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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Toroidal modeling of runaway electron loss due to 3-D fields in DIII-D and COMPASS

The 3-D field induced relativistic runaway electron (RE) loss has been simulated for DIII-D, COMPASS and ITER plasmas, utilizing the MARS-F code incorporated with the recently developed and updated RE orbit module (REORBIT). Modeling shows effectively 100% loss of a post-disruption, high-current runaway beam in DIII-D, due to the 1 kG level of magnetic field perturbation produced by a fast growing n = 1 resistive kink instability. The RE loss is shown to be independent of the particle energy or the initial location of particles in the configuration space. Applied resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) fields from in-vessel coils are not effective for RE beam mitigation in DIII-D, but do produce finite (>10%) RE loss in COMPASS, consistent with experimental observations in above two devices. The major reasons for this difference in RE control by RMP between these two devices are (i) the coil proximity to the RE beam and (ii) the effective coil current scaling versus the machine size and the toroidal magnetic field. About 10% RE loss fraction is also predicted for an ITER 15 MA scenario with pre-disruption plasma, highlighting the role of the plasma response. Up to 30% loss is computed, however, by artificially scaling the equilibrium pressure to zero. This is due to the more resistive plasma response and stronger resulting field line stochasticity. Distributions of the lost REs to the limiting surface show poloidally peaked profile near the high-field-side in both DIII-D and COMPASS, covering about 100o poloidal angle. Higher perturbation field level and/or higher particle energy also result in REs being lost to the low-field-side of the limiting surface of these two devices, increasing the effective wetted area. Finally, for the modeled ITER plasmas, the applied RMP field, with optimal poloidal spectrum that maximizes the edge localized mode control, leads to REs being lost to the lower divertor region of the limiting surface within a narrow poloidal band.

3-D field↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ptychographic phase retrieval by proximal algorithms

We derive a set of ptychography phase-retrieval iterative engines based on proximal algorithms originally developed in convex optimization theory, and discuss their connections with existing ones. The use of proximal operator creates a simple frame work that allows us to incorporate the effect of noise from a maximum-likelihood (ML) principle. We focus on three particular algorithms, namely proximal minimization, alternating direction method of multiplier and accelerated proximal gradient (APG). We benchmark their performance with numerical simulations, and discuss their optimal conditions for convergence and accuracy. An experimental dataset is used to demonstrate their effectiveness as well, in which case an array of cubic Au nanoparticles with a size of 50 nm is imaged. We show that with the presence of Poisson noise, a dataset with photon counts up to 10 4 at one detector pixel already requires ML-based methods to achieve a stable convergence. Among the three algorithms derived in this work, APG method is reported first time for its application in ptychographic reconstruction and shows superior performance in terms of both accuracy and convergence rate with a noisy dataset.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Exchange bias and interface-related effects in two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic heterostructures: Open questions and perspectives

The exchange bias (EB) effect is known as a fundamentally and technologically important magnetic property of a magnetic bilayer film. It is manifested as a horizontal shift in a magnetic hysteresis loop of a film subject to cooling in the presence of a magnetic field. The EB effect in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures offers a novel approach for tuning the magnetic properties of the newly discovered single-layer magnets, as well as adds a new impetus to magnetic vdW heterostructures. Indeed, intriguing EB effects have recently been reported in a variety of low-dimensional vdW magnetic systems ranging from a weakly interlayer-coupled vdW magnet (e.g., Fe 3 GeTe 2 ) to a bilayer composed of two different magnetic vdW materials (e.g., Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CrCl 3 , Fe 3 GeTe 2 /FePS 3 , Fe 3 GeTe 2 /MnPS 3 , Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CrSe, Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CrOCl, Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CoPc, Fe 5 GeTe 2 /FePS 3 ), to bilayers of two different vdW defective magnets (e.g., VSe 2 /MoS 2 ), or to metallic ferromagnet/vdW defective magnet interfaces (e.g., Fe/MoS 2 ). Despite their huge potential in spintronic device applications, the physical origins of the observed EB effects have remained elusive to researchers. Here, we present here a critical review of the EB effect and associated phenomena such as magnetic proximity (MP) in various vdW heterostructure systems and propose approaches to addressing some of the emerging fundamental questions.

2D magnets↗
DOE OSTI2024

First-Principles Simulation of Beam-Induced Processes Underlying Atomic Manipulation in Electron Microscopes

The development of experimental methods and apparatuses capable of promoting atomically precise material manipulations holds great promise for realizing the ultimate limit of feature miniaturization in materials and devices. The ability to modify materials atom by atom is anticipated to usher in new technologies in areas as diverse as separation science, medicine, and quantum information science. Historically, scanning probe-based techniques have been the most prominent approaches in this space. However, these methods are best suited for the manipulation of surface-exposed regions of materials, as the strong perturbations required for bond scission are delivered most effectively to atoms in the near-proximity to the scanning probe. In contrast, convergent electron beams with energies tuned slightly below the threshold for inducing irreversible knock-on damage have recently been employed (within scanning transmission electron microscopy) to promote atomic-scale bond rearrangements in various beam-stable solids. Currently, however, the efficiency and selectivity of beam-induced atomic manipulation processes with focused electron beams are such that long irradiation times are required to induce a desired atomic rearrangement. With a better understanding of the underlying physics dictating the outcome of a given irradiation event, methods can be devised to improve the efficiency of these techniques so that their promise can be fully realized through widespread adoption.To this end, this Account details our recent efforts to develop and apply tractable first-principles simulation approaches for studying the response of materials to electric beam-like external electric potentials applied in real space. We briefly review the concepts and capabilities in the area of atomically precise materials manipulation and review the early demonstrations of accomplishments in this area, focusing on studies using scanned convergent electron beam probes in particular. We expound upon the depth of the challenge and identify critical shortcomings of theoretical methods that have previously been employed in the simulation of beam-induced processes. We then describe the computational methods that we have generalized from the concepts and tools most commonly applied to the study of molecular photochemistry and how our adaptations of these methods can be employed to capture the relevant dynamical phenomena for beam-induced processes ranging from the initial electron scattering to the ensuing multistate reactions. Here, we contextualize these methods within the current state of the art in this area, which has historically focused primarily on the simulation of inelastic image formation in the electron microscope for the purpose of interpreting the results of quantitative electron microscopy experiments. We demonstrate that the spatial distribution of state-specific excitation rates due to the presence of an external (probe) electric charge is inhomogeneous, such that irradiation at particular locations in materials can favor specific electronic transitions (and disallow others). In addition to the potential for excited-state reaction pathways to be accessed through the initial inelastic scattering of the tightly focused electron beam from the targeted atoms, we also identify favorable conditions for the electronically nonadiabatic evolution of the highly vibrationally excited system to open complex multistate reaction pathways. Implications of the early results for understanding the mechanisms and potential routes to improved efficiency and selectivity in beam-induced reactions are discussed. We conclude with a summary of the current state of theory and modeling capabilities in this area and provide our perspective on future directions for theoretical and experimental developments that we view as crucial to advancing the use of convergent electron beams in mode-specific, atomically precise platforms for direct-write materials modifications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cortical Proteins and Individual Differences in Cognitive Resilience in Older Adults

Background and objectives: Cognitive resilience is a well-recognized concept, but knowledge gaps about its underlying mechanisms have made it difficult to develop instruments that identify older adults with high or low resilience. We tested whether aggregating cortical peptides associated with cognitive resilience into an index can identify adults with higher or lower cognitive resilience. Methods: We used data from 1,192 older decedents, including annual clinical testing, indices of 10 Alzheimer disease (AD) and related dementia (ADRD) pathologies, and 226 proteotypic peptides measured in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. We used linear mixed-effects models to identify peptides that were related to cognitive resilience (i.e., cognitive decline not explained by ADRD pathologies [false discovery rate <0.05]). We aggregated the expression levels of these resilience peptides into a person-specific cognitive resilience index and examined its association with AD clinical and pathologic phenotypes. Results: We constructed a resilience index from 52 of 226 peptides related to cognitive resilience. A higher index was associated with slower cognitive decline (estimate 0.05, SE 0.003, p < 0.001) and slower motor decline (estimate 0.005, SE 0.001, p < 0.001). Most resilience peptides (70%) were specific to cognitive decline, but 30% also provided resilience for motor decline. A higher index was also related to a lower burden of AD pathologies (odds ratio [OR] 0.41, SE 0.01, p < 0.001) and modified the association of AD pathology with cognition in that a higher index modified the negative effects of AD pathology on AD dementia proximate to death (OR 0.70, SE 0.14, p = 0.010). Up to 90% of cognitive resilience peptides were related to AD pathologic phenotypes. Discussion: Cortical proteins may provide some degree of cognitive resilience. These multifunctional proteins also seem to provide resilience to other AD clinical phenotypes and have independent associations with ADRD pathologies. Resilience proteins may be high-value therapeutic targets for drug discovery of interventions that maintain brain health in aging adults via multiple pathways.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1981

Spacecraft automatic umbilical system

An umbilical system design is described that incorporates all the features specified for a power system to payload interconnect capability. A proof-of-concept prototype of the umbilical system was built to determine experimentally the suitability of the threading characteristics of the ram mechanism and to verify freedom from cross threading. It is concluded that Berthing systems that utilize remote manipulator systems (RMS) can be simplified by using RMS targets, closed circuit TV cameras, tie into the RMS control system, and grapple-fixture and end-effector-like capture and secure mechanisms. To effect a remotely controlled umbilical interconnect in proximity with a manned spacecraft and to provide for extravehicular activity backup and maintenance capabilities, 18 different mechanisms are found to be necessary. The weight impact of proving for maintenance capability in a large multiple connector umbilical system was found to be in the order of +60 percent.

Goldin, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Aerodynamic tests and analysis of a turbojet-boosted launch vehicle concept (spacejet) over a Mach number range of 1.50 to 2.86

Results from analytical and experimental studies of the aerodynamic characteristics of a turbojet-boosted launch vehicle concept through a Mach number range of 1.50 to 2.86 are presented. The vehicle consists of a winged orbiter utilizing an area-ruled axisymmetric body and two winged turbojet boosters mounted underneath the orbiter wing. Drag characteristics near zero lift were of prime interest. Force measurements and flow visualization techniques were employed. Estimates from wave drag theory, supersonic lifting surface theory, and impact theory are compared with data and indicate the ability of these theories to adequately predict the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. Despite the existence of multiple wings and bodies in close proximity to each other, no large scale effects of boundary layer separation on drag or lift could be discerned. Total drag levels were, however, sensitive to booster locations.

Riebe, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Exploratory studies of actuated forebody strakes for yaw control at high angles of attack

Wind-tunnel studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential of actuated forebody strakes to provide increased levels of yaw control on fighter aircraft at extremely high angles of attack where conventional aerodynamic controls are ineffective. The studies involved low-speed wind-tunnel tests of actuated forebody strake concepts applied to a generic fighter model and included circumferential pressure and flow visualization surveys on an isolated forebody. Results showed that the actuated forebody strake concept can provide high levels of yaw control over wide ranges of angle-of-attack and sideslip. However, when lifting surfaces were placed in close proximity to the forebody/strake combination, significant interaction effects occurred which reduced the yaw control effectiveness of the strakes and induced coupled rolling and pitching moments.

Murri, Daniel G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Unsteady transition measurements on a pitching three-dimensional wing

Boundary layer transition measurements were made during an experimental study of the aerodynamics of a rectangular wing undergoing unsteady pitching motions. The wing was tested at chordwise Mach numbers between 0.2 and 0.6, at sweep angles of 0, 15, and 30 deg, and for steady state, sinusoidal, and constant pitch rate motions. The model was scaled to represent a full size helicopter rotor blade, with chord Reynolds numbers between 2 and 6 x 10(exp 6). Sixteen surface hot-film gages were located along three spanwise stations: 0.08, 0.27, and 0.70 chords from the wing tip. Qualitative heat transfer information was obtained to identify the unsteady motion of the point of transition to turbulence. In combination with simultaneous measurements of the unsteady surface pressure distributions, the results illustrate the effects of compressibility, sweep, pitch rate, and proximity to the wing tip on the transition and relaminarization locations.

Lorber, Peter F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Anabolic Responses of an Adult Cancellous Bone Site to Prostaglandin E2 in the Rat

The objects of this study were to determine: (1) the response of a non-growing cancellous bone site to daily prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) administration; and (2) the differences in the effects of daily PGE2, administration in growing (proximal tibial metaphysis, PTM) and non-growing cancellous bone sites (distal tibial metaphysis, DTM). Seven-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were given daily subcutaneous injections of 0, 1, 3 and 6 mg PGE2/kg per day for 60, 120 and 180 days. The static and dynamic histomorphometric analyses were performed on double-fluorescent labeled undecalcified distal tibial metaphyses (DTM). No age-related changes were found in static and dynamic histomorphometry of DTM cancellous bone between 7 and 13 months of age. The DTM of 7-month-old (basal controls) rats consisted of a 24.5 +/- 7.61%-metaphyseal cancellous bone mass, and a thick trabeculae (92 +/- 12 micro-m). It also had a very low tissue-base bone formation rate (3.0 +/- 7.31%/year). Exogenous PGE2 administration produced the following transient changes in a dose-response manner between zero and 60 days: (1) increased trabecular bone mass and improved architecture (increased trabecular bone area, width and number, and decreased trabecular separation); (2) increased trabecular interconnections: (3) increased bone formation parameters; and (4) decreased eroded perimeter. A new steady state with more cancellous bone mass and higher bone turnover was observed from day 60 onward, The elevated bone mass induced by the first 60 days of PGE2 treatment was maintained by another 60 and 120 days with continuous daily PGE2 treatment. When these findings were compared to those previously reported for the PTM, we found that the DTM was much more responsive to PGE2 treatment than the PTM. Percent trabecular bone area and tissue based bone formation rate increased significantly more in DTM as compared to PTM after the 60 days of 6 mg PGE2 treatment. These observations indicate that a non-growing cancellous bone site is more responsive than growing bone site to long-term daily administration of PGE2.

Ito, Hiroshi↗
NASA NTRS2017

Relating a Jet-Surface Interaction Experiment to a Commercial Supersonic Transport Aircraft Using Numerical Simulations

NASA and industry partners desire to reintroduce commercial supersonic airliners to the air transportation system. There are a number of technical challenges that must be overcome by future commercial supersonic airliners to make them viable solutions in society. NASA is specifically concerned with the challenges of reducing boom during supersonic cruise, maximizing range, and reducing airport community noise to acceptable levels. Concepts for commercial supersonic transports, such as the concept aircraft by Lockheed Martin pictured in Figure 1, place the engine nozzles in close proximity to wing and tail surfaces. However, the effects of noise shielding and noise radiation are not fully understood for installed propulsion systems. A series of acoustic tests were conducted on the NASA Glenn Research Centers Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig (NATR) to address the challenge of reducing airport community noise, which is often dominated by jet noise. To best represent the conceptual aircraft in the acoustic tests, noise measurements were taken of the jet in close proximity of simulated aerodynamic surfaces, not simply of an isolated jet.

nozzle flow↗
NASA NTRS1976

Mated aerodynamic characteristics investigation for the 0.04 scale model TE 1065 (Boeing 747-100) of the 747 CAM and the 0.0405 scale model (43-0) of the space shuttle orbiter in the NASA Langley V/STOL transition research wind tunnel (CA8), volume 1

Aerodynamic force data are presented in tables and graphs for the NASA Langley V/STOL Transition Research Wind Tunnel tests on a 0.04 scale model of the 747 with a 0.0405 scale Orbiter space shuttle. The investigation included the effects of flap setting, stabilizer angle, elevator angle, ground proximity, and Orbiter tailcone fairing. Data were obtained in the pitch plane only. The test was run at M = 0.15, with a dynamic pressure of 35 psf. Six static pressures were measured on each side of the 747 CAM nose to determine the effects of the Orbiter on the 747 airspeed and altitude indicators.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1958

Discharge Coefficients for Combustor-liner Air-entry Holes II : Flush Rectangular Holes, Step Louvers, and Scoops

Experimental discharge coefficients for various types of combustor-liner air-entry holes are presented as a function of a dimensionless flow parameter. In general, scoops and step louvers have higher discharge coefficients and wider flow ranges than flush holes. The effects of size or shape of a given type of hole are small. The proximity of multiple flush holes or the wall inclination of a convergent duct has a negligible effect on discharge coefficient.

FLOW, COMPRESSIBLE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spatial organization of FcγR and TLR2/1 on phagosome membranes differentially regulates their synergistic and inhibitory receptor crosstalk

Abstract Many innate immune receptors function collaboratively to detect and elicit immune responses to pathogens, but the physical mechanisms that govern the interaction and signaling crosstalk between the receptors are unclear. In this study, we report that the signaling crosstalk between Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)2/1 can be overall synergistic or inhibitory depending on the spatial proximity between the receptor pair on phagosome membranes. Using a geometric manipulation strategy, we physically altered the spatial distribution of FcγR and TLR2 on single phagosomes. We demonstrate that the signaling synergy between FcγR and TLR2/1 depends on the proximity of the receptors and decreases as spatial separation between them increases. However, the inhibitory effect from FcγRIIb on TLR2-dependent signaling is always present and independent of receptor proximity. The overall cell responses are an integration from these two mechanisms. This study presents quantitative evidence that the nanoscale proximity between FcγR and TLR2 functions as a key regulatory mechanism in their signaling crosstalk.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Accelerating Surface Radiation Content to Investigate the Impact of Radon Progeny on Superconducting Qubits

Ionizing radiation in the form of $α$, $β$, $γ$, and additional high-energy particles can induce decoherence via phonon and quasiparticle poisoning in superconducting qubits. Recent studies have explored this effect using cosmic rays or controlled radioactive sources held in the proximity of a qubit package, and have concluded that reductions in such ``external'' environmental radiation may benefit stable operation of qubit devices. However, the effect of long-lived, unstable daughters of $^{222}$Rn that ``plate out'' directly on device and packaging surfaces has not been as extensively explored. This plate-out process, well-known to the dark matter direct detection field, occurs throughout the fabrication and testing lifecycle of a device and (separately) its packaging, and produces a local source of $α$-decays which can remain active for decades. As this scales with chip area, understanding and managing this source of ionizing radiation is relevant for successfully scaling quantum computing architectures to larger numbers of qubits in a radiation-robust way. We present a setup capable of accelerating and enhancing radon daughter plateout by a factor of $7\times10^4$ over ambient, in order to study, \textit{in situ}, the impact of these events on superconducting qubits. We also provide outlook on the potential impact of this source of ionizing radiation on current and future qubit arrays.

Poudel, Sagar S. [South Dakota Sch. Mines Tech.]↗
DOE OSTI2023

Covariance Shaping Over Riemannian Manifolds for Massive MIMO Communication

Acquiring accurate instantaneous channel state information (CSI) is a challenging aspect of massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communication. Utilizing statistical information, such as channel covariance matrix, to design statistical beamforming vectors is robust when compared to instantaneous CSI. In this paper, we propose a novel MIMO covariance shaping scheme over Riemannian manifolds. It serves as an effective statistical beamforming solution to a number of close proximity user equipment (UE) that are undergoing substantial channel correlation. Proposed algorithm exploits the Hermitian positive definite nature of covariance matrices lying over Riemannian manifold. We introduce Wasserstein distance function as a Riemannian metric to measure distances between channel covariance matrices. Furthermore, K-means clustering technique is utilized to effectively identify the optimal shape of effective optimal covariance matrices. Our findings suggest that maximizing the geodesic distance between covariance matrices ultimately leads to a corresponding increase in the network throughput, as determined by the beamforming vector used to shape the covariance matrices. Simulation results validate that the proposed solution converges faster than Euclidean-based state-of-the-art, while maintaining the same computational complexity. Finally, the sum rate performance asymptotically achieves full capacity for two-UE case and more than 96% of the upper bound exhaustive search benchmark for multi-UE scenario.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Programming PAM antennae for efficient CRISPR-Cas9 DNA editing

Bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases have been repurposed as powerful genome editing tools. Whereas engineering guide RNAs or Cas nucleases have proven to improve the efficiency of CRISPR editing, modulation of protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM), indispensable for CRISPR, has been less explored. Here, we develop a DNA origami–based platform to program a PAM antenna microenvironment and address its performance at the single-molecule level with submolecular resolution. To mimic spatially controlled in vivo PAM distribution as may occur in chromatin, we investigate the effect of PAM antennae surrounding target DNA. We find that PAM antennae effectively sensitize the DNA cleavage by recruiting Cas9 molecules. Super-resolution tracking of single single-guide RNA/Cas9s reveals localized translocation of Cas9 among spatially proximal PAMs. We find that the introduction of the PAM antennae effectively modulates the microenvironment for enhanced target cleavage (up to ~50%). These results provide insight into factors that promote more efficient genome editing.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1995

The proximity profile of intergalactic He II resonance absorption toward high-redshift QSOs

The Gunn-Peterson effect predicts that an absorption trough should be associated with any resonance line arising in the intergalactic medium (IGM), extending blueward of the line in the QSO's rest frame. We show that such an absorption trough will not generally have a sharp edge at the QSO's redshift but should develop gradually toward shorter wavelengths. This proximity profile of the Gunn-Peterson trough arises because diffuse intergalactic gas in the vicinity of the QSO is more highly ionized than the general IGM. We consider the case of a uniform IGM in approximate photoionization equilibrium with a metagalactic UV background and investigate the proximity profile of He II lambda 304, which might be observable in QSOs with Z(sub Q) approximately 3. Assuming the QSO continuum extends beyond the He II ionization edge, the proximity profile has a characteristic width of delta z(sub p) = delta lambda/304 is approximately 0.1 f is the QSO Lyman limit luminosity in units of 10(exp 31) ergs/s/Hz averaged over the past approximately 10(exp 7) yr, omega(sub I) is the IGM density near (is less than or equal to 10 Mpc) the QSO, omega(sub b) is the normalized baryon density predicted by standard big band necleosynthesis, and f is a factor of order unity which depends weakly on several other factors. Application of this result to the reported detection of the He II Gunn-Peterson effect in Q0302-003 (Jakobsen et al. 1994) suggests that omega(sub I) is approximately equal to omega(sub b), some three orders of magnitude larger than the minimum density that may be inferred from application of the ordinary Gunn-Peterson effect to this QSO. Future observations of the He II proximity profile at higher resolution and signal-to-noise ratio in serveral ASOs should provide the means to measure the IGM density accurately.

Zheng, Wei↗