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At least 469 records · Page 26

Application of a Planar Doppler Velocimetry System to a High Reynolds Number Compressible Jet

A Planar Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) system has been constructed and used to investigate the instantaneous turbulent velocity structure of a round high-speed compressible air jet with a low-speed co-flow. The exit condition was Mach=0.85 at ambient pressure, yielding a Reynolds number of about 650,000 on diameter. The PDV system was installed at NASA Langley Research Center in the Small Anechoic Jet Facility (SAJF), a chamber in which both the acoustic and aerodynamic properties of jets can be studied. For this test, the goal was to gather data which can be used to relate the turbulence structure of the jet to the levels and character of the acoustic noise produced by the jet. The current PDV system can acquire single-velocity-component, single-shot, planar images (15ns exposures) at 30 Hz. For this paper, the primary data set consists of 240 frames of velocity data acquired with both the jet and the low-speed co-flow seeded with light-scattering articles. Thus, velocities could be measured everywhere in the jet shear layer, both in the jet fluid and in the entrained co-flow. Some data were also taken with only the jet flow seeded. These provided mixing concentration images along with the reduced velocity fields. Other images were taken with only the co-flow seeded. These produced unique quantitative images of high speed entrainment. Optical "laser speckle" noise is the largest source of random noise in pulsed PDV systems. Components for the PDV imaging system were specifically selected to minimize speckle noise. To reduce systematic velocity errors due to laser drift, a frequency monitoring reference leg with a temperature-tuned reference iodine cell, was employed. In the course of this study, a novel flow seeder was developed. It enabled continuously variable seeding of the flow with particles of Sheared Pyrogenic Amorphous Hydrophobic Silica (SPAHS). The seeder comprised a dry fluidized bed hopper and a supersonic nozzle "pickup." Shearing action in the pickup dispersed the seed material in an exceptionally fine cloud (approximately 0.3 micron). These particles followed the flow well, did not clump or cake on screens or model surfaces, and were not susceptible to evaporation. Because of the refractory nature of the particles, SPAHS seeding should also be applicable to anticipated future testing at high temperatures.

Smith, Michael W.↗

Tuning the Redox Activity of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced, Selective O 2 Binding: Design Rules and Ambient Temperature O 2 Chemisorption in a Cobalt–Triazolate Framework

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with coordinatively unsaturated metal sites are appealing as adsorbent materials due to their tunable functionality and ability to selectively bind small molecules. Through the use of computational screening methods based on periodic density functional theory, we investigate O 2 and N 2 adsorption at the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites of several MOF families. A variety of design handles are identified that can be used to modify the redox activity of the metal centers, including changing the functionalization of the linkers (replacing oxido donors with sulfido donors), anion exchange of bridging ligands (considering μ-Br – , μ-Cl – , μ-F – , μ-SH – , or μ-OH – groups), and altering the formal oxidation state of the metal. As a result, we show that it is possible to tune the O 2 affinity at the open metal sites of MOFs for applications involving the strong and/or selective binding of O 2 . In contrast with O 2 adsorption, N 2 adsorption at open metal sites is predicted to be relatively weak across the MOF dataset, with the exception of MOFs containing synthetically elusive V 2+ open metal sites. As one example from the screening study, we predicted that exchanging the μ-Cl – ligands of M 2 Cl 2 (BBTA) (H 2 BBTA = 1H,5H-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bistriazole) with μ-OH – groups would significantly enhance the strength of O 2 adsorption at the open metal sites without a corresponding increase in the N 2 affinity. Experimental investigation of Co 2 Cl 2 (BBTA) and Co 2 (OH) 2 (BBTA) confirms that the former exhibits weak physisorption of both N 2 and O 2 , whereas the latter is capable of chemisorbing O 2 at room temperature in a highly selective manner. The O 2 chemisorption behavior is attributed to the greater electron-donating character of the μ-OH – ligands and the presence of H-bonding interactions between the μ-OH – bridging ligands and the reduced O 2 adsorbate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermoresponsive polymer assemblies via variable temperature liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering

Abstract Herein, phase transitions of a class of thermally-responsive polymers, namely a homopolymer, diblock, and triblock copolymer, were studied to gain mechanistic insight into nanoscale assembly dynamics via variable temperature liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy (VT-LCTEM) correlated with variable temperature small angle X-ray scattering (VT-SAXS). We study thermoresponsive poly(diethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (PDEGMA)-based block copolymers and mitigate sample damage by screening electron flux and solvent conditions during LCTEM and by evaluating polymer survival via post-mortem matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). Our multimodal approach, utilizing VT-LCTEM with MS validation and VT-SAXS, is generalizable across polymeric systems and can be used to directly image solvated nanoscale structures and thermally-induced transitions. Our strategy of correlating VT-SAXS with VT-LCTEM provided direct insight into transient nanoscale intermediates formed during the thermally-triggered morphological transformation of a PDEGMA-based triblock. Notably, we observed the temperature-triggered formation and slow relaxation of core-shell particles with complex microphase separation in the core by both VT-SAXS and VT-LCTEM.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Identifying high-impact and high-uncertainty parameters in MiniFuel model predictions

The MiniFuel irradiation platform at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) is a flexible, high-throughput separate effects test capability. Finite element thermal models are relied upon to design MiniFuel experiments and to achieve experimental objectives. Recent reports show good agreement in the model prediction of target fuel temperatures, but as the capability of the experiments is extended to higher temperatures, the uncertainty in the model predictions must be quantified. To that end, high-impact, high-uncertainty parameters that contribute the most uncertainty to the model are identified. The uncertainty quantification was accomplished through a series of screening and sensitivity analyses. The first analysis utilizes the method of Morris to perform a computationally efficient preliminary screening that considers uncertainty in a large number of the model inputs. The most important parameters identified in the Morris screening study were then considered in a Sobol sensitivity analysis that more robustly ranks and quantifies the uncertainty associated with each parameter. From these analyses, it was determined that thermal contact conductance between components is the parameter that contributes the highest uncertainty. The estimated uncertainty of the MiniFuel model fuel temperature predictions is ±80 °C in the removable beryllium and ±40 °C in the vertical experiment facilities. In conclusion, the framework established by the series of sensitivity analyses presented herein could easily be adapted to fit the needs of accelerated fuel qualification processes.

Fuel, Irradiation↗

Reversible magnetism transition at ferroelectric oxide heterointerface

Oxide heterointerface is a platform to create unprecedented two-dimensional electron gas, superconductivity and ferromagnetism, arising from a polar discontinuity at the interface. In particular, the ability to tune these intriguing effects paves a way to elucidate their fundamental physics and to develop novel electronic/magnetic devices. Here, we report for the first time that a ferroelectric polarization screening at SrTiO 3 /PbTiO 3 interface is able to drive an electronic construction of Ti atom, giving rise to room-temperature ferromagnetism. Surprisingly, such ferromagnetism can be switched to antiferromagnetism by applying a magnetic field, which is reversible. A coupling of itinerant electrons with local moments at interfacial Ti 3d orbital was proposed to explain the magnetism. The localization of the itinerant electrons under a magnetic field is responsible for the suppression of magnetism. These findings provide new insights into interfacial magnetism and their control by magnetic field relevant interfacial electrons promising for device applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Proximity-Induced Superconductivity in a 2D Kondo Lattice of an f -Electron-Based Surface Alloy

Realizing hybrids of low-dimensional Kondo lattices and superconducting substrates leads to fascinating platforms for studying the exciting physics of strongly correlated electron systems with induced superconducting pairing. Here, we report a scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study of a new type of two-dimensional (2D) La–Ce alloy grown epitaxially on a superconducting Re(0001) substrate. We observe the characteristic spectroscopic signature of a hybridization gap evidencing the coherent spin screening in the 2D Kondo lattice realized by the ultrathin La–Ce alloy film on normal conducting Re(0001). Upon lowering the temperature below the critical temperature of rhenium, a superconducting gap is induced exhibiting an energy asymmetry of the coherence peaks that arises from the interaction of residual unscreened magnetic moments with the superconducting substrate. A positive correlation between the Kondo hybridization gap and the asymmetry of the coherence peaks is found.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Hidden Spin-Valley Locking Stabilizes Nanosecond Spin Polarization in 2D Perovskites

Room-temperature spin control in semiconductors is fundamental to spin-optoelectronics. Although inversion symmetry breaking offers one path for spin control in semiconductors, strong spin dephasing at elevated temperatures remains a persistent limitation. Hidden spin polarization without global symmetry breaking provides another promising material design strategy, but robust spin stabilization from this effect has yet to be experimentally realized. Here we show spin stabilization at room temperature in two-dimensional hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites through hidden spin-valley locking. We use functional non-primary ammonium cations to induce symmetry-breaking distortions in the metal-halide layers, producing giant local spin splitting while preserving global inversion symmetry. Time-resolved circular dichroism measurements reveal optically generated spin-polarized carriers that persist for 686 ps in (AzOH)2PbI4 and 4.7 ns in the lead-free analogue (AzOH)2SnI4 at room temperature, without an external magnetic field. First-principles calculations suggest that these long lifetimes arise from hidden spin valleys, enhanced dielectric screening and reduced spin-orbit-induced scattering in the Sn-based compound. Our design paradigm unlocks inversion-symmetric semiconductors with ultralong spin lifetimes, broadening the materials options for light-driven spin control.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Investigating the possible existence of hyper-heavy nuclei in a neutron-star environment

The synthesis of hyper-heavy elements is investigated under conditions simulating neutron star environment. The constrained molecular dynamics approach is used to simulate low energy collisions of extremely n-rich nuclei. A new type of the fusion barrier due to a “neutron wind” is observed when the effect of neutron star environment (screening of Coulomb interaction) is introduced implicitly. When introducing also a background of surrounding nuclei, the nuclear fusion becomes possible down to temperatures of 10 8 K and synthesis of extremely heavy and n-rich nuclei appears feasible. A possible existence of hyper-heavy nuclei in a neutron star environment could provide a mechanism of extra coherent neutrino scattering or an additional mechanism, resulting in x-ray burst or a gravitational wave signal and, thus, becoming another crucial process adding new information to the suggested models on neutron star evolution.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A glimpse of stars the size of dust particles

The Nuclear Imaging System (NIS) is an important diagnostic tool used to study nuclear fusion implosions at a research facility in California. There a capsule the size of a flea is compressed until it reaches the size of a speck of dust. As the capsule collapses on itself and ignites under extreme temperature and pressure, NIS detects particles emitted from that process at a scale that would correspond to watching a 32-inch TV screen from 100 miles away. My work involves taking snapshots of one of the most minuscule, fleeting and amazing experiments on Earth in order to ensure the safety and reliability of the US nuclear stockpile and get closer to developing a new form of clean energy.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Long Heat Pipe Transports 2.6 kW

High-capacity heat pipe employs slender artery-and-wick structure. Ribbon of stainless steel screen wrapped around copper mandrel in conical copper forming tool. Outside edge of wrapped screen welded to layer on which it rests. Long heat pipe transports thermal energy at rate of 2,600 watts at operating temperature of 923 K.

Ernst, D. M.↗

Sulfur, ultraviolet radiation, and the early evolution of life

The present biosphere is shielded from harmful solar near ultraviolet (UV) radiation by atmospheric ozone. It is suggested that elemental sulfur vapor could have played a similar role in an anoxic, ozone-free, primitive atmosphere. Sulfur vapor would have been produced photochemically from volcanogenic SO2 and H2S. It is composed of ring molecules, primarily S8, that absorb strongly throughout the near UV, yet are expected to be relatively stable against photolysis and chemical attack. It is also insoluble in water and would thus have been immune to rainout or surface deposition over the oceans. Since the concentration of S8 in the primitive atmosphere would have been limited by its saturation vapor pressure, surface temperatures of 45 C or higher, corresponding to carbon dioxide partial pressures exceeding 2 bars, are required to sustain an effective UV screen. A warm, sulfur-rich, primitive atmosphere is consistent with inferences drawn from molecular phylogeny, which suggest that some of the earliest organisms were thermophilic bacteria that metabolized elemental sulfur.

Kasting, J. F.↗

Flexible Ablators Char Depths LHMEL Test Results

Char and pyrolysis zone depths give physical evidence of peak temperature reached in depth: The pyrolyzing material acts as a temperature indicator within its characteristic thermal decomposition range. A matrix of novel flexible ablators were laser tested in one component of material screening for NASA Entry, Descent and Landing research for future Mars missions. LHMEL tests were run both on virgin materials, and on previously charred materials for a dual pulse simulation of the heating due to aerocapture followed by atmospheric entry. The test models were machined to expose the cross-sections. Char measurements were made at three locations near the center of the exposed area. Data are presented showing the char depths developed in these flexible materials, grouped by reinforcing fiber and pyrolyzing material type.

White, Susan↗

Electron-phonon coupling strength from ab initio frozen-phonon approach

In this work, we propose a fast method for high-throughput screening of potential superconducting materials. The method is based on calculating metallic screening of zone-center phonon modes, which provides an accurate estimate for the electron-phonon coupling strength. This method is complementary to the recently proposed Rigid Muffin Tin (RMT) method, which amounts to integrating the electronphonon coupling over the entire Brillouin zone (as opposed to the zone center), but in a relatively inferior approximation. We illustrate the use of this method by applying it to MgB 2 , where the high-temperature superconductivity is known to be driven largely by the zone-center modes, and compare it to a sister compound AlB 2 . We further illustrate the usage of this descriptor by screening a large number of binary hydrides, for which accurate first-principle calculations of electron-phonon coupling have been recently published. Together with the RMT descriptor, this method opens a way to perform initial high-throughput screening in search of conventional superconductors via machine learning or data mining.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

FMX – the Frontier Microfocusing Macromolecular Crystallography Beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II

Two new macromolecular crystallography (MX) beamlines at the National Synchrotron Light Source II, FMX and AMX, opened for general user operation in February 2017 [Schneider et al. (2013). J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 425 , 012003; Fuchs et al. (2014). J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 493 , 012021; Fuchs et al. (2016). AIP Conf. Proc. SRI2015 , 1741 , 030006]. FMX, the micro-focusing Frontier MX beamline in sector 17-ID-2 at NSLS-II, covers a 5–30 keV photon energy range and delivers a flux of 4.0 × 10 12 photons s −1 at 1 Å into a 1 µm × 1.5 µm to 10 µm × 10 µm (V × H) variable focus, expected to reach 5 × 10 12 photons s −1 at final storage-ring current. This flux density surpasses most MX beamlines by nearly two orders of magnitude. The high brightness and microbeam capability of FMX are focused on solving difficult crystallographic challenges. The beamline's flexible design supports a wide range of structure determination methods – serial crystallography on micrometre-sized crystals, raster optimization of diffraction from inhomogeneous crystals, high-resolution data collection from large-unit-cell crystals, room-temperature data collection for crystals that are difficult to freeze and for studying conformational dynamics, and fully automated data collection for sample-screening and ligand-binding studies. FMX's high dose rate reduces data collection times for applications like serial crystallography to minutes rather than hours. With associated sample lifetimes as short as a few milliseconds, new rapid sample-delivery methods have been implemented, such as an ultra-high-speed high-precision piezo scanner goniometer [Gao et al. (2018). J. Synchrotron Rad. 25 , 1362–1370], new microcrystal-optimized micromesh well sample holders [Guo et al. (2018). IUCrJ , 5 , 238–246] and highly viscous media injectors [Weierstall et al. (2014). Nat. Commun. 5 , 3309]. The new beamline pushes the frontier of synchrotron crystallography and enables users to determine structures from difficult-to-crystallize targets like membrane proteins, using previously intractable crystals of a few micrometres in size, and to obtain quality structures from irregular larger crystals.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Bisphenol A polycarbonate as a reference material

Test methods require reference materials to standardize and maintain quality control. Various materials have been evaluated as possible reference materials, including a sample of bisphenol A polycarbonate without additives. Screening tests for relative toxicity under various experimental conditions were performed using male mice exposed to pyrolysis effluents over a 200-800 C temperature range. It was found that the bisphenol A polycarbonate served as a suitable reference material as it is available in large quantities, and does not significantly change with time.

Hilado, C. J.↗

Nicalon/siliconoxycarbide ceramic composites

A number of polymers of differing molecular structure, viscosity, copolymer composition, and production procedures, screened for production of strong, tough Nicalon/siliconoxycarbide composites, are discussed. Variables during polymer synthesis include pH, water/methoxy ratio and phenyl/methyl ratio. Final processing temperatures of the composites range from 1200 deg to 1400 deg C. The filler is derived from pyrolysis of the 50 phenyl/50 methyl silsesquioxane copolymer pyrolyzed to 650 deg C, then milled to less than 1-micron powder. Composite samples were fractured to evaluate the influence of matrix composition, final fabrication temperature, and use of filler on the composite mode of failure, modulus, strain capability, and strength. Incorporation of filler was found to increase matrix compressive strength and to influence matrix shrinkage and cracking.

Hurwitz, F. I.↗

Tensile and Creep Property Characterization of Potential Brayton Cycle Impeller and Duct Materials

This paper represents a status report documenting the work on creep of superalloys performed under Project Prometheus. Cast superalloys have potential applications in space as impellers within closed-loop Brayton cycle nuclear power generation systems. Likewise wrought superalloys are good candidates for ducts and heat exchangers transporting the inert working gas in a Brayton-based power plant. Two cast superalloys, Mar-M247LC and IN792, and a NASA GRC powder metallurgy superalloy, LSHR, are being screened to compare their respective capabilities for impeller applications. Several wrought superalloys including Hastelloy X, (Haynes International, Inc., Kokomo, IN), Inconel 617, Inconel 740, Nimonic 263, and Incoloy MA956 (Special Metals Corporation, Huntington, WV) are also being screened to compare their capabilities for duct applications. These proposed applications would require sufficient strength and creep resistance for long term service at temperatures up to 1200 K, with service times to 100,000 h or more. Conventional tensile and creep tests were performed at temperatures up to 1200 K on specimens extracted from the materials. Initial microstructure evaluations were also undertaken.

Gabb, Timothy P.↗

Thermally-Constrained Fuel-Optimal ISS Maneuvers

Optimal Propellant Maneuvers (OPMs) are now being used to rotate the International Space Station (ISS) and have saved hundreds of kilograms of propellant over the last two years. The savings are achieved by commanding the ISS to follow a pre-planned attitude trajectory optimized to take advantage of environmental torques. The trajectory is obtained by solving an optimal control problem. Prior to use on orbit, OPM trajectories are screened to ensure a static sun vector (SSV) does not occur during the maneuver. The SSV is an indicator that the ISS hardware temperatures may exceed thermal limits, causing damage to the components. In this paper, thermally-constrained fuel-optimal trajectories are presented that avoid an SSV and can be used throughout the year while still reducing propellant consumption significantly.

Bhatt, Sagar↗