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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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At least 541 records · Page 30

UV spectral irradiance measurements in New Zealand: Effects of Pinatubo volcanic aerosol

Since late 1989, regular UV spectral irradiance measurements have been made at Lauder, New Zealand (45 deg S, 170 deg E), whenever weather permits. Here, the instrumentation and measurement strategy are outlined, and early results are discussed. Following the eruption of Mt Pinatubo in June 1991, large amounts of volcanic aerosol were injected into the stratosphere and were subsequently transported to New Zealand's latitudes in the latter half of 1991. This provides an opportunity to investigate the effects of volcanic aerosols on UV irradiances measured at this clean-air site. Although changes in global (sum of diffuse plus direct) irradiances were below the detection threshold, there were significant changes in the partitioning of radiation between the direct beam and diffuse skylight. Decreases by nearly a factor of two in the direct/diffuse ratio were observed at longer wavelengths, and at smaller solar zenith angles (sza's). The aerosol optical depth due to volcanic aerosol over Lauder in December 1991 was 0.15 plus or minus 0.02 at 450 nm, with lower values at shorter wavelengths. Although effects were relatively small in the UVB region, an implication of the changes is that the contrast between shade and direct sun is reduced, so that shaded areas received relatively more radiation in the summer of 1991/92 in New Zealand.

Mckenzie, Richard L.↗

Collimator challenges at SuperKEKB and their countermeasures using nonlinear collimator

In SuperKEKB, movable collimators reduce the beam background noise in the Belle II particle detector and protect crucial machine components, such as final focusing superconducting quadrupole magnets (QCS), from abnormal beam losses. The challenges related to the collimator, which were not properly considered at the time of SuperKEKB design, have surfaced through experience with its operation. In this paper, we report the collimator operation strategy in SuperKEKB. In addition, a significant challenge of beam collimation due to the future increase in the beam background is highlighted. We also discuss another issue caused by unexpected and sudden beam losses in the machine that damage collimators, leading to weaker beam collimation performance and an increase in transverse impedance. Furthermore, we introduce a novel collimation approach called the nonlinear collimator (NLC) to address these challenges. We detail the concept of NLC and evaluate their effectiveness by assessing the collimator impedance, beam background reduction, and impact on the dynamic aperture. The possibility of using NLCs as absorber collimators to counteract events that damage the collimator is also shown to be helpful.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Compact jets and the AGN paradigm

The nature of compact, nonthermal jets in active galactic nuclei is reviewed from both observational and theoretical standpoints. Despite rapid variations in brightness, the smallest emission regions in a jet may be relatively far removed from the central engine. Certain models for the formation of a relativistic particle beam that evolves downstream into the observed radio-infrared jet do, however, predict substantial high energy radiation from regions in the beam close to the accretion disk. Observations of such emission, and the general requirement that the jets be well collimated and accelerated to relativistic bulk velocities by the point where they are observed in the radio, can provide indirect constraints on the massive black hole accretion paradigm. Observations of well collimated, semi-relativistic jets in the accreting stellar systems SS 433 and Cyg X-3, as well as slower jets emanating from star forming regions, encourage one to associate jet formation with accretion of gas onto a compact object.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

Potential for tensor polarized deuterons in Hall D at Jefferson lab

Hall D at Jefferson lab is an ideal place to install a polarized deuteron target which can be “tensor polarized”, allowing the separation of the spin states m = 0, ±1 or the measurement of tensor asymmetries. The bremsstrahlung photon beam with 3 - 12 GeV endpoint provides very little heating or radiation damage compared to an electron beam, allowing the target to be run in frozen spin mode. Adiabatic fast passage spin manipulations can then be used to greatly enhance the population of the m = 0 spin state of the deuteron. Coherent photoproduction of ρ mesons from deuterium is sensitive to double-scattering at high momentum transfer and in the m = 0 spin state an additional sensitivity at intermediate momentum transfer opens up. In conclusion, we propose a frozen spin target for Hall D and the measurement of ρ photoproduced coherently from the deuteron as a flagship measurement.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Design of the High Rigidity Spectrometer at FRIB

A High Rigidity Spectrometer (HRS) has been designed for experiments at the Facility for Rare-Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU). The HRS will allow experiments to be performed with the most exotic neutron-rich isotopes at high beam energies (≳100 MeV/u). The HRS consists of an analysis beamline called the High-Transmission Beamline (HTBL) and the spectrometer proper called the Spectrometer Section. Here, the maximum magnetic rigidity of the HRS is 8 Tm, which corresponds to the rigidities at which rare-isotope beams are optimally produced at FRIB. The resolving power, angular acceptance, and momentum acceptance are set to match the anticipated scientific program. An ion-optical design developed for the HRS is described in detail, along with the specifications of the associated magnet and detector systems.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Conceptual design report: a ring-based electron cooling system for the EIC

This report describes a concept of an EIC cooling system, based on a proven induction-linac technology with a DC electron beam. The system would operate in a full energy range of proton beams (100–270 GeV) and would provide 50–100 A electron beams, circulating in a cooler ring for 5 ms. Every 5 ms a new electron pulse would be injected into the cooler ring to provide continuous cooling at collisions. Operations with a 10-ms cycle is possible but it will reduce the cooling rates by ~30%. The system is capable of delivering the required performance in the entire EIC energy range with emittance cooling times of less than 1–2 hours.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

An isotope harvesting beam blocker for the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory

Harvesting isotopes from beam stops and other activated materials at accelerator facilities is a promising source of environmentally, scientifically and socially important radionuclides. At the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a multitude of short- and long-lived radionuclides will be collected in a synergistic manner by dumping unused beams into a flowing-water beam stop. Ongoing exploratory research at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) with an analogous beam blocker aims towards obtaining the necessary radiochemical expertise for this endeavor. Herein we present a beam blocker and an isotope harvesting system which allows collection of a wide variety of aqueous and gaseous radionuclides. The water which flows through the beam blocker functions as an isotope production target and concurrently transports the newly formed radionuclides to collection sites. The system includes analytical instruments for online measurements of conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pressure and for detection of radiolytic products. To limit the levels of radiolytically produced hydrogen peroxide, a stainless-steel based degradation system was designed and implemented. Here, the suitability of the constructed system for the anticipated radionuclide harvesting project was demonstrated by offline tests and under irradiation with 140 MeV/u 48 Ca 20+ ions at the NSCL Coupled Cyclotron Facility.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Beamed emission from gamma-ray burst sources

Gamma-ray bursts are intense fluxes of radiation in the 100 keV to several MeV energy range which typically persist for between a fraction of a second to several seconds. The observed spectral shape of these bursts suggest that the radiation is emitted as highly collimated beams emanating from neutron stars. This inference is based on the lack of significant gamma-gamma absorption (which are produced when gamma rays interact with stellar surfaces). The gamma-ray beams may be a consequence of a particle acceleration in double layers in neutron star magnetospheres.

Epstein, R.↗

Heavy fragment production cross sections from 1.05 GeV/nucleon 56Fe in C, Al, Cu, Pb, and CH2 targets

We have obtained charge-changing cross sections and partial cross sections for fragmentation of 1.05 GeV/nucleon Fe projectiles incident on H, C, Al, Cu, and Pb nuclei. The energy region covered by this experiment is critical for an understanding of galactic cosmic ray propagation and space radiation biophysics. Surviving primary beam particles and fragments with charges from 12 to 25 produced within a forward cone of half-angle 61 mrad were detected using a silicon detector telescope to identify their charge and the cross sections were calculated after correction of the measured yields for finite target thickness effects. The cross sections are compared to model calculations and to previous measurements. Cross sections for the production of fragments with even-numbered nuclear charges are seen to be enhanced in almost all cases.

NASA Center HQS↗

Coherent frequency combs from electrons colliding with a laser pulse

Highly coherent and powerful light sources capable of generating soft x-ray frequency combs are essential for high precision measurements and rigorous tests of fundamental physics. In this work, we derive the analytical conditions required for the emission of coherent radiation from an electron beam colliding with a laser pulse, modeled as a plane wave. These conditions are applied in a series of numerical simulations, where we show that a soft x-ray frequency comb can be produced if the electrons are regularly-spaced and sufficiently monoenergetic. High quality beams of this kind may be produced in the near future from laser-plasma interactions or linear accelerators. Furthermore, we highlight the advantageous role of employing few-cycle laser pulses in relaxing the stringent monoenergeticity requirements for coherent emission. The conditions derived here can also be used to optimize coherent emission in other frequency ranges, such as the terahertz domain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Evaluation of current density measurement methods for high-current, low-beta electron beams

Recent current density measurements with a low-beta electron beam (β=0.5-0.75) are strongly affected by electron scatter and Cherenkov limits. These invasive measurements are heavily influenced by the electron energy and the intercepting material properties: density, index of refraction, and atomic number. We evaluate various measurement methods, including x-ray scintillation and Cherenkov emission. To optimize the x-ray scintillation technique for this energy regime, metal foils of differing atomic number (Z) and thickness were placed upstream of a scintillation screen. We have selected Cherenkov emitters, based on a material refractive index, in order to differentiate the contributions from electron scatter and produced fluorescence, Cherenkov emission, and total internal reflection. The observed distributions for both approaches are verified through MCNP6®. Additionally, the simulations provide insight as to what physical processes dominate the measured distribution. We conclude by determining the limits and optimal measurement range for each measurement technique.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The determination of minority carrier lifetimes in direct band-gap semiconductors by monitoring intensity-modulated luminescence radiation

When an extrinsic, direct band-gap semiconductor sample is irradiated by photons of an energy higher than the energy of the band gap between valence and conduction bands, excess electron-hole pairs are generated which, while diffusing through the sample, produce luminescence via radiative recombination. If, furthermore, the intensity of the impinging beam of photons is modulated sinusoidally, the luminescence radiation escaping from the sample will be phase shifted with respect to the original photon beam in a characteristic way. It will be shown that by measuring the phase shift at different modulation frequencies, the Shockley-Read-Hall lifetime of minority carriers may be ascertained. The method is nondestructive inasmuch as there is no need to fabricate p-n junctions or Ohmic contacts, nor is it necessary to remove already existing Ohmic contacts of angle lap the surface, etc., procedures often needed when determining lifetimes with the scanning electron microscope (in which case a p-n junction must be present).

Von Roos, O.↗

The FERRUM Project: Experimental Transition Probabilities of [Fe II] and Astrophysical Applications

We report on experimental transition probabilities for thirteen forbidden [Fe II] lines originating from three different metastable Fe II levels. Radiative lifetimes have been measured of two metastable states by applying a laser probing technique on a stored ion beam. Branching ratios for the radiative decay channels, i.e. M1 and E2 transitions, are derived from observed intensity ratios of forbidden lines in astrophysical spectra and compared with theoretical data. The lifetimes and branching ratios are combined to derive absolute transition probabilities, A-values. We present the first experimental lifetime values for the two Fe II levels a(sup 4)G(sub 9/2) and b(sup 2)H(sub 11/2) and A-values for 13 forbidden transitions from a(sup 6)S(sub 5/2), a(sup 4)G(sub 9/2) and b(sup 4)D(sub 7/2) in the optical region. A discrepancy between the measured and calculated values of the lifetime for the b(sup 2)H(sub 11/2) level is discussed in terms of level mixing. We have used the code CIV3 to calculate transition probabilities of the a(sup 6)D-a(sup 6)S transitions. We have also studied observational branching ratios for lines from 5 other metastable Fe II levels and compared them to calculated values. A consistency in the deviation between calibrated observational intensity ratios and theoretical branching ratios for lines in a wider wavelength region supports the use of [Fe II] lines for determination of reddening.

Hartman, H.↗

The BEST framework for the search for the QCD critical point and the chiral magnetic effect

The Beam Energy Scan Theory (BEST) Collaboration was formed with the goal of providing a theoretical framework for analyzing data from the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The physics goal of the BES program is the search for a conjectured QCD critical point as well as for manifestations of the chiral magnetic effect. We describe progress that has been made over the previous five years. This includes studies of the equation of state and equilibrium susceptibilities, the development of suitable initial state models, progress in constructing a hydrodynamic framework that includes fluctuations and anomalous transport effects, as well as the development of freezeout prescriptions and hadronic transport models. Lastly, we address the challenge of integrating these components into a complete analysis framework. This document describes the collective effort of the BEST Collaboration and its collaborators around the world.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Beam test results of the Intermediate Silicon Tracker for sPHENIX

The Intermediate Silicon Tracker (INTT), a two-layer barrel silicon strip tracker, is a key component of the tracking system for sPHENIX at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The INTT is designed to enable the association of reconstructed tracks with individual RHIC bunch crossings. To evaluate the performance of preproduction INTT ladders and the readout chain, a beam test was conducted at the Research Center for Accelerator and Radioisotope Science, Tohoku University, Japan. This paper presents the performance of the INTT evaluated through studies of the signal-to-noise ratio, residual distribution, spatial resolution, hit-detection efficiency, and multiple track reconstruction.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Spacecraft radio

Spacecraft radio studies on multipacting between coaxial electrodes, S-band ranging, radar beam guidance, and rectangular cup radiator for high impact antenna

RADIO EQUIPMENT↗

Gamma, electron beam and X-ray irradiation effects on polymers in an advanced bone cement mixer device

The medical device industry has been investigating ways to increase the use of alternatives to cobalt-60 gamma radiation and ethylene-oxide gas sterilization, such as electron beam (E-beam) and X-ray radiation, due to regulatory and market pressures. One impediment to switching to E-beam or X-ray technology for sterilization is the lack of data on the effects of these radiation sources on medical device polymers. To provide such data this work considers irradiation and testing of a common single-use medical bone cement mixing system, the Stryker Advanced Cement Mixer (ACM®), that is composed of seven polymer materials. The ACM® devices considered here were processed to sterilization-relevant doses (15, 25, 50, and 70 kGy) using three radiation technologies: gamma, E-beam, and X-ray. The system and its polymer components were tested for product functionality, as well as mechanical and visual properties to determine how exposure effects may be influenced by radiation technology and dose level. We found that although there were instances of statistically significant differences in effects between the gamma-irradiated products and those irradiated with E-beam and X-ray, those effects were negligible in terms of retained functionality of the product and retained mechanical properties of the polymer components. Overall, results of this study demonstrate that, for of the effects studied, E-beam and X-ray are viable alternatives to cobalt-60 gamma radiation for sterilization of the polymer-based device investigated.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗