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At least 505 records · Page 28

Wide-Band Microwave Receivers Using Photonic Processing

In wide-band microwave receivers of a type now undergoing development, the incoming microwave signals are electronically preamplified, then frequency-up-converted to optical signals that are processed photonically before being detected. This approach differs from the traditional approach, in which incoming microwave signals are processed by purely electronic means. As used here, wide-band microwave receivers refers especially to receivers capable of reception at any frequency throughout the range from about 90 to about 300 GHz. The advantage expected to be gained by following the up-conversion-and-photonic-processing approach is the ability to overcome the limitations of currently available detectors and tunable local oscillators in the frequency range of interest. In a receiver following this approach (see figure), a preamplified incoming microwave signal is up-converted by the method described in the preceeding article. The frequency up-converter exploits the nonlinearity of the electromagnetic response of a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator made of LiNbO3. Up-conversion takes place by three-wave mixing in the resonator. The WGM resonator is designed and fabricated to function simultaneously as an electro-optical modulator and to exhibit resonance at the microwave and optical operating frequencies plus phase matching among the microwave and optical signals circulating in the resonator. The up-conversion is an efficient process, and the efficiency is enhanced by the combination of microwave and optical resonances. The up-converted signal is processed photonically by use of a tunable optical filter or local oscillator, and is then detected. Tunable optical filters can be made to be frequency agile and to exhibit high resonance quality factors (high Q values), thereby making it possible to utilize a variety of signal-processing modalities. Therefore, it is anticipated that when fully developed, receivers of this type will be compact and will be capable of both wide-band and narrowband signal processing. Thus, one compact receiver of this type would afford the functionality that, heretofore, could have been obtained only by use of multiple heterodyne microwave receivers.

Matsko, Andrey↗

Barium Depletion in Hollow Cathode Emitters

The effect of tungsten erosion, transport and redeposition on the operation of dispenser hollow cathodes was investigated in detailed examinations of the discharge cathode inserts from an 8200 hour and a 30,352 hour ion engine wear test. Erosion and subsequent re-deposition of tungsten in the electron emission zone at the downstream end of the insert reduces the porosity of the tungsten matrix, preventing the ow of barium from the interior. This inhibits the interfacial reactions of the barium-calcium-aluminate impregnant with the tungsten in the pores. A numerical model of barium transport in the internal xenon discharge plasma shows that the barium required to reduce the work function in the emission zone can be supplied from upstream through the gas phase. Barium that flows out of the pores of the tungsten insert is rapidly ionized in the xenon discharge and pushed back to the emitter surface by the electric field and drag from the xenon ion flow. This barium ion flux is sufficient to maintain a barium surface coverage at the downstream end greater than 0.6, even if local barium production at that point is inhibited by tungsten deposits. The model also shows that the neutral barium pressure exceeds the equilibrium vapor pressure of the impregnant decomposition reaction over much of the insert length, so the reactions are suppressed. Only a small region upstream of the zone blocked by tungsten deposits is active and supplies the required barium. These results indicate that hollow cathode failure models based on barium depletion rates in vacuum dispenser cathodes are very conservative.

plasma discharges↗

Transfer Learning Meets Embedded Correlated Wavefunction Theory for Chemically Accurate Molecular Simulations: Application to Calcium Carbonate Ion Pairing

Achieving chemical accuracy for molecular simulations remains a central challenge in computational chemistry. Here, we present an embedded correlated wavefunction transfer learning (ECW-TL) framework for accurately simulating molecular dynamics in the condensed phase. ECW-TL incorporates high-level electron exchange and correlation effects in ECW theory while preserving the training and computational efficiency of machine-learned interatomic potentials. We demonstrate the framework on Ca 2+ –CO 3 2– ion pairing in aqueous solution, a key process underlying CO 2 mineralization in seawater. As proof of principle, we first show that fine-tuning a DFT-revPBE-D3(BJ) baseline model with embedded-DFT-SCAN data reproduces the DFT-SCAN free-energy surface within 1 kcal/mol across all solvation states. Extending the framework to embedded MP2 and localized natural-orbital CCSD(T) further refines the free-energy profile, revealing the crucial role of exact electron exchange and correlation in determining ion-pair stability and structure. The computed ion-pair association free energy is in quantitative agreement with experimental measurements, further validating the accuracy of the ECW-TL framework. ECW-TL thus provides a general, data-efficient route for transferring CW accuracy to efficient simulations of complex aqueous and interfacial chemical processes.

cluster chemistry↗

Liquid Bismuth Propellant Flow Sensor

Quantifying the propellant mass flow rate in liquid bismuth-fed electric propulsion systems has two challenging facets. First, the flow sensors must be capable of providing a resolvable measurement at propellant mass flow rates on the order of 10 mg/see with and uncertainty of less that 5%. The second challenge has to do with the fact that the materials from which the flow sensors are fabricated must be capable of resisting any of the corrosive effects associated with the high-temperature propellant. The measurement itself is necessary in order to properly assess the performance (thrust efficiency, Isp) of thruster systems in the laboratory environment. The hotspot sensor[I] has been designed to provide the bismuth propellant mass flow rate measurement. In the hotspot sensor, a pulse of thermal energy (derived from a current pulse and associated joule heating) is applied near the inlet of the sensor. The flow is "tagged" with a thermal feature that is convected downstream by the flowing liquid metal. Downstream, a temperature measurement is performed to detect a "ripple" in the local temperature associated with the passing "hotspot" in the propellant. By measuring the time between the upstream generation and downstream detection of the thermal feature, the flow speed can be calculated using a "time of flight" analysis. In addition, the system can be calibrated by measuring the accumulated mass exiting the system as a-function of time and correlating this with the time it takes the hotspot to convect through the sensor. The primary advantage of this technique is that it doesn't depend on an absolute measurement of temperature but, instead, relies on the observation of thermal features. This makes the technique insensitive to other externally generated thermal fluctuations. In this paper, we describe experiments performed using the hotspot flow sensor aimed at quantifying the resolution of the sensor technology. Propellant is expelled onto an electronic scale to provide an independent measure of the propellant mass flow rate as a function of time. In addition, two separate detection schemes are employed. The first uses a thermocouple to directly measure temperature in the fluid. The second involves the ,use of a fiber optic coupled to a photodiode allowing for detection of an increase in light emission from the fluid as the hotspot passes. the detection location.

Polzin, Kurt A.↗

Observation of Iso-Symmetric Structural and Lifshitz Transitions in Quasi-One-Dimensional CrNbSe 5

Chalcogenides-rich transition metal compounds host a rich landscape of emergent quantum phenomena that are intimately governed by their quasi-onedimensional chemical-bonding frameworks and their response to external perturbations such as pressure. Here, we report a pressure-induced iso-symmetric structural transition in the quasi-one-dimensional compound CrNbSe 5 , in which the electronic ground state is controlled not by symmetry breaking but by a continuous reorganization of local bonding interactions. Applied pressure reversibly tunes CrNbSe 5 between semiconducting and semimetallic states, enabling access to low- and high-carrier electronic regimes through direct modulation of metal−chalcogen bonding. High-pressure singlecrystal X-ray diffraction directly resolves the evolution of Cr−Se and Nb−Se bond distances, coordination polyhedra, and connectivity, revealing a fully reversible semimetal−semiconductor−semimetal transition driven by gradual yet cooperative bond rearrangements within a preserved crystallographic symmetry. In contrast to chemical substitution, which irreversibly alters composition and introduces disorder, pressure acts as a clean, continuous control parameter that reshapes the bonding landscape without disrupting structural symmetry. These results establish CrNbSe 5 as a model system for electronically driven phase switching via tunable chemical bonding, highlighting iso-symmetric bond reorganization as a powerful design principle for pressure-controlled electronic and spintronic functionalities.

Compression↗

The distribution of cosmic rays in the galaxy and their dynamics as deduced from recent gamma ray observations

Data from SAS-2 on the galactic gamma ray line flux as a function of longitude is examined. It is shown that the gamma ray emissivity varies with galactocentric distance and is about an order of magnitude higher than the local value in a toroidal region between 4 and 5 kpc from the galactic center. This enhancement is accounted for in part by first-order Fermi acceleration, compression, and trapping of cosmic rays consistent with present ideas of galactic dynamics and galactic structure theory. Calculations indicate that cosmic rays in the 4 to 5 kpc region are trapped and accelerated over a mean time of the order of a few million years or about 2 to 4 times the assumed trapping time in the solar region of the galaxy on the assumption that only an increased cosmic ray flux is responsible for the observed emission. Cosmic ray nucleons, cosmic ray electrons, and ionized hydrogen gas were found to have a strikingly similar distribution in the galaxy according to both the observational data and the theoretical model discussed.

Puget, J. L.↗

Composition of the nighttime ionospheric F 1 region near the magnetic equator

The effects of vertical E x B transport on NO(+), O2(+) and O(+) densities in the nighttime equatorial ionospheric F 1 region are investigated. Ion densities are calculated as functions of altitude, latitude and local time by the numerical solution of coupled, time-dependent ion continuity equations, taking into account production, loss by charge exchange and dissociative recombination and transport by diffusion and E x B drift. The results of the calculations are compared with measurements of NO(+), O2(+) and O(+) ion densities obtained at low altitudes by a mass spectrometer on board the Atmospheric Explorer C satellite, and are found to be consistent with the observations, suggesting that in the equatorial region, vertical transport by E x B drift is primarily responsible for producing the observed NO(+), O2(+) and O(+) density profiles. In addition, the reaction of O2(+) with N(4S) is found to be an important sink for O2(+) and a source of NO(+) ions. Implications of the observed and calculated near constancy of electron and ion densities with altitude when NO(+) is the dominant ion on the growth of large-scale irregularities are also considered

Anderson, D. N.↗

Electronic structure Fermi liquid theory of high T(sub c) superconductors: Comparison with experiments

For years, there has been controversy on whether the normal state of the Cu-oxide superconductors is a Fermi liquid or some other exotic ground state. However, some experimentalists are clarifying the nature of the normal state of the high T(sub c) superconductors by surmounting the experimental difficulties in producing clean, well characterized surfaces so as to obtain meaningful high resolved photoemission data, which agrees with earlier positron-annihilation experiments. The experimental work on high resolution angle resolved photoemission by Campuzano et al. and positron-annihilation studies by Smedskjaer et al. has verified the calculated Fermi surfaces in YBa2Cu3O7 superconductors and has provided evidence for the validity of the energy band approach. Similar good agreement was found for Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 by Olson et al. As a Fermi liquid (metallic) nature of the normal state of the high T(sub c) superconductors becomes evident, these experimental observations have served to confirm the predictions of the local density functional calculations and hence the energy band approach as a valid natural starting point for further studies of their superconductivity.

Freeman, A. J.↗

Long-Range Allosteric Communication Modulated by Active Site Mn(II) Coordination Drives Catalysis in Xanthobacter autotrophicus Acetone Carboxylase

Acetone carboxylase (AC) from Xanthobacter autotrophicus is a 360 KDa α2β2γ2 heterohexamer that catalyzes the ATP-dependent formation of phosphorylated acetone and bicarbonate intermediates that react at Mn(II) metal active sites to form acetoacetate. Structural models of X. autotrophicus AC (XaAC) with and without nucleotides reveal that the binding and phosphorylation of the two substrates occurs ~40 Å from the Mn(II) active sites where acetoacetate is formed. Based on the crystal structures, a significant conformational change was proposed to open and close a tunnel that facilitates the passage of reaction intermediates between the sites for nucleotide binding and phosphorylation of substrates and Mn(II) sites of acetoacetate formation. We have employed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), kinetic assays, and hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) of poised ligand-bound states and site-specific amino acid variants to complete an in-depth analysis of Mn(II) coordination and allosteric communication throughout the catalytic cycle. In contrast with the established paradigms for carboxylation, our analyses of XaAC suggested a carboxylate shift that couples both local and long-range structural transitions. Shifts in the coordination mode of a single carboxylic acid residue (αE89) mediate both catalysis proximal to a Mn(II) center and communication with an ATP active site in a separate subunit of a 180 kDa α2β2γ2 complex at a distance of 40 Å. This work demonstrates the power of combining structural models from X-ray crystallography with solution-phase spectroscopy and biophysical techniques to elucidate functional aspects of a multi-subunit enzyme.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Irradiating of Bulk Soybeans: Influence on Their Functional and Sensory Properties for Soyfood Processing

Soybeans were chosen for lunar and planetary missions, where soybeans will be supplied in bulk or grown locally, due to their nutritive value and ability to produce oil and protein for further food applications. However, soybeans must be processed into foods prior to consumption. Radiation that soybeans would be exposed to during bulk storage prior to and during a Mars mission may influence their germination and functional properties. The influence of radiation includes the affect of surface pasteurization to ensure the astronauts safety from food-borne illnesses (HACCP, CCP), and the affect of the amount of radiation the soybeans receive during a Mars mission. Decreases in the amount of natural antioxidants free radical formation, and oxidation-induced changes in the soybean will influence the nutritional value, texture, color, and aroma of soyfoods. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of pasteurization and sterilization surface radiation on whole soybeans using gamma and electron beam radiation. The influence of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 30kGy on microbial load, germination rate, ease of processing, and quality of soymilk and tofu were determined. Surface radiation of whole dry soybeans using electron beam or gamma rays from 1-30kGy did provide microbial safety for the astronauts. However, the lower dose levels had surviving yeasts and molds. These doses caused oxidative changes that resulted in soymilk and tofu with rancid aromas. GC-MS of the aroma compounds using SPME Headspace confirmed the presence of lipid oxidation compounds. Soybean germination ability was reduced as radiation dosage increased. While lower doses may reduce these problems, the ability to insure microbial safety of bulk soybeans will be lost. Counter measures could include vacuum packaging, nitrogen flushing, added antioxidants, and radiating under freezing conditions. Doses below 1kGy need to be investigated further to determine the influence of the radiation encountered during Mars missions.

Chia, Chiew-Ling↗

Evolution of Structure and Magnetism in FeCl 2 and FeCl 3 : From Clusters to Monolayers

In this work, we address one of the most fundamental questions in cluster science─how do the structure and properties evolve from clusters to crystals? Using density functional theory (DFT), we focus our study on the evolution of structure and magnetism in iron-chloride systems, from clusters to monolayers. The choice of this system is motivated by the recent experimental confirmation of one of the author’s earlier theoretical prediction that the FeCl 2 cluster is magnetic with a spin magnetic moment of 4 μ B localized at the Fe site, while its dimer, Fe 2 Cl 4 , is antiferromagnetic. Similarly, FeCl 3 cluster is magnetic with a total spin magnetic moment of 5 μ B , with 4 μ B localized at the Fe site and 1 μ B distributed over the Cl sites. The dimer clusters Fe 2 Cl 4 and Fe 2 Cl 6 have an antiferromagnetic ground state, and upon Li-functionalization, both can be magnetically transformed from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic states. In contrast, FeCl 2 and FeCl 3 monolayers exhibit different magnetic ground states in their periodic forms: FeCl 2 is ferromagnetic (FM), but in FeCl 3 , the antiferromagnetic (AFM) and FM states are energetically nearly degenerate. Such a difference arises due to the different chemical coordination of the Fe atoms with the Cl atoms, caused by their different oxidation states, which is +2 in FeCl 2 and +3 in FeCl 3 , respectively. Interestingly, Li-functionalization allows both FeCl 3 and FeCl 2 monolayers to be ferromagnetic. Our study highlights that several, but not all, electronic and magnetic characteristics of isolated clusters are preserved in the extended periodic structures. This systematic investigation of iron-halide clusters is expected to inspire further experimental and theoretical exploration into the magnetism of other transition metal halides.

cluster chemistry↗

Ultrawideband Electromagnetic Interference to Aircraft Radios: Results of Limited Functional Testing With United Airlines and Eagles Wings Incorporated, in Victorville, California

On February 14, 2002, the FCC adopted a FIRST REPORT AND ORDER, released it on April 22, 2002, and on May 16, 2002 published in the Federal Register a Final Rule, permitting marketing and operation of new products incorporating UWB technology. Wireless product developers are working to rapidly bring this versatile, powerful and expectedly inexpensive technology into numerous consumer wireless devices. Past studies addressing the potential for passenger-carried portable electronic devices (PEDs) to interfere with aircraft electronic systems suggest that UWB transmitters may pose a significant threat to aircraft communication and navigation radio receivers. NASA, United Airlines and Eagles Wings Incorporated have performed preliminary testing that clearly shows the potential for handheld UWB transmitters to cause cockpit failure indications for the air traffic control radio beacon system (ATCRBS), blanking of aircraft on the traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) displays, and cause erratic motion and failure of instrument landing system (ILS) localizer and glideslope pointers on the pilot horizontal situation and attitude director displays. This report provides details of the preliminary testing and recommends further assessment of aircraft systems for susceptibility to UWB electromagnetic interference.

Ely, Jay J.↗

Mirror Instability in the Solar Wind: The Theory Revisited

"Magnetic holes", localized depressions in the interplanetary magnetic field, have been identified in Ulysses data over a range of several AU and as far as 23 degrees south in latitude by Winterhalter et al., who concluded that these structures are most likely the remnants of structures caused by occasional mirror-mode instability in the solar wind. However, these authors, like a number of previous investigators, used the mirror stability criterion derived from the kinetic theory under very special assumptions. On the other hand, theoretical investigations using the fully self-consistent kinetic theory (Vlasov-Maxwell equations) have shown that the mirror stability criterion is more complicated when electrons and ions have different anisotropies, as is normally the case in the solar wind. Winterhalter et al used an instability criterion of the form R is greater than 1, where R is a function of the thermal anisotropy; the correct criterion (for bi-Maxwellian distributions) is R R is greater than 1 - x(exp 2), where x is a real quantity that depends on both the proton anisotropy and electron anisotropy. So nonzero x would modify the Winterhalter et al results in the direction of reinforcing their conclusions. We have revisited the instability criterion in its most general form, allowing for (a) non-Maxwellian velocity distributions, (b) multiple ion species, and (c) interparticle streaming. These results should give sound theoretical grounding for future observational studies related to the mirror instability, by Ulysses and other spacecraft.

Barnes, A.↗

Electron-cytochemical study of Ca2+ in cotyledon cells of soybean seedlings grown in microgravity

Microgravity and horizontal clinorotation are known to cause the rearrangement of the structural-functional organization of plant cells, leading to accelerated aging. Altered gravity conditions resulted in an increase in the droplets volume in cells and the destruction of chloroplast structure in Arabidopsis thaliana plants, an enhancement of cytosolic autophagaous processes, an increase in the respiration rate and a greater number of multimolecular forms of succinate- and malate dehydrogenases in cells of the Funaria hygrometrica protonema and Chlorella vulgaris, and changes in calcium balance of cells. Because ethylene is known to be involved in cell aging and microgravity appears to speed the process, and because soybean seedlings grown in space produce higher ethylene levels we asked: 1) does an acceleration of soybean cotyledon cell development and aging occur in microgravity? 2) what roles do Ca2+ ions and the enhanced ethylene level play in these events? Therefore, the goal of our investigation was to examine of the interaction of microgravity and ethylene on the localization of Ca2+ in cotyledon mesophyll of soybean seedlings.

Flight Experiment↗

Minimization of Disorder as a Key Design Principle for Natural Sizes of Light Harvesting 2 Complexes

The light harvesting 2 (LH2) complex of purple bacteria has excellent energy conversion efficiency. Clarifying the design principle behind such efficiency at the atomistic level is crucial for understanding its structure–function relationship and can be utilized for the design of artificial light harvesting systems. To this end, we conducted comprehensive computational investigation of the dynamical and statistical nature of electronic excited states of pigment molecules in a natural LH2 complex with 9-fold symmetry and its two non-natural in silico analogues with 6- and 12-fold symmetries. To ensure reliable and efficient all-atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we combined a well established interpolation approach for the construction of the potential energy surface with a neural network machine learning approach. Outcomes of these calculations clarify that non-natural forms of LH2-type complexes have significantly larger quasistatic disorder than those for the natural one. In addition, non-natural systems have more disruptions of the hydrogen bonding, underscoring its crucial role for reducing the disorder. On the other hand, local environmental dynamics are relatively insensitive to the structural changes although there is moderate enhancement in the anharmonic or interatomic components for the synthetic ones. These findings based on all-atomistic simulations provide direct computational evidence that the structure and sizes of natural LH2 complexes are designed to minimize the energetic disorder. We analyze quantitative implications of these for the energy transferring capability of the LH2 complex.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Quantum Monte Carlo Approaches to Na Intercalation on Bilayer Graphene

We have performed Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations on Na-intercalated bilayer graphene to study the evolution of electronic and optical properties upon Na intercalation into hard carbon layers. The objective was to model the optimal configuration of Na intercalation into a hard carbon matrix containing graphene regions. Our study showed that Na intercalation can be energetically stabilized at large interlayer distances (over 6 Å) in both AA- and AB-stacked bilayer graphene. In the QMC results, we found a significant band gap opening at the equilibrium interlayer distance of Na-intercalated bilayer graphene, while corresponding density functional theory (DFT) results showed no gap. This difference between DFT and QMC results indicates that the gap opening induced by Na intercalation into a hard carbon is underestimated within the DFT framework. In addition, a zigzag configuration of Na atoms was found to be energetically stable at interlayer distances up to 10 Å, leading us to predict the existence of a local minimum of Na intercalation at large interlayer distance. These computation and modeling results can provide guidance on how to synthesize and optimize hard carbon with bilayer graphene regions that permit a zigzag intercalation configuration that will maximize and stabilize sodium hosting.

Binding energy↗

Endo-Fullerene and Doped Diamond Nanocrystallite Based Models of Qubits for Solid-State Quantum Computers

Models of encapsulated 1/2 nuclear spin H-1 and P-31 atoms in fullerene and diamond nanocrystallite, respectively, are proposed and examined with ab-initio local density functional method for possible applications as single quantum bits (qubits) in solid-state quantum computers. A H-1 atom encapsulated in a fully deuterated fullerene, C(sub 20)D(sub 20), forms the first model system and ab-initio calculation shows that H-1 atom is stable in atomic state at the center of the fullerene with a barrier of about 1 eV to escape. A P-31 atom positioned at the center of a diamond nanocrystallite is the second model system, and 3 1P atom is found to be stable at the substitutional site relative to interstitial sites by 15 eV, Vacancy formation energy is 6 eV in diamond so that substitutional P-31 atom will be stable against diffusion during the formation mechanisms within the nanocrystallite. The coupling between the nuclear spin and weakly bound (valance) donor electron coupling in both systems is found to be suitable for single qubit applications, where as the spatial distributions of (valance) donor electron wave functions are found to be preferentially spread along certain lattice directions facilitating two or more qubit applications. The feasibility of the fabrication pathways for both model solid-state qubit systems within practical quantum computers is discussed with in the context of our proposed solid-state qubits.

Park, Seongjun↗

Software for Building Models of 3D Objects via the Internet

The Virtual EDF Builder (where EDF signifies Electronic Development Fixture) is a computer program that facilitates the use of the Internet for building and displaying digital models of three-dimensional (3D) objects that ordinarily comprise assemblies of solid models created previously by use of computer-aided-design (CAD) programs. The Virtual EDF Builder resides on a Unix-based server computer. It is used in conjunction with a commercially available Web-based plug-in viewer program that runs on a client computer. The Virtual EDF Builder acts as a translator between the viewer program and a database stored on the server. The translation function includes the provision of uniform resource locator (URL) links to other Web-based computer systems and databases. The Virtual EDF builder can be used in two ways: (1) If the client computer is Unix-based, then it can assemble a model locally; the computational load is transferred from the server to the client computer. (2) Alternatively, the server can be made to build the model, in which case the server bears the computational load and the results are downloaded to the client computer or workstation upon completion.

Schramer, Tim↗