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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 OSTI2012

PINS Spectrum Identification Guide

The Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy—PINS, for short—system identifies the chemicals inside munitions and containers without opening them, a decided safety advantage if the fill chemical is a hazardous substance like a chemical warfare agent or an explosive. The PINS Spectrum Identification Guide is intended as a reference for technical professionals responsible for the interpretation of PINS gamma-ray spectra. The guide is divided into two parts. The three chapters that constitute Part I cover the science and technology of PINS. Neutron activation analysis is the focus of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 explores PINS hardware, software, and related operational issues. Gamma-ray spectral analysis basics are introduced in Chapter 3. The six chapters of Part II cover the identification of PINS spectra in detail. Like the PINS decision tree logic, these chapters are organized by chemical element: phosphorus-based chemicals, chlorine-based chemicals, etc. These descriptions of hazardous, toxic, and/or explosive chemicals conclude with a chapter on the identification of the inert chemicals, e.g. sand, used to fill practice munitions.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
NASA NTRS1984

The explosive transient camera (ETC) - An instrument for identification of gamma ray burst optical counterparts

The ETC is a wide-field (3-steradian) electronic camera array which can detect coincident optical flashes with durations of 0.1 to 100 sec. Each array element is a 20 x 30 deg FOV, cooled CCD detector. An optical transient (possibly associated with a gamma ray burst) as faint as B = +11 (1 sec duration) can be detected with an S/N of not less than 20, and its position determined to an accuracy of + or - 10 arcsec. Candidate events 1000 times fainter than the archived event (plate taken in 1928) reported for the November 19, 1978 gamma ray burst by Schaefer (1981) should be detectable in real time. A prototype camera was tested in April 1982 to establish sky background levels and spurious event rejection schemes; a 1/2-ster test version of the ETC was planned for operation in early 1984; expansion to the full 3-ster complement of 16 detectors at each of two sites was planned for the 1984-1985 period.

Ricker, G. R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Cold Ocean Planets: Exoplanet Analogs of Our Solar System’s Icy Moons?

We have calculated total internal heating rates and depths to possible subsurface oceans for 17 planets that were previously characterized as rocky worlds but that are best described as Cold Ocean Planets. These low-mass exoplanets have equilibrium surface temperatures and/or densities that are consistent with icy surfaces and a substantial H2O content. While all planets in our study are likely to be covered in ice, estimated internal heating rates from tidal and radiogenic sources are large enough that they may harbor internal oceans and exhibit explosive cryovolcanism in the form of geyser-like plumes at their surfaces. Several of the icy moons in our solar system may thus serve as small-scale analogs of the Cold Ocean Planets in our study. We find that geological activity rates on these worlds are likely to exceed geological activity rates on Jupiter’s moon Europa and that several planets are likely to experience enhanced geological activity that exceeds that on Io. Owing to these planets’ thin ice shells, their expected high rates of internal heating, and their potential for tidally-induced explosive cryovolcanism, the identification of water vapor absorption features, especially given the expected time-variability of water vapor output during eruptions, could allow for the detection of geyser-like plumes on Trappist-1f, Proxima Cen b, and LHS 1140 b. Our study suggests that Cold Ocean Planets are habitable worlds at which the detection of explosive cryovolcanism could serve as indirect evidence of the presence of oceans beneath a layer of surface ice. Analyses of observational data from next-generation space telescopes and upcoming ground-based extremely large telescopes, and designs for future telescopic missions, should be undertaken with these results in mind.

Lynnae C Quick↗
NASA NTRS1987

Microflares in the solar magnetic network

Localized brightenings are found throughout the magnetic network in quiet sun image sequences obtained in the C IV 1548 A line by the SMM satellite's UV spectrometer and polarimeter. Some bright sites are short-lived, while others persist. Plots of the intensity fluctuations show that the enhancements at both short- and long-lived sites are the result of localized impulsive heating events that occur intermittently at the short-lived sites and in more rapid succession at the long-lived ones. The number of these events and their visibility in the wings of the C IV line are consistent with their identification as the explosive events seen in UV spectra.

Porter, J. G.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Thin-layer chromatography and colorimetric analysis of multi-component explosive mixtures

A thin-layer chromatography method for detection and identification of common military and peroxide explosives in samples includes the steps of provide a reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography plate; prepare the plate by marking spots on which to deposit the samples by touching the plate with a marker; spot one micro liter of a first standard onto one of the spots, spot one micro liter of a second standard onto another of the spots, and spot samples onto other of spots producing a spotted plate; add eluent to a developing chamber; add the spotted plate to the developing chamber; remove the spotted plate from the developing chamber producing a developed plate; place the developed plate in an ultraviolet light box; add a visualization agent to a dip tank; dip the developed plate in the dip tank and remove the developed plate quickly; and detect explosives by viewing said developed plate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

The 2022 Hunga eruption exercises the nuclear explosion monitoring community

The 2022 Hunga eruption was a global event recorded by all three Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) International Monitoring System (IMS) geophysical waveform sensor technologies: seismic, infrasound, and hydroacoustic. Large volcanic eruptions are rare and additionally present an opportunity to test seismoacoustic detection, location, and identification methods for nuclear explosion monitoring.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Yearly report for the period Jan. 2018 – Jan. 2019 IC Project: w17_unedetection - “Simulation of underground nuclear explosions using the combined finite discrete element method” and “Fracture Formation and Permeability Evolution at in situ Pressure, Temperature and Stress Conditions”

Understanding the underlying physical processes associated with an underground nuclear explosion (UNE) can help with detection and identification of a suspected event. The Underground Nuclear Explosion Signatures Experiment (UNESE) is a collaborative effort between national laboratories aimed towards improving our understanding of physical and radiochemical signatures associated with a UNE. One primary objective of this effort is to perform hydrodynamic modeling of a UNE, with the purpose of estimating the extent of damage caused by such an event. Estimating the damage associated with an event is important for: a) detection of possible physical signatures at the surface of the earth such as fractures, spallation, and cratering and (b) damage to subsurface structures such as tunnels. Additionally, the damage produced by the hydrodynamic models play can be used to inform subsurface flow and transport models. The Combined Finite-Discrete Element Method (FDEM), implemented as an in-house code known as HOSS (Hybrid Optimization Software Suite), is used to model the damage associated with a UNE in various geological settings.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Laser-Based Remote Sensing of Explosives by a Differential Absorption and Scattering Method

A multifunctional IR parametric laser system is developed and tested for remote detection and identification of atmospheric gases, including explosive and chemically aggressive substances. Calculations and experimental studies of remote determination of the spectroscopic parameters of the best known explosive substances TNT, RDX, and PETN are carried out. The feasibility of high sensitivity detection (~1 ppm) of these substances with the aid of a multifunctional IR parametric light source by differential absorption and scattering is demonstrated.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

INTEGRAL FIELD SPECTROSCOPY OF SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION SITES: CONSTRAINING THE MASS AND METALLICITY OF THE PROGENITORS. I. TYPE Ib AND Ic SUPERNOVAE

Integral field spectroscopy of 11 Type Ib/Ic supernova (SN Ib/Ic) explosion sites in nearby galaxies has been obtained using UH88/SNIFS and Gemini-N/GMOS. The use of integral field spectroscopy enables us to obtain both spatial and spectral information about the explosion site, enabling the identification of the parent stellar population of the SN progenitor star. The spectrum of the parent population provides metallicity determination via strong-line method and age estimation obtained via comparison with simple stellar population models. We adopt this information as the metallicity and age of the SN progenitor, under the assumption that it was coeval with the parent stellar population. The age of the star corresponds to its lifetime, which in turn gives the estimate of its initial mass. With this method we were able to determine both the metallicity and initial (zero-age main sequence) mass of the progenitor stars of SNe Ib and Ic. We found that on average SN Ic explosion sites are more metal-rich and younger than SN Ib sites. The initial mass of the progenitors derived from parent stellar population age suggests that SN Ic has more massive progenitors than SN Ib. In addition, we also found indication that some of our SN progenitors are less massive than {approx}25 M{sub Sun }, indicating that they may have been stars in a close binary system that have lost their outer envelope via binary interactions to produce SNe Ib/Ic, instead of single Wolf-Rayet stars. These findings support the current suggestions that both binary and single progenitor channels are in effect in producing SNe Ib/Ic. This work also demonstrates the power of integral field spectroscopy in investigating SN environments and active star-forming regions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Discriminating Types of Volcanic Electrical Activity: Toward an Eruption Detection Algorithm

Abstract We present a method for classification of the two distinct types of electrical activity that occur during an explosive volcanic eruption: vent discharges and lightning. Vent discharges occur at the onset of an explosion and create a distinctive radio frequency signature called continual radio frequency. Seconds to minutes after the onset of the eruption, lightning begins to occur throughout the eruption column. We use logistic regression to classify a radio frequency impulse as being part of either a lightning flash or a period of continual radio frequency. The classifier uses the number of peaks in the amplitude envelope from 1 ms windows before and after the impulsive very high frequency waveform, with an average accuracy of 97.9%. We propose that this method could be used in an algorithm to determine when explosive eruptions occurred by identification of the distinctive signatures of vent discharges and lightning.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Identification of Acoustic Wave Signatures in the Ionosphere From Conventional Surface Explosions Using MF/HF Doppler Sounding

Here, we present an experiment to detect one ton TNT-equivalent chemical explosions using pulsed Doppler radar observations of isodensity layers in the ionospheric E region during two campaigns. The first campaign, conducted on 15 October 2019, produced potential detections of all three shots. The detections closely resemble the temporal and spectral properties predicted using the InfraGA ray tracing and weakly nonlinear waveform propagation model. Here the model predicts that within 6.5–7.25 min of each shot a waveform peaking between 0.9 and 0.4 Hz will impact the ionosphere at 100 km. As the waves pass through this region, they will imprint their signal on an isodensity layer, which is detectable using a Doppler radar operating at the plasma frequency of the isodensity. Within the time windows of each of the three shots in the first campaign, we detect enhanced wave activity peaking near 0.5 Hz. These waves were imprinted on the Doppler signal probing an isodensity layer at 2.785 MHz near 100 km altitude. Despite these detections, the method appears to be unreliable as none of the six shots from the second campaign, conducted on 10 July 2020 were detected. The observations from this campaign were characterized by an increased acoustic noise environment in the microbarom band and persistent scintillation on the radar returns. These effects obscured any detectable signal from these shots and the baseline noise was well above the detection levels of the first campaign.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2019

PBX-9501 High Explosive Infrared Thermography Test Report

High explosive safety requirements put in place by the Department of Defense necessitate that Los Alamos National Laboratory verify that high melting explosive-based plastic bonded explosive 9501 will not present a health or safety risk to personnel when exposed to various accident scenarios. The JT5R-14C test is being developed to validate this requirement in a scenario where PBX-9501 is exposed to a hydrocarbon fuel fire. Preliminary testing is required to establish benchmark data on the burning characteristics of PBX-9501. The PBX-9501 High Explosive Infrared Thermography test was designed to provide the benchmark burning characteristics of PBX-9501 in a simulated fuel fire environment using propane burners as a fuel source. The PBX-9501-HEIT was successfully completed using a 20.32 cm tall cylindrical sample of PBX-9501 with a radius of 10.16 cm, a volume of 6,589.63 cm 3 , a density of 1.83 g/cm 3 , and a mass of 1.2 kg. The PBX-9501-HEIT test was captured and recorded video sequence using a Telops Inc., Multispectral Infrared camera. The infrared sequence was reviewed to identify key events throughout the test and serves as a visual tool to cross reference against future testing to aid in the identification of PBX-9501 high explosive ignition and deflagration characteristics. The data obtained in the thermographic sequence confirmed that the temperatures emitted by the PBX-9501 were higher than the temperatures of the propane burner ignition source. The propane burner flames had a temperature range of 700-850 °C. The cylindrical sample of PBX-9501 burned at an average temperature of 1000-1200 °C on the surface with off-gassing temperatures averaging 1100-1250 °C. The heat map of the PBX-9501 obtained through the test was between 250-550 °C higher than the propane gas temperatures. The temperature differential between the PBX-9501 and the propane flame allowed for the identification of key burning features.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2026

Detection and imaging of chemicals and hidden explosives using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and deep learning

Detecting concealed chemicals and explosives remains a critical challenge in global security. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) offers a promising non-invasive and stand-off detection technique owing to its ability to penetrate optically opaque materials without causing ionization damage. While many chemicals exhibit distinct spectral features in the terahertz range, conventional terahertz-based detection methods often struggle in real-world environments, where variations in sample geometry, thickness, and packaging can lead to inconsistent spectral responses. In this study, we present a chemical imaging system that integrates THz-TDS with deep learning to enable accurate pixel-level identification and classification of different explosives. Operating in reflection mode and enhanced with plasmonic nanoantenna arrays, our THz-TDS system achieves a peak dynamic range of 96 dB and a detection bandwidth of 4.5 THz, supporting practical, stand-off operation. By analyzing individual time-domain pulses with deep neural networks, the system exhibits strong resilience to environmental variations and sample inconsistencies. Blind testing across eight chemicals—including pharmaceutical excipients and explosive compounds—resulted in an average classification accuracy of 99.42% at the pixel level. Notably, the system maintained an average accuracy of 88.83% when detecting explosives concealed under opaque paper coverings, demonstrating its robust generalization capability. These results highlight the potential of combining advanced terahertz spectroscopy with neural networks for highly sensitive and specific chemical and explosive detection in diverse and operationally relevant scenarios.

Imaging and sensing↗
DOE OSTI2016

Identification of absolute geometries of cis and trans molecular isomers by Coulomb Explosion Imaging

An experimental route to identify and separate geometric isomers by means of coincident Coulomb explosion imaging is presented, allowing isomer-resolved photoionization studies on isomerically mixed samples. We demonstrate the technique on cis/trans 1,2-dibromoethene (C 2 H 2 Br 2 ). The momentum correlation between the bromine ions in a three-body fragmentation process induced by bromine 3d inner-shell photoionization is used to identify the cis and trans structures of the isomers. Lastly, the experimentally determined momentum correlations and the isomer-resolved fragment-ion kinetic energies are matched closely by a classical Coulomb explosion model.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1995

Chemical Sensing of Unexploded Ordnance with the Mobile Underwater Survey System (MUDSS)

The ability to sense explosives residues in the marine environment is a critical tool for identification and classification of underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO). Trace explosives signatures of TNT and DNT have been extracted from multiple sediment samples adjacent to unexploded undersea ordnance at Halifax Harbor, Canada. The ordnance was hurled into the harbor during a massive explosion fifty years earlier, in 1945 after World War II had ended. Laboratory sediment extractions were made using the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method in seawater, and detection using the Reversal Electron Attachment Detection (READ) technique and, in the case of DNT, a commercial gas-chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Results show that, after more than 50 years in the environment, ordnance which appeared to be physically intact gave good explosives signatures at the parts-per-billion level, whereas ordnance which had been cracked open during the explosion gave no signatures at the 10 parts-per-trillion sensitivity level. These measurements appear to provide the first reported data of explosives signatures from undersea UXOs.

Darrach, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Chemical Sensing of Unexploded Ordnance with the Mobile Underwater Survey System (MUDSS)

The ability to sense explosives residues in the marine environment is a critical tool for identification and classification of underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO). Trace explosives signatures of TNT and DNT have been extracted from mulitple sediment samples adjacent to unexploded undersea ordnance at Halifax Harbor, Canada.

explosives electron attachment marine UXOs↗