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At least 451 records · Page 25

Grain Surface Chemistry and the Composition of Interstellar Ices

Submicron sized dust grains are an important component of the interstellar medium. In particular they provide surface where active chemistry can take place. At the low temperatures (-10 K) of the interstellar medium, colliding gas phase species will stick, diffuse, react, and form an icy mantle on these dust grains. This talk will review the principles of grain surface chemistry and delineate important grain surface routes, focusing on reactions involving H, D, and O among each other and with molecules such as CO. Interstellar ice mantles can be studied through the fundamental vibrations of molecular species in the mid-infrared spectra of sources embedded in or located behind dense molecular clouds. Analysis of this type of data has provided a complex view of the composition of these ices and the processes involved. Specifically, besides grain surface chemistry, the composition of interstellar ices is also affected by thermal processing due to nearby newly formed stars. This leads to segregation between different ice components as well as outgassing. The latter results in the formation of a so-called Hot Core region with a gas phase composition dominated by evaporated mantle species. Studies of such regions provide thus a different view on the ice composition and the chemical processes involved. Interstellar ices can also be processed by FUV photons and high energy cosmic ray ions. Cosmic ray processing likely dominates the return of accreted species to the gas phase where further gas phase reactions can take place. These different chemical routes towards molecular complexity in molecular clouds and particularly regions of star formation will be discussed.

Tielens, A. G. G. M.↗

Coordinated STEM/FIB/NanoSIMS Analyses of Presolar Silicates in Comet Dust and Primitive Meteorites

Silicate grains were among the most abundant mineralogical building blocks of our Solar System. These grains were the detritus from earlier generations of stars that have been recycled in the early solar nebula. Rare sub-micrometer survivors of this processing have been identified in meteorites, micrometeorites and interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). These silicate grains are recognized as presolar in origin because of their extremely anomalous isotopic compositions that reflect nucleosynthetic processes in their stellar sources (evolved stars, novae and supernovae). We perform coordinated chemical, mineralogical and isotopic studies of these grains to determine their origins and histories. We examine the complex mineralogy and petrography of presolar silicates using imaging, diffraction and chemical data obtained from thin sections with the JSC JEOL 2500 field-emission STEM equipped with a Noran thin window energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectrometer and a Gatan Tridiem GIF. Quantitative element x-ray maps (spectrum images) are acquired by rastering a 4 nm incident probe whose dwell time is minimized to avoid beam damage and element diffusion during mapping. Successive image layers are acquired and combined in order to achieve approx 1% counting statistics for major elements. The IDP samples are prepared by ultramicrotomy of particles embedded in epoxy or elemental sulfur. After EDX mapping, the sections are subjected to C, N, and O isotopic imaging with the JSC NanoSIMS 50L ion microprobe. We prepare sections of some meteorite grains using the JSC FEI Quanta 3D focused ion beam (FIB) instrument. The specimen surface is protected from the FIB milling process by layers of electron beam-deposited C and Pt followed by an ion-deposited Pt layer. We also use the FIB to preferentially remove surrounding grains to reduce the background in subsequent NanoSIMS measurements. For mineralogical studies, we again employ the FIB instrument to deposit a protective cap over the grain of interest and then extract the grain and thin it to electron transparency for TEM analysis.

Keller, Lindsay↗

Identification and characterization of extraterrestrial non-chondritic interplanetary dust

Interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are among the most pristine and primitive extraterrestrial materials available for direct study. Most of the stratospheric particles selected for study from the JSC Curatorial Collection were chondritic in composition (major element abundances within a factor of two of chondritic meteorites) because this composition virtually ensures that the particle is from an extraterrestrial source. It is likely that some of the most interesting classes of IDP's have not been recognized simply because they are not chondritic or do not fit established criteria for extraterrestrial origin. Indeed, mass spectroscopy data from the Giotto Flyby of comet Halley indicate that a substantial fraction of the dust is in the submicron size range and that a majority of these particles contain C, H, O, and/or N as major elements. The preponderance of CHON particles in the coma of Halley implies that similar particles may exist in the JSC stratospheric dust collection. However, the JSC collection also contains a variety of stratospheric contaminants from terrestrial sources which have these same characteristics. Because established criteria for extraterrestrial origin may not apply to such particles in individual cases, and integrated approach is required in which a variety of analysis techniques are applied to the same particle. Non-chondritic IDP's, like their chondritic counterparts, can be used to elucidate pre- and early solar system processes and conditions. The study of non-chondritic IDP's may additionally yield unique information which bears on the nature of cometary bodies and the processing of carbonaceous and other low atomic number materials. A suite of complementary techniques, including Low Voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy (LVSEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis (EDX), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) isotope-ratio imaging and Analytical Electron Microscopy (AEM), were utilized to accomplish the following two objectives: (1) to develop criteria for the unequivocal identification of extraterrestrial non-chondritic IDP's; and (2) to infer IDP parent body, solar nebula, and pre-solar conditions through the study of phases, textures, and components contained within non-chondritic IDP's. The general approach taken is designed to maximize the total information obtained from each particle. Techniques will be applied in order from least destructive to most destructive.

Blake, D. F.↗

Advanced focusing system for secondary electrons in a bunch shape monitor

Non-destructive measurements of longitudinal beam profile in non-relativistic hadron accelerators are usually performed with Bunch Shape Monitors that utilize secondary electron emission to reproduce the shape of a primary ion beam. The existing devices, however, have poor electron collection efficiency from the wire and are limited to one dimensional measurements of the phase coordinate. Here, we present the development of a bunch shape monitor with improved performance for proton beams to be used in the Spallation Neutron Source accelerator. This improvement was achieved by adding focusing optics between the wire and the entrance slit, which will also allow measurements over a much higher dynamic range. Here we present the design, simulation and experimental test results of the developed new electron beam guidance system for the existing SNS bunch shape monitor that allowed significant improvement in the collection efficiency.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Turbulence-reduced high-performance scenarios in Wendelstein 7-X

In the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator, turbulence is the dominant transport mechanism in most discharges. This leads to a 'clamping' of ion temperature over a wide range of heating power, predominantly flat density profiles where hollow profiles driven by neoclassical thermo-diffusion would be expected and by rapid impurity transport in injection experiments. Significantly reduced turbulent transport is observed in the presence of strong core density gradients found transiently after core pellet injection and irregularly after boronisation or boron pellet injection. Density peaking is also achieved in a controlled manner in purely neutral beam heated discharges where particle transport analysis reveals an abrupt reduction in the main-ion particle flux leading to significant density profile peaking not explained by the NBI particle source alone. The plasmas exhibit a heat diffusivity of around $\chi = 0.25 \pm 0.1\,\mathrm{m}^2\ \mathrm{s}^{-1}$ at mid radius, a factor of around 4 lower than ECRH dominated discharges. Despite the improved confinement, the achieved ion temperature is limited by broader heat deposition and the lower power-per-particle given the higher density. This is overcome with limited reintroduction of ECRH power, where the low heat diffusivity diffusivity is maintained, the density rise supressed and ion temperatures above the clamping limit are achieved. The applicability of these plasmas for a high performance scenario on transport relevant time scales is assessed, including initial predictions for planned heating upgrades of W7-X, based on a range of assumptions about particle transport.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Recent Development on O(+)-O Collision Frequency and Ionosphere-Middle Atmosphere Coupling

The collision frequency between an oxygen atom and its singly charged ion controls the transfer of energy between the solar radiation and the thermosphere. There were a long standing discrepancy, extending over a decade, between the theoretical and empirical determination of this frequency, and the empirical value of this frequency exceeded the theoretical value by a factor of 1.7. Recent improvements in theory were obtained by using accurate oxygen ion-oxygen atom potential energy curves, and partial wave quantum mechanical calculations. Similarly, recently three independent statistical methods were applied to the empirical determination of this frequency. These methods give results consistent with each other, and together with the recent theoretical improvements, bring the ratio close to unity, as it should be. It will be shown that the old statistical method for this determination contained accumulative errors, leading to a larger value for this ratio. The recent improvements lead to an average value of the empirical to the theoretical ratio equal to 0.98, with an uncertainty of +/- 8%, resolving the old discrepancy between theory and observations. The main source of uncertainties are errors in the profile of the oxygen atom density, which is of the order of 11 %. An alternative method to find the oxygen atom density is being suggested.

Omidvar, K.↗

Enhanced performance in fusion plasmas through turbulence suppression by megaelectronvolt ions

Alpha particles with energies on the order of megaelectronvolts will be the main source of plasma heating in future magnetic confinement fusion reactors. Instead of heating fuel ions, most of the energy of alpha particles is transferred to electrons in the plasma. Furthermore, alpha particles can also excite Alfvénic instabilities, which were previously considered to be detrimental to the performance of the fusion device. In this work, we report improved thermal ion confinement in the presence of megaelectronvolts ions and strong fast ion-driven Alfvénic instabilities in recent experiments on the Joint European Torus. Herein, detailed transport analysis of these experiments reveals turbulence suppression through a complex multi-scale mechanism that generates large-scale zonal flows. This holds promise for more economical operation of fusion reactors with dominant alpha particle heating and ultimately cheaper fusion electricity.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Performance evaluation of the SPES FEBIAD ion source

SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility that is currently in the installation phase at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare in the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL-INFN). The main purpose of the facility is to deliver neutron-rich radioactive beams with a range of mass between 60 and 160 amu produced as fission products originated within a Uranium Carbide (UC x ) target impinged by high energy protons (40–70 MeV). In the last few years, the SPES group and their collaborators have focused on multiple aspects: development of various ISOL targets, ion sources, a high-power beam dump, versatile Front-End designs, primary proton beam and RIB diagnostics, design of beam optic components, and remote target handling. The development and optimization of ionization sources represents one of the most important R&D activities. The collaboration between SPES and ISOLDE (CERN) groups has enabled the evaluation of the performances of a novel FEBIAD ion source taking advantage of the ISOLDE off-line Front-End. In this paper, the results of efficiency and transversal emittance measurements of the new SPES FEBIAD ion source are presented and discussed. Particular attention is dedicated to the description of the experimental setup and to the comparison of experimental data with simulation to promote the reproducibility of the experimental tests with other types of sources.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Using statistical modeling to predict and understand fusion experiments

Over 300 cryogenic layered direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions have been successfully executed on the OMEGA Laser System in the last decade. However, extracting sufficient understanding from these experiments to develop new designs or to identify or mitigate degradation sources remains challenging. Recently, a statistical modeling approach was developed to successfully design and predict improved implosion experiments on OMEGA. Here, we show that one-dimensional simulations can be used to predict the outcomes of systematically perturbed three-dimensional simulations and that this statistical modeling approach can be used to identify or rule out physical mechanisms for some of the degradation sources observed on the OMEGA Laser System for direct-drive cryogenic inertial confinement fusion. In this instance, we investigate the fusion yield dependencies on the ion temperature asymmetries and laser beam size observed in experiments by comparing with trends in three-dimensional synthetic simulation databases. Using the statistical model on these systematically perturbed simulations, we find that the statistically inferred dependency on the measured ion temperature asymmetries is well explained by imposed ℓ =1 modes. However, we find that the dependency on the laser beam size is only dominated by the illumination non-uniformity for some extreme cases.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Bioleaching ion-unexchangeable rare earth in ion-adsorption type rare earth waste tailing

Ion-adsorption type rare earth ores (IREO) in China serve as the primary source of medium and heavy rare earth globally. With the rapidly growing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and the dwindling supply of premium IREO, enhancing the recovery of REEs, especially the ion-unexchangeable REEs with ultra-low content and ambiguous speciation from IREO or its tailing, has become a critical trend and challenge. Here, this study identified the occurrences of ion-unexchangeable REEs, primarily detected in Fe-enriched minerals, xenotime, and monazite of IREO using TESCAN integrated mineral analyzer (TIMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) analysis. To extract these elusive REEs, a bioleaching technique utilizing Aspergillus niger (A. niger) metabolites was proposed, achieving a leaching yield of 31.4 wt%. Complementary sequential chemical extraction methods (SCEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further elucidate the underlying mechanism, involving the carboxylic acid produced by the metabolic process of microbes that dissolves goethite by disrupting Fe—O bonds and liberating REEs, which complexed with carboxylate (R—COO—), to promote further dissolution. This work offers insight into enhancing the recovery of ion-unexchangeable REEs from IREO or its tailing, paving the way for sustainable and efficient rare earth mining practices.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Wave and plasma observations during a compressional Pc 5 wave event August 10, 1982

Magnetometer and thermal plasma instruments on the polar-orbiting Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite observed a small-amplitude ultralow frequency pulsation event at the outer edge of the plasmapause near the geomagnetic equator in the midafternoon sector on August 10, 1982, during the recovery phase of a magnetic storm. Transverse pulsations of 30-50 s period were observed throughout the event, and a 270-s period, purely compressional Pc 5 pulsation with several shifts in phase occurred within + or - 5 deg of the geomagnetic equator. Electric fields and the motion of thermal ions appeared to be in quadrature with pulsations in magnetic field magnitude throughout the event. This suggests that the net Poynting flux for the compressional waves was zero, consistent with their being standing waves. Large fluxes of trapped 90 deg pitch angle 10-eV protons, also symmetric about the geomagnetic equator, were observed in conjunction with the waves. These may serve as a source of free energy for the pulsations. These observations lend support to recent studies suggesting that many dayside compressional wave events are related to localized field line resonance near plasmapauselike boundaries, but also include features that cannot be explained by existing theories.

Engebretson, M. J.↗

Hot interstellar gas and ionization of embedded clouds

Researchers present detailed photoionization calculations for the instellar cloud in which the Sun is embedded. They consider the EUV radiation field with contribution from discrete stellar sources and from a thermal bremsstrahlung-radiative recombination spectrum emitted from the surrounding 10 to the 6th power k coronal substrate. They establish lower limits to the fractional ionization of hydrogen and helium of 0.17 and 0.29 respectively. The high He ionization fraction results primarily from very strong line emission below 500 A originating in the surrounding coronal substrate while the H ionization is dominated by the EUV radiation from the discrete stellar sources. The dual effects of thermal conduction and the EUV spectrum of the 10 to the 6th k plasma on ionization in the cloud skin are explored. The EUV radiation field and Auger ionization have insignificant effects on the resulting ionic column densities of Si IV, C IV, N V and O VI through the cloud skin. Calculations show that the abundances of these species are dominated by collisional ionization in the thermal conduction front. Because of a low charge exchange rate with hydrogen, the ionic column density ratios of N (CIII)/N (CII) and N (NII)/N (NI) are dominated by the EUV radiation field in the local interstellar medium. These ratios should be important diagnostics for the EUV radiation field and serve as surrogate indicators of the interstellar He and H ionization fraction respectively. Spacecraft such as Lyman which is designed to obtain high resolution spectral data down to the Lyman limit at 912 A could sample interstellar lines of these ions.

Cheng, K.-P.↗

Electrical Charging of the Clouds of Titan

We have used recent data on graphitic cloud particles in the atmosphere or Titan to compute the electrical charging of the particles (radii ranging from 0.01 microns to 0.26 microns). The charging on the nightside was rather similar to that obtained earlier (Borucki et al, Icarus, 72, 604-622, 1987) except that charge distributions on the particles are now computed and recently obtained cloud particle sizes and density distributions were employed. The negative charge on particles of 0.26 microns peaked at 9 at 150 km altitude. The computations were repeated for the dayside with the addition of photoelectron emission by the particles as a result of the absorption of solar UV radiation. Particles (except the very smallest) now became positively charged with particles of radius 0.26 microns being charged up to +47. Next, very small particles (radii approximately 3 x 10^-4 microns) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were introduced and treated as sources of negative ions since they could be either neutral or carry one negative charge. Moreover, they are mobile so that they had to be treated like molecular size negative ions although much more massive. They had the effect of substantially reducing the electron densities in the altitude range 190 to 310 km to values less than the negative PAH densities and increasing the peak electron charge on the larger particles. Particles of radius 0.26 microns bore peak charges of plus or minus 47 at altitudes of approximately 250 km. The simulated effect of PAHs on the nightside proved to be much less pronounced; at the peak negative PAH density, it was less than the electron density. The physics governing these results will be discussed.

Borucki, William J.↗

Electrical Charging of Aerosols and Conductivity of Titan's Atmosphere

We have used recent data on graphitic cloud particles in the atmosphere of Titan to compute the electrical charging of the particles (radii ranging from 0.01 microns to 0.26 microns). The charging on the nightside was rather similar to that obtained earlier except that charge distributions on the particles are now computed and recently obtained cloud particle sizes and density distributions were employed. The negative charge on particles of 0.26 microns peaked at 9 at 150 km altitude. The computations were repeated for the dayside with the addition of photoelectron emission by the particles as a result of the absorption of solar UV radiation. Particles (except the very smallest) now became positively charged with particles of radius 0.26 microns being charged up to +47. Next, very small particles (radii approx. 3 x 10 (sup -4) microns) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were introduced and treated as sources of negative ions since they could be either neutral or carry one negative charge. Moreover, they are mobile so that they had to be treated like molecular size negative ions although much more massive. They had the effect of substantially reducing the electron densities in the altitude range 190 to 310 km to values less than the negative PAH densities and increasing the peak electron charge on the larger particles. Particles of radius 0.26 microns bore peak charges of approx. +47 at altitudes of approx. 250 km. The simulated effect of PAHs on the nightside proved to be much less pronounced; at the peak negative PAH density, it was less than the electron density. The physics governing these results will be discussed.

Borucki, W. J.↗

Electronic mobility, doping, and defects in epitaxial BaZrS 3 chalcogenide perovskite thin films

We present the electronic transport properties of BaZrS 3 thin films grown epitaxially by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. We observe n-type behavior in all samples, with carrier concentration ranging from 4 × 10 18 to 4 × 10 20 cm −3 at room temperature (RT). We observe a champion RT Hall mobility of 11.1 cm 2 V −1 s −1 , which is competitive with established thin-film photovoltaic absorbers. Temperature-dependent Hall mobility data show that phonon scattering dominates at room temperature, in agreement with computational predictions. X-ray diffraction data illustrate a correlation between mobility and antiphase boundary concentration, illustrating how microstructure can affect transport. Despite the well-established environmental stability of chalcogenide perovskites, we observe significant changes to electronic properties as a function of storage time in ambient conditions. With the help of secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements, we propose and support a defect mechanism that explains this behavior: as-grown films have a high concentration of sulfur vacancies that are shallow donors (V ⋅ S or V ⋅⋅ S ), which are converted into neutral oxygen defects (O$^{×}_{S}$) upon air exposure. We discuss the relevance of this defect mechanism within the larger context of chalcogenide perovskite research, and we identify means to stabilize the electronic properties.

Van Sambeek, Jack [Massachusetts Institute of Tech↗

Atomic nitrogen measurements in the upper atmosphere

The open-source neutral mass spectrometer (OSS) on the Atmosphere Explorer-C satellite (AE-C) measures the neutral constituents of the upper atmosphere. It has been found that atomic nitrogen densities can be determined at altitudes above 380 km. Most of the nitrogen atoms combine with oxygen adsorbed on the walls of the ion source to form NO. The measured net peaks at 14 amu and 30 amu show the scale height expected for atomic nitrogen; both peaks have a pronounced diurnal variation. Absolute number densities at 400 km are computed for a time period between February and April 1974 when measurements were taken in the northern hemisphere. Minimum and maximum densities of atomic nitrogen occur between 4 and 6 hr LST in the morning and around 16 hr LST in the afternoon, respectively. At 400 km, the minimum particle density is 100,000/cu cm and the maximum density 1.5 million/cu cm. In contrast to the response of N2 to geomagnetic activity, atomic N shows no appreciable effect.

Mauersberger, K.↗

Elucidating the phase transformations and grain growth behavior of O3-type sodium-ion layered oxide cathode materials during high temperature synthesis

Understanding the formation mechanism of layered oxide cathodes via solid-state synthesis is imperative to achieving controllability over their materials properties and electrochemical behaviors. In this work, we investigate the phase and microstructure evolution during the synthesis of NaNi 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 , a model sodium-ion layered oxide cathode, using a combination of imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopic techniques. We unravel the synthetic mechanistic pathways involved in the high-temperature calcination reaction, as well as elaborate the synthesis-microstructure-performance relationship of this material. The formation of the final layered oxide phase involves a gradual transformation through a sodiated oxyhydroxide intermediate. During the reaction, the precursor dehydration reaction dominates at 250–550 °C, while the major sodiation reaction occurs at 550–850 °C. Alongside multiple stages of phase transformations, the final grain structure formation occurs through the continuous growth of the (003) and (104) facets. During the reaction, Mn acts as the charge-compensating element and exhibits depth-dependent characteristics. When the sodiation reaction dominates over dehydration, the reaction intermediates undergo gradual electronic structure changes with increasing temperature, as indicated by the spectral features of TM3d-O2p hybrid states. Calcination duration is also a critical parameter governing the microstructure, surface reactivity, phase fraction distribution and electrochemical performance of the material. The optimal calcination duration was determined to be 18 hours at 850 °C under the conditions evaluated here. Calcination beyond this duration was found to be detrimental to electrochemical performance due to Na and O loss and heterogeneous sodium distribution throughout the particles. Our work sheds light on the complex crystallographic-chemical-microstructural evolution of sodium ion layered oxide cathodes and provides insight into precisely tuning material properties which are intimately linked to battery performances.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Analyses of ∼0.05–2 MeV Ions Associated with the 2022 February 16 Energetic Storm Particle Event Observed By Parker Solar Probe

We present analyses of 0.05–2 MeV ions from the 2022 February 16 energetic storm particle event observed by Parker Solar Probeʼs (PSP) ISeIS/EPI-Lo instrument at 0.35 au from the Sun. This event was characterized by an enhancement in ion fluxes from a quiet background, increasing gradually with time with a nearly flat spectrum, rising sharply near the arrival of the coronal mass ejection (CME)–driven shock, becoming nearly a power-law spectrum, then decaying exponentially afterward, with a rate that was independent of energy. From the observed fluxes, we determine diffusion coefficients, finding that far upstream of the shock the diffusion coefficients are nearly independent of energy, with a value of 10 20 cm 2 s −1 . Near the shock, the diffusion coefficients are more than 1 order of magnitude smaller and increase nearly linearly with energy. We also determine the source of energetic particles, by comparing ratios of the intensities at the shock to estimates of the quiet-time intensity to predictions from diffusive shock acceleration theory. We conclude that the source of energetic ions is mostly the solar wind for this event. We also present potential interpretations of the near-exponential decay of the intensity behind the shock. One possibility we suggest is that the shock was over expanding when it crossed PSP and the energetic particle intensity decreased behind the shock to fill the expanding volume. Over expanding CMEs could well be more common closer to the Sun, and this is an example of such a case.

Interplanetary particle acceleration↗