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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
DOE OSTI2024

Simulation Study of High-Precision Characterization of MeV Electron Interactions for Advanced Nano-Imaging of Thick Biological Samples and Microchips

The resolution of a mega-electron-volt scanning transmission electron microscope (MeV-STEM) is primarily governed by the properties of the incident electron beam and angular broadening effects that occur within thick biological samples and microchips. A precise understanding and mitigation of these constraints require detailed knowledge of beam emittance, aberrations in the STEM column optics, and energy-dependent elastic and inelastic critical angles of the materials being examined. This simulation study proposes a standardized experimental framework for comprehensively assessing beam intensity, divergence, and size at the sample exit. This framework aims to characterize electron-sample interactions, reconcile discrepancies among analytical models, and validate Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for enhanced predictive accuracy. Our numerical findings demonstrate that precise measurements of these parameters, especially angular broadening, are not only feasible but also essential for optimizing imaging resolution in thick biological samples and microchips. By utilizing an electron source with minimal emittance and tailored beam characteristics, along with amorphous ice and silicon samples as biological proxies and microchip materials, this research seeks to optimize electron beam energy by focusing on parameters to improve the resolution in MeV-STEM/TEM. This optimization is particularly crucial for in situ imaging of thick biological samples and for examining microchip defects with nanometer resolutions. Our ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive mapping of the minimum electron energy required to achieve a nanoscale resolution, taking into account variations in sample thickness, composition, and imaging mode.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

SQuaD: Smart Quantum Detection for Photon Recognition and Dark Count Elimination

Quantum detectors of single photons are an essential component for quantum information processing across computing, communication and networking. Today's quantum detection system, which consists of single photon detectors, timing electronics, control and data processing software, is primarily used for counting the number of single photon detection events. However, it is largely incapable of extracting other rich physical characteristics of the detected photons, such as their wavelengths, polarization states, photon numbers, or temporal waveforms. This work, for the first time, demonstrates a smart quantum detection system, SQuaD, which integrates a field programmable gate array (FPGA) with a neural network model, and is designed to recognize the features of photons and to eliminate detector dark-count. The SQuaD is a fully integrated quantum system with high timing-resolution data acquisition, onboard multi-scale data analysis, intelligent feature recognition and extraction, and feedback-driven system control. Our \name experimentally demonstrates 1) reliable photon counting on par with the state-of-the art commercial systems; 2) high-throughput data processing for each individual detection events; 3) efficient dark count recognition and elimination; 4) up to 100% accurate feature recognition of photon wavelength and polarization. Additionally, we deploy the SQuaD to an atomic (erbium ion) photon emitter source to realize noise-free control and readout of a spin qubit in the telecom band, enabling critical advances in quantum networks and distributed quantum information processing.

Linne, Karl C. [U. Chicago (main)] (ORCID:00090009↗
DOE OSTI2024

Excessive charge, beam loading, and impedance collapse thresholds for a velvet emitter

Excess emission has been observed from velvet cathodes with total emission times >150 ns. In this diode experiment, we produce a sub-relativistic electron beam with the ability to consistently change γ from 1.2 to 1.5 and β = 0.5–0.75. Electron emission in this particular diode geometry requires electric fields >40 kV/cm. The current increases at steady rates >0.05 A/ns after the head of the pulse, indicating an expansion of the emission surface and reduction in the effective AK gap. Small transients of excess emission (or arcs) are consistently observed for current pulses exceeding 150 ns. The excess emission results in beam loaded levels ≥10 kV on the diode voltage. The effects described here are compounded as diode voltage is increased. The principal objective of these experiments is to quantify electric field emission thresholds, current ramps, excess emission delays, effective beam loading, and impedance collapse.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Particle signal considerations for isotope ratio analysis with single particle multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Particle analysis has benefitted from the advent of single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) due to its robustness, sensitivity, and high-throughput nature. Previous methods of spICP-MS have typically utilized quadrupole or time-of-flight mass analyzers and therefore employ electron multiplier-based detectors (such as secondary electron multipliers or microchannel plates). However, to obtain precise measurements on elemental or isotopic ratios within individual particles, multi-collector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS) can be used. Here, we investigate Ce isotope ratios, specifically 142 Ce/ 140 Ce, by spMC-ICP-MS using an all-Faraday cup collector array. Using 1 μm (diameter) cerium dioxide particles, integration times of the Faraday cup detectors were varied from 50–500 ms. The signal from the cerium isotopes in the particles was used to determine isotope ratios, which closely matched the expected natural isotopic abundances. Due to the signal decay response from the Faraday cups, the signal from particles lasts much longer than the expected 1–2 ms (up to 100 s of ms). To explore this effect on isotope ratio analysis, multiple ratio analysis methods were used to determine how to obtain optimal precision and accuracy. Relative differences were around 2% for methods that calculated isotope ratios from summing the total signal of an individual particle before calculating the ratio (rather than using every data point individually). It was found that summing all data points per particle, or integrating under the signal peak, yielded both accurate and precise isotope ratios within the particle population. Particles were also sampled off a solid substrate via microextraction, and isotope ratios were determined with relative differences of 0.13% to 9%. This demonstrates the ability to use spMC-ICP-MS to obtain isotope ratios on particles, with little to no relative difference in comparison to the expected ratio, even when operating Faraday detectors at fast 50 ms integration times.

Szakas, Sarah E. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (O↗
DOE OSTI2026

Large-scale real-time signal processing in physics experiments: the ALICE TPC FPGA pipeline

For LHC Run 3, the ALICE Time Projection Chamber was upgraded to operate in continuous readout mode. Interaction rates of up to 50 kHz in Pb-Pb collisions require real-time processing of more than 3 TB s -1 of raw detector data. This requirement is met by a custom FPGA-based processing pipeline that performs the complete front-end data treatment fully in-stream, including common-mode correction, pedestal subtraction, ion-tail filtering, zero suppression, and dense data packing. A central element of the design is a highly parallel common-mode correction algorithm operating directly on the streaming data. It robustly identifies signal-free readout channels on a time-bin basis and applies pad-dependent scaling to compensate for local variations in capacitive coupling in the GEM readout. In combination with pedestal subtraction and ion-tail filtering, this enables accurate baseline restoration under extreme high-occupancy conditions, preventing signal loss while efficiently suppressing noise prior to zero suppression. The pipeline operates continuously at the full detector bandwidth and reduces the raw input rate of approximately 3 TB s -1 to about 900 GBps for Pb-Pb collisions at the target interaction rate. Overall, it represents a large-scale FPGA-based real-time signal-processing implementation for high-energy physics detector readout.

Digital signal processing (DSP)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Beam test performance studies of CMS Phase-2 Outer Tracker module prototypes

A new tracking detector will be installed as part of thePhase-2 upgrade of the CMS detector for the high-luminosity LHC era.This tracking detector includes the Inner Tracker, equipped withsilicon pixel sensor modules, and the Outer Tracker, consisting ofmodules with two parallel stacked silicon sensors. The Outer Trackerfront-end ASICs will be able to correlate hits from chargedparticles in these two sensors to perform on-module discriminationof transverse momenta (p$_{T}$). The p$_{T}$information is generated at a frequency of 40 MHz and will be usedin the Level-1 trigger decision of CMS. Prototypes of theso-called 2S modules were tested at the Test Beam Facility at DESYHamburg between 2019 and 2020. These modules use the finalfront-end ASIC, the CMS Binary Chip (CBC), and for the firsttime the Concentrator Integrated Circuit (CIC), optical readoutand on-module power conversion. In total, seven modules were tested,one of which was assembled with sensors irradiated with protons. Animportant aspect was to show that it is possible to read out modulessynchronously. A cluster hit efficiency of about 99.75 % wasachieved for all modules. The CBC p$_{T}$ discriminationmechanism has been verified to work together with the CIC andoptical readout. The measured module performance meets therequirements for operation in the upgraded CMS tracking detector.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2026

Beam test performance of AstroPix sensor with 120 GeV protons

AstroPix is a High-Voltage CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (HV-CMOS MAPS) developed for precision gamma-ray imaging and spectroscopy in the medium-energy regime, as well as for precise shower imaging and tracking in the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter (BIC) of the Electron Proton/Ion Collider (ePIC) detector at the future Electron–Ion Collider (EIC). We present beam test results of the AstroPix_v3 sensor using a 120 GeV proton beam at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility (FTBF), performed as part of the broader experimental campaign for the BIC prototype calorimeter. The sensor’s 500 µm pixel pitch enabled precise measurement of the beam profile, providing important information for the calorimeter performance studies. Using the measured 120 GeV proton data, we measure the energy deposit of minimum ionizing particles (MIP) and use them to extract the corresponding effective depletion depth at a single bias voltage of −150 V .

AstroPix↗
DOE OSTI2025

Status of the Mu2e experiment

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab searches for the coherent, neutrino-less conversion of a μ − to e − in the Coulomb field of Al nuclei, that represents one of the cleanest Charged Lepton Flavor Violating (CLFV) processes for exploring Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics. Mu2e aims to improve previous sensitivity by four orders of magnitude, with a distinctive signature provided by identifying mono-energetic electrons with energy slightly below the muon rest mass. To reach this goal, the experiment will use the highest intensity pulsed muon beam in the world, with up to 6 × 1 0 9 stopped muons/sec. This is achieved using the Fermilab proton beam and the design and realization of a unique 25 m long superconducting solenoidal system. The high beam intensity relies upon minimizing beam losses in the slow extraction region, indicating an opportunity of using bent crystals for shadowing. A high-resolution straw tracker and a fast CsI crystal calorimeter identify the conversion electron. Both detectors are inserted behind the Stopping Target in the last solenoid section. A Cosmic Ray Veto covers a large part of the solenoids to suppress background produced by cosmic rays. In this paper, we report the details of the experimental layout, the construction status of the magnetic system and detectors, and a short description of the simulation and realization of the bent crystals. Performing crystal channeling in front of the first slow extraction septa will allow beam shadowing and largely reduce beam losses. •Charge Lepton Flavor Violation processes: μ − → e − conversion.•Large Superconducting Solenoid system.•High-Intensity beams•High precision detectors.•Crystal channeling.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

First operation of a multi-channel Q-Pix prototype: measuring transverse electron diffusion in a gas time projection chamber

We report measurements of the transverse diffusion of electrons in P-10 gas (90% Ar, 10% CH 4 ) in a laboratory-scale time projection chamber (TPC) utilizing a novel pixelated signal capture and digitization technique known as Q-Pix. The Q-Pix method incorporates a precision switched integrating transimpedance amplifier whose output is compared to a threshold voltage. Upon reaching the threshold, a comparator sends a 'reset' signal, initiating a discharge of the integrating capacitor. The time difference between successive resets is inversely proportional to the average current at the pixel in that time interval, and the number of resets is directly proportional to the total collected charge. We developed a 16-channel Q-Pix prototype fabricated from commercial off-the-shelf components and coupled them to 16 concentric annular anode electrodes to measure the spatial extent of the electron swarm that reaches the anode after drifting through the uniform field of the TPC. The swarm is produced at a gold photocathode using pulsed UV light. The measured transverse diffusion agrees with simulations in PyBoltz across a range of operating pressures (200–1500 Torr). These results demonstrate that a Q-Pix readout can successfully reconstruct the ionization topology in a TPC.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Event-driven readout development: testing of the EDWARD65P1 chip with integrated event generators

Building on a prototype readout integrated circuit for segmented silicon sensors with the EDWARD event-driven readout architecture, the front-end in each pixel was replaced by a hardware generator to verify readout performance, ensuring no data loss, consistent priority handling, and speed verification. Here, this generator produces Poisson-distributed readout requests with individually tunable rates per pixel via a digitally controlled oscillator. The resulting EDWARD65P1 test ASIC is a 32×32 pixel matrix with a 100 μm pitch, equipped with digital event generators simulating radiation hits at user-defined rates. Test results for this new design are presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Low power on-chip data transmission for wafer-scale monolithic active pixel sensors

Here, this paper details the implementation of the digital pulse shaping subsystem within the Backbone Transmission Line Encoding (BTLE) driver, a low-power, long-distance on-chip data transmission solution designed in a 65 nm CMOS process. Digital pulse shaping is critical for minimizing inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by bandwidth limitations of on-chip interconnects, especially in wafer-scale monolithic active pixel sensors (MAPS). A duobinary encoder coupled with a parallelized polyphase finite impulse response (FIR) filter is used for efficient shaping of the transmitted signal spectrum. This reconfigurable architecture achieves reliable 160 Mb/s data transfer over a 10 cm on-chip link, as validated by simulations demonstrating low power consumption (FoM 37.3 fJ/bit/mm of transmission line length) and effective ISI mitigation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Research in Neutrino Physics (Final Technical Report)

The goal of the experimental neutrino efforts at Louisiana State University is to measure the properties of neutrinos and to improve our understanding of neutrino interactions. In pursuit of this goal, the group will continue its Intensity Frontier work on the DUNE experiment at Fermilab and the T2K experiment at J-PARC, Japan. The current work is focused on understanding how neutrinos change flavor and on the possibility for asymmetry between neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. The effort on T2K includes physics measurements using the collected T2K data and preparation for the second phase T2K-II data with an increased beam power and the newly upgraded ND280 detector, featuring a novel 3D fine grained scintillation tracker with 4π acceptance and 3D readout. T2K is in a position to improve our understanding of neutrino nucleus interactions which continue to be one of the largest systematic uncertainties for neutrino oscillation measurements. On DUNE, the effort is on analyzing the data collected by the ProtoDUNE-SP prototype at CERN and on the design, installation, and commissioning of ProtoDUNE-II and later the DUNE Far Detector cold electronics. The final DUNE Module-1 components will be fully characterized by ProtoDUNE-II and the collected data will be used to improve and tune simulation and reconstruction algorithms, and to measure hadron scattering cross section, used to improve the modeling of neutrino final state interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Charge readout electronics for the DUNE horizontal drift far detector: design and performance in ProtoDUNE-HD

DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment currently under construction, whose far detectors will be the largest liquid argon time projection chambers ever built. This detector design calls for custom-built cryogenic front-end electronics to meet its performance requirements. This paper describes the charge readout electronics that will be used in the DUNE horizontal drift (HD) far detector and presents performance results using data from the ProtoDUNE-HD detector, a 770 ton liquid argon time projection chamber operated at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2024 that served as the final prototype of the DUNE HD design.

Front-end electronics for detector readout↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for solar axions produced through the axion-electron coupling gae using a new GridPix detector at CAST

We present a search for solar axions produced through the axion-electron coupling (g ae ) using data from a novel 7-GridPix detector installed at the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST). The detector, featuring ultra-thin silicon nitride windows and multiple veto systems, collected approximately 160 hours of solar tracking data between 2017–2018. Using machine learning techniques and the veto systems, we achieved a background rate of 1.06 × 10 −5 keV −1 cm −2 s −1 at a signal efficiency of about 80% in the 0.2 to 8 keV range. Analysis of the data yielded no significant excess above background, allowing us to set a new upper limit on the product of the axion-electron and axion-photon couplings of g ae · g aγ < 7.35 × 10 −23 GeV −1 at 95% confidence level for axion masses below 10 meV. This result improves upon the previous best helioscope limit and demonstrates the potential of GridPix technology for rare event searches. Additionally, we derived a limit on the axion-photon coupling of g aγ < 9.0 × 10 −11 GeV −1 at 95% CL, which, while not surpassing CAST’s best limit, provides complementary constraints on axion models.

Beyond Standard Model↗
DOE OSTI2025

Single-element balanced detector giving 65 dB CMRR at 30 MHz

We present a simple design for a single-element balanced detector (BD) that utilizes optical fibers in the sensing and reference channels with path length differences set to detect the differential signal at a desired frequency. With this approach, we easily achieve a common-mode rejection ratio of 65 dB, corresponding to the shot-noise limit of our setup. The CMRR demonstration is made in the MHz frequency range but could be extended to the kHz or GHz range. Using a single detector, the BD achieves stable CMRR over extended periods and does not require careful matching of detectors and amplification electronics. We demonstrate the single-element balanced detector design using the optical Kerr effect induced by a 30 MHz pulsed laser, showing a significant improvement over similar experiments using a commercial balanced detector.

Badilla-Nunez, Kelly [Georgia Institute of Technol↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ensuring High-Purity Liquid Argon for the LBNF FDC: Collaborative Cryogenics Research Between UNICAMP and Fermilab

Ensuring High-Purity Liquid Argon for the LBNF FDC: Collaborative Cryogenics Research Between UNICAMP and Fermilab R. Doubnik1, M. Adamowski1, F. de M. Blaszczyk1, A. Hahn1, D. Montanari1, R. Mrowca1, Z. West1, C. Adriano2, T. P.M. Alegre2, D. Correia2, A. A. B. Machado2, E. Segreto2, R. G. Gonçalves3, E. M. Assaf6, J. M. Assaf3, D. Cardoso3, M. B. Fontes4, H. Da Motta4, D. Noriler5, P. J. G. Pagliuso2. 1 Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, PO Box 500, Batavia IL 60510, United States. 2 “Gleb Wataghin” Institute of Physics, UNICAMP, Campinas-SP, 13083-859, Brazil. 3 CPqMAE - Research Center on Advanced Materials and Energy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, 13565-905, Brazil. 4 The Brazilian Center for Research in Physics (CBPF), Rio de Janeiro-RJ, 22290-180, Brazil. 5 School of Chemical Engineering, UNICAMP, Campinas-SP, 13083-859, Brazil. 6 São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13566-590, Brazil. Email: rdoubnik@fnal.gov Abstract. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) located at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, hosts the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). This experiment employs cryostats containing nearly 70,000 metric tons of high-purity liquid argon (LAr). Ensuring LAr purity is critical for achieving the required electron lifetime, which directly impacts the experiment’s signal-to-noise ratio. The Horizontal Drift (HD) detector demands an electron lifetime exceeding 3 ms within its 3.5 m drift, equivalent to less than 100 parts-per-trillion (ppt) Oxygen contamination, while the Vertical Drift (VD) detector requires over 6 ms electron lifetime within its 6.0 m drift, corresponding to less than 50 ppt Oxygen contamination. To mitigate Nitrogen (N2) quenching of scintillation light, N2 contamination must remain below 1 ppm, as higher levels can result in up to a 20 % loss of light. The Brazil State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) significantly contributes to LBNF FDC through the development of argon purification and regeneration systems for HD and VD cryostats. UNICAMP designed and constructed the Purification Liquid Argon Cryostat (PuLArC), a small-scale test facility holding approximately 90 liters of LAr. Tests using PuLArC demonstrated that 1.2 kg of Li-FAU zeolite could reduce N₂ contamination from 20-50 ppm to 0.1-1.0 ppm within 1-2 hours. Tests at Fermilab’s Iceberg cryostat (2,596 liters) confirmed scalability, with 3 kg of Li-FAU reducing N₂ contamination from ~5 ppm to <1 ppm over 96 hours cycles without active circulation. This presentation will detail the research methods, test setups, and results, showcasing the potential of Li-FAU as an alternative to Molecular Sieve 4A for large-scale LAr systems. This advancement enhances DUNE's precision and demonstrates the impact of international collaboration on cryogenic research.

Doubnik, Roza [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of the response to electrons and pions in the scintillating fiber and lead calorimeter for the future electron-ion collider

The performance of the Baby Barrel Electromagnetic Calorimeter (Baby BCAL) — a small-scale lead-scintillating-fiber (Pb/ScFi) prototype of the GlueX Barrel Electromagnetic Calorimeter (BCAL) — was tested in a dedicated beam campaign at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility (FTBF). This study provides a benchmark for the Pb/ScFi component of the future Barrel Imaging Calorimeter (BIC) in the ePIC detector at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The detector response to electrons and pions was studied at beam energies between 4 and 10 GeV, extending previous GlueX tests to a higher energy regime. The calibrated detector exhibits good linearity within uncertainties, and its electron energy resolution meets EIC requirements. The data further constrain the constant term in the energy resolution to below 1.9%, improving upon previous constraints at lower energies. Simulations reproduce key features of the electron and pion data within the limitations of the collected dataset and the FTBF test environment. Electron-pion separation in the test beam setup was analyzed using multiple methods, incorporating varying degrees of beam-related effects. The inclusion of longitudinal shower profile information enhanced the separation performance, underscoring its relevance for the full-scale BIC in ePIC. These results provide essential benchmarks for the Pb/ScFi section of the future BIC, validating detector simulations and guiding optimization strategies for electron-pion discrimination.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Study of few-electron backgrounds in the LUX-ZEPLIN detector

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment aims to detect rare interactions between dark matter particles and xenon. Although the detector is designed to be the most sensitive to GeV/𝑐 2 –TeV/𝑐 2 weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), it is also capable of measuring low-energy ionization signals down to a single electron that may be produced by scatters of sub-GeV/𝑐 2 dark matter. The major challenge in exploiting this sensitivity is to understand and suppress the ionization background in the few-electron regime. We report a characterization of the delayed electron backgrounds following energy depositions in the LZ detector under different detector conditions. In addition, we quantify the probability for photons to be emitted in coincidence with electron emission from the high voltage grids. We then demonstrate that spontaneous grid electron emission can be identified and rejected with a high efficiency using a coincident photon tag, which provides a tool to improve the sensitivity of future dark matter searches.

Akerib, D. S. [SLAC National Accelerator Laborator↗