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This phase II grant was canceled by the SBIR program when Nion was acquired by Bruker because Bruker is not "small". This final technical report is an effort to properly close out the paperwork for this canceled project.
This final technical report describes the goals, activities, outcomes, and broader impacts of the GROWTH-MSI program, supported through the DOE RENEW Initiative in High Energy Physics. The program established a 1.5-year traineeship for undergraduate students from six Northern California Minority Serving Institutions, connected students with DOE laboratory research mentors, provided particle physics coursework and professional development, and advanced HEP research infrastructure at CSU Stanislaus and Sonoma State University.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a 26-ton gadolinium-loaded (Gd-loaded) water Cherenkov detector located on the Booster Neutrino beamline at Fermilab. ANNIE's primary physics objectives include measuring neutron multiplicity for neutrino-nucleus interactions and performing cross-section measurements of charge current quasi-elastic and neutral current quasi-elastic processes. These measurements aim to improve neutrino energy reconstruction and reduce uncertainties in current and future neutrino oscillation experiments. Additionally, ANNIE serves as a testbed for advanced technologies such as Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPDs) and Water-Based Liquid Scintillator, which enhance vertex resolution and enable detection below the Cherenkov threshold. By leveraging the high neutron capture cross section of Gd-loaded water, ANNIE is well positioned to observe final-state neutrons in beam-correlated neutrino interactions. To constrain the uncertainties in the neutron capture efficiency and time within the detector, we have conducted multiple calibration campaigns using an AmBe source. The AmBe source is deployed at different locations of the tank to map the neutron capture efficiency and determine the expected neutron capture time. Additionally, the AmBe calibration data are used to define the precise neutron clustering that will be useful for identifying neutron-like clusters from neutrino interaction. In this poster, we will present the current status of the AmBe neutron calibration program and the development of neutron cluster definition for the ANNIE Experiment.
MicroBooNE, an 85-tonne liquid argon time projection chamber detector is on-axis to the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. MicroBooNE is elucidating neutrino interactions with argon through cross-section measurements to refine interaction models and reduce uncertainties. In this poster, we present recent published single and double multi-differential charged current (CC) cross section with zero pions in the final state (CC-0 ) as a function of muon momentum ( ) and the cosine of the muon angle ( ). We present the details of the event selection and the extraction of 1D and 2D cross sections. We further report on the status of a simultaneous cross-section extraction conducted in conjunction with the ANNIE experiment, which employs a Gd-H O target and operates on the same BNB beamline. This joint measurement enables a precision test of nuclear A-dependence between oxygen and argon, with shared flux and cross-section model correlations leading to the cancellation of systematic uncertainties.
We have developed a suite of 3D electromagnetic field solvers, both FEM and FDTD based, that account for the RF antenna and vacuum vessel geometries with unprecedented accuracy. Workflows were developed that make it possible to translate CAD models for the antenna and vacuum vessel to physics meshes for RF wave simulation. Nonlinear RF sheath formation has been incorporated self-consistently as a boundary condition in these solvers. We have also carried out extensive studies of the impact of RF sheaths on the ion energy angle distribution at plasma-material interfaces, using high fidelity particle-in-cell codes. Comprehensive simulation models were developed to assess the impact of blob-like edge turbulence on RF wave propagation and the impact of the RF ponderomotive force on the plasma scrape-off layer (SOL). A fluid transport solver for the far-SOL was also developed which accounts for the high parallel to perpendicular heat anisotropy on an unstructured mesh, thus making it possible to precisely represent an antenna structure in the presence of edge transport. Finally we have developed a hierarchy of core wave propagation and absorption models that self-consistently combine continuum Fokker Planck and Monte Carlo treatments of fast ion evolution with ICRF full-wave field solvers and continuum Fokker Planck treatments of fast electron evolution with both full-wave and ray tracing models.
This project investigated a number of partially fluorinated glymes (PFGs) as electrolyte cosolvents to improve the performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. A major issue in Li-S cells is the electrochemical reaction of sulfur in the cathode to form lithium polysulfides (LPS) that dissolve in the electrolyte. Those LPS are electrochemically and chemically reactive at the lithium anode, resulting in lithium sulfide deposition on the anode and also electrochemical reaction at both the anode and cathode, leading to a “polysulfide shuttle” and reduced coulombic efficiency (CE) and self-discharge of the cell. PFGs reduce the solubility of LPS while maintaining good solubility of lithium salts such as LiTFSI. By adjusting the amount of PFG as cosolvent in the electrolyte, we showed that the solubility of LPS in the electrolyte can be tuned. (It is not desirable to completely eliminate LPS in the electrolyte, as they facilitate electrochemical reaction of the electrically insulating S 8 and Li 2 S within the cathode by shuttling charge between them and the conductive carbon.) Another issue in Li-S cells is degradation of the Li anode over many cycles of stripping (discharge) and plating (charge). We showed that PFGs have a beneficial effect on the physical morphology of the Li anode, SEI formation, and the CE of a Li-Li cell. Among the many PFGs tested, we found the best performance from PFGs designated PFG2 and PFG5, and these two PFGs were thoroughly studied. A systematic coin-cell study of electrolyte solvents of 90:10, 80:20, or 70:30 DME:PFG (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) revealed some systematic trends: a higher percentage of PFG solvent led to substantially longer cycle life, but at the same time reduced specific capacity (mAh/g(S)) and cell capacity at higher rates. These studies used LiFSI as the electrolyte salt, as it was found to extend cycle life compared to LiTFSI. Finally, the addition of a small amount of 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) to the electrolyte was found to be beneficial. The overall optimal electrolyte solution was found to be 0.6 M LiFSI + 0.5 M LiNO 3 in 75:5:20 DME/DOL/PFG (either PFG2 or PFG5).
The Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab is searching for neutrino oscillations over a short baseline as a signature of a sterile neutrino with a mass splitting of about 1eV2. Such oscillations would drive the disappearance of muon neutrinos in the Booster Neutrino Beam between the detectors of the SBN Program. We present progress on an analysis to search for muon neutrino disappearance between the SBND and ICARUS detectors (the SBN Program's near and far detectors, respectively). This analysis leverages the one muon, one proton, quasi-elastic-like final state, which provides the best resolution for reconstructing the neutrino energy. The analysis incorporates a comprehensive set of systematic uncertainties in the neutrino flux, interaction, and detector model. This analysis will soon be completed as part of the first oscillation results at SBN.
Final Report
The mission of this CRADA with Agilent was to couple powerful MS platforms (QQQ, IM-QTOFMS) with Agilent’s novel Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) fast metabolomic workflows and perform ABF Machine Learning (ML) to generated datasets. Agilent transferred UHPLC methods to PNNL and LBNL and methods were implemented and demonstrated in both labs, achieving total acquisition times of < 10 min. Metabolites analyzed using Agilent’s shared methods included metabolites from central carbon metabolism, common across hosts, and metabolites unique to engineered strains. Standards were acquired in an UHPLC-Drift Tube Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer (DTIMS) system for the first time within the context of ABF and methods were optimized based on Agilent’s protocols. Samples from ABF hosts Pseudomonas putida, Aspergillus pseudoterreus, Aspergillus niger and Rhodosporidium toruloides were analyzed using the UHPLC-DTIMS platform for a total of 276 runs. A data analysis workflow compatible with the Experimental Data Depot (EDD) and completely shareable was developed for the acquired UHPLC-DTIMS data. Samples were analyzed using a Data Independent Acquisition Approach (DIA), which for most of the standards provided more transitions therefore increasing detection confidence. Using the data acquired by PNNL, LBNL, and Agilent’s specifications from previous ML projects, SNL applied an ensemble ML strategy to pick the best performing model for automated LC-method selection. Finally, with the contribution of the participant labs and Agilent, SNL developed an Automated Method Selection (AMS) software tool to predict the best liquid chromatography method for analysis of any new molecules of interest. Samples with novel pathways and new metabolite targets of interest are generated at a high pace in the ABF. Overall, the project advanced rapid metabolomics by combining liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and data-independent mass spectrometry with machine learning. This multidimensional approach uses retention time, collision cross-section, precursor mass, and fragment-ion information to distinguish chemically similar metabolites that can be difficult to resolve using conventional liquid- or gas-chromatography methods. The resulting workflow also provided automated metabolite-identification error estimates, addressing a recognized need for statistical confidence measures in metabolomics.
Final report for the conference funds for Particle Physics on the Plains 2025.
Final Report: Front of the Meter Utilization of Zinc Bromide Energy Storage
The measurements of the Higgs boson (H) production cross sections performed by the CMS Collaboration in the four-lepton (4ℓ, ℓ = e, μ) final state at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 13.6 TeV are presented. These measurements are based on data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2022, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34.7 fb$^{−1}$. Cross sections are measured in a fiducial region closely matching the experimental acceptance, both inclusively and differentially, as a function of the transverse momentum and the absolute value of the rapidity of the four-lepton system. The H → ZZ → 4ℓ inclusive fiducial cross section is measured to be ${2.89}_{-0.49}^{+0.53}{\left({\text{stat}}\right)}_{-0.21}^{+0.29}\left({\text{syst}}\right)$ fb, in agreement with the standard model expectation of ${3.09}_{-0.24}^{+0.27}$ fb.[graphic not available: see fulltext]
The results of a search for the production of two scalar bosons in final states with two photons and two tau leptons are presented. The search considers both nonresonant production of a Higgs boson pair, HH, and resonant production via a new boson X which decays either to HH or to H and a new scalar Y. The analysis uses up to 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data, recorded between 2016 and 2018 by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No evidence for signal is found in the data. For the nonresonant production, the observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level (CL) on the HH production cross section is set at 930 (740) fb, corresponding to 33 (26) times the standard model prediction. At 95% CL, HH production is observed (expected) to be excluded for values of $κ_λ$ outside the range between $-$12 ($-$9.4) and 17 (15). Observed (expected) upper limits at 95% CL for the XHH cross section are found to be within 160 to 2200 (200 to 1800) fb, depending on the mass of X. In the X $\to$ Y($γγ$)H($ττ$) search, the observed (expected) upper limits on the product of the production cross section and decay branching fractions vary between 0.059$-$1.2 fb (0.087$-$0.68 fb). For the X $\to$ Y($γγ$)H($ττ$) search the observed (expected) upper limits on the product of the production cross section and Y $to$ $γγ$ branching fraction vary between 0.69$-$15 fb (0.73$-$8.3 fb) in the low Y mass search, tightening constraints on the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, and between 0.64$-$10 fb (0.70$-$7.6 fb) in the high Y mass search.
In this work, we present and characterize the galaxy cluster catalog detected by the WaZP cluster finder, which is not based on red-sequence identification, on the full six years of observations of the Dark Energy Survey (DES-Y6). The full catalog contains over 400k detected clusters with richnesses, Ngals, above 5 and that reach redshifts up to 1.3. We also provide a version of the catalog where the observation depth and richness computation are homogenized to be used for cosmology, containing 33k rich (Ngals >25) clusters. We compare our results with the previous WaZP catalog obtained from the DES first-year data release (DES-Y1). We find that essentially all clusters within the common footprint and depth limit are recovered. The deeper observations on DES-Y6 and the more complete available spectroscopic redshift sample lead to improvements in the redshifts of the clusters, resulting in an average scatter of 1.4% and offset of 0.2%. The optical clusters are also cross-matched with Sunyaev Zel'dovich Effect (SZE) cluster samples detected by the South Pole Telescope (SPT) and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT). We find that essentially all SZE clusters with reasonable overlapping footprint have a corresponding WaZP cluster. Conversely, 90% of the optical detections with richness greater than 150 have a counterpart in the deeper regions of the SZE surveys. Based on cross-match with the SZE catalogs, we also find that 15-20% of the SZE matched systems have more than one possible WaZP counterpart at the same redshift and within the SZE R500c, indicating possible interacting or unrelaxed systems. Finally, given the optical and SZE beams, WaZP and SZE centerings are found to be consistent. A more detailed study of the SZE-WaZP mass-richness relation will be presented in a separate paper.
This CRADA provides new funding from SoCalGas and DOE's BETO and FCTO Offices focused hydrogen mass transfer limitations in H2@Scale processes. The project leverages the existing hydrogen production capabilities at the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) and SoCalGas' 700 L bioreactor system designed, built, and delivered to NLR under the first phase of this CRADA. This Joint Work Statement will cover new hardware modifications between NLR's electorlyzer stack and the SoCalGas bioreactor located outdoors. The new hardware and controls will provide researchers with the tools needed to obtain preliminary experimental data for a non-provisional application due in July 2019. The IP being developed is expected to improve the productivity of the bioreactor and would have wider impacts on other end-use processes using pressurized hydrogen (H2). In addition, this new funding enhances an existing BETO Biopower award by developing a 10-15 kW electrolyzer that is scalable to the MW-class with reduced capital cost and higher efficiency aimed at improving H2 mass transfer to downstream processes, like biomethanation. Finally due to the close-coupling between the electrolyzer stack and bioreactor, R&D will focus on cell retention, nutrient maintenance, optimal water management and process controls.
Coning motions of the final stages of three nasa scout development vehicles
This final report describes the work that was done to determine the state-of-the-art of valves required for space exploration vehicles and the steps that were taken to advance the technology. Interviews were held with personnel of major prime manufacturers to determine current problems and current and future requirements. Manufacturers were surveyed by mail to determine what equipment is presently being produced. An extensive search of patent office files was made to determine if any novel valve concepts not already applied to aerospace valves might exist. A literature search was conducted to provide the necessary technical information that was required for the program. Several extensive studies were made to determine the effects on materials resulting from use in space applications, and an investigation of the basic phenomena of valve seat wear was initiated. With the information developed in the surveys and studies, the significant problems associated with valves were identified and are described under "Discussion of Problems. " A novel valve concept was developed and a prototype valve was built and successfully tested. A seal compound of Teflon and stainless steel was developed which possesses superior cold flow characteristics while retaining the desirable properties of the basic Teflon material.