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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Shock wave formation in radiative plasmas

The temporal evolution of weak shocks in radiative media is theoretically investigated in this work. The structure of radiative shocks has traditionally been studied in a stationary framework. Their systematic classification is complex because layers of optically thick and thin regions alternate to form a radiatively-driven precursor and a temperature-relaxation layer, between which the hydrodynamic shock is embedded. In this work, we analyze the formation of weak shocks when two radiative plasmas with different pressures are put in contact. Applying a reductive perturbative method yields a Burgers-type equation that governs the temporal evolution of the perturbed variables including the radiation field. The conditions upon which optically thick and thin solutions exist have been derived and expressed as a function of the shock strength and Boltzmann number. Below a certain Boltzmann number threshold, weak shocks always become optically thick asymptotically in time, while thin solutions appear as transitory structures. The existence of an optically thin regime is related to the presence of an overdense layer in the compressed material. Scaling laws for the characteristic formation time and shock width are provided for each regime. The theoretical analysis is supported by FLASH simulations, and a comprehensive testcase has been designed to benchmark radiative hydrodynamic codes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

High-field side scrape-off layer density profile measurements and implications for high-field side LHCD coupling in DIII-D

The high-field side (HFS) scrape-off layer (SOL) is an often under-diagnosed region of tokamak plasmas. Situated in a region with favorable curvature, the HFS SOL has minimal turbulence-induced radial transport compared to the low-field side. Using profile reflectometry, the HFS SOL density profile is measured with high temporal resolution for a wide range of DIII-D plasma discharges for the first time. The magnetic configuration, particularly the location of the secondary separatrix (SS) largely determines the HFS SOL density profile. Additionally, density perturbations induced by edge-localized modes (ELMs) are observed in the HFS SOL, and the impact of ELMs on the SOL density profile is characterized for a range of magnetic configurations. It is found that ELM-induced HFS SOL perturbations are generally localized to within the SS and ELM-induced changes to the HFS wall density are minimized in near double-null configurations. The characterization of the HFS SOL density profile on DIII-D is crucial for the effective coupling of the planned HFS lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) launcher. Experimental HFS SOL measurements are used as input to full-wave simulations of LHCD coupling. Furthermore, this work simulates the effect of the magnetic configuration on LHCD coupling. It also simulates LHCD coupling in ELMs and high q min discharges. During such discharges, the LHCD coupling is predicted to be resilient to ELM-induced SOL density perturbations.

high-field side↗
DOE OSTI2021

Impact of collisionality on turbulence in the edge of tokamak plasma using 3D global simulations

Collisionality is one of the key parameters in determining turbulent transport in the plasma edge, regulating phenomena such as 'shoulder formation', separation of scale lengths in the scrape-off layer (SOL), turbulence damping and zonal flow dynamics. Understanding its role is therefore of primary importance for future reactors like ITER. Getting reliable predictions and a better characterization of plasma flow properties when varying collisionality remains, however, a critical challenge for the simulations. This paper focuses on the impact of varying collisionality in a non-isothermal three-dimensional fluid model of the plasma edge. A high field side limited configuration encompassing open and closed magnetic field lines with parameters typical of a medium-sized tokamak is considered. The present model can consistently account for the variations of collisionality and its impact on both the parallel resistivity η ∥ and the ion and electron parallel thermal conductivities χ ∥e,i . Details on mean flow and turbulence properties are given. Changing collisionality leads to significant changes in the flow properties both on the mean and fluctuating quantities. In particular, lowering collisionality decreases the size of coherent structures, the fluctuation levels of turbulence, and steepens the density and temperature equilibrium profiles around the separatrix leading to a global reduction of the turbulent transport. The SOL width is observed to increase with collisionality, eventually resulting in the disappearance of the scale lengths separation between near and far SOL, consistently with previous experimental observations. At low collisionality, where the presence of narrow feature is well-established, a contribution of heat conduction increases up to compete with heat convection.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

The role of B T -dependent flows on W accumulation at the edge of the confined plasma

Abstract Near-separatrix impurity accumulation between the crown and the outer midplane of tokamaks is a common feature in results from codes such as SOLPS-ITER and DIVIMP; however, experimental evidence of accumulation has only recently been obtained and is reported here. The codes find that the poloidal distribution of impurity ions in the scrape-off layer (SOL) depends primarily on toroidal field ( B T )-dependent parallel flow patterns of the background plasma and the parallel ion temperature gradient (∇ ‖ T ion ) force. Experimentally, Mach probes used in L-mode plasmas with favorable (for H-mode access) B T measure fast ( M ∼ 0.3–0.5) inner-target-directed (ITD) background plasma flows at the crown of single-null discharges. This study reports a set of DIVIMP simulations for two similar H-mode discharges from the DIII-D W metal rings campaign differing primarily in B T -direction to assess the effect that fast ITD flows have on the distribution of W ions in the SOL. It is found that for imposed ITD flows of M = 0.3, W ions that otherwise accumulate due to the ∇ ‖ T ion -force are largely flushed out. It is also found that doubling the radial diffusion coefficient from 0.3 to 0.6 m 2 s −1 prevents accumulation due to rapid cross-field transport into the far-SOL, where background plasma flows drain W ions to the divertors. Far-SOL W distributions from DIVIMP are then used to specify input to the impurity transport code 3DLIM, which is used to interpretively model collector probe (CP) deposition patterns measured in the ‘wall-SOL’. It is demonstrated that the deposition patterns are consistent with the DIVIMP predictions of near-SOL accumulation for the unfavorable- B T direction, and little/no accumulation for the favorable- B T direction. The wall-SOL CPs have thus provided the first experimental evidence, albeit indirect, of near-SOL W accumulation—finding it occurs for the unfavorable- B T direction only. For the favorable- B T direction, fast flows can largely prevent accumulation from occurring.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Elucidating key reducing species beyond ions in hydrogen plasma smelting reduction of iron ore

Hydrogen plasma smelting reduction (HPSR) of iron ore has attracted significant attention over the past decade due to its high-temperature operation, rapid plasma mediated reduction kinetics, and simpler density-based separation of molten iron product, compared to H2-based solid-state reduction. All of these attributes enable processing of low-grade ores for downstream use in electric-arc furnaces, as virgin iron with low gangue content is required for high quality steel and improved furnace operation. While positive ions exist within the plasma arc, this work demonstrates that near the anodic ore surface, hydrogen radicals and vibrationally excited hydrogen species dominate and their densities correlate well with observed reduction rates. Species concentrations in the transferred plasma arc and at the plasma-ore interface are evaluated using coupled thermal plasma and near-wall non-equilibrium plasma models. The thermal plasma model is validated against experimental voltage data and spectroscopic measurements of plasma temperature and density for varying current inputs. Modeling of the near surface thermochemical non-equilibrium and micrometer scale anode sheath layer reveals, in addition to the expected H + , significant concentrations of ArH + and H$^+_3$ ions, typically not observed in thermal plasmas under thermodynamic equilibrium. Our results show that the inverted sheath structure at the anodic ore surface strongly suppresses reactive positive ion fluxes, while non-equilibrium electron-impact processes generate abundant hydrogen radicals and vibrationally excited species. These findings highlight the critical role of non-equilibrium effects in hydrogen arc-driven iron ore reduction and advance understanding beyond prevailing hypotheses centered on hydrogen ion-driven mechanisms.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electrode biasing maintains the edge shear layer at high density in the J-TEXT tokamak

Collapse of the edge flow shear as the line-averaged density approaches the Greenwald density limit has been observed as a precursor to the enhanced edge particle flux characteristic of proximity to the density limit regime. Here, we report the use of a biased electrode to sustain the edge shear layer in high density discharges, in which the shear layer would otherwise collapse. A stable increase in line-averaged density is observed along with a strong increase in edge density. These experiments were carried out on the J-TEXT tokamak. The Reynolds stress at the edge is enhanced, and the zonal flow sustained, while density perturbation levels, the flux of turbulence internal energy (i.e., turbulence spreading), and particle and heat flux all decrease significantly. Electron adiabaticity increases, and bias voltage modulation experiments show that an increase in the edge shear leads the increase in adiabaticity. Furthermore, these results suggest that external edge E × B flow shear drive may be of interest for sustaining edge plasma states at high density, and support the hypothesis that collapse of the edge shear layer triggers the onset of the strong transport and turbulence characteristic of the density limit regime.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Steam oxidation of ytterbium disilicate environmental barrier coatings with and without a silicon bond coat

The current generation of multilayer Si/Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are temperature limited by the melting point of Si, 1414°C. To investigate higher temperature EBCs, the cyclic steam oxidation of EBCs comprised of a single layer of ytterbium disilicate (YbDS) was compared to multilayered Si/YbDS EBCs, both deposited on SiC substrates using atmospheric plasma spray. In this work, after 500 1-h cycles at 1300°C in 90 vol%H2O-10 vol%air with a gas velocity of 1.5 cm/s, both multilayer Si/YbDS and single layer YbDS grew thinner silica scales than bare SiC, with the single layer YbDS forming the thinnest scale. Both coatings remained fully adherent and showed no signs of delamination. Silica scales formed on the single layer coating were significantly more homogeneous and possessed a markedly lower degree of cracking compared to the multilayered EBC. The single layer EBC also was exposed at 1425°C in steam with a gas velocity of 14 cm/s in an alumina reaction tube. The EBC reduced specimen mass loss compared to bare SiC but formed an extensive 2nd phase aluminosilicate reaction product. A similar reaction product was observed to form on some regions of the bare SiC specimen and appeared to partially inhibit silica volatilization. The 1425°C steam exposures were repeated with a SiC reaction tube and no 2nd phase reaction product was observed to form on the single layer EBC or bare SiC.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles

Magnetized plasma interactions are ubiquitous in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Various physical effects have been shown to be important within colliding plasma flows influenced by opposing magnetic fields, however, experimental verification of the mechanisms within the interaction region has remained elusive. Here we discuss a laser-plasma experiment whereby experimental results verify that Biermann battery generated magnetic fields are advected by Nernst flows and anisotropic pressure effects dominate these flows in a reconnection region. These fields are mapped using time-resolved proton probing in multiple directions. Various experimental, modelling and analytical techniques demonstrate the importance of anisotropic pressure in semi-collisional, high- β plasmas, causing a reduction in the magnitude of the reconnecting fields when compared to resistive processes. Anisotropic pressure dynamics are crucial in collisionless plasmas, but are often neglected in collisional plasmas. We show pressure anisotropy to be essential in maintaining the interaction layer, redistributing magnetic fields even for semi-collisional, high energy density physics (HEDP) regimes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evidence of E × B staircase in HL-2A L-mode tokamak discharges

Theory and simulation suggest the existence of an E ×B staircase in the plasma core consisting of a series of nested m/n = 0/0 E×B shear layers that regulate turbulent transport across the layers together with mesoscale transport events occurring between them. Here, we show evidence for these phenomena in HL-2A L-mode discharges. Both high resolution electron cyclotron emission Te profiles and frequency modulated continuous wave reflectometer ne profiles show multiple gradient corrugations. The analysis of simultaneous poloidally and radially separated beam emission spectroscopy turbulent density fluctuation measurements over most of the minor radius of the plasma provides the evidence of eddy tilting and propagation direction reversals largely coincident with the profile corrugations, with long-range transport events occurring between these locations. The results provide significant additional evidence for the existence of an E × B staircase that influences particle and heat transport in L-mode discharges.

Liu, Wenbin (ORCID:0000000310424117)↗
DOE OSTI2021

The effect of rigid electron rotation on the Grad–Shafranov equilibria of a class of FRC devices

Rigid electron rotation of a Rotamak-FRC produces a pressure flux function that is more peaked than the Solov'ev flux function. This paper explores the implications of this peaked pressure flux function, including the isothermal case, which appear when the temperature profile is broader than the density profile, creating both benefits and challenges to a Rotamak-FRC based fusion reactor. In this regime, the density distribution becomes very peaked, enhancing the fusion power. The separatrix has a tendency to become oblate, which can be mitigated by flux conserving current loops. Plasma extends outside the separatrix, notably in the open field line region. Furthermore, this model does not apply to very kinetic FRCs or FRCs in which there are significant ion flows, but it may have some applicability to their outer layers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Modification of the magneto-hydrodynamic equilibrium by the lower-hybrid wave driven fast electrons on the TST-2 spherical tokamak

Presence of a large population of fast particles may qualitatively modify the tokamak equilibrium from the one that can be described by standard magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD). The kinetic modification of the MHD equilibrium was studied for a lower-hybrid (LH) wave driven plasma on the TST-2 spherical tokamak. The analysis was performed using an equilibrium reconstruction method based on an extended MHD model that considers a two-component plasma of bulk MHD fluid and kinetic fast electrons. Scrape-off-layer current appeared naturally in the extended MHD analysis because of the finite electron orbit excursion from the flux surfaces. This reduced the bulk pressure contribution to the toroidal current substantially. Furthermore, the resulting poloidal flux profile was more consistent with that inferred from the Thomson scattering measurement.

extended magneto-hydrodynamics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Collisional broadening of nonlinear resonant wave–particle interactions

A general procedure for understanding plasma behaviour when resonant wave–particle interactions are the sole destabilizing and transport mechanism or only heating and/or current drive source is highlighted without recourse to involved numerical or analytical treatments. These phenomena are characterized by transport that appears to be collisionless even though collisions play a central role in narrow collisional boundary layers. The order of magnitude estimates, which include nonlinear effects, are shown to provide expressions in agreement with the principal results of recent toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE), toroidal magnetic field ripple, and heating and current drive treatments. More importantly, the retention of nonlinearities leads to new estimates of the alpha particle energy diffusivity at saturation for TAE modes, and the ripple threshold at which superbanana plateau evaluations of alpha particle transport are modified by nonlinear radial drift effects. In addition, the estimates indicate when quasilinear descriptions for heating and current drive will begin to fail. The phenomenological procedure demonstrates that in magnetic fusion relevant plasmas, narrow collisional boundary layers must be retained for resonant wave–particle interactions as they enhance the role of collisions, and make stochastic particle motion unlikely to be more important than other nonlinear processes.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Design of a low frequency, density profile reflectometer system for the MAST-U spherical tokamak

Validated and accurate edge profiles (temperature, density, etc.) are vitally important to the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak Upgrade (MAST-U) divertor and confinement effort. Density profile reflectometry has the potential to significantly add to the measurement capabilities currently available on MAST-U (e.g., Thomson scattering and Langmuir probes). This work presents the diagnostic requirements, problems, and solutions facing profile reflectometry in spherical tokamaks and MAST-U in particular. Requirements include density measurements near zero electron density in the scrape off layer region, coverage for a broad range of MAST-U plasma parameters, high time (≤10 microseconds) and spatial resolutions (≤1 cm), reliability, and identification of the plasma start frequency.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗
DOE OSTI2021

The geometry of the ICRF-induced wave–SOL interaction. A multi-machine experimental review in view of the ITER operation

As a part of ITPA-Integrated Operational Scenario activities, this contribution reviews recent experimental characterizations of radio-frequency (RF)-induced scrape-off layer (SOL) modifications of various tokamaks worldwide and of the LArge Plasma Device at UCLA. The phenomenology, as observed using a large variety of measurement techniques, is consistent with expectations from RF sheath rectification. Emphasis is then put on the complex three-dimensional (3D) spatial patterns of the RF–SOL interaction, in relation to the magnetic topology and the spatial distribution of RF currents over the metallic structures surrounding the RF wave launchers. Dependence on the local plasma parameters in the antenna vicinity is also briefly addressed. The final part discusses implications for future devices.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Theoretical Coupling of Free-Flowing Ions and Magnetically Insulated Electrons

Magnetic insulation of electrons prevents losses and can be applied to generating radiation or electron sources for high current and high power applications. Ion emission from the anode may degrade magnetic insulation. We develop equilibrium theory, self-consistently coupling magnetically insulated electron flow with free-flowing injected ions. Generally, ion injection is self-limiting from space charge; however, once insulation strength drops below about 1.2x the magnetic insulation threshold, ion space-charge limits vanish. Further, the gap effectively short-circuits and the electron flow layer asymptotically approaches the anode. In this regime a quasineutral, nonthermal plasma manifests, effectively reducing gap distance and suggesting quasiequilibrium gap closure evolution.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Analysis of Liquids Using the Submerged Plasma for Isotopic Detection and Elemental Resolution (SPIDER)

We developed a sensor called the Submerged Plasma for Isotopic Detection and Elemental Resolution (SPIDER) probe, which uses an atmospheric pressure glow discharge below the surface of liquids to excite species in the liquid. Through emission spectroscopy of molten salts, liquid metals, and heavy water, we demonstrated the SPIDER probe’s high resolution, accuracy, and versatility. We successfully identified trace concentrations of transition and rare-earth metals in molten salts and detected the isotopic shift of the H β → D β emission line. Our analysis revealed unconventional spectral alkali line shapes, indicating two competing excitation modes: film explosion and droplet vaporization. The film explosion mode, characterized by dense plasma, exhibited self-reversal and broadband continuum emission, while the droplet vaporization mode, associated with diffusive plasma, produced narrow-line emissions. Furthermore, by analyzing circuit transients alongside individual plasma events, we observed that film explosions generate higher currents, likely due to a shorter plasma length as the current preferentially flows through the thin liquid layer. Altogether, our results highlight the SPIDER probe’s efficacy and flexibility, making it well-suited for online material quantification of liquids in extreme environments.

AES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Exploration of Quantum Machine Learning and AI Accelerators for Fusion Science

The dawn of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era sparked rapid development in variational quantum algorithms. These algorithms, utilizing parameterized quantum circuit optimized by classical computers with feedback, are practical under the constraints of the current hardware and can potentially show quantum advantage. In recent years, these variational circuit are applied to neural networks, hoping to boost the triumphant success of deep learning. We simulate various of quantum-classical hybrid neural networks applied to scientific tasks, and seek to understand their capabilities and limitations. Specifically, we devise quantum convolutional layers and apply them to deep neural networks used for predicting plasma disruption in fusion reactors.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Passivated Contacts for Direct Wafer Product (Final Technical Report)

This TCF project developed a thin-oxide (SiO 2 )/polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) passivated contact solar cell on CubicPV's (formally 1366 Technologies, Inc.) Direct Wafer® Product (DWP) kerfless wafers. The project used two NREL-developed technologies described in U.S. Patent No. 9,911,873, Hydrogenation of Passivated Contacts and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15/890,172, Doped Passivated Contacts . The project was motivated by a potential higher efficiency cell (compared to a PERC cell) using passivated contacts on the ultra-low cost kerfless wafers grown using the Direct Wafer process. The hope was to accelerate market adoption of the cell and wafer by delivering the lowest LCOE in the PV industry. The project tested both n-type and p-type SiO 2 /poly-Si passivated contacts grown by thermal oxidation and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of the poly-Si layer on DWP with varying wafer resistivities. Both deposition techniques are industry standards and thus economically viable methods for commercializing the contacts. The results indicated that both n-type and p-type poly-Si passivated contacts can be formed on polycrystalline DWP wafers, but implied open-circuit voltages (i Voc ) were limited to below 0.65 mV (compared with ~ 730 mV on n-Cz wafers). Diffusion of H to the Si/SiO 2 /poly-Si interface was key to obtaining high i Voc values. In this study, H was diffused from a high-temperature SiN x layer deposited over the poly-Si layer during a high-temperature firing step, similar to one used for screen printed metals. The study concluded that poly-Si passivated contacts on DWP wafers passivated the surface of the wafers as well as PERC passivated surfaces, which use a less expensive dielectric layer stack. The project showed that Direct Wafer Product wafers grown by CubicPV could produce high i Voc values (~0.647 mV), which could produce a cell over 20% efficient with proper processing and metallization. These cells, though not economically viable in 2024 as a stand-alone cell, could be integrated with a wide-bandgap top solar cell to form a two-junction tandem cell that could be viable under certain circumstances. This is because the bottom cell of a 30%, two-terminal tandem only needs to be a 20% cell under one-sun conditions. Thus, the DWP could be an ideal low-cost wafer for tandems. The project also revealed that a TOPCon type cell could be formed on a p-type DWP wafer using a P-diffused emitter and a p-type poly-Si contact. In fact, the p-type version of the poly-Si contact out-performed the n-type version for a variety of wafer resistivities, from highly doped to lowly doped. This curiosity requires more work to understand because on Cz wafers, the n-type poly-Si contact is of much higher quality than the p-type version.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗