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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 415 records · Page 23

Design of a rotary stepped auger for a lunar environment

A lunar outpost will have need for deep drilling operations for both explorative and practical purposes. As in any drilling operation, the cuttings must be cleared from the hole. The hard vacuum of the lunar environment renders conventional flushing methods of cutting removal unfeasible, and requires a new system of removal. A rotary stepped auger (RSA) is a simple mechanical method of removing dry cuttings from a deep hole, and is ideally suited to the lunar environment. The RSA consists of a helical auger with stepped ramps which allow cuttings to slide up the helix, but will prevent them from sliding back down. The auger is driven in a pulsed manner by applying a periodic function of acceleration to the auger shaft. These pulses will compel the cuttings to slide up the auger's helix while the stepped ramps prevent the cuttings from backsliding while the auger accelerates. A mathematical model of the RSA was developed and experimentally evaluated. The math model produced a good baseline design, but the experimental model required some tuning to account for the approximations made in the math model. This design is suited for lunar drilling because it is mechanically simple, integral to the drill string, requires no fluids, is suited to the dry soil, and has relatively low weight and power requirements.

Dardet, Eduardo↗

By-Pass Diode Temperature Tests of a Solar Array Coupon under Space Thermal Environment Conditions

By-Pass diodes are a key design feature of solar arrays and system design must be robust against local heating, especially with implementation of larger solar cells. By-Pass diode testing was performed to aid thermal model development for use in future array designs that utilize larger cell sizes that result in higher string currents. Testing was performed on a 56-cell Advanced Triple Junction solar array coupon provided by SSL. Test conditions were vacuum with cold array backside using discrete by-pass diode current steps of 0.25 A ranging from 0 A to 2.0 A.

Wright, Kenneth H.↗

Playing a 3-Stringed Violin: Innovation via the Joint Evolution of People, Process, and Knowledge Management System

Users continuously evaluate the value and performance of their Knowledge Management Systems (KMS). As suggested by a punctuated socio-technical system process model, today's success can quickly become tomorrow's failure should the KMS fail to meet evolving needs and expectations. The more deeply a tool is embedded in the actual work process, the more vulnerable it is to emergent changes and perturbations. This paper uses the metaphor of a "3-stringed violin" to explore how differing levels of user knowledge about tools and processes can lead to system perturbations and how the active involvement of other actors can dampen the impact of perturbations, i.e., help the system survive the operational equivalent of a broken string. Recommendations suggest ways to increase system resiliency and contribute to incremental innovation.

Socio-technical systems↗

Target space entanglement in Matrix Models

We study target space entanglement in gauged multi-matrix models as models of entanglement between groups of D-branes separated by a planar entangling surface, paying close attention to the implementation of gauge invariance. We open with a review of target space entanglement between identical particles, which shares some important features (specifically a gauged permutation symmetry) with our main problem. For our matrix models, we implement a gauge fixing well-adapted to the entangling surface. In this gauge, we map the matrix model problem to that of entanglement of a U(1) gauge theory on a complete or all-to-all lattice. Matrix elements corresponding to open strings stretching across the entangling surface in the target space lead to interesting contributions to the entanglement entropy.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Gauging nexus between topological and fracton phases

Coupled layer constructions are a valuable tool for capturing the universal properties of certain interacting quantum phases of matter in terms of the simpler data that characterizes the underlying layers. In the study of fracton phases, the X-Cube model in 3+1D can be realized via such a construction by starting with a stack of 2+1D Toric Codes and turning on a coupling which condenses a composite "particle-string" object. In a recent work [Phys. Rev. B 112, 125124 (2025)], we have demonstrated that in fact, the particle-string can be viewed as a symmetry defect of a topological 1-form symmetry. In this paper, we study the result of gauging this symmetry in depth. We unveil a rich gauging web relating the X-Cube model to symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases protected by a mix of subsystem and higher-form symmetries, subsystem symmetry fractionalization in the 3+1D Toric Code, and non-trivial extensions of topological symmetries by subsystem symmetries. Here, our work emphasizes the importance of topological symmetries in non-topological, geometric phases of matter.

Anyons↗

The NANOGrav 11 Year Data Set: Pulsar-Timing Constraints on the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background

We search for an isotropic stochastic gravitational-wave background (GWB) in the newly released 11 year data set from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav). While we find no evidence for a GWB, we place constraints on a population of inspiraling supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries, a network of decaying cosmic strings, and a primordial GWB. For the first time, we find that the GWB constraints are sensitive to the solar system ephemeris (SSE) model used and that SSE errors can mimic a GWB signal. We developed an approach that bridges systematic SSE differences, producing the first pulsar-timing array (PTA) constraints that are robust against SSE errors. We thus place a 95% upper limit on the GW-strain amplitude of A (sub GWB) < 1.45 × 10 (exp -15) at a frequency of f=1 yr(exp -1) for a fiducial f (exp -2/3) power-law spectrum and with interpulsar correlations modeled. This is a factor of approximately 2 improvement over the NANOGrav nine-year limit calculated using the same procedure. Previous PTA upper limits on the GWB (as well as their astrophysical and cosmological interpretations) will need revision in light of SSE systematic errors. We use our constraints to characterize the combined influence on the GWB of the stellar mass density in galactic cores, the eccentricity of SMBH binaries, and SMBH-galactic-bulge scaling relationships. We constrain the cosmic-string tension using recent simulations, yielding an SSE-marginalized 95% upper limit of G (sub mu) < 5.3 × 10(exp -11) - a factor of approximately 2 better than the published NANOGrav nine-year constraints. Our SSE-marginalized 95% upper limit on the energy density of a primordial GWB (for a radiation-dominated post-inflation universe) is omega (sub GWB)(f) h (exp 2) < 3.4 × 10 (exp -10).

Supermassive Black Holes↗

Wormholes without averaging

After averaging over fermion couplings, SYK has a collective field description that sometimes has “wormhole” solutions. We study the fate of these wormholes when the couplings are fixed. Working mainly in a simple model, we find that the wormhole saddles persist, but that new saddles also appear elsewhere in the integration space — “half-wormholes.” The wormhole contributions depend only weakly on the specific choice of couplings, while the half-wormhole contributions are strongly sensitive. The half-wormholes are crucial for factorization of decoupled systems with fixed couplings, but they vanish after averaging, leaving the non-factorizing wormhole behind.

1/N Expansion↗

Dynamic Modeling, Controls, and Testing for Electrified Aircraft

Electrified aircraft have the potential to provide significant benefits for efficiency and emissions reductions. To assess these potential benefits, modeling tools are needed to provide rapid evaluation of diverse concepts and to ensure safe operability and peak performance over the mission. The modeling challenge for these vehicles is the ability to show significant benefits over the current highly refined aircraft systems. The STARC-ABL (single-aisle turbo-electric aircraft with an aft boundary layer propulsor) is a new test proposal that builds upon previous N3-X team hybrid designs. This presentation describes the STARC-ABL concept, the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) which will allow testing of the STARC-ABL powertrain, and the related modeling and simulation efforts to date. Modeling and simulation includes a turbofan simulation, Numeric Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS), which has been integrated with NEAT; and a power systems and control model for predicting testbed performance and evaluating control schemes. Model predictions provide good comparisons with testbed data for an NPSS-integrated test of the single-string configuration of NEAT.

Connolly, Joseph↗

Operations and maintenance manual for a scale-model lunar roving vehicle

A one-sixth scale model of the lunar roving vehicle used in the Apollo 15 mission was built and instrumented to conduct model studies of vehicle mobility. The model was free running under radio control and was equipped with a lightweight telemetry transmitter that allowed 16 channels of data to be gathered simultaneously. String payout and fifth-wheel devices were developed to measure vehicle velocity. Other real-time measurements included wheel torque, wheel speed, center-of-gravity accelerations, and steering forces. Calibration, operations, and maintenance procedures were worked out. Details of the development of the instrumentation, its maintenance, and some of the problems encountered, are recorded serve as a preliminary operations and maintenance manual for this specific model. In addition, information regarding soil processing and testing that may be useful to NASA personnel planning mobility research with the model in soil is furnished.

Lessem, A. S.↗

Detecting Heavy Neutral SUSY Higgs Bosons Decaying to Sparticles at the High-Luminosity LHC

In supersymmetry (SUSY) models with low electroweak naturalness (natSUSY), which have been suggested to be the most likely version of SUSY to emerge from the string landscape, higgsinos are expected at the few hundred GeV scale, whilst electroweak gauginos inhabit the TeV scale. For TeV-scale heavy neutral SUSY Higgs bosons H and A, as currently required by LHC searches, the dominant decay modes of H,A are gaugino plus higgsino provided these decays are kinematically open. The light higgsinos decay to soft particles, so are largely invisible, whilst the gauginos decay to W, Z or h plus missing transverse energy (ET). Thus, we examine the viability of H,A→W+ET, Z+ET and h+ET signatures at the high luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) in light of large standard model (SM) backgrounds from (mainly) tt¯, VV and Vh production (where V=W,Z). We also examine whether these signal channels can be enhanced over backgrounds by requiring the presence of an additional soft lepton from the decays of the light higgsinos. We find significant regions in the vicinity of mA∼1–2 TeV of the mA vs. tanβ plane, which can be probed at the high luminosity LHC, using these dominant signatures by HL-LHC at 5σ and at the 95% confidence level (CL).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Real Time Optima Tracking Using Harvesting Models of the Genetic Algorithm

Tracking optima in real time propulsion control, particularly for non-stationary optimization problems is a challenging task. Several approaches have been put forward for such a study including the numerical method called the genetic algorithm. In brief, this approach is built upon Darwinian-style competition between numerical alternatives displayed in the form of binary strings, or by analogy to 'pseudogenes'. Breeding of improved solution is an often cited parallel to natural selection in.evolutionary or soft computing. In this report we present our results of applying a novel model of a genetic algorithm for tracking optima in propulsion engineering and in real time control. We specialize the algorithm to mission profiling and planning optimizations, both to select reduced propulsion needs through trajectory planning and to explore time or fuel conservation strategies.

Baskaran, Subbiah↗

Asymptotically Free AdS 3 /CFT 2

We propose a new AdS 3 /CFT 2 duality, in which the bulk string theory has a target spacetime AdS 3 times a squashed three-sphere $S$$^{3}_{b}$, and the dual CFT 2 is a symmetric product of sigma models on R Φ × $S$$^{3}_{b}$, deformed by a Φ-dependent Z 2 twist operator. The duality maps the asymptotic region of AdS 3 to the region Φ → ∞, where the twist interaction in the CFT 2 turns off. The AdS 3 backgrounds in question have R AdS < ℓ s , and so lie on the string side of the string/black hole correspondence transition. As a consequence, the high energy density of states consists of a string gas in AdS 3 rather than an ensemble of BTZ black holes. Furthermore, this property allows us to derive the dual CFT 2 by a systematic analysis of the worldsheet string theory on AdS 3 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Forward neutrinos from charm at the Large Hadron Collider

The currently operating FASER experiment and the planned Forward Physics Facility (FPF) will detect a large number of neutrinos produced in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. In this work, we estimate neutrino fluxes at these detectors from charm meson decays, which will be particularly important for the ν e and ν τ channels. We make prediction using both the next-to-leading order collinear factorization and the k T -factorization approaches to model the production of charm quarks as well as different schemes to model their hadronization into charm hadrons. In particular, we emphasize that a sophisticated modeling of hadronization involving beam remnants is needed for predictions at FASER and FPF due to the sensitivity to the charm hadron production at low transverse momenta and very forward rapidity. As example, we use the string fragmentation approach implemented in 8. While both standard fragmentation functions and 8 are able to describe LHCb data, we find that 8 predicts significantly higher rate of high energy neutrinos, highlighting the importance of using the correct hadronization model when making predictions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Corners and islands in the S-matrix bootstrap of the open superstring

We bootstrap the Veneziano superstring amplitude in 10 dimensions from the bottom-up. Starting with the most general maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills EFT, we input information about the lowest-lying massive states, which we assume contribute via tree-level exchanges to the 4-point amplitude. We show the following: (1) if there is only a single state at the lowest mass, it must be a scalar. (2) Assuming a string-inspired gap between the mass of this scalar and any other massive states, the allowed region of Wilson coefficients has a new sharp corner where the Veneziano amplitude is located. (3) Upon fixing the next massive state to be a vector, the EFT bounds have a one-parameter family of corners; these would correspond to models with linear Regge trajectories of varying slopes, one of which is the open superstring. (4) When the ratio between the massive scalar coupling and the tr F 4 coefficient is fixed to its string value, the spin and mass of the second massive state is determined by the bootstrap and the Veneziano amplitude is isolated on a small island in parameter space. Finally, we compare with other recent bootstraps approaches, both the pion model and imposing Regge-inspired maximal spin constraints.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Topological steering of light by nematic vortices and analogy to cosmic strings

Liquid crystals are widely known for their technological uses in displays, electro-optics, photonics and nonlinear optics, but these applications typically rely on defining and switching non-topological spatial patterns of the optical axis. Here, we demonstrate how a liquid crystal’s optical axis patterns with singular vortex lines can robustly steer beams of light. External stimuli, including an electric field and light itself, allow us to reconfigure these unusual light–matter interactions. Here, periodic arrays of vortices obtained by photo-patterning enable the vortex-mediated fission of optical solitons, yielding their lightning-like propagation patterns. Predesigned patterns and spatial trajectories of vortex lines in high-birefringence liquid crystals can steer light into closed loops or even knots. Our vortex lattices might find technological uses in beam steering, telecommunications, virtual reality implementations and anticounterfeiting, as well as possibly offering a model system for probing the interaction of light with defects, including the theoretically predicted, imagination-capturing light-steering action of cosmic strings, elusive defects in cosmology.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Automating Genetic Algorithm Mutations for Molecules Using a Masked Language Model

Inspired by the evolution of biological systems, genetic algorithms have been applied to generate solutions for optimization problems in a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines. For a given problem, a suitable genome representation must be defined along with a mutation operator to generate subsequent generations. Unlike natural systems which display a variety of complex rearrangements (e.g. mobile genetic elements), mutation for genetic algorithms commonly utilizes only random point-wise changes. Furthermore, generalizing beyond point-wise mutations poses a key difficulty as useful genome rearrangements depend on the representation and problem domain. To move beyond the limitations of manually defined point-wise changes, here we propose the use of techniques from masked language models to automatically generate mutations. As a first step, common subsequences within a given population are used to generate a vocabulary. The vocabulary is then used to tokenize each genome. A masked language model is trained on the tokenized data in order to generate possible rearrangements (i.e. mutations). In order to illustrate the proposed strategy, we use string representations of molecules and use a genetic algorithm to optimize for drug-likeness and synthesizability. Finally, our results show that moving beyond random point-wise mutations accelerates genetic algorithm optimization.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Measurement of DC Arc-Flash Incident Energy in Large-Scale Photovoltaic Plants: A Basis for Standardization

The deployment of high-power dc equipment is increasing in solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, but very few studies have quantified dc arc-flash risks. Currently, PV plant owners and operators rely on theoretical, simplified models, such as those in NFPA-70E and other publications, for the assessment of risk associated with dc arc-flash. Here, this article presents an overview of arc-flash risks in a PV system based on a series of field experiments based on IEEE-1584 in two large-scale ground-mounted PV plants. The experiments include various high-power dc equipment of a PV plant, such as central inverters, combiner boxes, recombiner boxes, string inverters, and multiple configurations of electrodes in a 20-in calibration cube. The study reveals that none of the available dc arc-flash models are applicable for a PV plant. This work is an important first step toward developing an improved model that more accurately assesses dc arc-flash risk in a PV plant.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Rotorcraft Optimization Tools: Incorporating Rotorcraft Design Codes into Multi-Disciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization

One of the goals of NASA's Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology Project (RVLT) is to provide validated tools for multidisciplinary design, analysis and optimization (MDAO) of vertical lift vehicles. As part of this effort, the software package, RotorCraft Optimization Tools (RCOTOOLS), is being developed to facilitate incorporating key rotorcraft conceptual design codes into optimizations using the OpenMDAO multi-disciplinary optimization framework written in Python. RCOTOOLS, also written in Python, currently supports the incorporation of the NASA Design and Analysis of RotorCraft (NDARC) vehicle sizing tool and the Comprehensive Analytical Model of Rotorcraft Aerodynamics and Dynamics II (CAMRAD II) analysis tool into OpenMDAO-driven optimizations. Both of these tools use detailed, file-based inputs and outputs, so RCOTOOLS provides software wrappers to update input files with new design variable values, execute these codes and then extract specific response variable values from the file outputs. These wrappers are designed to be flexible and easy to use. RCOTOOLS also provides several utilities to aid in optimization model development, including Graphical User Interface (GUI) tools for browsing input and output files in order to identify text strings that are used to identify specific variables as optimization input and response variables. This paper provides an overview of RCOTOOLS and its use

Analysi↗