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At least 433 records · Page 24

A Combined Study Investigating the Insoluble and Soluble Organic Compounds in Category 3 Carbonaceous Itokawa Particles Recovered by the Hayabusa Mission

At the 3rd International Announcement of Opportunity (AO), we have been approved for five Category 3 carbonaceous Itokawa particles (RA-QD02-0012, RA-QD02-0078, RB-CV-0029, RB-CV-0080 and RB-QD04-0052) recovered by the first Hayabusa mission of JAXA. In this investigation, we aim to provide a comprehensive study to characterize and account for the presence of carbon-bearing phases as suggested by the initial Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis carried out by JAXA at the curation facility, and to describe the mineralogical components of the particles. The insoluble organic content of Itokawa particle has been investigated with the use of micro-Raman spectroscopy by Kitajima and co-workers [1]. The Raman spectra of Itokawa particles show broad G- and D-bands typical of low temperature material which offers an interesting contrast to the high metamorphic grade (LL4-6) of the Itokawa parent body. Amino acid analysis has been conducted by Naraoka et al. [2] to study the soluble organic component of Itokawa particles, but since it was a preliminary study and thus did not have the opportunity to target on Category 3 carbonaceous particles, only terrestrial contaminants were identified. The investigation will be carried out in the following order prioritized according to the progressive damage the analytical techniques can induce: (1) micro-Raman spectrometry, (2) two-step laser mass spectrometry (micro-L2MS), (3) ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-FD/ToF-MS), and optimally if we can recover the particles after wet chemistry analysis, we will mount the samples and perform (4) electron beam microscopy (SEM, electron back-scattered diffraction [EBSD]) and (5) carbon X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (C-XANES). We will begin the analytical procedures upon receiving the samples in September/October. This work will provide us with an understanding of the variety and origins of the carbon-bearing phases present in primitive solar system bodies from a direct sample-returned mission, which is less likely hampered by risks of terrestrial contamination as compared to meteorite finds and falls.

Chan, Q. H. S.↗

Core-shell and egg-shell zeolite catalysts for enhanced hydrocarbon processing

Developing structure-performance relationships with the underlying goal of optimizing known zeolite catalysts involves the manipulation of their physicochemical properties. Here, we systematically assessed the impact of mesoscopic gradients in acid site concentration, which has generally received little attention in the design of zeolite catalysts for hydrocarbon upgrading. A series of core–shell MEL-type zeolites were synthesized with catalytically active ZSM-11 cores and passivated silicalite-2 shells of varying thickness. Our findings revealed that ZSM-11@silicalite-2 particles with ultrathin shells (<10 nm) have enhanced mass transport, characteristic of relatively smaller particles, compared to the corresponding ZSM-11 core. Additionally, catalytic testing using the methanol-to-hydrocarbon (MTH) reaction showed that core–shell zeolites exhibit longer lifetimes, higher total turnovers, and an unexpected promotion of the aromatic cycle in the hydrocarbon pool mechanism. Time-resolved acid titration of core and core–shell catalysts confirmed that the siliceous shell introduces a hydrophobic exterior that impacts molecular diffusion. In comparison, prepared MFI core-shells (ZSM-5@silicalite-1) showed similar enhancement in catalyst performance. Moreover, we prepared egg-shell configurations of each zeolite, silicalite-2@ZSM-11 and silicalite-1@ZSM-5, comprised of an inert core and catalytically active shell. This inverse design of the egg-shell created pseudo nanosheets with total turnovers that were markedly higher than their homogeneous counterparts. Collectively, this study demonstrated that mesoscopic gradients in acid concentration via the design of core–shell and egg-shell zeolites significantly improve catalyst performance over conventional analogues for hydrocarbon upgrading.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Low-Noise Submillimeter-Wave NbTiN Superconducting Tunnel Junction Mixers

We have developed a low-noise 850 GHz superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) quasi-particle mixer with NbTiN thin-film microstrip tuning circuits and hybrid Nb/AlN/NbTiN tunnel junctions. The mixer uses a quasioptical configuration with a planar twin-slot antenna feeding a two-junction tuning circuit. At 798 GHz, we measured an uncorrected double-sideband receiver noise temperature of T(sub RX) = 260 K at 4.2 K bath temperature. This mixer outperforms current Nb SIS mixers by a factor of nearly 2 near 800 GHz. The high gap frequency and low loss at 800 GHz make NbTiN an attractive material with which to fabricate tuning circuits for SIS mixers. NbTiN mixers can potentially operate up to the gap frequency, 2(delta)/h is approximately 1.2THz.

Kawamura, J.↗

Plasma diagnostics package. Volume 2: Spacelab 2 section, part A

This volume (2), which consists of two parts (A and B), of the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) Final Science Report contains a summary of all of the data reduction and scientific analyses which were performed using PDP data obtained on STS-51F as a part of the Spacelab 2 (SL-2) payload. This work was performed during the period of launch, July 29, l985, through June 30, l988. During this period the primary data reduction effort consisted of processing summary plots of the data received by 12 of the 14 instruments located on the PDP and submitting these data to the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC). The scientific analyses during the performance period consisted of follow-up studies of shuttle orbiter environment and orbiter/ionosphere interactions and various plasma particle and wave studies which dealt with data taken when the PDP was on the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm and when the PDP was in free flight. Of particular interest during the RMS operations and free flight were the orbiter wake studies and joint studies of beam/plasma interactions with the SL-2 Fast Pulse Electron Generator (FPEG) of the Vehicle Charging and Potential Investigation (VCAP). Internal reports, published papers and presentations which involve PDP/SL-2 data are listed in Sections 3 and 4. A PDP/SL-2 scientific results meeting was held at the University of Iowa on June 10, l986. This meeting was attended by most of the PDP and VCAP investigators and provided a forum for discussing and comparing the various results, particularly with regard to the PDP free flight.

Pickett, Jolene S.↗

Ionizing radiation exposure of LDEF (pre-recovery estimates)

The long duration exposure facility (LDEF), launched into a 258 nautical mile orbit with an inclination of 28.5 degrees, remained in space for nearly 6 yr. The 21,500 lb NASA satellite was one of the largest payloads ever deployed by the Space Shuttle. LDEF completed 32,422 orbits and carried 57 major experiments representing more than 200 investigators from 33 private companies, 21 universities and nine countries. The experiments covered a wide range of disciplines including basic science, electronics, optics, materials, structures and power and propulsion. A number of the experiments were specifically designed to measure the radiation environment. These experiments are of specific interest, since the LDEF orbit is essentially the same as that of the Space Station Freedom. Consequently, the radiation measurements on LDEF will play a significant role in the design of radiation shielding of the space station. The contributions of the various authors presented here attempt to predict the major aspects of the radiation exposure received by the various LDEF experiments and therefore should be helpful to investigators who are in the process of analyzing experiments which may have been affected by exposure to ionizing radiation. The paper discusses the various types and sources of ionizing radiation including cosmic rays, trapped particles (both protons and electrons) and secondary particles (including neutrons, spallation products and high-LET recoils), as well as doses and LET spectra as a function of shielding. Projections of the induced radioactivity of LDEF are also discussed.

Flight Experiment↗

Effect of Composition on the Phase Structure and Magnetic Properties of Ball-Milled LaFe11.71-xMnxSi1.29H1.6 Magnetocaloric Powders

Magnetocaloric alloys are an important class of materials that enable non-vapor compression cycles. One promising candidate for magnetocaloric systems is LaFeMnSi, thanks to a combination of factors including low-cost constituents and a useful curie temperature, although control of the constituents’ phase distribution can be challenging. In this paper, the effects of composition and high energy ball milling on the particle morphology and phase stability of LaFe11.71-xMnxSi1.29H1.6 magnetocaloric powders were investigated. The powders were characterized with optical microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the powders retained most of their original magnetocaloric phase during milling, although milling reduced the degree of crystallinity in the powder. Furthermore, some oxide phases (<1 weight percent) were present in the as-received and milled powders, which indicates that no significant contamination of the powders occurred during milling. Finally, the results indicated that the Curie temperature drops as Fe content decreases (Mn content increases). In all of the powders, milling led to an increase in the Curie temperature of ~3–6 °C.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Field Evaluation of Do-It-Yourself Air Filtration Solutions for Evaporative Coolers to Reduce Ambient Particle Infiltration in Homes in Wildfire-Affected Communities

Evaporative coolers (ECs) introduce outdoor air pollutants indoors when operating. This study evaluates the potential of do-it-yourself (DIY) air filtration solutions for ECs to cost-effectively reduce the infiltration of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in homes with ECs using measurements in 48 homes in wildfire-affected agricultural communities in California. All homes received one portable air cleaner (PAC); 25 homes also received DIY filters (mostly MERV 13) attached to their ECs. PurpleAir monitors measured indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations. PAC operation was monitored in all of the homes. EC usage was monitored in some homes and predicted using relative humidity dynamics in all homes. Conditional analyses between EC likely on and off conditions were used to evaluate the impacts of DIY EC filters on ambient PM2.5 infiltration, including during several wildfire-affected days. Median levels of ambient PM2.5 infiltration increased ∼36-42% in homes with only PAC interventions when ECs were likely operating compared to only ∼10-11% in homes with both PACs and DIY EC filters. Pre/postintervention comparisons in a subset of homes confirmed PM2.5 infiltration reductions. EC filter performance declined after extended use. Results suggest that short-term EC filter deployments are likely a cost-effective way to mitigate wildfire smoke infiltration inside these homes.

Wang, Mingyu↗

Particle showers detected on ISS in Timepix pixel detectors

We detect regular particle showers in several compact pixel detectors, distributed over the International Space Station. These showers are caused by high energy galactic cosmic rays, with energies often in the 10 s of TeV or higher. We survey the frequency of these events, their dependence on location on ISS, and their independence of the location of ISS, on its orbit. The Timepix detectors used allow individual particle tracks to be resolved, providing a possibility to perform physical analysis of shower events, which we demonstrate. In terms of radiation dosimetry, these showers indicate certain possible limitations of traditional dosimetric measures, in that (a) the dose measured in small sensor may be less than that received in a larger distribution of matter, such as a human and (b) the spatial and temporal extent of these events represents a regime of poorly documented biological response.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

OAST Space Theme Workshop. Volume 3: Working group summary. 3: Sensors (E-3). A. Statement. B. Technology needs (form 1). C. Priority assessment (form 2). D. Additional assessment

Developments required to support the space power, SETI, solar system exploration and global services programs are identified. Instrumentation and calibration sensors (rather than scientific) are needed for the space power system. Highly sophisticated receivers for narrowband detection of microwave sensors and sensors for automated stellar cataloging to provide a mapping data base for SETI are needed. Various phases of solar system exploration require large area solid state imaging arrays from UV to IR; a long focal plane telescope; high energy particle detectors; advanced spectrometers; a gravitometer; and atmospheric distanalyzer; sensors for penetrometers; in-situ sensors for surface chemical analysis, life detection, spectroscopic and microscopic analyses of surface soils, and for meteorological measurements. Active and passive multiapplication sensors, advanced multispectral scanners with improved resolution in the UV and IR ranges, and laser techniques for advanced probing and oceanographic characterization will enhance for global services.

Source record↗

The New Horizons Mission to Pluto and Flyby of Jupiter

New Horizons (NH) is NASA's mission to provide the first in situ reconnaissance of Pluto and its moons Charon, Nix, and Hydra. The NH spacecraft will reach Pluto in July 2015 and will then, if approved for an extended mission phase, continue on to a flyby encounter with one or more Kuiper belt objects (KBOs). NH was launched on 19 January 2006 and received a gravity assist during a flyby encounter with Jupiter (with closest approach at -32 RJ on 28 February 2007) that reduced its flight time to Pluto by 3 years. During the Jupiter flyby, NH collected a trove of multi-wavelength imaging and fields-and-particles measurements. Among the many science results at Jupiter were a detection of planet-wide mesoscale waves, eruptions of atmospheric ammonia clouds, unprecedented views of Io's volcanic plumes and Jupiter's tenuous ring system, a first close-up of the Little Red Spot (LRS), first sightings of polar lightning, and a trip down the tail of the magnetosphere. In 2015, NH will conduct a seven-month investigation of the Pluto system culminating in a closest approach some 12,500 km from Pluto's surface. Planning is presently underway for the Pluto encounter with special emphasis on longidentified science goals of studying the terrain, geology, and composition of the surfaces of Pluto and Charon, examining the composition and structure of Pluto's atmosphere, searching for an atmosphere on Charon, and characterizing Pluto's ionosphere and solar wind interaction. Detailed inspections will also be performed of the newly discovered satellites Nix and Hydra. Additionally, NH will characterize energetic particles in Pluto's environment, refine the bulk properties of Pluto and Charon, and search for additional satellites and rings.

Stern, Alan↗

Online detection of airborne nanoparticle composition with mass spectrometry: Recent advances, challenges, and opportunities

Airborne nanoparticles are receiving growing attention due to their impacts on human health, air quality, and climate. Additionally, there are increasing applications of aerosol-based nanotechnology. Real-time measurement of airborne nanoparticle composition is challenging due to their small masses and the difficulties in effectively separating them from larger particles. Custom-built instruments based on mass spectrometry have been developed for nanoparticle composition, including thermal desorption-based, laser-based, and solution-based techniques. They have significantly promoted the understanding of airborne nanoparticles in the last two decades. However, they are affected by molecular fragmentation, lack of mass-resolving power, incomplete species detection, and difficulties in directly comparing to gas-phase measurements. Recent developments in atmospheric mass spectrometry provide possible solutions. Here, this review presents the potential application of these new advances to real-time measurements of the molecular nanoparticle composition and discusses the associated challenges. Such measurements present opportunities for a more comprehensive view of airborne nanoparticles and their impacts.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Medium Temperature Furnace Baking of Low-beta 650 MHz Five-cell Cavities

Medium Temperature baking of low beta 650 MHz cavities was conducted in a UHV furnace. A systematic study of cavity surface resistance components, residual and BCS, was conducted, including analyzing surface resistance due to trapped magnetic flux. Cavities showed an average 4.5 nano-ohm surface resistance at 17 MV/m under 2 K, which meets PIP-II specifications with a 40% margin. The results provided helpful information for the PIP-II project to optimize the cavity processing recipe for cryomodule application. The results were compared to the 1.3 GHz cavity that received a similar furnace baking.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Jupiter after Pioneer - A progress report

In December 1973, Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of Jupiter. The spacecraft passed through the Jovian magnetosphere in two weeks and sent back more than 300 pictures of the big planet. Measurements were conducted of EM fields, energetic particles, and micrometeoroids. Radio occultations observed are discussed along with observations in the infrared and ultraviolet range, magnetic measurements, questions of trajectory analysis, and data obtained with the aid of a plasma analyzer. Pioneer 10 has confirmed as inescapable the fact that Jupiter radiates more energy than it receives from the sun.

Mcdonough, T. R.↗

Temperature/pressure and water vapor sounding with microwave spectroscopy

Two intense microwave spectra lines exist in the martian atmosphere that allow unique sounding capabilities: water vapor at 183 GHz and the (2-1) rotational line of CO at 230 GHz. Microwave spectra line sounding is a well-developed technique for the Earth's atmosphere for sounding from above from spacecraft and airplanes, and from below from fixed surface sites. Two simple instruments for temperature sounding on Mars (the CO line) and water vapor measurements are described. The surface sounder proposed for the MESUR sites is designed to study the boundary layer water vapor distribution and the temperature/pressure profiles with vertical resolution of 0.25 km up to 1 km with reduced resolution above approaching a scale height. The water channel will be sensitive to a few tenths of a micrometer of water and the temperature profile will be retrieved to an accuracy between 1 and 2 K. The latter is routinely done on the Earth using oxygen lines near 60 GHz. The measurements are done with a single-channel heterodyne receiver looking into a 10-cm mirror that is canned through a range of elevation angles plus a target load. The frequency of the receiver is sweep across the water and CO lines generating the two spectra at about 1-hr intervals throughout the mission. The mass and power for the proposed instrument are 2 kg and 5-8 W continuously. The measurements are completely immune to the atmospheric dust and ice particle loads. It was felt that these measurements are the ultimate ones to properly study the martian boundary layer from the surface to a few kilometers. Sounding from above requires an orbiting spacecraft with multichannel microwave spectrometers such as the instrument proposed for MO by a subset of the authors, a putative MESUR orbiter, and a proposed Discovery mission called MOES. Such an instrument can be built with less than 10 kg and use less than 15 W. The obvious advantage of this approach is that the entire atmosphere can be sounded for temperature and water vapor in a few hours with somewhat better than a scale height resolution. If a bigger mirror is used (greater than 30 cm) limb sounding geometry can be employed and half scale height resolution achieved to altitudes up to at least 60 km. Again, the measurements are immune to dust and ice loads. Water vapor sensitivity of 0.1 micrometer can be achieved (even with a nadir instrument) and temperature profiles retrieved to an accuracy of better than 2 K from the surface to about 60 km. Winds can be measured from the doppler shifts of CO lines in the limb sounding mode.

Muhleman, D. O.↗

E-Beam Irradiation Beamline at Jefferson Lab for Wastewater Treatment

Electron beam (e-beam) irradiation is an advanced method for removing the emerging organic contaminants in wastewater, such as 1,4-dioxane, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl sub?stances (PFAS), which have the potential to be regulated in the near future but are difficult to degrade by conventional treatment methods. This dissertation was based on a collabo?rating study between Jefferson Lab (Jlab) and Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) to evaluate the impacts of e-beam irradiation on the degradation of 1,4-dioxane and PFAS. It presents the detailed design of an e-beam irradiation beamline, the beamline simulation using general particle tracer (GPT), the installation, and the successful commissioning. The beamline is an extended section to the Upgraded Injector Test Facility (UITF) at Jlab, which is a continuous wave (CW), superconducting radio frequency (SRF) linear accelerator with an energy up to 10 MeV. To let the sample volume receive a significant and uniform dose distribution, the sample target was designed by investigating the dose distribution simulated with a Monte-Carlo code, FLUKA. The optimized beam energy was 8 MeV and the beam current for irradiation was ? 100 nA. With the use of a solenoid and a raster, the electron beam was expanded to the optimized size, 1? ? 15 mm, at the sample target. This dis?sertation also presents the irradiation experiments for 64 1,4-dioxane samples and 48 PFAS samples in different water matrices, including real wastewater, which were prepared and an?alyzed by HRSD. The absorbed doses of samples were obtained by designing a new method that combines the FLUKA simulation and dose mapping experiments. The irradiation re?sults showed that around 95% of 1,4-dioxane was removed at a low dose of ? 2 kGy, and PFAS was possibly removed at a lower dose compared to similar research. This work is a first implementation of SRF technology for wastewater irradiation. It pro?vides a valuable new research platform for wastewater remediation. This will be in support of future industrial applications of advanced SRF technologies and better understanding of the effect of e-beam irradiation on wastewater or water treatment.

Li, Xi↗

First Axionlike Particle Results from a Broadband Search for Wavelike Dark Matter in the 44 to 52 μ eV Range with a Coaxial Dish Antenna

We present the results from the first axionlike particle search conducted using a dish antenna. The experiment was conducted at room temperature and sensitive to axionlike particles in the 44 – 52 μ eV range (10.7–12.5 GHz). The novel dish antenna geometry was proposed by the BREAD Collaboration and previously used to conduct a dark photon search in the same mass range. To allow for axionlike particle sensitivity, the BREAD dish antenna was placed in a 3.9 T solenoid magnet at Argonne National Laboratory. In the presence of a magnetic field, axionlike dark matter converts to photons at the conductive surface of the reflector. The signal is focused onto a custom coaxial horn antenna and read out with a low-noise radio-frequency receiver. No evidence of axionlike dark matter was observed in this mass range and we place the most stringent laboratory constraints on the axion-photon coupling strength, g a γ γ , in this mass range at 90% confidence.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Characterization of Virgin, Re-used, and Oxygen-reduced Copper Powders processed by the Plasma Spheroidization Process

We report that fabrication of parts with high mechanical properties heavily depend on the quality of powder deployed in the fabrication process. Copper powder in three different powder types were spheroidized using radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spheroidization process (TekSphero-15 system). The characterized powders include virgin powder as purchased from the powder manufacturer, powder used in electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) process, and reconditioned powder, which was used powder that underwent an oxygen-reduction treatment. The goal of spheroidizing these powder types was to evaluate the change in powder morphology, the possibility of enhancing the powder properties back to their as-received conditions, and assess oxygen reduction of the powder lots given their initial oxygen contents. Also, to investigate the impact of re-spheroidization on powder properties, the second round of spheroidization was performed on the already used-spheroidized powder. The impact of powder type on powder sphericity and particle size distribution was evaluated using the image analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs and laser diffraction, respectively. The spheroidized powder showed higher sphericity and more uniform particle size distribution overall. Depending on the powder collection bin, second round of spheroidization affected the powder sphericity differently. The possibility of deploying the plasma spheroidization process as an alternative oxygen-reduction technique was also investigated through tracking the powders’ oxygen content using inert gas fusion method before and after the spheroidization. The plasma spheroidized powder showed less oxygen content than the hydrogen-treated powder. The second round of spheroidization caused no change in oxygen content. The correlation between oxygen-reduction and created cracks was discussed and compared between plasma spheroidization and hydrogen-treatment. The plasma spheroidization process created a powder with higher sphericity, uniform particle size, and less oxygen content.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗