information.

organic↗
DOE OSTI2024

Testing lepton flavor universality at future Z factories

As one of the hypothetical principles in the Standard Model (SM), lepton flavor universality (LFU) should be tested with a precision as high as possible such that the physics violating this principle can be fully examined. The run of a Z factory at a future e + e − collider, such as the Circular Electron-Positron Collider or Future Circular Collider (electron/positron), provides a great opportunity to perform this task because of the large statistics and high reconstruction efficiencies for b hadrons at the Z pole. In this paper, we present a systematic study on the LFU test in future Z factories. The goal is threefold. First, we study the sensitivities of measuring the LFU-violating observables of b → c τ ν , i.e., R J / ψ , R D s , R D s * , and R Λ c , where τ decays muonically. For this purpose, we develop the strategies for event reconstruction, based on the track information significantly. Second, we explore the sensitivity robustness against detector performance and its potential improvement with the message of event shape or beyond the b -hadron decays. A picture is drawn on the variation of analysis sensitivities with the detector tracking resolution and soft photon detectability, and the impact of Fox-Wolfram moments is studied on the measurement of relevant flavor events. Finally, we interpret the projected sensitivities in the SM effective field theory, by combining the LFU tests of b → c τ ν and the measurements of b → s τ + τ − and b → s ν ¯ ν . We show that the limits on the LFU-violating energy scale can be pushed up to ∼ O ( 10 ) TeV for ≲ O ( 1 ) Wilson coefficients at Tera- Z . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

New particle pusher with hadronic interactions for modeling multimessenger emission from compact objects

We propose novel numerical schemes based on the Boris method in curved spacetime, incorporating both hadronic and radiative interactions for the first time. Once the proton has lost significant energy due to radiative and hadronic losses, and its gyroradius has decreased below typical scales on which the electromagnetic field varies, we apply a guiding center approximation (GCA). We fundamentally simulate collision processes either with a Monte-Carlo method or, where applicable, as a continuous energy loss, contingent on the local optical depth. To test our algorithm for the first time combining the effects of electromagnetic, gravitational, and radiation fields including hadronic interactions, we simulate highly relativistic protons traveling through various electromagnetic fields and proton backgrounds. We provide unit tests in various spatially dependent electromagnetic and gravitational fields and background photon and proton distributions, comparing the trajectory against analytic results. We propose that our method can be used to analyze hadronic interactions in black hole accretion disks, jets, and coronae to study the neutrino abundance from active galactic nuclei.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Utah FORGE: RESMAN Well 16A(78)-32 and 16B(78)-32 Stimulation and Circulation Tracer Test Results - 2024

This dataset contains tracer test results from stimulation and circulation experiments conducted on the Utah FORGE wells 16A(78)-32 and 16B(78)-32 during 2024. The data was collected by RESMAN Energy Technology and includes detailed tracer analysis from flowback, short- and extended-duration circulation tests, and reinjection sampling. Sampling included analysis of tracers during different stages of testing in April, August, and September 2024. The dataset is accompanied by an interpretation report and contains time-series tracer concentration data with identification of test phases and sampling conditions. It includes results for flowback from well 16A, commingling effects with water from well 16B, tracer data from short and extended circulation tests, and reinjection tracer corrections for the August/September test. Users should be aware that proprietary tracer methodologies were applied, and they should consult the interpretation report for insights into experimental procedures and data contextualization.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Adaptive Protection and Validated Models to Enable Deployment of High Penetrations of Solar PV (PV-MOD)

The availability and validation of various PV models in commercial tools differ, with some models not yet thoroughly validated for advanced inverter functionalities and reliable performance under weak system conditions. Many existing models do not fully incorporate new inverter control functions, which can affect system stability. The increasing deployment of solar PV and other inverter-based resources (IBRs), including distributed energy resources (DERs), is influencing the reliable operation of protection schemes in distribution systems and microgrids. Emerging adaptive protection schemes (APS) offer new opportunities for protecting these systems during varying configurations and DER operating conditions, though their demonstration and validation remain limited. Adaptive protection schemes face similar challenges, as they are typically designed for specific configurations. There is a growing need for tools and methodologies to streamline the deployment of adaptive protection for safe and reliable DER integration. The project main objective was to develop and validate high-fidelity generic models of solar PV facilities for stability, protection, EMT, and QSTS analyses. This objective was achieved, and these models can now be integrated into commercial software tools, enabling utilities, vendors, and developers to study high-penetration PV systems more confidently. The project also demonstrated advanced applications of these models, including the design and deployment of adaptive protection schemes in high-penetration field applications and microgrids, supporting grid safety and reliability. Several milestones were reached by the end of the project. A sophisticated inverter test plan was developed, and inverters representative of the North American marketplace were selected. EPRI and NREL tested various inverters, conforming to IEEE standards. Improvements were made to existing generic models of IBR units, IBR plants, and aggregated feeders for various analyses. The first generic electromagnetic transient (EMT) model for a solar PV plant was developed, conforming to IEEE Std 2800™-2022 and validated against laboratory measurements of a 2.2 MVA large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) inverter. That model was then used to produce reference responses illustrating examples of validated and verified IBR plant models that pass or fail tests for technical minimum capability and performance as specified in the IEEE standard. The developed, tested, and validated generic models can be used for transmission planning, stability assessments, expansion planning, and evaluating potential future IBR interconnection requirements. They can also support interconnection screens and conformity assessments of IBR plants, including solar PV. The project significantly contributed to the ongoing standardization and model-based representation and verification of IBR responses. The project further addressed challenges of common distribution protection schemes with increasing deployment of DER by developing, validating, and demonstrating adaptive protection schemes (APS) that can improve the reliable and safe integration of DER into distribution systems. New APS were designed using improved DER models for three common distribution systems: a radial feeder, a meshed network, and a microgrid. Modeling and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing of the APS were conducted, successfully showing their effectiveness and selectivity. Proof-of-concept field demonstration was achieved for two APS, i.e., one on a radial feeder and another one in a microgrid. Field demonstration could not be achieved for the APS on a meshed network, primarily due apprehension of one utility partner and also due to limited access to the protective algorithms in the network protectors. Guidelines developed from the lessons learned in the project lay out the general process followed in the design, installation, and commissioning of APS for various distribution systems. Distribution utility partners’ apprehension about field demonstration of the new APS were addressed—with varying success—by taking a stepped risk-management approach of modeling of a wide range of sensitivities first, performing in-depth proof-of-concept testing in the laboratory including HIL next, and finally deliberately implementing and commissioning the actual protection equipment and algorithms into parts of—or in parallel operation to—the three real distribution systems. Future work should include pilot projects that further show the acceptable performance of the developed APS before these schemes be rolled out more widely. Inclusion of both utility and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in future projects could increase chances of successful field demonstration. Despite challenges in achieving the field demonstration goal of the project for all three APS, the research significantly contributed to the innovation of adaptive protection solutions for scalable and reliable DER integration into distribution systems. This project significantly enhances the understanding of the impact of using appropriate inverter models on distribution and transmission (T&D) systems. By addressing the limitations of existing generic models, the project introduces high-fidelity models for stability, protection, electromagnetic transient (EMT), and quasi-static time series (QSTS) analyses. These models, integrated into commercial software tools, enable utilities, vendors, and developers to confidently study high-penetration PV systems. The project also demonstrates advanced applications, including adaptive protection schemes (APS) for distribution systems and microgrids, ensuring grid safety and reliability. The technical effectiveness and economic feasibility of the methods are evident through the development and validation of sophisticated inverter test plans and the selection of representative inverters. Testing by EPRI and NREL on retail, commercial, and utility-scale inverters, conforming to IEEE standards, underscores the robustness of the models. Improvements to existing generic models for various analyses further enhance their validity and applicability. The project also identifies gaps in common distribution protection schemes and designed new APS using improved DER models, demonstrating their effectiveness through modeling and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. The project’s benefits to the public are manifold. By advancing the standardization and model-based representation of IBR response, it supports transmission planning, stability assessments, and future IBR interconnection requirements. The generic models can facilitate better communication between transmission planners and developers, supporting expected IBR plant capability and performance. Additionally, the development of APS for radial feeders, meshed networks, and microgrids supports the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into distribution systems, enhancing grid reliability and safety. The project’s emphasis on thorough testing and simplicity in design ensures practical and scalable solutions for DER integration.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Validating automated resonance evaluation with synthetic data

The integrity and precision of nuclear data are crucial for a broad spectrum of applications, from national security and nuclear reactor design to medical diagnostics, where the associated uncertainties can significantly impact outcomes. A substantial portion of uncertainty in nuclear data originates from the subjective biases in the evaluation process, a crucial phase in the nuclear data production pipeline. Recent advancements indicate that automation of certain routines can mitigate these biases, thereby standardizing the evaluation process and enhancing reproducibility. This research aims to provide a methodology, framework, and metrics for the validation of automated nuclear data evaluation software leveraging high-quality synthetic data that closely mimic real experimental observables. An introduced error metric provides a scale and intuitive measure of the evaluation quality by quantifying the estimate’s accuracy and performance across the specified energy range. Synthetic data provides access to experimental observables and underlying resonance parameters, enabling comparison of different evaluations. The methodology is demonstrated using Ta-181 isotope data in the resolved resonance region. The Automated Resonance Identification Subroutine (ARIS), which operates without prior resonance information, was used to test and showcase the framework’s capabilities utilizing the proposed error metrics. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and framework for optimizing software parameters and testing hypotheses through “what-if” controlled experiments, such as modifying assumptions about experimental conditions or average resonance parameters.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Low Energy Muon Beam Diagnostics - Scintillating Fiber Profile Monitor (SFPM)

The MeV Test Area (MTA) houses the 400 MeV H^− Beam at the end of the Linac and a secondary beamline of muons and pions created from hitting a Tungsten target. The MTA is in the Irradiation Test Area (ITA), where experiments involve studying the effects of radiation on materials in the MTA beam. There is a need for a retractable detector to monitor the secondary beam s intensity and coarse profile. The SFPM was chosen when considering factors like ability to measure low rates and handle high intensities. The plan was to test different scintillating fibers & Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) models to figure out which combination gives the best signals, and gain familiarity with the detector assembly, operation, and data acquisition software before using with final detectors in beamline. The SiPM circuit has been tested with a LED pulser successfully. The immediate steps that follow will be to set the SiPM up on the monitor with three different types of optical fibers, use the Caen software to configure the best mode of data acquisition, and proceed with an offline source test using Strontium-90. Once the most efficient measurement method is clear, they will be ready for use in the beamline.

Leith, Justin↗
DOE OSTI2024

Low Energy Muon Beam Diagnostics: Scintillating Fiber Profile Monitor

The MeV Test Area (MTA) houses the 400 MeV H- Beam at the end of the Linac and a secondary beamline of muons and pions created from hitting a Tungsten target. The MTA is in the Irradiation Test Area (ITA), where experiments involve studying the effects of radiation on materials in the MTA beam. There is a need for a retractable detector to monitor the secondary beam’s intensity and coarse profile. The SFPM was chosen when considering factors like ability to measure low rates and handle high intensities. The plan was to test different scintillating fibers & Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) models to figure out which combination gives the best signals, and gain familiarity with the detector assembly, operation, and data acquisition software before using with final detectors in beamline. The SiPM circuit has been tested with a LED pulser successfully. The immediate steps that follow will be to set the SiPM up on the monitor with three different types of optical fibers, use the Caen software to configure the best mode of data acquisition, and proceed with an offline source test using Strontium-90. Once the most efficient measurement method is clear, they will be ready for use in the beamline.

Leith, Justin↗