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At least 487 records · Page 27

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NASA NTRS1994

Physical state of the western U.S. upper mantle

Using observed P wave images of the western U.S. upper mantle, which show lateral variations of up to 8%, and existing scaling relations, we infer that the low-velocity mantle is hot and partially molten to depths of 100-200 km, and that the high-velocity upper mantle is subsolidus. Most the high-velocity upper mantle within a few hundred kilometers of the coastline appears to be relatively dense, suggesting that it is relatively cool (i.e., a thermal lithosphere). This is expected for features associated with the subducting Juan de Fuca and Gorda slabs, and the high velocity upper mantle beneath the Transverse Ranges has been attributed to the sinking of negatively buoyant mantle lithosphere. Other high-velocity mantle structures near the continental margin are consistent with this interpretation. In contrast, the generally high elevations of the continental interior imply a buoyant upper mantle there, an inference that holds for both the high- and the low-velocity upper mantle. The only resonable way to produce the high-velocity low-density upper mantle is through basalt depletion, thereby creating mantle of increased solidus temperature and decreased density. We distinguish a marginal domain, within approximately 250 km of the Pacific coast, from an interior domain. This is based on the inferred upper mantle compositional difference and regional associations: beneath the marginal domain, upper mantle structures trend parallel to the surface physiography and young tectonic structures, whereas upper mantle structures beneath the continental interior trend northeasterly. This northeast orientation is discordant with the young tectonic structures, but aligns with young volcanic activity. The high lateral gradients in observed upper mantle seismic structure found throughout the western United States imply high lateral gradients in the associated temperature or partial melt fields. Because these fields diffuse on time scales of less than a few tens of millions of years, the imaged upper mantle structure is young. The following upper mantle processes are hypothesized to account for these findings and inferences. Away from the plate margin, small-scale upper mantle convection driven by partial melt-induced buoyancy of hot upper mantle leads to the production and segregation of melt and the creation of compositional variations. The heterogeneous upper mantle P wave structure of the elevated continental interior is largely a consequence of partial melt variations that are modulated by the compositional variations, and throughout this region we infer high temperatures and low densities. Near the plate margin, relative plate motions force upper mantle flow, although upper mantle flow driven by the positive buoyancy of melt and the negative bouyancy lithosphere is important locally.

Humphreys, Eugene D.↗

DOE OSTI2016

SMALL-SCALE MAGNETIC ISLANDS IN THE SOLAR WIND AND THEIR ROLE IN PARTICLE ACCELERATION. II. PARTICLE ENERGIZATION INSIDE MAGNETICALLY CONFINED CAVITIES

We explore the role of heliospheric magnetic field configurations and conditions that favor the generation and confinement of small-scale magnetic islands associated with atypical energetic particle events (AEPEs) in the solar wind. Some AEPEs do not align with standard particle acceleration mechanisms, such as flare-related or simple diffusive shock acceleration processes related to interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and corotating interaction regions (CIRs). As we have shown recently, energetic particle flux enhancements may well originate locally and can be explained by particle acceleration in regions filled with small-scale magnetic islands with a typical width of ∼0.01 au or less, which is often observed near the heliospheric current sheet (HCS). The particle energization is a consequence of magnetic reconnection-related processes in islands experiencing either merging or contraction, observed, for example, in HCS ripples. Here we provide more observations that support the idea and the theory of particle energization produced by small-scale-flux-rope dynamics (Zank et al. and Le Roux et al.). If the particles are pre-accelerated to keV energies via classical mechanisms, they may be additionally accelerated up to 1–1.5 MeV inside magnetically confined cavities of various origins. The magnetic cavities, formed by current sheets, may occur at the interface of different streams such as CIRs and ICMEs or ICMEs and coronal hole flows. They may also form during the HCS interaction with interplanetary shocks (ISs) or CIRs/ICMEs. Particle acceleration inside magnetic cavities may explain puzzling AEPEs occurring far beyond ISs, within ICMEs, before approaching CIRs as well as between CIRs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Synthetic Soil Aggregates: Bioprinted Habitats for High-Throughput Microbial Metaphenomics

The dynamics of microbial processes are difficult to study in natural soil, owing to the small spatial scales on which microorganisms operate and to the opacity and chemical complexity of the soil habitat. To circumvent these challenges, we have created a 3D-bioprinted habitat that mimics aspects of natural soil aggregates while providing a chemically defined and translucent alternative culturing method for soil microorganisms. Our Synthetic Soil Aggregates (SSAs) retain the porosity, permeability, and patchy resource distribution of natural soil aggregates—parameters that are expected to influence emergent microbial community interactions. We demonstrate the printability and viability of several different microorganisms within SSAs and show how the SSAs can be integrated into a multi-omics workflow for single SSA resolution genomics, metabolomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and biogeochemical assays. We study the impact of the structured habitat on the distribution of a model co-culture microbial community and find that it is significantly different from the spatial organization of the same community in liquid culture, indicating a potential for SSAs to reproduce naturally occurring emergent community phenotypes. The SSAs have the potential as a tool to help researchers quantify microbial scale processes in situ and achieve high-resolution data from the interplay between environmental properties and microbial ecology.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2015

A SOLAR CORONAL JET EVENT TRIGGERS A CORONAL MASS EJECTION

In this paper, we present multi-point, multi-wavelength observations and analysis of a solar coronal jet and coronal mass ejection (CME) event. Employing the GCS model, we obtained the real (three-dimensional) heliocentric distance and direction of the CME and found it to propagate at a high speed of over 1000 km s{sup −1}. The jet erupted before the CME and shared the same source region. The temporal and spacial relationship between these two events lead us to the possibility that the jet triggered the CME and became its core. This scenario hold the promise of enriching our understanding of the triggering mechanism of CMEs and their relations to coronal large-scale jets. On the other hand, the magnetic field configuration of the source region observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/HMI instrument along with the off-limb inverse Y-shaped configuration observed by SDO/AIA in the 171 Å passband provide the first detailed observation of the three-dimensional reconnection process of a large-scale jet as simulated in Pariat et al. The eruption process of the jet highlights the importance of filament-like material during the eruption of not only small-scale X-ray jets, but likely also of large-scale EUV jets. Based on our observations and analysis, we propose the most probable mechanism for the whole event, with a blob structure overlaying the three-dimensional structure of the jet, to describe the interaction between the jet and the CME.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1994

Small scale sequence automation pays big dividends

Galileo sequence design and integration are supported by a suite of formal software tools. Sequence review, however, is largely a manual process with reviewers scanning hundreds of pages of cryptic computer printouts to verify sequence correctness. Beginning in 1990, a series of small, PC based sequence review tools evolved. Each tool performs a specific task but all have a common 'look and feel'. The narrow focus of each tool means simpler operation, and easier creation, testing, and maintenance. Benefits from these tools are (1) decreased review time by factors of 5 to 20 or more with a concomitant reduction in staffing, (2) increased review accuracy, and (3) excellent returns on time invested.

Nelson, Bill↗

NASA NTRS1994

Small Scale Sequence Automation Pays Big Dividends

sequence↗

DOE OSTI2023

Cesium Removal from 5.5 and 7.0 M Na AP-105 Using Crystalline Silicotitanate

The Tank Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) system, currently operational by Washington River Protection Solutions LLC (WRPS), prepares initial low-activity Hanford waste tank supernate feeds for the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility. In addition to entrained solids removal from the supernate, the primary goal of TSCR is to remove cesium-137 ( 137 Cs) by ion exchange, allowing contact handling of the liquid effluent product at the WTP as governed by a waste acceptance criterion (WAC). Specific to 137 Cs, this requirement is < 3.18E-5 Ci 137 Cs/mole of Na. Crystalline silicotitanate (CST) ion exchange media, manufactured by Honeywell UOP, LLC (product IONSIVTM R9140-B), has been selected as the ion exchange media for TSCR. CST is a non-elutable inorganic material that has demonstrated robust chemical, physical, and radiation tolerance while maintaining functionality. However, testing to date on actual tank waste samples has been limited to Na concentrations between 5 and 6 M Na (Fiskum et al. 2019a, 2021b and Westesen et al. 2021a, 2021b, 2022) while actual tank conditions can reach upwards of 9 M Na. Testing with feed from Hanford tank AP-105 incorporated testing at both 5.5 and 7 M Na in order to evaluate the impact of Na concentration on volume of waste processed before reaching the WAC. A 6-L volume of 5.5 M Na AP-105 and an 8-volume of 7 M Na AP-105 was processed through the Radioactive Waste Test Platform system, established at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to support small-scale waste qualification efforts. The columns consisted of 6- to 9-mL CST beds (CST Lot 2002009604, sieved to screen out >30-mesh particles) placed in 1.5-cm-inner-diameter columns. Feed was processed at 1.9 bed volumes (BV) per hour; the flowrate, in terms of contact time with the CST bed, matched the expected flowrate at TSCR. Table S.1 and Figure S.1 summarize the measured AP-105 Cs load performance for each feed condition.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2012

REIONIZATION IN THE WARM DARK MATTER MODEL

Compared with the cold dark matter (CDM) model, the formation of the small-scale structure of the universe is suppressed in the warm dark matter (WDM) model. It is often thought that this would delay the reionization of the intergalactic medium (IGM) because the star formation rate during the epoch of reionization (EOR) would be lowered. However, during the later stage of the EOR, a large portion of the ionizing photons is consumed by recombination inside the minihalos, which is where the gas has higher density and recombination rates than that in the IGM. The suppression of the small-scale structure would therefore reduce the recombination rate and could potentially shorten the reionization process. This effect is investigated here by using the analytical 'bubble model' of reionization. We find that, in some cases, although the initiation of the EOR is delayed in the WDM model, its completion could be even earlier than the CDM case, but the effect is generally small. We obtain limits on the mass of WDM particles for different reionization redshifts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2014

Gamma-ray probes of dark matter substructure

The substructure content of dark matter halos is interesting because it can be affected by complex galaxy physics and dark matter particle physics. However, observing the small scale structure of dark matter is a challenge. The subhalo abundance (mass function, minimum mass) and morphology (density profile, subhalo shape, subsubstructure) contain information about complex astrophysics (halo formation processes) and new exotic fundamental physics (dark matter interactions). Indirect detection of dark matter annihilation radiation (DMAR) in gamma rays may be the most direct method for observing small scale structure. I outline the ways in which gamma rays may probe halo substructure. If substructure is bountiful, it may be responsible for the eventual discovery of DMAR, for instance in galaxy clusters or the diffuse gamma-ray background. Otherwise, the observation of DMAR in places without much substructure, such as the Galactic center, would lead to strict limits on the properties of small scale structure. Properties of the gamma-ray angular power spectrum will also provide information or constraints on Milky Way halo substructure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

NASA NTRS1995

Turbulence in the solar wind: Kinetic effects

Although a casual look at the fluctuating magnetic and velocity fields in the solar wind may be reminiscent of a chaotic and disordered flow, there is, nonetheless. considerable organization and structure in the temporal and spatial evolution of those fluctuations. Much of that evolution is controlled by processes operating on rather large scales for example, in the inner heliosphere, the fluctuations in magnetic and velocity are highly correlated in the sense of outward propagating Alfven waves. This correlation can be destroyed both in time and distance by the velocity gradients present between fast and slow streams and by other nonlinear processes which stir the medium, producing a turbulent cascade of energy from large to small scales. Many aspects of this turbulent evolution can be described using fluid models; however, at some scale the fluid approximation breaks down and a more detailed paradigm is necessary. The breakdown is evident in the power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations at scales approaching the wavelength of ion cyclotron waves. At those scales, as evident in Mariner 10 and other magnetometer data, the spectrum bends over and the fluctuations damp, possibly heating the ambient plasma. Some evidence for heating of the solar wind is present in the Voyager data. Fluid models can be modified to some extent to incorporate aspects of a kinetic treatment. This is done by modifying the dissipation terms in the fluid equations and by including extra terms, such as the Hall term. As the scale lengths of phenomena shrink further and approach the spatial and temporal scales characteristic of electron phenomena, the fluid description must be abandoned altogether and a fully kinetic treatment is required. One example is the generation of Langmuir solitons produced by the electron beams that generate type 3 solar radio bursts.

Goldstein, M. L.↗

DOE OSTI2011

MATERIALS DEGRADATION ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT TO ENABLE ULTRA LOW COST, WEB-PROCESSED WHITE P-OLED FOR SSL

Progress over Phase II of DE-FG02-07ER86293 'Materials Degradation Analysis and Development to Enable Ultra Low Cost, Web-Processed White P-OLED for SSL' was initially rapid in terms of device performance improvements. We exceeded our device luminance lifetime goals for printed flexible white OLEDs as laid out in our project proposal. Our Phase II performance target was to demonstrate >1500 hours luminance lifetime at 100 Cd/m2 from a printed flexible device. We now have R&D devices well in excess of 8000 hrs lifetime at 100 Cd/m2, tested in air. We also were able to produce devices which met the voltage target of >1500 hours below 15V operation. After completing the initial performance milestones, we went on to focus on color-related degradation issues which were cited as important to commercialization of the technology by our manufacturing partners. We also put additional focus on cathode work as the active material development that occurred over the STTR time period required an adaptation of the cathode from the original cathode formulations which were developed based on previous generation active layer materials. We were able to improve compatibility of the cathode with some of the newer generation active layer materials and improve device yield and voltage behavior. An additional objective of the initial Phase II was to further develop the underlying manufacturing technology and real-life product specifications. This is a key requirement that must be met to ensure eventual commercialization of this DOE-funded technology. The link between commercial investment for full commercialization and R&D efforts in OLED solid State Lighting is often a large one. Add-Vision's lower cost, printed OLED manufacturing approach is an attraction, but close engagement with manufacturing partners and addressing customer specifications is a very important link. Manufacturing technology encompasses development of moisture reduction encapsulation technology, improved cost performance, and reductions in operating voltage through thinner and higher uniformity active device layers. We have now installed a pilot encapsulation system at AVI for controlled, high throughput lamination encapsulation of flexible OLEDs in a novel process. Along with this, we have developed, with our materials supply partners, adhesives, barrier films and other encapsulation materials and we are showing total air product lifetimes in the 2-4 years range from a process consistent with our throughput goals of {approx}1M device per month ({approx}30,000 sq. ft. of processed OLEDs). Within the last year of the project, we have been working to introduce the manufacturing improvements made in our LEP deposition and annealing process to our commercial partners. Based on the success of this, a pilot scale-up program was begun. During this process, Add-Vision was acquired by a strategic partner, in no small part, because of the promise of future success of the technology as evidenced by our commercial partners pilot scale-up plans. Overall, the performance, manufacturing and product work in this project has been successful. Additional analysis and device work at LBL has also shown a unique adhesion change with device bias stressing which may result from active layer polymer cross-linking during bias stressing of device. It was shown that even small bias stresses, as a fraction of a full device lifetime stress period, result in measurable chemical change in the device. Further work needs to be conducted to fully understand the chemical nature of this interaction. Elucidation of this effect would enable doped OLED formulation to be engineered to suppress this effect and further extend lifetimes and reduce voltage climb.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Scaling Retro-Commissioning to Small Commercial Buildings: A Turnkey Automated Hardware-Software Solution

In the United States, small commercial buildings represent 51% of total floor space of all commercial buildings and consume nearly 3 quadrillion Btu (3.2 quintillion joule) of site energy annually, presenting an enormous opportunity for energy savings. Retro-commissioning (RCx), the process through which professional energy service providers identify and correct operational problems, has proven to be a cost-effective means to achieve median energy savings of 16%. However, retro-commissioning is not typically conducted at scale throughout the commercial stock. Very few small commercial buildings are retro-commissioned because utility expenses are relatively modest, margins are tighter, and capital for improvements is limited. In addition, small buildings do not have in-house staff with the expertise to identify improvement opportunities. In response, a turnkey hardware-software solution was developed to enable cost-effective, monitoring-based RCx of small commercial buildings. This highly tailored solution enables non-commissioning providers to identify energy and comfort problems, as well as associated cost impacts and remedies. It also facilitates scale by offering energy service providers the means to streamline their existing processes and reduce costs by more than half. The turnkey RCx sensor suitcase consists of two primary components: a suitcase of sensors for short-term building data collection that guides users through the process of deploying and retrieving their data and a software application that automates analysis of sensor data, identifies problems and generates recommendations. This paper presents the design and testing of prototype models, including descriptions of the hardware design, analysis algorithms, performance testing, and plans for dissemination.

Lin, Guanjing↗

DOE OSTI2020

Economic Perspectives of Biogas Production via Anaerobic Digestion

As the demand for utilizing environment-friendly and sustainable energy sources is increasing, the adoption of waste-to-energy technologies has started gaining attention. Producing biogas via anaerobic digestion (AD) is promising and well-established; however, this process in many circumstances is unable to be cost competitive with natural gas. In this research, we provide a technical assessment of current process challenges and compare the cost of biogas production via the AD process from the literature, Aspen Plus process modeling, and CapdetWorks software. We also provide insights on critical factors affecting the AD process and recommendations on optimizing the process. We utilize four types of wet wastes, including wastewater sludge, food waste, swine manure, and fat, oil, and grease, to provide a quantitative assessment of theoretical energy yields of biogas production and its economic potential at different plant scales. Our results show that the cost of biogas production from process and economic models are in line with the literature with a potential to go even lower for small-scale plants with technological advancements. This research illuminates potential cost savings for biogas production using different wastes and guide investors to make informed decisions, while achieving waste management goals.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1993

Scientific goals of the Cooperative Multiscale Experiment (CME)

Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) form the focus of CME. Recent developments in global climate models, the urgent need to improve the representation of the physics of convection, radiation, the boundary layer, and orography, and the surge of interest in coupling hydrologic, chemistry, and atmospheric models of various scales, have emphasized the need for a broad interdisciplinary and multi-scale approach to understanding and predicting MCS's and their interactions with processes at other scales. The role of mesoscale systems in the large-scale atmospheric circulation, the representation of organized convection and other mesoscale flux sources in terms of bulk properties, and the mutually consistent treatment of water vapor, clouds, radiation, and precipitation, are all key scientific issues concerning which CME will seek to increase understanding. The manner in which convective, mesoscale, and larger scale processes interact to produce and organize MCS's, the moisture cycling properties of MCS's, and the use of coupled cloud/mesoscale models to better understand these processes, are also major objectives of CME. Particular emphasis will be placed on the multi-scale role of MCS's in the hydrological cycle and in the production and transport of chemical trace constituents. The scientific goals of the CME consist of the following: understand how the large and small scales of motion influence the location, structure, intensity, and life cycles of MCS's; understand processes and conditions that determine the relative roles of balanced (slow manifold) and unbalanced (fast manifold) circulations in the dynamics of MCS's throughout their life cycles; assess the predictability of MCS's and improve the quantitative forecasting of precipitation and severe weather events; quantify the upscale feedback of MCS's to the large-scale environment and determine interrelationships between MCS occurrence and variations in the large-scale flow and surface forcing; provide a data base for initialization and verification of coupled regional, mesoscale/hydrologic, mesoscale/chemistry, and prototype mesoscale/cloud-resolving models for prediction of severe weather, ceilings, and visibility; provide a data base for initialization and validation of cloud-resolving models, and for assisting in the fabrication, calibration, and testing of cloud and MCS parameterization schemes; and provide a data base for validation of four dimensional data assimilation schemes and algorithms for retrieving cloud and state parameters from remote sensing instrumentation.

Cotton, William↗

NASA NTRS1991

Micromechanical analysis of the failure process in ceramic matrix composites

An analysis of the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement in brittle matrix composites is presented. The analytical method allows consideration of discrete fiber distribution and examination of the development of crack growth parameters on the microscale. The problem associated with bridging zone development is addressed here; therefore, the bridging zone is considered to be smaller than the main preexisting crack, and the small scale approach is used. The mechanics of the reinforcement is accurately accounted for in the process zone of a growing crack. Closed form solutions characterizing the initial failure process are presented for linear and nonlinear force-fiber pullout displacement relationships. The implicit exact solution for the extended bridging zone is presented as well.

Rubinstein, Asher A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

SIMS studies of oxide growth on beta-NiAl

This paper reports on a study of the growth of aluminum oxide on beta-NiAl at temperatures up to 1200 C. The scales have been formed in two-stage experiments using O2-16 and O2-18 gases, and the various isotopic species have been located by direct imaging using SIMS. Supplementary information on oxide morphologies and structures has been obtained by SEM. SIMS images and depth profiles indicate where oxidation has taken place predominantly by cation or anion diffusion at different stages of the growth process. The way in which the presence of small amounts of reactive elements can affect scale growth is also considered. These results help to provide an improved understanding of the mechanism of alumina scale formation, which is of benefit in the development of oxidation-resistant alloys and intermetallics for service at high temperatures.

Mitchell, D. F.↗

DOE OSTI2012

JITTER SELF-COMPTON PROCESS: GeV EMISSION OF GRB 100728A

Jitter radiation, the emission of relativistic electrons in a random and small-scale magnetic field, has been applied to explain the gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission. The seed photons produced from jitter radiation can be scattered by thermal/nonthermal electrons to the high-energy bands. This mechanism is called jitter self-Compton (JSC) radiation. GRB 100728A, which was simultaneously observed by Swift and Fermi, is a great example to constrain the physical processes of jitter and JSC. In our work, we utilize jitter/JSC radiation to reproduce the multiwavelength spectrum of GRB 100728A. In particular, due to JSC radiation, the powerful emission above the GeV band is the result of those jitter photons in the X-ray band scattered by the relativistic electrons with a mixed thermal-nonthermal energy distribution. We also combine the geometric effect of microemitters to the radiation mechanism, such that the 'jet-in-jet' scenario is considered. The observed GRB duration is the result of summing up all of the contributions from those microemitters in the bulk jet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2001

Modeled Seasonal Variations of Firn Density Induced by Steady State Surface Air Temperature Cycle

Seasonal variations of firn density in ice-sheet firn layers have been attributed to variations in deposition processes or other processes within the upper firn. A recent high-resolution (mm scale) density profile, measured along a 181 m core from Antarctica, showed small-scale density variations with a clear seasonal cycle that apparently was not-related to seasonal variations in deposition or known near-surface processes (Gerland and others 1999). A recent model of surface elevation changes (Zwally and Li, submitted) produced a seasonal variation in firn densification, and explained the seasonal surface elevation changes observed by satellite radar altimeters. In this study, we apply our 1-D time-dependent numerical model of firn densification that includes a temperature-dependent formulation of firn densification based on laboratory measurements of grain growth. The model is driven by a steady-state seasonal surface temperature and a constant accumulation rate appropriate for the measured Antarctic ice core. The modeled seasonal variations in firn density show that the layers of snow deposited during spring to mid-summer with the highest temperature history compress to the highest density, and the layers deposited during later summer to autumn with the lowest temperature history compress to the lowest density. The initial amplitude of the seasonal difference of about 0.13 reduces to about 0.09 in five years and asymptotically to 0.92 at depth, which is consistent with the core measurements.

Jun, Li↗