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DOE OSTI2024

Heterogeneous Morphologies and Hardness of Co-Sputtered Thin Films of Concentrated Cu-Mo-W Alloys

Heterogeneous microstructures in Cu-Mo-W alloy thin films formed by magnetron co-sputtering immiscible elements with concentrated compositions are characterized using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and nanoindentation. In this work, we modified the phase separated structure of a Cu-Mo immiscible system by adding W, which impedes surface diffusion during film growth. The heterogeneous microstructures in the Cu-Mo-W ternary system exhibited bicontinuous matrices and agglomerates composed of Mo(W)-rich phase. This is unique, as these are the slower-diffusing species, contrasting past reports of binary Cu-Mo thin films that exhibited Cu-rich agglomerates. The bicontinuous matrices comprised of Cu-rich and Mo(W)-rich phases exhibited bilayer thicknesses of less than 5 nm. The hardness of these thin films measured using nanoindentation is reported and compared to similar multilayers and nanocomposites in binary systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1998

Constraints on Nonlinear and Stochastic Growth Theories for Type 3 Solar Radio Bursts from the Corona to 1 AU

Existing, competing theories for coronal and interplanetary type III solar radio bursts appeal to one or more of modulational instability, electrostatic (ES) decay processes, or stochastic growth physics to preserve the electron beam, limit the levels of Langmuir-like waves driven by the beam, and produce wave spectra capable of coupling nonlinearly to generate the observed radio emission. Theoretical constraints exist on the wavenumbers and relative sizes of the wave bandwidth and nonlinear growth rate for which Langmuir waves are subject to modulational instability and the parametric and random phase versions of ES decay. A constraint also exists on whether stochastic growth theory (SGT) is appropriate. These constraints are evaluated here using the beam, plasma, and wave properties (1) observed in specific interplanetary type III sources, (2) predicted nominally for the corona, and (3) predicted at heliocentric distances greater than a few solar radii by power-law models based on interplanetary observations. It is found that the Langmuir waves driven directly by the beam have wavenumbers that are almost always too large for modulational instability but are appropriate to ES decay. Even for waves scattered to lower wavenumbers (by ES decay, for instance), the wave bandwidths are predicted to be too large and the nonlinear growth rates too small for modulational instability to occur for the specific interplanetary events studied or the great majority of Langmuir wave packets in type III sources at arbitrary heliocentric distances. Possible exceptions are for very rare, unusually intense, narrowband wave packets, predominantly close to the Sun, and for the front portion of very fast beams traveling through unusually dilute, cold solar wind plasmas. Similar arguments demonstrate that the ES decay should proceed almost always as a random phase process rather than a parametric process, with similar exceptions. These results imply that it is extremely rare for modulational instability or parametric decay to proceed in type III sources at any heliocentric distance: theories for type III bursts based on modulational instability or parametric decay are therefore not viable in general. In contrast, the constraint on SGT can be satisfied and random phase ES decay can proceed at all heliocentric distances under almost all circumstances. (The contrary circumstances involve unusually slow, broad beams moving through unusually hot regions of the Corona.) The analyses presented here strongly justify extending the existing SGT-based model for interplanetary type III bursts (which includes SGT physics, random phase ES decay, and specific electromagnetic emission mechanisms) into a general theory for type III bursts from the corona to beyond 1 AU. This extended theory enjoys strong theoretical support, explains the characteristics of specific interplanetary type III bursts very well, and can account for the detailed dynamic spectra of type III bursts from the lower corona and solar wind.

Cairns, Iver H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Effect of starting powder characteristics on density, microstructure and low temperature oxidation behavior of a Si3N48w/o Y2O3 ceramic

The densification and oxidation behavior of Si3N4 - 8w/oY2O3 prepared from three commercial starting powders were studied. Bars of SN 402, SN 502, and CP 85/15 were sintered for 3 to 4.5 hours at 1750 C. A second set was hot pressed for 2 hours at 1750 C. The microstructures were studied by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, densities were determined, and the phase compositions were determined by X-ray diffraction. Densification and microstructure were greatly influenced by the starting powder morphology and impurity content. Although SN 402 exhibited the maximum weight lose, the highest sintered and hot pressed densities were obtained with this powder. All powders had both equiaxed and elongated grains. Sintered bars were composed of beta silicon nitride and n-melelite. In contrast, hot pressed bars contained beta silicon nitride, H-phase, and J-phase, but no melelite. Yttria distribution in sintered bars was related to the presence of cation impurities such as Ca, Fe, and Mg. A limited oxidation study at 750 C in air showed no instability in these Si3N4 - 8 w/oY2O3 specimens, regardless of startin powder.

Schuon, S.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Weyl semimetal phases and intrinsic spin-Hall conductivity in SbAs ordered alloys

Here, using density functional theory calculations, we investigated possible Weyl semimetal (WSM) phases in antimony arsenide ordered alloys Sb 1-x ⁢As x (x=0, 1/6, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 5/6, 1). We find WSM phases for all As compositions of Sb 1-x ⁢As x with broken inversion symmetry, in contrast to Bi 1-x⁢ Sb x where only compositions x=1/2 and 5/6 were predicted to exhibit WSM phases. The WSM phases in Sb 1-x ⁢As x are characterized by the presence of 12 Weyl points, located within 55 meV from the Fermi level in the case of x = 1/2. The robust spin-orbit coupling strength and Berry curvature in these alloys produce large spin-Hall conductivity in the range of 176–602 ($\hslash$/e)(S/cm), comparable to that in the BiSb alloys. Finally, Sb 0.5 ⁢As 0.5 is predicted to be almost lattice matched to GaAs(111), with the Fermi level within the gap of the semiconductor, facilitating growth and characterization, and thus, offering promising integration with conventional semiconductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2007

Experimental Progress and Results of a Visible Nulling Coronagraph

The crux of visible exoplanet detection is overcoming significant star-planet contrast ratios on the order of 10(exp -7) to 10(exp -10)-at very small angular separations. We are developing an interferometric nulling coronagraph designed to achieve a 10(exp -6) contrast ratio at a working science bandpass of 20% visible light. Achieving large, broadband suppression requires a pseudo-achromatic phase flip, while maintaining a strict error budget. Recent results from our nulling interferometer testbed yield contrast ratios at the 1.05x10(exp -6) level, with a 15% visible bandpass. This result is at 65% of our final bandpass requirement, although limitations of our current configuration make major hardware changes essential to broadening the bandpass. We make the argument that broadening the bandpass should not necessarily adversely affect the null depth until beyond the 20% visible light level. Using the same setup we are able to reach monochromatic null depths of 1.11x10(exp -7) (?= 638 nm)averaged over three seconds. This paper will describe our experimental approach for achieving deep broadband nulls, as well as error considerations and limitations, and the most recent results for our nulling coronagraph testbed.

coronagraph↗

NASA NTRS2019

The Role of Thermodynamic Phase Shifts in Cloud Optical Depth Variations with Temperature

We present a novel method that identifies the contributions of thermodynamic phase shifts and processes governing supercooled liquid and ice clouds to cloud optical depth variations with temperature using MODIS observations. Our findings suggest that thermodynamic phase shifts outweigh the net influence of processes governing supercooled liquid and ice clouds in causing increases in mid-latitudinal cold cloud optical depth with temperature. Cloud regime analysis suggests that dynamical conditions appear to have less influence on the contribution of thermodynamic phase shifts to cloud optical depth variations with temperature. Thermodynamic phase shifts also contribute more to increases in cloud optical depth during colder seasons due to the enhanced optical thickness contrast between liquid and ice clouds. The results of this study highlight the importance of thermodynamic phase shifts in explaining cold cloud optical depth increases with temperature in the current climate and may elucidate their role in the cloud optical depth feedback.

cloud optical depth↗

DOE OSTI2025

Vanadium-enhanced Na 2 FePO 4 F cathodes for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

Sodium fluorophosphate Na 2 FePO 4 F holds great potential for sodium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, excellent structural stability, abundant resources, and affordability. However, its poor electronic and ionic conductivities limit its practical applications. Therefore, ion doping and carbon coating have been employed as synergistic strategies in this study to overcome these limitations. A one-step, energy-efficient solid-state method using sucrose as a carbon coating source was used to synthesize Na 2 FePO 4 F/C (NFPF/C) and its doped variant, Na 2 Fe 0.85 V 0.1 PO 4 F/C (NFVPF/C). 23 Na-MAS-NMR spectra confirm the existence of two distinct sites for sodium (Na1/Na2). The ex-situ 23 Na-MAS-NMR performed at different states-of-charge reveals the activity of only one sodium. The scanning electron microscopy findings reveal a reduction in the particle size with V-introduction, enhancing the energetic performances. NFVPF/C delivers higher specific capacity of 122 mAh g −1 compared to 116 mAh g −1 for NFPF/C at 0.1C. It also demonstrates improved cycling stability, retaining 81 % of its initial capacity after 120 cycles, in contrast to 46 % for the pristine material. The doped phase outperforms the pristine at higher current rates, delivering specific capacities of 81 and 55 mAh g −1 at 2C and 3C, respectively, compared to 35 and 17 mAh g −1 for NFPF/C.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Developing a Lagrangian Frame Transformation on Satellite Data to Study Cloud Microphysical Transitions in Arctic Marine Cold Air Outbreaks

Abstract Arctic marine cold air outbreaks (CAOs) generate distinct and dynamic cloud regimes due to intense air‐sea interactions. To understand the temporal evolution of CAO cloud properties and compare different CAO events, a Lagrangian perspective is particularly useful. We developed a novel technique that enables the conversion of inherently Eulerian satellite data into a Lagrangian framework, combining the broad spatiotemporal coverage of satellite observations with the advantages of Lagrangian tracking. This technique was applied to eight CAO cases associated with a recent field campaign. Our results reveal a striking contrast among the cases in terms of cloud‐top phase transitions, providing new insights into the evolution of CAO cloud properties.

Lagrangian analysis↗

DOE OSTI2024

Complexity of many-body interactions in transition metals via machine-learned force fields from the TM23 data set

Abstract This work examines challenges associated with the accuracy of machine-learned force fields (MLFFs) for bulk solid and liquid phases ofd-block elements. In exhaustive detail, we contrast the performance of force, energy, and stress predictions across the transition metals for two leading MLFF models: a kernel-based atomic cluster expansion method implemented using sparse Gaussian processes (FLARE), and an equivariant message-passing neural network (NequIP). Early transition metals present higher relative errors and are more difficult to learn relative to late platinum- and coinage-group elements, and this trend persists across model architectures. Trends in complexity of interatomic interactions for different metals are revealed via comparison of the performance of representations with different many-body order and angular resolution. Using arguments based on perturbation theory on the occupied and unoccupieddstates near the Fermi level, we determine that the large, sharpddensity of states both above and below the Fermi level in early transition metals leads to a more complex, harder-to-learn potential energy surface for these metals. Increasing the fictitious electronic temperature (smearing) modifies the angular sensitivity of forces and makes the early transition metal forces easier to learn. This work illustrates challenges in capturing intricate properties of metallic bonding with current leading MLFFs and provides a reference data set for transition metals, aimed at benchmarking the accuracy and improving the development of emerging machine-learned approximations.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2024

Precision-controlled ultrafast electron microscope platforms. A case study: Multiple-order coherent phonon dynamics in 1T-TaSe2 probed at 50 fs–10 fm scales

We report on the first detailed beam tests attesting the fundamental principle behind the development of high-current-efficiency ultrafast electron microscope systems where a radio frequency (RF) cavity is incorporated as a condenser lens in the beam delivery system. To allow for the experiment to be carried out with a sufficient resolution to probe the performance at the emittance floor, a new cascade loop RF controller system is developed to reduce the RF noise floor. Temporal resolution at 50 fs in full-width-at-half-maximum and detection sensitivity better than 1% are demonstrated on exfoliated 1T-TaSe2 system under a moderate repetition rate. To benchmark the performance, multi-terahertz edge-mode coherent phonon excitation is employed as the standard candle. The high temporal resolution and the significant visibility to very low dynamical contrast in diffraction signals via high-precision phase-space manipulation give strong support to the working principle for the new high-brightness femtosecond electron microscope systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Are North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Modulated by the Madden–Julian Oscillation in HighResMIP AGCMs?

This study assesses the representation of the observed relationship between Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) across nine models participating in CMIP6 High Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP). Most models struggle to faithfully reproduce the observed impacts of the MJO on Atlantic TCs, with the primary issue being the underestimated TC activity over the Atlantic main development region (MDR). The negative biases in genesis frequency within the MDR can be further attributed to weaker-than-observed African easterly wave (AEW) activity south of ∼12°N. Errors in the diabatic heating profile within the Atlantic intertropical convergence zone lead to insufficient potential vorticity production in the lower troposphere and constrain the amplification of AEWs. In addition to the biased TC climatology, the eastward-propagating power of the MJO is consistently underestimated across all models. Nevertheless, in models with a higher eastward–westward power ratio, the simulated MJO demonstrates a stronger capacity to modulate subseasonal TC activity. Models with relatively realistic eastward propagation of the MJO also exhibit greater variance in tropical intraseasonal convection. Stronger contrasts in convective heating over the North Atlantic between phases 2–3 and phases 6–7 drive larger fluctuations in MDR shear and AEW activity over the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, resulting in a more pronounced TC response to the MJO. Overall, our findings suggest that improved MDR TC climatology and MJO propagation are essential for models to accurately capture the observed modulations of Atlantic TCs by the MJO.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1977

Application of an ultrasonic phase insensitive receiver to material measurements

The theory of a phase insensitive receiver based on acousto-electric effect is presented along with experimental characteristics of a CdS acousto-electric converter (AEC). Since the AEC is nearly phase insensitive, it is ideal for measurements in inhomogeneous materials and/or materials with irregular flatness and parallelism. Through transmission ultrasonic C-scan data of phantom flaws demonstrates a significant improvement in flaw characterization with an AEC over that of a conventional transducer. In addition, measurements with conventional transducers in anisotropically stressed metal samples are shown to lead to grossly inaccurate results due to phase sensitivity. Various other measurements are presented with data contrasting conventional transducers with an AEC in specific NDE applications.

Heyman, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Application of an ultrasonic phase insensitive receiver to material measurements

Heyman, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Parabolic flight - Loss of sense of orientation

On the earth, or in level flight, a blindfolded subject being rotated at constant velocity about his recumbent long body axis experiences illusory orbital motion of his body in the opposite direction. By contrast, during comparable rotation in the free-fall phase of parabolic flight, no body motion is perceived and all sense of external orientation may be lost; when touch and pressure stimulation is applied to the body surface, a sense of orientation is reestablished immediately. The increased gravitoinertial force period of a parabola produces an exaggeration of the orbital motion experienced in level flight. These observations reveal an important influence of touch, pressure, and kinesthetic information on spatial orientation and provide a basis for understanding many of the postural illusions reported by astronauts in space flight.

Lackner, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Discriminating late volcanic differentiates commonly associated with precious metal deposits, using Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery

The magmatic differentiates emplaced late in volcanotectonic cycles (which when highly evolved commonly occur as domes, flow-dome complexes, and shallow intrusive porphyries) are typically more silicic and felsic than their earlier counterparts and exhibit unusually steep spectral curves from about 1.5 to 2.2 microns. This spectral characteristic emerges in the form of relatively high Landsat TM band 7 DN values and low 5/7 values, as well as dark-contrast or enhanced 5/7 images. These evolved late-phase differentiates are commonly associated both temporally and spatially with precious metal deposits, furnishing site-specific exploration targets as well as guides to caldera margins and other late-stage volcanotectonic structures.

Spatz, David M.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Machine Vision for Relative Spacecraft Navigation During Approach to Docking

This paper describes a machine vision system for relative spacecraft navigation during the terminal phase of approach to docking that: 1) matches high contrast image features of the target vehicle, as seen by a camera that is bore-sighted to the docking adapter on the chase vehicle, to the corresponding features in a 3d model of the docking adapter on the target vehicle and 2) is robust to on-orbit lighting. An implementation is provided for the case of the Space Shuttle Orbiter docking to the International Space Station (ISS) with quantitative test results using a full scale, medium fidelity mock-up of the ISS docking adapter mounted on a 6-DOF motion platform at the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center Flight Robotics Laboratory and qualitative test results using recorded video from the Orbiter Docking System Camera (ODSC) during multiple orbiter to ISS docking missions. The Natural Feature Image Registration (NFIR) system consists of two modules: 1) Tracking which tracks the target object from image to image and estimates the position and orientation (pose) of the docking camera relative to the target object and 2) Acquisition which recognizes the target object if it is in the docking camera Field-of-View and provides an approximate pose that is used to initialize tracking. Detected image edges are matched to the 3d model edges whose predicted location, based on the pose estimate and its first time derivative from the previous frame, is closest to the detected edge1 . Mismatches are eliminated using a rigid motion constraint. The remaining 2d image to 3d model matches are used to make a least squares estimate of the change in relative pose from the previous image to the current image. The changes in position and in attitude are used as data for two Kalman filters whose outputs are smoothed estimate of position and velocity plus attitude and attitude rate that are then used to predict the location of the 3d model features in the next image.

Chien, Chiun-Hong↗

NASA NTRS2015

Effect of DM Actuator Errors on the WFIRST/AFTA Coronagraph Contrast Performance

The WFIRST/AFTA 2.4 m space telescope currently under study includes a stellar coronagraph for the imaging and the spectral characterization of extrasolar planets. The coronagraph employs two sequential deformable mirrors (DMs) to compensate for phase and amplitude errors in creating dark holes. DMs are critical elements in high contrast coronagraphs, requiring precision and stability measured in picometers to enable detection of Earth-like exoplanets. Working with a low-order wavefront-sensor the DM that is conjugate to a pupil can also be used to correct low-order wavefront drift during a scientific observation. However, not all actuators in a DM have the same gain. When using such a DM in low-order wavefront sensing and control subsystem, the actuator gain errors introduce high-spatial frequency errors to the DM surface and thus worsen the contrast performance of the coronagraph. We have investigated the effects of actuator gain errors and the actuator command digitization errors on the contrast performance of the coronagraph through modeling and simulations, and will present our results in this paper.

adaptive optics↗

NASA NTRS2018

WFIRST Coronagraph: Digging Dark-Holes with Partially Corrected Pupil Phase

The WFIRST coronagraph employs two sequential deformable mirrors to compensate for phase and amplitude errors in the coronagraph optical system. In such a system the actuators of the deformable mirrors would be used for two purposes: To flatten the overall wavefront errors at a system pupil, and to create "dark-holes". The actuators have limited stroke ranges. Therefore, if the pupil phase errors are relatively large, flattening them completely could use up a significant portion of the actuator stroke, sometimes leaving insufficient stroke for creating the dark-holes. We have investigated the impact of partially-corrected pupil phase errors on a Hybrid Lyot Coronagraph (HLC) broadband contrast performance. The predicted broadband contrast floor and the contrast chromaticity agree well with those measured on the HLC testbed.

Poberezhskiy, Ilya↗