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NASA NTRS2006

Monitoring Delamination of Plasma-Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings by Reflectance-Enhanced Luminescence

Highly scattering plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) present a challenge for optical diagnostic methods to monitor TBC delamination because scattering attenuates light transmitted through the TBC and usually degrades contrast between attached and delaminated regions of the TBC. This paper presents a new approach where reflectance-enhanced luminescence from a luminescent sublayer incorporated along the bottom of the TBC is used to identify regions of TBC delamination. Because of the higher survival rate of luminescence reflecting off the back surface of a delaminated TBC, the strong scattering exhibited by plasma-sprayed TBCs actually accentuates contrast between attached and delaminated regions by making it more likely that multiple reflections of luminescence off the back surface occur before exiting the top surface of the TBC. A freestanding coating containing sections designed to model an attached or delaminated TBC was prepared by depositing a luminescent Eu-doped or Er-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) luminescent layer below a plasma-sprayed undoped YSZ layer and utilizing a NiCr backing layer to represent an attached substrate. For specimens with a Eu-doped YSZ luminescent sublayer, luminescence intensity maps showed excellent contrast between unbacked and NiCr-backed sections even at a plasma-sprayed overlayer thickness of 300 m. Discernable contrast between unbacked and NiCr-backed sections was not observed for specimens with a Er-doped YSZ luminescent sublayer because luminescence from Er impurities in the undoped YSZ layer overwhelmed luminescence originating form the Er-doped YSZ sublayer.

Eldridge, Jeffrey I.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Plasma sprayed ceramic thermal barrier coating for NiAl-based intermetallic alloys

A thermal barrier coating system consists of two layers of a zirconia-yttria ceramic. The first layer is applied by low pressure plasma spraying. The second layer is applied by conventional atmospheric pressure plasma spraying. This facilitates the attachment of a durable thermally insulating ceramic coating directly to the surface of a highly oxidation resistant NiAl-based intermetallic alloy after the alloy has been preoxidized to promote the formation of a desirable Al2O3 scale.

Miller, Robert A.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Comparison of passivation properties of plasma-assisted ALD and APCVD deposited Al 2 O 3 with SiN x capping

In this paper, we report on the direct comparison of Al 2 O 3 films deposited by plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (ALD) and atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) techniques on the passivation properties of both bare and boron diffused Si surfaces. It is found that ALD and APCVD deposited Al 2 O 3 layers with SiN x capping have very similar chemical composition, hydrogen concentration at the Al 2 O 3 /Si interface, and interface defect density (D it ), but the ALD film has slightly higher negative fixed charge (Q f ) after a high temperature (~750 °C) contact firing cycle typically used for solar cell fabrication. Both films showed excellent surface recombination velocities of <5 cm/s on planar and textured un-diffused Si wafers, but the ALD films gave 1 to 8 fA/cm 2 lower emitter saturation current densities (J 0e ) on implanted boron emitters with sheet resistance in the range of 90–180 Ω/. This is attributed to the observed slightly higher negative charge-induced field-effect passivation in the ALD films. However, SiN x /Al 2 O 3 /p + /n/n + passivated emitter rear totally diffused (PERT) cell structures fabricated with 110 and 150 Ω/ emitter in this study showed no appreciable difference in cell efficiency. Device analysis and simulations showed that even for >23% high-performance solar cells design, with very low bulk and rear contact recombination, the observed small difference in J 0e has negligible effect on cell efficiency. Furthermore, APCVD Al 2 O 3 passivation of B emitter can produce comparable efficiencies to their counterpart ALD Al 2 O 3 passivated n-type Si solar cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Evidence of Alfvenic Poynting Flux as the Primary Driver of Auroral Motion During a Geomagnetic Substorm

Geomagnetic substorms are major energy transfer events where energy stored in the Earth's magnetotail is released into the ionosphere. Substorm phenomena, including auroral activities, earthward Poynting flux, magnetic field dipolarization, etc, have been extensively studied. However, the complex interplay among them is not fully understood. In a fortuitous event on June 7, 2013, the twin Van Allen Probes (separated by 0.4 h in local time) observed bursts of earthward Alfvenic Poynting flux in the vicinity of the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL). The Poynting flux bursts correlate with enhancements of auroral brightness around the footpoints of both spacecraft. This indicates a temporal and spatial correlation between the auroral brightening and Poynting flux bursts, and that the auroral motion is directly linked to the perpendicular expansion of the Alfven wave. These observations suggest that the Alfvenic Poynting flux is a primary driver for the auroral electron acceleration. Furthermore, around the time of auroral brightening, a dipolarization was seen to propagate more than 4 h in local time during a 20 min period. The azimuthal phase speed of this dipolarization (2 deg/min) is too small to explain the azimuthal motion of the aurora (13.6 deg/min), but the dipolarization could be related to the generation of the Alfvenic Poynting flux through phase mixing at strong density gradients like those in the PSBL.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Acceleration of Oxygen Ions in Dipolarization Events: 1. CPS Distributions

Abstract Using an MHD simulation of near tail reconnection associated with a flow burst and the collapse (dipolarization) of the inner tail in combination with test particle tracing we study the acceleration and flux increases of energetic oxygen ions (O + ). The characteristic orbits, distributions, and acceleration mechanisms are governed by the dimensionless parameter σ = ω ci t n , where ω ci is the ion gyro frequency and t n a characteristic Alfvén time of the MHD simulation. For σ < 1, central plasma sheet (CPS) populations after the passage of the dipolarization front are found to resemble half‐shells in velocity space oriented toward dusk. They originate from within the CPS and are energized typically by a single encounter of the region of enhanced cross‐tail electric field associated with the flow burst. For larger σ values ( σ > 1) the O + distributions resemble more closely those of protons, consisting of two counter‐streaming field‐aligned beams and an, albeit more tenuous and irregular, ring population perpendicular to the magnetic field. The existence of the beams, however, depends on suitable earthward moving source populations in the plasma sheet boundary layer or the adjacent lobes. The acceleration to higher energies is found to indicate a charge dependence, consistent with a dominance of more highly charged ions at energies of a few hundred keV. As in earlier simulations, the simulated fluxes show large anisotropies and nongyrotropic effects, phase bunching, and spatially and temporally localized beams.

Birn, J.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Kinetic Landau-fluid closures of non-Maxwellian distributions

New kinetic Landau-fluid closures, based on the cutoff Maxwellian distribution, are derived. A special static case is considered (the frequency ω=0). In the strongly collisional regime, our model reduces to Braginskii's heat flux model, and the transport is local. In the weak collisional regime, our model indicates that the heat flux is non-local and recovers the Hammett–Perkins model while the value of the cutoff velocity approaches to infinity. We compare the thermal transport coefficient χ of Maxwellian, cutoff Maxwellian and super-Gaussian distribution. The results show that the reduction of the high-speed tail particles leads to the corresponding reduction of the thermal transport coefficient χ across the entire range of collisionality, more reduction of the free streaming transport toward the weak collisional regime. In the collisionless limit, χ approaches to zero for the cutoff Maxwellian and the super-Gaussian distribution but remains finite for Maxwellian distribution. χ is complex if the cutoff Maxwellian distribution is asymmetric. The Im(χ) approaches to different convergent values in both collisionless and strongly collisional limit, respectively. It yields an additional streaming heat flux in comparison with the symmetric cutoff Maxwellian distribution. Furthermore, due to the asymmetric distribution, there is a background heat flux q0 though there is no perturbation. Furthermore, the derived Landau-fluid closures are general for fluid moment models, and applicable for the cutoff Maxwellian distribution in an open magnetic field line region, such as the scape-off-layer of Tokamak plasmas, in the thermal quench plasmas during a tokamak disruption, and the super-Gaussian electron distribution function due to inverse bremsstrahlung heating in laser-plasma studies.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

External charge compensation in etched gallium nitride measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Electronic states at GaN surfaces and at regrowth and heteroepitaxy interfaces inhibit electronic device performance. Understanding electronic state configuration at the GaN surface is, therefore, crucial for the development of GaN-based devices, which are currently of considerable interest in power electronic applications. GaN and other wurtzite III-nitrides possess large spontaneous polarization along the c-axis, producing a bound sheet charge at the surface, which affects the electronic state configuration through the formation of internal and external compensation charges. Defects induced by conventional plasma-based dry etching methods may inhibit the internal screening of this bound charge and thus increase the concentration of external charged states. The surface band bending of n-type Ga-face GaN (0001) was measured with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy after inductively coupled plasma etching to investigate the impact of dry etching on external charge compensation. GaN samples were etched using inductively coupled plasma with varying rf power and a novel plasma-enhanced atomic layer etching method using an oxidation, fluorination, and ligand-exchange mechanism. The band bending varied from 0.0 to 0.8 ± 0.1 eV for the samples measured.

Hatch, Kevin A. (ORCID:0000000283118623)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Evolution of intermittent filaments in the scrape-off layer of NSTX

Filamentary structures naturally arise from background turbulence in the scrape-off layer (SOL) of plasmas, leading to significant particle and heat transport that can degrade overall plasma confinement. This enhanced transport can contribute to unacceptably high heat loads on plasma-facing components. As such, understanding the physics of SOL plasma filaments is critical for predicting and mitigating their effects in future fusion devices. On the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), plasma filaments—commonly referred to as “blobs”—were investigated using the gas-puff imaging (GPI) diagnostic in the edge and SOL regions. The analysis involved identifying, segmenting, and tracking the characteristic contours of the blobs in each frame of the GPI video sequences. Their evolution was characterized through shape descriptors, velocity, and angular velocity derived from their contour coordinates. The results indicate that as the blob area increases, their shapes become more concave and less circular, suggesting reduced structural stability in larger blobs. This result aligns with previous theoretical results where it was shown that larger blobs are more susceptible to instabilities [Krasheninnikov et al., J. Plasma Phys. 74, 679–717 (2008) and D'Ippolito et al., Phys. Plasmas 18, 060501 (2011)]. A positive correlation was observed between radial velocity and radial position, suggesting radially outward acceleration of the filaments, potentially driven by decreasing viscous drag toward the far SOL. Interestingly, blobs in background SOL turbulence exhibited minimal spinning in contrast to filaments originating from edge localized modes, which show substantial rotation during their paths [Lampert et al., Phys. Plasmas 29, 102502 (2022)]. Statistical analysis of the solidity and total curvature shape descriptors, along with their temporal evolution, revealed relatively broad, near-Gaussian distributions. This suggests that blob morphology is strongly influenced by stochastic turbulent processes in the surrounding plasma environment. Blob parameters were also compared with bulk plasma and radial profile measurements. Notable trends were found between blob rotation and poloidal velocity with collisionality and line-integrated density. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of blob dynamics and provide valuable insights for refining SOL turbulence models.

Covariance and correlation↗

DOE OSTI2025

Investigation of kinetic inductance and microwave loss in thin-film TaC x N 1−x superconducting resonators

The promise of tantalum for realizing superconducting quantum devices has generated interest in its compound films, particularly nitrides. Among these, cubic-phase tantalum carbonitride (TaC x N 1−x ) offers reduced susceptibility to oxidation and a high critical temperature, yet its microwave properties remain largely unexplored. Here, in this study, we investigate plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of cubic-phase TaC x N 1−x thin films for superconducting microwave circuits. Structural and transport measurements reveal nanocrystalline morphology with sub-10 nm grains and superconductivity in the dirty limit. Coplanar waveguide resonators exhibit moderately high kinetic inductance (16.8 pH/sq for 30 nm films) with potential for enhancement through dimensional scaling. The films also support high internal quality factors exceeding 10 5 at 50 mK in the single-photon regime, comparable to granular aluminum. Loss analysis identifies the two-level systems as the dominant limiting mechanism, with potential for further reduction through interface engineering. These results establish atomic layer deposited TaC x N 1−x as a promising material for scalable, low-loss, high-inductance superconducting circuits.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2025

Impact of error fields and error field correction on heat fluxes in SPARC

Using a single toroidal array of coils to reduce the m,n = 2,1 resonant error field (EF) produced by the misalignment of the axisymmetric coils in SPARC can result in the enhancement of the local divertor heat fluxes. Managing high divertor heat fluxes (q ∥ $\simeq$ 10 GW m -2 ) poses a challenge for compact tokamak devices such as SPARC. The presence of non-axisymmetric magnetic field perturbations adds complexity to the problem by generating intricate 3D edge magnetic topologies that alter the heat flux distributions on the target plates. The aim of this work is to investigate the impact of the EF correction (EFC) on the heat fluxes at the divertor plates in SPARC. The MHD code M3DC1 has been used to simulate the 3D magnetic perturbations generated by the shift and tilt of several axisymmetric coils within specified tolerances, as well as from the array of EFC coils located at the midplane. Using a heuristic model that extends the concept of an axisymmetric heat flux layer to 3D plasmas, the resultant heat flux distributions is derived from magnetic footprints calculated with the MAFOT code. The results show that the EFC could either decrease or further enhance the local heat flux when used to correct the m,n = 2,1 resonant EF to enhance the core plasma performance.

3D fields↗

DOE OSTI2026

Zonal magnetic fields regulate nonlinear edge-localized-mode dynamics via self-consistent force balance

Edge-localized modes (ELMs) eject intense bursts of heat and particles that threaten plasma-facing components in fusion reactors. Nonlinear full-torus BOUT++ simulations show that turbulence-driven zonal magnetic fields (ZMFs) play an essential role in nonlinear ELM evolution by maintaining self-consistent force balance. Zonal flows mitigate the initial crash through shear but do not prevent continued radial transport. When ZMFs are self-consistently included, turbulence-driven zonal currents modify the parallel current distribution and magnetic tension and are associated with a reduction of the axisymmetric (𝑛 = 0) perturbed radial force imbalance. This coincides with a transition from convective, bursty propagation to more localized, diffusive transport. Similar behavior is observed across the regimes considered, including both resistive-ballooning and peeling-ballooning cases. Finally, associated signatures, including radial electric field shear and parallel current redistribution, provide experimentally accessible diagnostics for present devices and ITER-relevant conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1977

Analytical investigation of thermal barrier coatings for advanced power generation combustion turbines

An analytical evaluation was conducted to determine quantitatively the improvement potential in cycle efficiency and cost of electricity made possible by the introduction of thermal barrier coatings to power generation combustion turbine systems. The thermal barrier system, a metallic bond coat and yttria stabilized zirconia outer layer applied by plasma spray techniques, acts as a heat insulator to provide substantial metal temperature reductions below that of the exposed thermal barrier surface. The study results show the thermal barrier to be a potentially attractive means for improving performance and reducing cost of electricity for the simple, recuperated, and combined cycles evaluated.

Amos, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development of a plasma sprayed ceramic gas path seal for high pressure turbine applications

Development of the plasma sprayed graded, layered ZrO2/CoCrAlY seal system for gas turbine engine blade tip seal application up to 1589 K (2400 F) surface temperature was continued. Methods of improvement of the cyclic thermal shock resistance of the sprayed zirconia seal system were investigated. The most promising method, reduction of the ceramic thickness and metallic substrate stiffness were selected based upon potential and feasibility. Specimens were fabricated and experimentally evaluated to: (1) substantiate the capacity of the geometry changes to reduce operating stresses in the sprayed structure; and (2) define the abradability, erosion, thermal shock and physical property characteristic for the sprayed ceramic seal system. Thermal stress analysis was performed and correlated with thermal shock test results.

Shiembob, L. T.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Development of improved high pressure turbine outer gas path seal components

A plasma sprayed graded layered ceramic/metallic (ZrO2/CoCrAlY) seal was evaluated for JT9D turbine application by rig and engine tests. Four cyclic thermal shock rig tests were conducted during the program. Three completed 1000 simulated engine thermal cycle tests and the fourth completed 500 cycles without severe cracking or spalling. Three ceramic seals were installed in a JT9D experimental engine to evaluate the effect of the engine thermal environment on the seals. All three seals completed the test successfully without severe cracking or spalling. The three seals did have slight laminar cracks at the 85/15-40/60 ZrO2/CoCrAlY interface. The second engine test evaluated the rub capabilities of the seal. Six ceramic seals were installed in the engine with fourteen abrasive tip blades. Three of the six seals rubbed to a depth of 24 mils. Eight of the fourteen abrasive tip blades showed evidence of wear. Three of the eight blades wore a maximum of five mils. Engine rub test results demonstrated the potential of reducing turbine clearances and thereby improving engine performance by use of sprayed ceramic seals.

Shiembob, L. T.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The dynamic behavior of the Venus ionosphere in response to solar wind interactions

The dynamics of the Venus ionosphere relates to the variations in the solar wind and the ionosheath magnetic fields as demonstrated by the electron density and temperature measurements of the Pioneer Venus orbiter electron probe. The mean ionopause height increases from 330 km at the subsolar point to 700 km at the dusk terminator, and to 1000 km at the dawn terminator; the dayside ionopause expands and contracts with solar wind pressure variations. Extreme spatial irregularities in the shape of holes, horizontally stratified layers, and detached plasma clouds are observed in the nightside ionosphere. The ion pickup on the dayside is described in terms of solar wind discontinuities inducing a wavelike pattern at the ionopause which is penetrated by the ionosheath plasma and magnetic fields which remove the plasma in the form of detached plasma clouds.

Brace, L. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Thermal barrier coating system having improved adhesion

The adherence between a ceramic thermal barrier coating and a metal bond coating is improved by ion sputtering a ceramic film on the bond cost. A ceramic thermal barrier coating is then plasma-sprayed onto this primer film. This improves the integrity and strength of the interface between the plasma-sprayed ceramic layer and metallic bond coat which insures stronger adherence between the metal and the ceramic.

Bill, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Generation of broadband electrostatic noise by ion beam instabilities in the magnetotail

Particle data from ISEE 1 sampled in the earth's magnetotail show the presence of energetic ion beams in the boundary layer of the plasma sheet. A theory of instabilities driven by the beams is developed and compared with wave data sampled simultaneously to the particle data. It is concluded that the ion beams generate broadband electrostatic bursts of noise. The electrostatic noise correlates well with the occurrence of the beams, and the spectrum is consistent with that predicted from a negative energy beam instability under magnetotail conditions. The theory predicts that a spectrum of growing waves can be driven for frequencies from 0.001 omega(pe) up to omega(pe), the electron plasma frequency, with a spectral peak typically near 0.01 omega(pe) or lower, in agreement with the wave data. Furthermore, as one moves away from the source region perpendicular to the magnetic field, the high frequency components of the observed wave spectra are predicted to disappear gradually, leaving the low frequency part of the spectrum, also as is observed. Evidence is given for significant pitch angle scattering of the beams by the broadband electrostatic noise, leading to more isotropic ion distributions.

Grabbe, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Origin of the plasma in a cross-polar cap auroral feature (theta aurora)

Ion composition data obtained from a particularly well observed cross-polar cap auroral feature (theta aurora) are presented. Two components of the hot plasma are identified, one from the ionosphere below and the second from the distant plasma sheet. These observations provide strong support for the conclusion that the cross-polar cap auroral feature occurs on field lines closing through the distant plasma sheet or plasma sheet boundary layer. Taken together with the previously published observations, these new results establish substantial constraints on models for the overall polar cap topology. However, they do not unambiguously favor either of the two principal topologies discussed in the literature.

Peterson, W. K.↗