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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 613 records · Page 34

The metabolic origins of non-photorespiratory CO 2 release during photosynthesis: a metabolic flux analysis

Respiration in the light (R L ) releases CO 2 in photosynthesizing leaves and is a phenomenon that occurs independently from photorespiration. Since R L lowers net carbon fixation, understanding R L could help improve plant carbon-use efficiency and models of crop photosynthesis. Although R L was identified more than 75 years ago, its biochemical mechanisms remain unclear. To identify reactions contributing to R L , we mapped metabolic fluxes in photosynthesizing source leaves of the oilseed crop and model plant camelina (Camelina sativa). We performed a flux analysis using isotopic labeling patterns of central metabolites during 13 CO 2 labeling time course, gas exchange, and carbohydrate production rate experiments. To quantify the contributions of multiple potential CO 2 sources with statistical and biological confidence, we increased the number of metabolites measured and reduced biological and technical heterogeneity by using single mature source leaves and quickly quenching metabolism by directly injecting liquid N 2 ; we then compared the goodness-of-fit between these data and data from models with alternative metabolic network structures and constraints. Our analysis predicted that R L releases 5.2 μmol CO2 g –1 FW h –1 of CO 2 , which is relatively consistent with a value of 9.3 μmol CO 2 g –1 FW h –1 measured by CO 2 gas exchange. The results indicated that ≤10% of R L results from TCA cycle reactions, which are widely considered to dominate R L . Further analysis of the results indicated that oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate to pentose phosphate via 6-phosphogluconate (the G6P/OPP shunt) can account for >% of CO 2 released by R L .

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Laser and electron deflection from transverse asymmetries in laser-plasma accelerators

Here, we report on the deflection of laser pulses and accelerated electrons in a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) by the effects of laser pulse front tilt and transverse density gradients. Asymmetry in the plasma index of refraction leads to laser steering, which can be due to a density gradient or spatiotemporal coupling of the laser pulse. The transverse forces from the skewed plasma wave can also lead to electron deflection relative to the laser. Quantitative models are proposed for both the laser and electron steering, which are confirmed by particle-in-cell simulations. Experiments with the BELLA Petawatt Laser are presented which show controllable 0.1-1 mrad laser and electron beam deflection from laser pulse front tilt. This has potential applications for electron beam pointing control, which is of paramount importance for LPA applications.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Experimental study of coherent transition radiation from relativistic electron bunches entering a dihedral angle

The angular distributions of the intensity of transition radiation from a bunch of relativistic electrons entering a dihedral angle between two conducting planes have been measured in a millimeter wavelength range. A microtron with a particle energy of 7.4 MeV is used as a source of electrons. The effect of the particle injection direction and the magnitude of the dihedral angle on the angular distribution of the radiation intensity has been analyzed. The measurements show that the character of the distribution of radiation from a charge entering the dihedral angle significantly differs from that for a charge escaping the angle. A comparatively small change in the magnitude of the dihedral angle can lead to qualitative changes in the angular distribution of radiation from a charge entering the dihedral angle.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Transition radiation from relativistic electrons crossing a perfectly conducting conical surface: Calculation and experiment

The angular distributions of the transition radiation intensity when a charged particle passes through the vertex of a perfectly conducting conical surface have been calculated. The radiation generated both when the particle exits the conductor and when it falls on the conductor has been considered. The angular distributions of the intensity of the transition radiation generated by a bunch of relativistic electrons have been measured in the millimeter wavelength range. A microtron with a particle energy of 7.4 MeV was the source of electrons. The influence of the particle injection direction and the conical-surface opening angle on the angular distribution of the radiation intensity has been studied. The measurements have shown that the distribution of the radiation generated by a charge when it enters the horn differs significantly in pattern from the distribution when it exits the horn.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

High lifetime and mobility CdTe alloys by co-sublimation

The focus of this project was to understand controlled doping of CdTe and CdSe x Te 1-x films using group V element dopants such as nitrogen and arsenic. Using methods such as metal organic precursor injection as well as deposition of absorber with source charge incorporated with desired group V dopant. Using characterization methods such as Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy and capacitance vs voltage measurement dopant incorporation and activation was verified. Since our deposition system had CuCl deposition source, this source was permanently removed from the system and vacuum chamber was thoroughly cleaned out. CdSe x Te 1-x grading into CdTe has led to higher device efficiency owing to an improvement in short-circuit current (J SC ) due to its lower band-gap. More device fabrication and characterization was performed in an effort to optimize the lower band-gap CdSe x Te 1-x . This optimization was performed using different co-sublimation method where CdTe and Se were co-sublimated in varying proportion to sweep the band-gap of CdSe x Te 1-x that deposited on the substrate.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

GADRAS-DRF Version 18 User's Manual

The Gamma Detector Response and Analysis Software Detector Response Function (GADRAS-DRF) application computes the response of gamma-ray and neutron detectors to incoming radiation and provides analysis on measured spectra. This manual provides step-by-step procedures to acquaint new users with the use of the application. The capabilities include characterization of detector response parameters, plotting and viewing measured and computed spectra, analyzing spectra to identify isotopes, estimating source energy distributions from measured spectra, and creating inject data. GADRAS-DRF can compute and provide detector responses quickly and accurately, giving users the ability to obtain usable results in a timely manner (a matter of seconds or minutes).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

FY-2018 FES Joint Research Target

Fusion alphas and injected energetic neutral particle beams provide an important source of heating and current drive in advanced tokamak operating scenarios and burning plasma regimes. Alfvén eigenmode instabilities can cause the redistribution or loss of fast ions and driven currents, as well as potentially decreasing fusion performance and leading to localized losses. Measured fast ion fluxes in DIII-D and NSTX-U plasmas with different levels of Alfvén eigenmode activity will be used to determine the threshold for significant fast ion transport, assess mechanisms and models for such transport, and quantify the impact on beam power deposition and current drive. Measurements will be compared with theoretical predictions, including quantitative fluctuation data and fast ion density, in order to validate models and improve understanding of underlying mechanisms. Model predictions will guide the development of attractive operating regimes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Quantitative Long-Term Monitoring of the Circulating Gases in the KATRIN Experiment Using Raman Spectroscopy

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment aims at measuring the effective electron neutrino mass with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c2, i.e., improving on previous measurements by an order of magnitude. Neutrino mass data taking with KATRIN commenced in early 2019, and after only a few weeks of data recording, analysis of these data showed the success of KATRIN, improving on the known neutrino mass limit by a factor of about two. This success very much could be ascribed to the fact that most of the system components met, or even surpassed, the required specifications during long-term operation. Here, we report on the performance of the laser Raman (LARA) monitoring system which provides continuous high-precision information on the gas composition injected into the experiment’s windowless gaseous tritium source (WGTS), specifically on its isotopic purity of tritium—one of the key parameters required in the derivation of the electron neutrino mass. The concentrations cx for all six hydrogen isotopologues were monitored simultaneously, with a measurement precision for individual components of the order 10−3 or better throughout the complete KATRIN data taking campaigns to date. From these, the tritium purity, εT, is derived with precision of <10−3 and trueness of <3 × 10−3, being within and surpassing the actual requirements for KATRIN, respectively.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Active experiments from ground

Recent ground-based stimulation and observations of ionospheric and magnetospheric phenomena are reported. The studies included amplification and emission generation by coherent ducted whistler mode signals in the magnetosphere, recipitation of radiation belt particles by the injection of VLF waves from ground-based sources, spectral broadening of the VLF signals during ionospheric propagation and the generation of ELF/VLF signals by HF heating of the auroral electrojet. The capabilities of controlled stimulation of the local terrestrial magnetic field environment provides the means for further investigations into the processes of energy exchange between waves and radiation belt particles and the interrelationships of the exchange with the energy coupling between the magnetosphere and ionosphere.

Inan, U. S.↗

Nobeyama Radio Heliograph and RHESSI Observations of the X 1.5 Flare of April 21, 2002

We present an overview of the microwave (17 and 34 GHz) observations of the X1.5 flare of April 21,2002, along with RHESSI hard X-ray observations. The event lasted more than 2 hours and features a beautiful arcade of rising loops on the limb visible at X-ray, EUV and radio wavelengths. The main flare was preceded by a small event 90 minutes earlier showing a long loop ,connecting well-separated radio and hard X-ray sources. The main flare itself starts with a compact radio and hard X-ray source well inside the solar limb. As the flare proceeds a large set of loops is seen to rise well above the solar limb. Distinct regions of radio emission with very different time behavior can be identified in the radio images, and in particular a peculiar nonthermal source seen in radio and hard X-rays low in the corona at the base of the arcade is seen to turn on 30 minutes after the start of the impulsive phase. At about the same time an extremely intense burst of coherent radio emission is seen from 500 to 2000 MHz: we speculate that this lower-frequency burst is produced by electrons that are accelerated in the nonthermal source at the base of the arcade and injected into the loop system where they radiate plasma emission in the 10(exp 10)/cm(exp 3) density plasma at the top of the arcade of loops.

Kundu, Mukul R.↗

Magnetic Field-Line Lengths in Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections Inferred from Energetic Electron Events

About one quarter of the observed interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) are characterized by enhanced magnetic fields that smoothly rotate in direction over timescales of about 10-50 hr. These ICMEs have the appearance of magnetic flux ropes and are known as "magnetic clouds" (MCs). The total lengths of MC field lines can be determined using solar energetic particles of known speeds when the solar release times and the I AU onset times of the particles are known. A recent examination of about 30 near-relativistic (NR) electron events in and near 8 MCs showed no obvious indication that the field-line lengths were longest near the MC boundaries and shortest at the MC axes or outside the MCs, contrary to the expectations for a flux rope. Here we use the impulsive beamed NR electron events observed with the Electron Proton and Alpha Monitor instrument on the Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft and type III radio bursts observed on the Wind spacecraft to determine the field-line lengths inside ICMEs included in the catalog of Richardson & Cane. In particular, we extend this technique to ICMEs that are not MCs and compare the field-line lengths inside MCs and non-MC ICMEs with those in the ambient solar wind outside the ICMEs. No significant differences of field-line lengths are found among MCs, ICMEs, and the ambient solar wind. The estimated number of ICME field-line turns is generally smaller than those deduced for flux-rope model fits to MCs. We also find cases in which the electron injections occur in solar active regions CARs) distant from the source ARs of the ICMEs, supporting CME models that require extensive coronal magnetic reconnection with surrounding fields. The field-line lengths are found to be statistically longer for the NR electron events classified as ramps and interpreted as shock injections somewhat delayed from the type III bursts. The path lengths of the remaining spike and pulse electron events are compared with model calculations of solar wind field-line lengths resulting from turbulence and found to be in good agreement.

Kahler, S. W.↗

Constraints on the Galactic Halo Dark Matter from Fermi-LAT Diffuse Measurements

We have performed an analysis of the diffuse gamma-ray emission with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) in the Milky Way halo region, searching for a signal from dark matter annihilation or decay. In the absence of a robust dark matter signal, constraints are presented. We consider both gamma rays produced directly in the dark matter annihilation/decay and produced by inverse Compton scattering of the e+/e− produced in the annihilation/decay. Conservative limits are derived requiring that the dark matter signal does not exceed the observed diffuse gamma-ray emission. A second set of more stringent limits is derived based on modeling the foreground astrophysical diffuse emission using the GALPROP code. Uncertainties in the height of the diffusive cosmic-ray halo, the distribution of the cosmic-ray sources in the Galaxy, the index of the injection cosmic-ray electron spectrum, and the column density of the interstellar gas are taken into account using a profile likelihood formalism, while the parameters governing the cosmic-ray propagation have been derived from fits to local cosmic-ray data. The resulting limits impact the range of particle masses over which dark matter thermal production in the early universe is possible, and challenge the interpretation of the PAMELA/Fermi-LAT cosmic ray anomalies as the annihilation of dark matter.

DIFFUSE MEASUREMENTS↗

Method and apparatus for a combination moving bed thermal treatment reactor and moving bed filter

A moving bed gasification/thermal treatment reactor includes a geometry in which moving bed reactor particles serve as both a moving bed filter and a heat carrier to provide thermal energy for thermal treatment reactions, such that the moving bed filter and the heat carrier are one and the same to remove solid particulates or droplets generated by thermal treatment processes or injected into the moving bed filter from other sources.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Assessment of a Hydroxyapatite Permeable Reactive Barrier to Remediate Uranium at the Old Rifle Site Colorado.

We have performed an initial evaluation and testing program to assess the effectiveness of a hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) permeable reactive barrier and source area treatment to decrease uranium mobility at the Department of Energy (DOE) former Old Rifle uranium mill processing site in Rifle, western Colorado. Uranium ore was processed at the site from the 1940s to the 1970s. The mill facilities at the site as well as the uranium mill tailings previously stored there have all been removed. Groundwater in the alluvial aquifer beneath the site still contains elevated concentrations of uranium, and is currently used for field tests to study uranium behavior in groundwater and investigate potential uranium remediation technologies. The technology investigated in this work is based on in situ formation of apatite in sediment to create a subsurface apatite PRB and also for source area treatment. The process is based on injecting a solution containing calcium citrate and sodium into the subsurface for constructing the PRB within the uranium plume. As the indigenous sediment micro-organisms biodegrade the injected citrate, the calcium is released and reacts with the phosphate to form hydroxyapatite (precipitate). This paper reports on proof-of-principle column tests with Old Rifle sediment and synthetic groundwater.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Assessment of a Hydroxyapatite Permeable Reactive Barrier to Remediate Uranium at the Old Rifle Site, Colorado - 16193

We have performed an initial evaluation and testing program to assess the effectiveness of a hydroxyapatite (Ca{sub 10}(PO{sub 4}){sub 6}(OH){sub 2}) permeable reactive barrier and source area treatment to decrease uranium mobility at the Department of Energy (DOE) former Old Rifle uranium mill processing site in Rifle, western Colorado. Uranium ore was processed at the site from the 1940's to the 1970's. The mill facilities at the site as well as the uranium mill tailings previously stored there have all been removed. Groundwater in the alluvial aquifer beneath the site still contains elevated concentrations of uranium and is currently used for field tests to study uranium behavior in groundwater and investigate potential uranium remediation technologies. The technology investigated in this work is based on in situ formation of apatite in sediment to create a subsurface apatite PRB and also for source area treatment. The process is based on injecting a solution containing calcium citrate and sodium into the subsurface for constructing the PRB within the uranium plume. As the indigenous sediment micro-organisms biodegrade the injected citrate, the calcium is released and reacts with the phosphate to form hydroxyapatite (precipitate). This paper reports on proof-of-principle column tests with Old Rifle sediment and synthetic groundwater. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

An automated system for continuous monitoring of CO 2 geosequestration using multi-well offset VSP with permanent seismic sources and receivers: Stage 3 of the CO2CRC Otway Project

Time-lapse seismic is an essential tool for monitoring CO 2 injection into the subsurface but suffers from high cost and long intervals between surveys. An alternative approach is continuous monitoring using permanent sources and receivers capable of mapping CO 2 plume evolution on an almost daily basis and drastically reduce human effort, cost and survey turnaround. As part of the CO2CRC Otway project, a continuous monitoring system is employed to monitor a small (15,000 tonnes) CO 2 injection within the CO2CRC Otway Project. The permanent monitoring system employs distributed acoustic sensors (DAS) installed in boreholes as seismic receivers and seismic orbital vibrators (SOV) as seismic sources. The monitoring approach is based on vertical seismic profiling using five wells equipped with DAS cemented behind the casing and nine SOVs and is acquiring the data continuously in an autonomous manner. The data is then automatically processed on-site producing a seismic image every 2.5 days, which is then transmitted to a remote office. The data has good repeatability with NRMS of about ~10-15%.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Reduced-model scrape-off layer turbulence (nSOLT) simulations comparing three fueling scenarios

The 2D scrape-off-layer turbulence code (nSOLT) includes 1D Boltzmann neutral–plasma interactions, a model of divertor recycling (introduced here), and a fixed source of plasma concentrated at the core-side boundary. Three fueling methods are considered herein: (1) neutral injection in the far-SOL is accomplished by specifying the density of Franck–Condon distributed neutrals streaming in from the boundary. (2) Divertor recycling is modeled by injecting a fraction of the particle parallel flux in the scrape-off layer (SOL) back into the edge region as a source of plasma. (3) A constant source fuels the edge plasma from the core-side boundary to model pellet injection. For machine parameters (B, R m , and L // ) illustrative of the MAST-U device, and for a deuterium plasma, turbulent equilibria are obtained that share the same plasma fueling rate for each of the three fueling methods, with only one of the sources on in each case. In the presence of self-consistent turbulence, quasi-steady plasma and neutral (deuterium) profiles, fueling efficiencies, SOL transparencies, and heat flux widths are compared. Characteristics of the turbulent fluctuations, including skewness, cross-phases, and power spectra, are described. The calculated fueling efficiencies, SOL transparencies to neutral penetration, and many of the turbulent properties are remarkably similar for all three fueling methods despite significant differences in the plasma profiles. The nonlinear states of the three cases are dominated by separatrix-spanning vortex cells that control particle and heat losses into the SOL.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗