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Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) Experimenter's Guide - Revision 2

The Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) was built to streamline and accelerate the in-sodium testing of systems and components under conditions that simulate a sodium-cooled fast reactor pool environment. The METL team at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) can assist experimenters in achieving their technical goals by providing liquid-metal expertise and access to infrastructure required for most alkali metal related research. This document offers a brief overview of METL and provides a basic design guide for researchers interested in conducting research at the facility. Additional information regarding the history and operations of METL can be found in §6.1. Furthermore, high resolution images found in this document as well as CAD files of aforementioned vessels can be provided upon request.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Update on PIP-II beam pattern generator upgrade

The beam pattern generator enables the transfer of beam pulses from the PIP-II linac to the Booster ring, the two RF systems being non-harmonically related. It is synchronized to the timing system to provide beam arrival information to the downstream accelerator subsystems. The design is being upgraded with COTS components and is being developed with a collaboration with SLAC.The pattern generation, digital signal processing and the user interface to an external EPICS server are integrated onto the ARM processor of the SOCFPGA. The progress of the system development is described.

Varghese, P. [Fermilab]↗

Technology of ion beam sources used in sputtering

The technology of broad-beam ion sources is reviewed from the viewpoint of the sputtering-deposition user. This review includes a short description of the development of discharge chambers, accelerator systems, and cathodes; the present alternatives for these components and the expected future improvements.

Kaufman, H. R.↗

Accelerating an iterative process by explicit annihilation

A slowly convergent stationary iterative process can be accelerated by explicitly annihilating (i.e., eliminating) the dominant eigenvector component of the error. The dominant eigenvalue or complex pair of eigenvalues can be estimated from the solution during the iteration. The corresponding eigenvector or complex pair of eigenvectors can then be annihilated by applying an explicit Richardson process over the basic iterative method. This can be done entirely in real arithmetic by analytically combining the complex conjugate annihilation steps. The technique is applied to an implicit algorithm for the calculation of two dimensional steady transonic flow over a circular cylinder using the equations of compressible inviscid gas dynamics. This demonstrates the use of explicit annihilation on a nonlinear problem.

Jespersen, D. C.↗

Potential structures and particle acceleration on auroral field lines

Observations of plasmas and electric field activity within regions of auroral particle acceleration have verified the existence of electric fields with components parallel to the magnetic field over large altitude regions. Evidence is presented which indicates that small-ampliatude double layers along the auroral magnetic field lines may provide a mechanism for the maintenance of auroral ion potential. Evidence is also presented of downward-directed parallel electric fields along the magnetic field lines in the return current region. It is suggested that the downward electric fields may have significant effects on ion trajectories, and further theoretical investigation of the effects of downward parallel electric fields on ion conic formation is recommended.

Gorney, D. J.↗

Accelerating an iterative process by explicit annihilation

A slowly convergent stationary iterative process can be accelerated by explicitly annihilating (i.e., eliminating) the dominant eigenvector component of the error. The dominant eigenvalue or complex pair of eigenvalues can be estimated from the solution during the iteration. The corresponding eigenvector or complex pair of eigenvectors can then be annihilated by applying an explicit Richardson process over the basic iterative method. This can be done entirely in real arithmetic by analytically combining the complex conjugate annihilation steps. The technique is applied to an implicit algorithm for the calculation of two dimensional steady transonic flow over a circular cylinder using the equations of compressible inviscid gas dynamics. This demonstrates the use of explicit annihilation on a nonlinear problem.

Jespersen, D. C.↗

Design guide: Designing and building high voltage power supplies, volume 2

This report contains an accumulation of publications and analyses aimed at developing guidelines for improving both high voltage and low voltage power supplies for the U.S. Air Force systems command. It is the intent of the report to supply good design and manufacturing techniques for the packaging and the building of high quality, reliable, long-life power supplies. These data are based on the wealth of engineering practices established by design and manufacturing engineers. The contents are: Fundamentals of Insulation: Gases, Liquid Dielectrics, Solid Insulation; Environment: Pressure, Particulates, Environmental Interactions with Space Power Systems, Surface Charging, System Design Criteria; Configuration and Design Data: Designs, Transients, Grounding and Bonding, Thermal Control; Materials and Processes: Insulation, Processes, Process Variables; Manufacturing: Yield, Government and Industrial Survey, Analysis, Problem Areas and Suggested Solutions, Designs That Have Worked in High Voltage Equipment, Manufacturing Summary; and Tests: Performance, Insulation Tests, Materials Testing, Component and Equipment Tests, Performance Testing, Facility and Environment, Accelerated Life Test; Maintenance and Repair: Maintenance, Test Sets, Pilots and Crewmen, Air Logistic Centers, Design Problem Recommendations.

W G Dunbar↗

Wind-tunnel investigation of the low-speed aerodynamics of slender accelerator-type configurations

The NASA-Langley 14x22-ft subsonic wind tunnel has been used to ascertain the low speed aerodynamics of a conical-forebody/annular conformal propulsion system/truncated conical afterbody hypersonic-accelerator configuration with delta-planform wing. Six-component force-and-moment data were obtained over the -4 to +30 deg alpha range and + or - 20 deg sideslip. Flow visualization diagnostics were used to characterize configuration aerodynamics. Vortex flows from the conical forebody created large values of local inflow angles at the engine inlet locations on the lee side of the model, at the moderate-alpha values associated with takeoff and landing.

Gatlin, Gregory M.↗

Models of flaring loops

The somewhat questionable concept of an isolated flare loop and the various physical mechanisms believed to be responsible, to some degree, for energy transport within the loop structure is reviewed. Observational evidence suggests a predominant role for high-energy electrons as an energy transport mechanism, and the consequences of such a scenario is explored in some detail, focusing on radiation signatures in the soft X-ray, hard X-ray, and EUV wavebands, as observed by recent satellite observatories. It is found that the predictions of flare loop models are in fact in excellent agreement with these observations, reinforcing both the notion of the loop as a fundamental component of solar flares and the belief that electron acceleration is an integral part of the flare energy release process.

Emslie, A. Gordon↗

On the theory of CIV

The critical ionization velocity (CIV) phenomenon involves the transfer of energy from neutrals moving relative to a plasma to electrons. Three mechanisms are discussed and illustrated with numerical simulations. If the elastic electron neutral collision frequency is large (comparable to the electron cyclotron frequency) the electrons can gain enough energy from the neutrals to ionize them. Newly created ions form beams in the plasma which are unstable to lower hybrid waves propagating obliquely to the magnetic field. These waves have an electric field component parallel to the background magnetic field which can accelerate electrons. However, the efficiency of this heating is significantly reduced by electromagnetic effects which occur when the relative velocity exceeds the Alfven speed or when the plasma beta is large. A third mechanism involves the E x B drift of electrons in the secondary electric field due to charge separation at the front of a neutral gas cloud. This E field is opposite to the neutral gas velocity and can be much larger than the polarization field. The electron drift excites the modified two-stream instability which causes rapid electron heating and thus ionization in the front.

Goertz, C. K.↗

Shock-generated X-ray emission in radiatively driven winds - A model for Tau Scorpii

A one-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamics code is used to numerically investigate the structure and evolution of shocks in the winds of hot stars. Results are presented for the specific case of Tau Sco, a well-studied main-sequence B star for which there are X-ray data from the Einstien satellite's Solid State Spectrometer. A phenomenological radiative acceleration term and a mass-loss rate consistent with UV observations, are used to determine the time dependence of the temperatures within and X-ray emission from an isolated shock region. The driving acceleration leads to the formation of a two-component shock zone with 'forward' and 'reverse' shocks, each with their own characteristic temperature. A denser cold region forms between the two shocks, which could potentially account for the presence of narrow absorption features that are observed in the UV P Cygni profiles of many hot stars. The X-ray emission spectra from the shocks in the calculations are in good general agreement with two-temperature model fits to Einstein X-ray observations.

Macfarlane, Joseph J.↗

Constraints on the acceleration of anomalous cosmic rays

The recent determination of an upper limit of 0.2 pc on the distance to the source of the anomalous cosmic rays, and the implied upper limit on their age imposes a significant observational constraint on possible acceleration mechanisms. Adiabatic cooling in the expanding wind makes the constraints significantly more stringent. In the light of these constraints, the rate of second-order Fermi acceleration is much too low to play a significant role. Diffusive shock acceleration, even at the strong termination shock of the solar wind, is sufficient only if one discards the standard expression for the maximum acceleration rate based on the Bohm limit. Only diffusive acceleration at the quasi-perpendicular solar wind termination shock has a high enough acceleration rate to be the source of the anomalous component.

Jokipii, J. R.↗

Roughness-Dominated Transition on Nosetips, Attachment Lines and Lifting-Entry Vehicles

Modeling of roughness-dominated transition is a critical design issue for both ablating and non-ablating thermal protection systems (TPS). Ablating TPS, used for planetary-entry and earth-return missions, first experience recession under high-altitude, low-Reynolds-number conditions. Such laminar-flow ablation causes the formation of a surface microroughness pattern characteristic of the TPS material composition and fabrication process. For non-ablating TPS, such as the overlapping-tile, metallic heatshields proposed for future reusable launch vehicles, the surface roughness pattern is established a priori by the engineering design and assembly procedure. In both cases, these distributed surface roughness patterns create disturbances within, and alter the mean velocity profile of, the laminar boundary layer flowing over the surface. As altitude decreases, Reynolds number increases, and flow field conditions capable of amplifying these roughness-induced perturbations are eventually achieved, i.e., transition onset occurs. Boundary layer transition to turbulence results in more severe heat-transfer rates. Ablating TPS experience increased recession rates, leading to potential bum-through, while non-ablating TPS experience accelerated temperature rise, leading to potential melting of key components.

Reda, Daniel C.↗

The Velocity Distribution of Isolated Radio Pulsars

We infer the velocity distribution of radio pulsars based on large-scale 0.4 GHz pulsar surveys. We do so by modelling evolution of the locations, velocities, spins, and radio luminosities of pulsars; calculating pulsed flux according to a beaming model and random orientation angles of spin and beam; applying selection effects of pulsar surveys; and comparing model distributions of measurable pulsar properties with survey data using a likelihood function. The surveys analyzed have well-defined characteristics and cover approx. 95% of the sky. We maximize the likelihood in a 6-dimensional space of observables P, dot-P, DM, absolute value of b, mu, F (period, period derivative, dispersion measure, Galactic latitude, proper motion, and flux density). The models we test are described by 12 parameters that characterize a population's birth rate, luminosity, shutoff of radio emission, birth locations, and birth velocities. We infer that the radio beam luminosity (i) is comparable to the energy flux of relativistic particles in models for spin-driven magnetospheres, signifying that radio emission losses reach nearly 100% for the oldest pulsars; and (ii) scales approximately as E(exp 1/2) which, in magnetosphere models, is proportional to the voltage drop available for acceleration of particles. We find that a two-component velocity distribution with characteristic velocities of 90 km/ s and 500 km/ s is greatly preferred to any one-component distribution; this preference is largely immune to variations in other population parameters, such as the luminosity or distance scale, or the assumed spin-down law. We explore some consequences of the preferred birth velocity distribution: (1) roughly 50% of pulsars in the solar neighborhood will escape the Galaxy, while approx. 15% have velocities greater than 1000 km/ s (2) observational bias against high velocity pulsars is relatively unimportant for surveys that reach high Galactic absolute value of z distances, but is severe for spatially bounded surveys; (3) an important low-velocity population exists that increases the fraction of neutron stars retained by globular clusters and is consistent with the number of old objects that accrete from the interstellar medium; (4) under standard assumptions for supernova remnant expansion and pulsar spin-down, approx. 10% of pulsars younger than 20 kyr will appear to lie outside of their host remnants. Finally, we comment on the ramifications of our birth velocity distribution for binary survival and the population of inspiraling binary neutron stars relevant to some GRB models and potential sources for LIGO.

Arzoumanian, Z.↗

Sputtering Erosion Measurement on Boron Nitride as a Hall Thruster Material

The durability of a high-powered Hall thruster may be limited by the sputter erosion resistance of its components. During normal operation, a small fraction of the accelerated ions will impact the interior of the main discharge channel, causing its gradual erosion. A laboratory experiment was conducted to simulate the sputter erosion of a Hall thruster. Tests of sputter etch rate were carried out using 300 to 1000 eV Xenon ions impinging on boron nitride substrates with angles of attack ranging from 30 to 75 degrees from horizontal. The erosion rates varied from 3.41 to 14.37 Angstroms/[sec(mA/sq cm)] and were found to depend on the ion energy and angle of attack, which is consistent with the behavior of other materials.

Britton, Melissa↗

Planck Early Results. XV. Spectral Energy Distributions and Radio Continuum Spectra of Northern Extragalactic Radio Sources

Spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and radio continuum spectra are presented for a northern sample of 104 extragalactic radio sources. based on the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue (ERCSC) and simultaneous multi frequency data. The nine Planck frequencies, from 30 to 857 GHz, are complemented by a set of simultaneous observations ranging from radio to gamma-rays. This is the first extensive frequency coverage in the radio and millimetre domains for an essentially complete sample of extragalactic radio sources, and it shows how the individual shocks, each in their own phase of development, shape the radio spectra as they move in the relativistic jet. The SEDs presented in this paper were fitted with second and third degree polynomials to estimate the frequencies of the synchrotron and inverse Compton (IC) peaks, and the spectral indices of low and high frequency radio data, including the Planck ERCSC data, were calculated. SED modelling methods are discussed, with an emphasis on proper. physical modelling of the synchrotron bump using multiple components. Planck ERCSC data also suggest that the original accelerated electron energy spectrum could be much harder than commonly thought, with power-law index around 1.5 instead of the canonical 2.5. The implications of this are discussed for the acceleration mechanisms effective in blazar shock. Furthermore in many cases the Planck data indicate that gamma-ray emission must originate in the same shocks that produce the radio emission.

Aatrokoski, J.↗

A Comparison of PSD Enveloping Methods for Nonstationary Vibration

There is a need to derive a power spectral density (PSD) envelope for nonstationary acceleration time histories, including launch vehicle data, so that components can be designed and tested accordingly. This paper presents the results of the three methods for an actual flight accelerometer record. Guidelines are given for the application of each method to nonstationary data. The method can be extended to other scenarios, including transportation vibration.

Irvine, Tom↗

Computed Tomography Inspection and Analysis for Additive Manufacturing Components

Computed tomography (CT) inspection was performed on test articles additively manufactured from metallic materials. Metallic AM and machined wrought alloy test articles with programmed flaws and geometric features were inspected using a 2-megavolt linear accelerator based CT system. Performance of CT inspection on identically configured wrought and AM components and programmed flaws was assessed to determine the impact of additive manufacturing on inspectability of objects with complex geometries.

Beshears, Ronald D.↗