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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Measured Energy-Dependent Neutron Attenuation Through the Stacked Printed Circuit Boards

Engineers often stack printed circuit boards (PCBs), populated with semiconductor devices, one behind the other in neutron beams to improve the error statistics in radiation-effects tests. As the neutron beam traverses through the boards, the neutron flux is both attenuated and the energy spectrum changes, which may have a significant impact on the results of such tests. In this work, we have developed a technique to measure the energy-dependent neutron attenuation due to the PCBs and to determine the energy-dependent effective cross section of neutron interactions with a single PCB. With this effective cross section, engineers can calculate the change in the neutron energy spectrum and the total neutron attenuation after any number of identical PCBs in the stack. This information will allow test engineers to partially correct inaccuracies in soft error tests.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Hybrid analysis of radiative corrections to neutron decay with current algebra and effective field theory

We introduce a useful framework for high-precision studies of the neutron beta decay by merging the current algebra description and the fixed-order effective field theory calculation of the electroweak radiative corrections to the neutron axial form factor. We discuss the advantages of this hybrid method and show that it only requires a minimal amount of lattice QCD inputs to achieve a 10 –4 theory accuracy for the Standard Model prediction of the neutron lifetime and the axial-to-vector coupling ratio λ, both important to the search for physics beyond the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization of Radiation Effects and Ion Tracks with Spallation Neutron Probes

Swift heavy ions are typically defined as high-mass charged particles of kinetic energy above ~1 MeV per nucleon (MeV/u). In this regime, the energy deposition of the ions is dominated by electronic stopping, and each individual ion may induce a linear trail of damage with a width of a few nanometers and a length of several tens of micrometers or more. During the last decade, ion tracks and other radiation effects induced by swift heavy ions have been studied in a wide range of materials for basic research, as well as for a wide variety of applications. The interactions of swift heavy ions with matter are significantly different from those induced by lower energy ions (keV-MeV), where atoms are directly displaced from their lattice sites via elastic collisions. In contrast, swift ions (MeV-GeV) transfer their kinetic energy to the electrons of the target, inducing ionization and initiating a cascade of secondary electrons that quickly spreads radially. The extremely high energy densities (up to tens of eV/atom) along the ion path lead to a confined plasma-like state that is dissipated through electron–phonon coupling to the lattice. Further, subsequent rapid transitions through equilibrium and non-equilibrium states trigger complex structural modifications within a highly localized nanoscale damage zone, forming ion tracks in materials ion tracks.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Radiative Corrections to Neutron Beta Decay and (Anti)Neutrino-Nucleon Scattering from Low-Energy Effective Field Theory

Herein we study radiative corrections to neutron beta decay and low-energy (anti)neutrino-nucleon scattering within a top-down effective field theory approach. As it was recently shown, a few electromagnetic and electroweak low-energy coupling constants in heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory are yet to be determined. Performing matching to the four-fermion effective field theory, we relate these low-energy constants to correlation functions of vector and axial-vector currents. Such relations allow us to explicitly clarify scheme dependence for radiative corrections to neutron decay and low-energy charged-current (anti)neutrino scattering, provide a robust prediction of leading in the electromagnetic coupling constant contributions, and achieve a clear separation between short-distance and long-distance contributions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Radiation damage effects by electrons, protons, and neutrons in Si/Li/ detectors.

The degradation in performance of lithium-compensated silicon nuclear particle detectors induced by irradiation at room temperature with 0.6-MeV and 1.5-MeV electrons, 1.9-MeV protons, and fast neutrons from a plutonium-beryllium source has been investigated. With increasing fluence, the irradiations produced an increase of detector leakage current, noise, capacitance, and a degradation in the performance of the detector as a charged-particle energy spectrometer. Following the irradiations, annealing effects were observed when the detectors were reverse-biased at their recommended operating voltages. Upon removal of bias, a continuous degradation of detector performance characteristics occurred. Detectors which had been damaged by electrons and protons exhibited a stabilization in their characteristics within two weeks after irradiation, whereas detectors damaged by neutrons had a continuous degradation of performance over a period of several months.

Liu, Y. M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

GaAs Neutron Response Functions and Radiation Damage Metrics

The radiation effects community needs clear, well-documented, neutron energy-dependent responses that can be used in assessing radiation-induced material damage to GaAs semiconductors and for correlating observed radiation-induced changes in the GaAs electronic properties with computed damage metrics. In support of the objective, this document provides: a) a clearly defined set of relevant neutron response functions for use in dosimetry applications; b) clear mathematical expressions for the defined response functions; and c) updated quantitative values for the energy- dependent response functions that reflect the best current nuclear data and modelling. This document recaps the legacy response functions. It then surveys the latest nuclear data and updates the recommended response function to support current GaAs damage studies. A detailed tabulation for six of the energy-dependent response functions is provided in an Appendix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1974

Effect of fast neutron, gamma-ray and combined radiations on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate single crystals

The thermal decomposition kinetics have been determined for ammonium perchlorate crystals subjected to a fast neutron irradiation or to a fast neutron irradiation followed by a gamma-ray irradiation. Qualitatively, the radiation induced changes are similar to those obtained in this and in previous studies, with samples exposed only to gamma rays. The induction period is shortened and the rate constants, obtained from an Avrami-Erofeyev kinetic analysis, are modified. The acceleratory period constant increases and the decay period constant decreases. When compared on an equal deposited energy basis, the fast neutron induced changes are appreciably larger than the gamma-ray induced changes. Some, or all, of the fast neutron induced effects might be attributable to the introduction of localized regions of concentrated radiation damage ('spikes') by lattice atom recoils which become thermal decomposition sites when the crystals are heated.

Herley, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Implementation of Gy-Eq for deterministic effects limitation in shield design

The NCRP has recently defined RBE values and a new quantity (Gy-Eq) for use in estimation of deterministic effects in space shielding and operations. The NCRP's RBE for neutrons is left ambiguous and not fully defined. In the present report we will suggest a complete definition of neutron RBE consistent with the NCRP recommendations and evaluate attenuation properties of deterministic effects (Gy-Eq) in comparison with other dosimetric quantities.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Aligned Boron Nitride Nanotube Reinforced Polyethylene Nanocomposite for Space Radiation Shielding

With NASA’s Artemis program aiming to establish a human presence on the Moon and eventually on Mars, protecting astronauts from radiation is necessary. Flight-heritage materials, like those with high hydrogen content, such as polyethylene (PE), have proven to be effective radiation shields. This is due to hydrogen’s high charge-to-mass ratio, low secondary radiation production, efficient energy absorption, and high cross-section, which increases the probability of particle interactions to slow or stop ionized particles. Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and other boron-rich materials offer more effective thermal neutron radiation-stopping capabilities due to their high cross-section and neutron absorption properties. BNNTs also enhance the mechanical properties of radiation shielding material due to their high strength-to-weight ratios. However, integrating high volumes of nanotubes in a matrix without defects presents significant manufacturing challenges. To address this, a bulk nanocomposite laminate fabricating technique, involving synthesizing millimeter-long vertically aligned BNNTs, densifying the nanotubes to high-volume fractions, and infusing the nanotubes with PE while applying heat and pressure was utilized to fabricate the BNNT-PE nanocomposite that was tested for its radiation shielding properties at NASA Langley Research Center’s neutron radiation exposure lab. Results from these experiments will be discussed in the presentation.

Palak B Patel↗
NASA NTRS1966

Cosmic ray neutrons.

Neutron production in cosmic radiation, neutron measurements and geophysical effects

NEUTRON↗
DOE OSTI2020

AGC 3 Irradiated Material Properties Analysis

This report documents the analysis of the irradiated material property data from the Advanced Graphite Creep (AGC)-3 graphite specimens. This is the third in a series of six irradiation test trains planned as part of the AGC experiment to fully characterize the neutron irradiation effects and radiation creep behavior of current nuclear graphite grades. The AGC-3 capsule was irradiated in the Idaho National Laboratory Advanced Test Reactor at a nominal temperature of 800°C, beginning with irradiation Cycle 152B on November 28, 2012 and ending with Cycle 155B on April 12, 2014, with a total received dose range of 0.9–3.7 dpa. Larger creep and control specimens located more centrally in the capsule received a dose of 1.0 – 3.7 dpa. AGC-3 was designed to provide irradiation conditions similar to AGC-1 and AGC-2 capsules (similar graphite grades tested, specimen dimensions, mechanical loading conditions) but at a different nominal irradiation temperature of 800°C. AGC-3 was irradiated for a short duration to provide material property values at lower dose levels. AGC-4 will have a longer duration and provide material property values at higher dose levels. After irradiation, material property and dimensional strain measurements were conducted on all AGC-3 specimens (from 11 nuclear graphite grades) using the same equipment and approved standards as were conducted before irradiation. The specimen loading configuration for all graphite grades within AGC-3 followed a similar pattern as earlier AGC capsules to provide easy future comparison of all irradiated material property data.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗