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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2022

Global Total Ozone Recovery Trends Attributed to Ozone-Depleting Substance (ODS) Changes Derived From Five Merged Ozone Datasets

We report on updated trends using different merged zonal mean total ozone datasets from satellite and ground-based observations for the period from 1979 to 2020. This work is an update of the trends reported in Weber et al. (2018) using the same datasets up to 2016. Merged datasets used in this study include NASA MOD v8.7 and NOAA Cohesive Data (COH) v8.6, both based on data from the series of Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV), SBUV-2, and Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) satellite instruments (1978–present), as well as the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME)-type Total Ozone – Essential Climate Variable (GTO-ECV) and GOME-SCIAMACHY-GOME-2 (GSG) merged datasets (both 1995–present), mainly comprising satellite data from GOME, SCIAMACHY, OMI, GOME-2A, GOME-2B, and TROPOMI. The fifth dataset consists of the annual mean zonal mean data from ground-based measurements collected at the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre (WOUDC). Trends were determined by applying a multiple linear regression (MLR) to annual mean zonal mean data. The addition of 4 more years consolidated the fact that total ozone is indeed slowly recovering in both hemispheres as a result of phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) as mandated by the Montreal Protocol. The near-global (60° S–60° N) ODS-related ozone trend of the median of all datasets after 1995 was 0.4 ± 0.2 (2σ) %/decade, which is roughly a third of the decreasing rate of 1.5 ± 0.6 %/decade from 1978 until 1995. The ratio of decline and increase is nearly identical to that of the EESC (equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine or stratospheric halogen) change rates before and after 1995, confirming the success of the Montreal Protocol. The observed total ozone time series are also in very good agreement with the median of 17 chemistry climate models from CCMI-1 (Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative Phase 1) with current ODS and GHG (greenhouse gas) scenarios (REF-C2 scenario). The positive ODS-related trends in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) after 1995 are only obtained with a sufficient number of terms in the MLR accounting properly for dynamical ozone changes (Brewer–Dobson circulation, Arctic Oscillation (AO), and Antarctic Oscillation (AAO)). A standard MLR (limited to solar, Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), volcanic, and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)) leads to zero trends, showing that the small positive ODS-related trends have been balanced by negative trend contributions from atmospheric dynamics, resulting in nearly constant total ozone levels since 2000.

Total Column Ozone Trends↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Laboratory Demonstration of High Contrast with the PIAACMC Coronagraph on an Obstructed and Segmented Aperture

Coronagraphs (together with starshades) are an important tool to directly image and characterize exoplanets, and enable the search for biomarkers in reflected light on potentially habitable worlds. Their performance and efficiency has steadily been improving over the past several decades, but has not yet reached performance limits. In particular, the expected exoplanet yield for missions such as the Astro2020-recommended “IR/O/UV Flagship” can still be improved by factors of at least 2-3, simply by continued improvements in coronagraph performance, before they plateau due to physics limits. One possible architecture that can enable at least a part of this improvement is the Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization Complex Mask Coronagraph (PIAACMC). Itoffersthe advantages of high throughput, small inner working angle (IWA),and almost noloss inPSF sharpness, and natively supports obstructed and segmented apertures, which is essential to the Astro2020 “IR/O/UV Flagship”mission. Historically, key disadvantages of PIAA have been poor tolerance to stellar angular sizes and maturity, but latest designs and demonstrations have made significant strides in this respect.In this paper, we present the current status and overview of our program to mature the PIAACMC technology. We first review PIAACMC designs for LUVOIR-A and B, which resultedin improved expected yield of Exo-Earths relative tothe baselines for both mission concepts. In particular, for LUVOIR-B, the yield improves from 28 to 42due to improvedtolerance to stellar angular size in our design. The improvement in yield is marginal for LUVOIR-A, but our design enables detecting planets around smaller diameter stars (nearby K-dwarfs and/or farther FG stars). We also describe our modeling and vacuum demonstrationsfor the LUVOIR-A aperture(which is more challengingthan LUVOIR-B due to the central obstruction).The demonstration included a LUVOUR-A pupil mask, an on-axis PIAA set of 2 mirrors with central holes, a Boston Micromachines DM, a patterned CMC mask, Lyot stop, and supporting masks and optics. Demonstrations were conducted at JPL’s High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) using several characterization andwavefront control techniques (primarily standard EFC, several experimental techniques were attempted, as well as speckle nulling). So far, our results include 1.9e-8 raw contrast in 10% broadband light between 3.5 and 8 l/D; 4.1e-8 and 1.6e-9 coherent contrasts in monochromatic light between 2-4 and 4-8 l/D, respectively. We also present measurements and analysis of sensitivity to tip/tilt jitter and stellar angular size. Finally, we compare our test results to models, present an analysis of our limiting factors, and explorefuture prospectsfor improvement based on validated models.

Coronagraph↗
DOE OSTI2021

Layer-structured triple-conducting electrocatalyst for water-splitting in protonic ceramic electrolysis cells: Conductivities vs. activity

Electron, proton and oxygen-triple-conducting materials are becoming the dominant steam electrode candidate to break the rate limit on the water-splitting reaction that throttles the performance of protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs). In this study, based on Pr 2 NiO 4+δ Ruddlesden-Popper phase, we manipulate these conductivities by Pr-site Ba substitution to probe the correlation of each conductivity with the kinetics of the elementary reaction steps. It is found that the proton conductivity is vital to sustain an extended active surface area for faster adsorption of reactants and desorption of products. The effect of oxygen conductivity is surprisingly found insignificant in the water-splitting reaction. On the contrary, surface oxygen removal is discovered as the most rate-limiting process. The electronic conductivity is not a direct limiting factor. However, an electron transfer process between the current collector and the electrode junction could introduce extra resistance that is perceptible at a high operating temperature range. The best water-splitting activity is obtained on a proton conductivity/oxygen surface desorption capability well-balanced sample after Ba substitution. As a result, a water-splitting reaction resistance of 0.022 Ωcm 2 , a current density of 1.96 A/cm 2 at 700 °C is achieved on Pr 1.7 Ba 0.3 NiO 4+δ , one of the best performances for PCECs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Entanglement Benchmarking in Quantum Simulations of Spin Systems

We simulate quantum spin systems and measure entanglement using circuits tailored for near-term quantum computers. Traditional tools like entanglement entropy are limited to pure states and require full state tomography, making them impractical on current hardware. Instead, we employ the novel approach, Positive Partial Transpose (PPT) criterion to efficiently detect pairwise entanglement from two-spin reduced density matrices, applicable to both pure and mixed states. This method enables scalable entanglement detection, providing a practical route to study quantum correlations, phase transitions, and benchmark quantum devices.

Baul, Anshumitra [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000268947191)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of U.S. Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment of Current (2021) and Future (2035) Technologies

This study presents a cradle-to-grave lifecycle analysis of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for U.S. medium- and heavy-duty vehicles across current (2021) and future (2035) technologies using the Greenhouse gas, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model with industry-vetted assumptions. Results vary across vehicle classes but point to common trends: today, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) offer significant (10–60%) GHG emissions reduction compared to diesel internal combustion engine vehicles and are the lowest emissions option per ton-mile of cargo movement, followed by hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) (5–50% emissions reduction). Emissions savings depend largely on the duty cycle and fuel economy of the vehicle type. Future vehicle technology advancements result in comparable emission reductions associated with BEVs and hydrogen FCEVs. Weight-limited BEV trucks see less per-ton-mile emissions reduction due to the impact of battery weight on increased vehicle weight and reduced payload capacity. By 2035, improvements in vehicle efficiency can reduce emissions across all powertrains. However, very low levels of emissions require switching vehicles’ use-phase fuel/energy to low-carbon fuels and electricity. Renewable diesel, e-fuels, hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage or renewables, and use of low-carbon electricity can all achieve over 70% reduction in GHG emissions from the current day diesel-based internal combustion engine vehicle.

alternative fuels↗
DOE OSTI2021

Accurate Thermochemistry of Complex Lignin Structures via Density Functional Theory, Group Additivity, and Machine Learning

A molecular-level understanding of lignin structures and bond dissociation energies could facilitate depolymerization technologies. Still, this information is currently limited due to the lack of databases and the simplification of surrogate models. Here, substitution effects on seven common linkages in lignin polymers are systematically investigated. An automated reaction network generator is employed to create a database of structures. A new group additivity (GA) model based on principal component analysis (PCA) descriptors is introduced and trained on gas-phase density functional theory data of 4100 species at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level. Hydrogen bonds, local steric, and nonaromatic ring contributions are also incorporated. Lastly, we improve the accuracy of the group additivity model to reach the G4 theory by computing a data set of 770 species at this level and using a data fusion approach.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Optimization of sporulation and purification methods for sporicidal efficacy assessment on Bacillus spores

Abstract Validating the efficacy of sporicidal agents is a critical step in current good manufacturing practices for disinfection requirements. A limitation is that the poor quality of spores can lead to false positive sporicidal results. The aim of this study was to explore optimal sporulation and purification methods in Bacillus spores. Spores of 7 Bacillus strains were produced in 5 different sporulation media. After density centrifugation, spore yields were measured by phase-contrast microscopy and enumeration assays. Effects of purification methods including heat, sonication and lysozyme, and maturation on spore qualities were determined by sodium hypochlorite sporicidal assay. Difco sporulation media was identified as the preferred sporulation medium for 4 out of 7 tested Bacillus strains. Sporulation rates in B. cereus, B. sphaericus, and B. thuringiensis were higher at 30°C than the rates at 37°C at a difference of 5%, 65%, and 20%, respectively. Bacillus licheniformis favored Mn2+-amended 10% Columbia Broth at 37°C for sporulation with 40–72% higher sporulation rates than other media. The maximum sporulation rates of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis were observed on double-strength Schaeffer's-glucose broth. All studied purification methods improved the spore purity with strain variations. However, intense heat (80°C for 20 min) and lysozyme (100 μg/mL) treatment impaired the spore quality of specific Bacillus strains by sensitizing them against sodium hypochlorite. The length of the maturation period had an impact on the spore resistance, and the most optimal maturation periods ranged from 7 to 21 days in Bacillus strains. The results of this study will pave the way for further evaluation of the sporicidal activity of disinfectants.

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology↗
NASA NTRS1985

Position Paper: Workshop on Geologic Applications of Remote Sensing to the Study of Sedimentary Basins

The utility of LANDSAT Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and Thematic Mapper (TM) data for providing regional coverage has been demonstrated. Information derived from LANDSAT spectral data is varied, but has primarily been used for distinguishing materials in a scene. Because of the limited number and width of the MSS and TM bands, LANDSAT data has only limited utility for actual identification of materials. The new advanced sensors (currently airborne, but eventually shuttle-based) have more limited areal extent than LANDSAT, but greater spatial and spectral resolution. The Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) has spectral resolution of about .01 microns and, typically, has 10m/pixel spatial resolution. This improved spectral resolution means that diagnostic spectral features may now be identified, which in turn means that actual identification of mineral phases present can be addressed (of either monominerallic or composite materials). Another new sensor, the Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanners (TMS), obtains data in the 8 to 12 micron range. The information from the various sensors (e.g., LANDSAT, AIS, and TIMS) is complementary, covering different wavelength regions and consequently sensitive to different materials or physical properties of materials. In addition, the new sensors also produce a higher volume of data, which must be cleverly and efficiently handled.

Blake, P. L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Langmuir probe system in the Wendelstein 7-X test divertor

Here, the design and evaluation of the Langmuir probe system used in the first divertor operation phase of Wendelstein 7-X is described. The probes are integrated into the target plates and have individually facetted surfaces to keep the angle of incidence of the magnetic field within an appropriate range for different magnetic configurations. Multiple models for the derivation of plasma parameters from current–voltage characteristics are introduced. These are analyzed with regard to their assumptions and limitations, generalized, and adapted to our use case. A detailed comparison is made to determine the most suitable model. It is found that the choice of model has a large impact, for example, resulting in a change in the inferred temperatures of up to a factor two. This evaluation is implemented in a Bayesian modeling framework and automated to allow for joint analysis with other diagnostics and a replacement of ad hoc assumptions. We rigorously treat parameter uncertainties, revealing strong correlations between them. General and flexible model formulations permit an expansion to additional effects.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1993

X-31 flight test update

The goals of the tactical utility flight test are to verify the basic tactical lessons learned in simulation and determine the situational awareness implications of post-stall maneuvering. Tactics and lessons learned from post-stall engagements will supplement current fighter tactics and complement future fighter tactics development. Although the present envelope of the X-31 for carefree post stall (PST) use is limited to 225 KIAS versus 325 KIAS in simulations, the same initial conditions used in 'Pinball II' are being utilized in flight test. Starting conditions up to 325 KIAS are being flown during the build-up phase leading to the full close in air combat (CIC) evaluations. The flight control program has been modified to limit PST entry to below 225 KIAS. Full aft stick application above 225 KIAS cannot command angle of attack (AOA) in excess of 30 deg.

Groves, AL↗
NASA NTRS2003

Performance of the NASA Digitizing Core-Loss Instrumentation

The standard method of magnetic core loss measurement was implemented on a high frequency digitizing oscilloscope in order to explore the limits to accuracy when characterizing high Q cores at frequencies up to 1 MHz. This method computes core loss from the cycle mean of the product of the exciting current in a primary winding and induced voltage in a separate flux sensing winding. It is pointed out that just 20 percent accuracy for a Q of 100 core material requires a phase angle accuracy of 0.1 between the voltage and current measurements. Experiment shows that at 1 MHz, even high quality, high frequency current sensing transformers can introduce phase errors of a degree or more. Due to the fact that the Q of some quasilinear core materials can exceed 300 at frequencies below 100 kHz, phase angle errors can be a problem even at 50 kHz. Hence great care is necessary with current sensing and ground loops when measuring high Q cores. Best high frequency current sensing accuracy was obtained from a fabricated 0.1-ohm coaxial resistor, differentially sensed. Sample high frequency core loss data taken with the setup for a permeability-14 MPP core is presented.

Schwarze, Gene E.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Understanding Breaks in Flare X-Ray Spectra: Evaluation of a Cospatial Collisional Return-Current Model

Hard X-ray (HXR) spectral breaks are explained in terms of a one-dimensional model with a cospatial return current. We study 19 flares observed by the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager with strong spectral breaks at energies around a few deka-keV, which cannot be explained by isotropic albedo or non-uniform ionization alone. We identify these breaks at the HXR peak time, but we obtain 8 s cadence spectra of the entire impulsive phase. Electrons with an initially power-law distribution and a sharp low-energy cutoff lose energy through return-current losses until they reach the thick target, where they lose their remaining energy through collisions. Our main results are as follows. (1) The return-current collisional thick-target model provides acceptable fits for spectra with strong breaks. (2) Limits on the plasma resistivity are derived from the fitted potential drop and deduced electron-beam flux density, assuming the return current is a drift current in the ambient plasma. These resistivities are typically 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than the Spitzer resistivity at the fitted temperature, and provide a test for the adequacy of classical resistivity and the stability of the return current. (3) Using the upper limit of the low-energy cutoff, the return current is always stable to the generation of ion-acoustic and electrostatic ion-cyclotron instabilities when the electron temperature is nine times lower than the ion temperature. (4) In most cases, the return current is most likely primarily carried by runaway electrons from the tail of the thermal distribution rather than by the bulk drifting thermal electrons. For these cases, anomalous resistivity is not required.

Alaoui, Meriem↗
DOE OSTI2022

Possibilities and Limitations of Kinematically Identifying Stars from Accreted Ultra-faint Dwarf Galaxies

Abstract The Milky Way has accreted many ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (UFDs), and stars from these galaxies can be found throughout our Galaxy today. Studying these stars provides insight into galaxy formation and early chemical enrichment, but identifying them is difficult. Clustering stellar dynamics in 4D phase space ( E , L z , J r , J z ) is one method of identifying accreted structure that is currently being utilized in the search for accreted UFDs. We produce 32 simulated stellar halos using particle tagging with the Caterpillar simulation suite and thoroughly test the abilities of different clustering algorithms to recover tidally disrupted UFD remnants. We perform over 10,000 clustering runs, testing seven clustering algorithms, roughly twenty hyperparameter choices per algorithm, and six different types of data sets each with up to 32 simulated samples. Of the seven algorithms, HDBSCAN most consistently balances UFD recovery rates and cluster realness rates. We find that, even in highly idealized cases, the vast majority of clusters found by clustering algorithms do not correspond to real accreted UFD remnants and we can generally only recover 6% of UFDs remnants at best. These results focus exclusively on groups of stars from UFDs, which have weak dynamic signatures compared to the background of other stars. The recoverable UFD remnants are those that accreted recently, z accretion ≲ 0.5. Based on these results, we make recommendations to help guide the search for dynamically linked clusters of UFD stars in observational data. We find that real clusters generally have higher median energy and J r , providing a way to help identify real versus fake clusters. We also recommend incorporating chemical tagging as a way to improve clustering results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

The northeast materials database for magnetic materials

The discovery of magnetic materials with high operating temperature ranges and optimized performance is essential for advanced applications. Current data-driven approaches are limited by the lack of accurate, comprehensive, and feature-rich databases. This study aims to address this challenge by using Large Language Models (LLMs) to create a comprehensive, experiment-based, magnetic materials database named the Northeast Materials Database (NEMAD), which consists of 67,573 magnetic materials entries (www.nemad.org). The database incorporates chemical composition, magnetic phase transition temperatures, structural details, and magnetic properties. Enabled by NEMAD, we trained machine learning models to classify materials and predict transition temperatures. Our classification model achieved an accuracy of 90% in categorizing materials as ferromagnetic (FM), antiferromagnetic (AFM), and non-magnetic (NM). The regression models predict Curie (Néel) temperature with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.87 (0.83) and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 56K (38K). These models identified 25 (13) FM (AFM) candidates with a predicted Curie (Néel) temperature above 500K (100K) from the Materials Project. This work shows the feasibility of combining LLMs for automated data extraction and machine learning models to accelerate the discovery of magnetic materials.

Ferromagnetism↗
DOE OSTI2024

Design of High-Power Polyphase PCB Coil Systems for Wireless Power Transfer

Printed circuit board (PCB) coils have been proposed prior for implementation as inductive wireless charging coils to minimize size and cost. Utilization of PCBs can allow for a reduced cost, improved manufacturability, and a wide range of geometric customization options. To circumvent material limitations on insulation and thermal performance, parallel paths can be implemented to divide the current per path accordingly. Within this paper, an unconventional high-power PCB coil is designed employing all possible techniques for wiring with axial and radial parallel paths with equivalent transposition to minimize circulating currents. Design studies are simulated in 3D finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate imbalance between phases with and without transposition. Two experimental prototype coils were fabricated with measurements for self-inductance and mutual inductance between phases. These measurements were validated to be sufficiently consistent with FEA results. Additionally, a method is proposed for a two-step optimization of coupling coefficient and coil losses.

Lewis, Donovin D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Characterization of Mn-doped In(1-x)Ga(x)As(y)P(1-y) grown by LPEE

Mn-doped In(1-x)Ga(x)As(y)P(1-y) epilayers lattice matched to InP substrate have been grown by the liquid phase electroepitaxial (LPEE) technique. The variation of growth velocity of the epilayers with current density and the doping characteristics of Mn in the epilayer has been studied. The temperature dependence of the hole concentration and the mobility has been analyzed to determine the donor and acceptor densities, thermal activation energy of the level associated with Mn and the dominant scattering mechanisms that limit the hole mobility. The photoluminescence spectra of the doped epilayers are examined at 10 K as a function of the excitation level.

Iyer, Shanthi N.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Mass fractionation of noble gases in diffusion-limited hydrodynamic hydrogen escape

The theory of mass fractionation by hydrogen is presently extended to atmospheres in which hydrogen is not the major constituent. This theoretical framework is applied to three different cases. In the first, it is shown that the fractionation of terrestrial atmospheric neon with respect to mantle neon is explainable as a consequence of diffusion-limited hydrogen escape from a steam atmosphere toward the end of the accretion process. In the second, the anomalously high Ar-38/Ar-36 ratio of Mars is shown to be due to hydrodynamic fractionation by a vigorously escaping and very pure hydrogen wind. In the last case, it is speculated that the currently high Martian D/H ratio emerged during the hydrodynamic escape phase which fractionated Ar.

Zahnle, Kevin↗
NASA NTRS1999

Comparative Magma Oceanography

The question of whether the Earth ever passed through a magma ocean stage is of considerable interest. Geochemical evidence strongly suggests that the Moon had a magma ocean and the evidence is mounting that the same was true for Mars. Analyses of martian (SNC) meteorites have yielded insights into the differentiation history of Mars, and consequently, it is interesting to compare that planet to the Earth. Three primary features of Mars contrast strongly to those of the Earth: (i) the extremely ancient ages of the martian core, mantle, and crust (about 4.55 b.y.); (ii) the highly depleted nature of the martian mantle; and (iii) the extreme ranges of Nd isotopic compositions that arise within the crust and depleted mantle. The easiest way to explain the ages and diverse isotopic compositions of martian basalts is to postulate that Mars had an early magma ocean. Cumulates of this magma ocean were later remelted to form the SNC meteorite suite and some of these melts assimilated crustal materials enriched in incompatible elements. The REE pattern of the crust assimilated by these SNC magmas was LREE enriched. If this pattern is typical of the crust as a whole, the martian crust is probably similar in composition to melts generated by small degrees of partial melting (about 5%) of a primitive source. Higher degrees of partial melting would cause the crustal LREE pattern to be essentially flat. In the context of a magma ocean model, where large degrees of partial melting presumably prevailed, the crust would have to be dominated by late-stage, LREE-enriched residual liquids. Regardless of the exact physical setting, Nd and W isotopic evidence indicates that martian geochemical reservoirs must have formed early and that they have not been efficiently remixed since. The important point is that in both the Moon and Mars we see evidence of a magma ocean phase and that we recognize it as such. Several lines of theoretical inference point to an early Earth that was also hot and, perhaps, mostly molten. The Giant Impact hypothesis for the origin of the Moon offers a tremendous input of thermal energy and the same could be true for core formation. And current solar system models favor the formation of a limited number of large (about 1000 km) planetesimals that, upon accreting to Earth, would cause great heating, being lesser versions of the Giant Impact. Several lines of geochemical evidence do not favor this hot early Earth scenario. (i) Terrestrial man-tle xenoliths are sometimes nearly chondritic in their major element compositions, suggesting that these rocks have never been much molten. Large degrees of partial melting probably promote differentiation rather than homogenization. (ii) Unlike the case of Mars, the continental crust probably did not form as a highly fractionated residual liquid from a magma ocean (about 99% crystallization), but, rather, formed in multiple steps. [The simplest model for the formation of continental crust is complicated: (a) about 10% melting of a primitive mantle, making basalt; (b) hydrothermal alteration of that basalt, converting it to greenstone; and (c) 10% partial melting of that greenstone, producing tonalite.] This model is reinforced by the recent observation from old (about 4.1 b.y.) zircons that the early crust formed from an undepleted mantle having a chondritic Lu/Hf ratio. (iii) If the mantle were once differentiated by a magma ocean, the mantle xenolith suite requires that it subsequently be homogenized. The Os isotopic compositions of fertile spinel lherzolites place constraints on the timing of that homogenization. The Os isotopic composition of spinel lherzolites approaches that of chondrites and correlates with elements such as Lu and Al. As Lu and Al concentrations approach those of the primitive mantle, Os isotopic compositions approach chondritic. The Re and Os in these xenoliths were probably added as a late veneer. Thus, the mantle that received the late veneer must have been nearly chondritic in terms of its major elements (excluding Fe). If the mantle that the veneer was mixed into was not al-ready homogenized, then Os isotopes should not correlate with incompatible elements such as Al. Consequently, either early differentiation of the mantle did not occur or the homogenization of this differentiation must have occurred before the late veneer was added. The timing of the late veneer is itself uncertain but presumably postdated core formation at about 4.45 b.y. and did not postdate the 3.8-3.9 b.y. late bombardment of the Moon. This timing based on siderophile elements is consistent with the Hf isotopic evidence cited above. If the Earth, Moon and Mars had magma oceans, the Earth subsequently rehomogenized whereas the Moon and Mars did not. The simplest solution to this observation is that homogenization of igneous differentiates was never necessary on Earth, either because the hypothetical magma ocean never occurred or because this event did not produce mantle differentiation.

Jones, J. H.↗