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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Comment on “Early stage time evolution of a dense nanosecond microdischarge used in fast optical switching applications” [Phys. Plasmas 22, 123518 (2015)]

In an effort to understand the opaque nature of high-voltage nanosecond microdischarges and their ability to block 532 nm nanosecond laser pulses, as demonstrated by Bataller et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 223501 (2014)], Levko and Raja have published a paper [Phys. Plasmas 22, 123518 (2015)] which simulates spark discharges in 1 bar of xenon gas. At this ambient pressure, Levko and Raja simulate final electron densities much too low to explain the observed opacity and conclude the probing laser generates the requisite ionization for self-blocking. However, the experimental findings of Bataller et al. showed opacity being reached at 10 bar, an order of magnitude larger than the pressure simulated by Levko and Raja. Furthermore, Bataller et al. showed the spark remained opaque for very low laser intensities, insufficient to cause any significant ionization. Although the simulation performed by Levko and Raja could have merit at 1 bar, it is not an appropriate comparison to the regime studied by Bataller et al.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Bis(arenesulfonyl) Peroxide, an Ambient-Stable Oxidant, Is a Strong p-Dopant for Organic Semiconductors

Strong p-dopants are required to dope high-ionization energy organic semiconductors for a variety of potential applications, but strong, simple one-electron oxidants are typically sensitive to reduction by atmospheric moisture and thus challenging to store or handle. Here we show that bis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonyl) peroxide─a dimer formed by two highly oxidizing radicals─can function as a water-stable yet powerful oxidant, cleanly reacting with some organic semiconductors to form two radical cations and two 3,5-bis-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonate anions, although in other cases sulfonylation reactions can also occur. Notably, this peroxide is capable of p-doping the high-ionization energy polymer poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl)- alt -(benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazol-4,7-diyl)] (F8BT) to afford electrical conductivities of up to 0.03 S cm –1 , while its use with electron-rich poly(3,4-dialkoxythiophene-2,5-diyl) derivatives can afford values up to 100 S cm –1 . Quantum-chemical calculations reveal the peroxide oxidant behaves in a fashion mirroring that of relatively oxygen-stable, but highly reducing, n-dopants that have been developed based on dimers of organic radicals or organometallic sandwich compounds.

doping↗
DOE OSTI2016

Effects of magnetic field strength in the discharge channel on the performance of a multi-cusped field thruster

The performance characteristics of a Multi-cusped Field Thruster depending on the magnetic field strength in the discharge channel were investigated. Four thrusters with different outer diameters of the magnet rings were designed to change the magnetic field strength in the discharge channel. It is found that increasing the magnetic field strength could restrain the radial cross-field electron current and decrease the radial width of main ionization region, which gives rise to the reduction of propellant utilization and thruster performance. The test results in different anode voltage conditions indicate that both the thrust and anode efficiency are higher for the weaker magnetic field in the discharge channel.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Calculation of the Ionization Coefficient in the Townsend Discharge in the Mixture of Argon and Mercury Vapors with Temperature-Dependent Composition

For a hybrid model of the low-current discharge considering, along with direct ionization of the mixture components by electrons, the Penning ionization of mercury atoms by metastable argon atoms, the ionization coefficient in the argon–mercury mixture used in illuminating lamps is calculated. The analytical approximation formula describing the dependence of the ionization coefficient of the mixture on the reduced electric field strength and temperature is obtained for sufficiently wide ranges of their variations, and its accuracy is estimated. It is demonstrated that the discharge ignition voltage calculated using this formula is in agreement with the results of simulation and the available experimental data.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Delayed or No Feedback? Gas Outflows in Type 2 AGNs. III

We present gas kinematics based on the [O iii] λ 5007 line and their connection to galaxy gravitational potential, active galactic nucleus (AGN) energetics, and star formation, using a large sample of ∼110,000 AGNs and star-forming (SF) galaxies at z < 0.3. Gas and stellar velocity dispersions are comparable to each other in SF galaxies, indicating that the ionized gas kinematics can be accounted by the gravitational potential of host galaxies. In contrast, AGNs clearly show non-gravitational kinematics, which is comparable to or stronger than the virial motion caused by the gravitational potential. The [O iii] velocity–velocity dispersion (VVD) diagram dramatically expands toward high values as a function of AGN luminosity, implying that the outflows are AGN-driven, while SF galaxies do not show such a trend. We find that the fraction of AGNs with a signature of outflow kinematics, steeply increases with AGN luminosity and Eddington ratio. In particular, the majority of luminous AGNs presents strong non-gravitational kinematics in the [O iii] profile. AGNs with strong outflow signatures show on average similar specific star formation rates (sSFRs) to those of star-forming galaxies. In contrast, AGNs with weak or no outflows have an order of magnitude lower sSFRs, suggesting that AGNs with current strong outflows do now show any negative AGN feedback and that it may take dynamical time to impact on star formation over galactic scales.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Alignment of the hydrogen molecule under intense laser fields

Alignment, dissociation and ionization of H 2 molecules in the ground or the electronically excited E,F state of the H 2 molecule are studied and contrasted using the Velocity Mapping Imaging (VMI) technique. Photoelectron images from nonresonant 7-, 8- and 9-photon radiation ionization of H 2 show that the intense laser fields create ponderomotive shifts in the potential energy surfaces and distort the velocity of the emitted electrons that are produced from ionization. Photofragment images of H+ due to the dissociation mechanism that follows the 2-photon excitation into the (E,F; v = 0, J = 0, 1) electronic state show a strong dependence on laser intensity, which is attributed to the high polarizability of the H 2 (E,F) state. For transitions from the J = 0 state, particularly, we observe marked structure in the angular distribution, which we explain as the interference between the prepared J = 0 and Stark-mixed J = 2 rovibrational states of H 2 , as the laser intensity increases. Quantification of these effects allows us to extract the molecular polarizability of the H 2 (E,F) state, and yields a value of 103 ± 37 A.U.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1990

Low-frequency ionization-driven instability of a discrete auroral arc model

The low-frequency (time scales of tens of seconds) dynamics of the auroral ionosphere differs from that of the nonauroral ionosphere by the presence of strong, unstable space- and time-dependent ionospheric ionization produced by precipitating auroral electrons. If recombination is relatively unimportant (as at high ionospheric heights), it is shown that, in general, transport processes cannot remove this ionization as fast as it is created, and no equilibrium is possible. These nonequilibrium phenomena are investigated in the context of a nonlinear adiabatic auroral model, which has previously been studied in static situations. A linearized local perturbation analysis is given of what amounts to a current-driven E x B gradient-drift instability with an ionization source, as well as some exact nonlinear solutions valid in a finite but limited spatial region. These solutions show continuing motion of auroral potential and plasma density, as the aurora tries to shift its ionization problems from one place to another. The analysis gives clues to the possibility of generation of chaos and of fine-scale spatial structure.

Cornwall, John M.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Slope and amplitude asymmetry effects on low frequency capacitively coupled carbon tetrafluoride plasmas

We report investigations of capacitively coupled carbon tetrafluoride (CF{sub 4}) plasmas excited with tailored voltage waveforms containing up to five harmonics of a base frequency of 5.5 MHz. The impact of both the slope asymmetry, and the amplitude asymmetry, of these waveforms on the discharge is examined by combining experiments with particle-in-cell simulations. For all conditions studied herein, the discharge is shown to operate in the drift-ambipolar mode, where a comparatively large electric field in the plasma bulk (outside the sheaths) is the main mechanism for electron power absorption leading to ionization. We show that both types of waveform asymmetries strongly influence the ion energy at the electrodes, with the particularity of having the highest ion flux on the electrode where the lowest ion energy is observed. Even at the comparatively high pressure (600 mTorr) and low fundamental frequency of 5.5 MHz used here, tailoring the voltage waveforms is shown to efficiently create an asymmetry of both the ion energy and the ion flux in geometrically symmetric reactors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Effect of plasma voltage on sulfurization of α-MoO{sub 3} nanostructured thin films

In this report, the effect of plasma voltage on plasma assisted sulfurization (PAS) of vertically aligned molybdenum trioxide (α- MoO{sub 3}) nanoflakes (NFs) on glass substrates has been studied systematically. MoO{sub 3} NFs were deposited using plasma assisted sublimation process. These nanoflakes were subjected to H{sub 2}S/Ar plasma at two different plasma voltages 600 and 1000 volts; to study the effect of plasma ionization on degree of sulfurization of MoO{sub 3} into MoS{sub 2}. XRD and Raman analysis show that film sulfurized at 1000 volts have relatively higher degree of conversion into MoS{sub 2}, as more intense peaks of MoS{sub 2} and MoO{sub 2} are obtained than that sulfurized at 600 volts. HRTEM of sulfurized film shows that outer surface of nanoflake has been converted into MoS{sub 2} (4-5 monolayers). Meanwhile, MoO{sub 3} was reduced into MoO{sub 2} as confirmed by XRD and Raman results. All the observed results are well in consonance with each other.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Onset of normal and inverse homoclinic bifurcation in a double plasma system near a plasma fireball

Plasma fireballs are generated due to a localized discharge and appear as a luminous glow with a sharp boundary, which suggests the presence of a localized electric field such as electrical sheath or double layer structure. The present work reports the observation of normal and inverse homoclinic bifurcation phenomena in plasma oscillations that are excited in the presence of fireball in a double plasma device. The controlling parameters for these observations are the ratio of target to source chamber (n{sub T}/n{sub S}) densities and applied electrode voltage. Homoclinic bifurcation is noticed in the plasma potential fluctuations as the system evolves from narrow to long time period oscillations and vice versa with the change of control parameter. The dynamical transition in plasma fireball is demonstrated by spectral analysis, recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), and statistical measures, viz., skewness and kurtosis. The increasing trend of normalized variance reflects that enhancing n{sub T}/n{sub S} induces irregularity in plasma dynamics. The exponential growth of the time period is strongly indicative of homoclinic bifurcation in the system. The gradual decrease of skewness and increase of kurtosis with the increase of n{sub T}/n{sub S} also reflect growing complexity in the system. The visual change of recurrence plot and gradual enhancement of RQA variables DET, L{sub max}, and ENT reflects the bifurcation behavior in the dynamics. The combination of RQA and spectral analysis is a clear evidence that homoclinic bifurcation occurs due to the presence of plasma fireball with different density ratios. However, inverse bifurcation takes place due to the change of fireball voltage. Some of the features observed in the experiment are consistent with a model that describes the dynamics of ionization instabilities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Technical Note: An investigation of polarity effects for wide-angle free-air chambers

Purpose: Wide-angle free-air chambers (WAFACs) are used as primary standard measurement devices for establishing the air-kerma strength of low-energy, low-dose rate brachytherapy seeds. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is commissioning a primary standard wide-angle free-air chamber (NRC WAFAC) to serve the calibration needs of Canadian clients. The University of Wisconsin has developed a similar variable-aperture free-air chamber (UW VAFAC) to be used as a research tool. As part of the NRC commissioning, measurements were carried out for both polarities of the applied bias voltage and the resulting effects were observed to be very large. Similar effects were identified with the UW VAFAC. The authors describe the measurements carried out to determine the underlying causes of the polarity effect and the approach used to eliminate it. Methods: The NRC WAFAC is based on the WAFAC design developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the USA. Charge measurements for {sup 125}I and {sup 241}Am sources were carried out for both negative and positive polarities on the NRC WAFAC and UW VAFAC. Two aperture sizes were also investigated with the UW VAFAC. In addition, measurements on the NRC WAFAC were carried out with a small bias between the collecting electrode and the shield foil at the downstream end of the chamber. To mitigate all of the polarity effects, the downstream surface of the collecting electrode was covered with a thin layer of graphite on both the NRC and UW chambers. Results: Both chamber designs showed a difference of more than 30 % between the charge collected with positive and negative bias voltages for the smallest electrode separation. It was shown for the NRC WAFAC that charge could be collected in the small gap downstream of the collecting volume by applying a voltage between the shield foil and the collecting electrode, even though an insulating foil (Mylar or polyimide film) separated the conducting surface from the small gap region. The unwanted additional current was shown to be proportional to the size of the aperture for the UW VAFAC. The extra ionization produced in the small gap region was eliminated for both chambers by covering the insulating side of the collecting electrode with a grounded conducting layer. Conclusions: The small gap region downstream of the collecting electrode in the NRC WAFAC and UW VAFAC can serve as an unwanted source of ion current. It is concluded that a residual electric field in the small gap region may lead to ion transport and to charge being trapped on the surface of the foil. The foil then acts as a capacitor with an equal charge, but of opposite sign, being attracted to the conducting surface. Covering the back of the collecting electrode surface with a grounded conducting layer eliminated the polarity effect.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ambient Single-Cell Analysis and Native Tissue Imaging Using Laser-Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry with Increased Spatial Resolution

Laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) is an emerging method that has the potential to transform the field of metabolomics. This is in part due to LAESI-MS being an ambient ionization method that requires minimal sample preparation and uses (endogenous) water for in situ analysis. This application note details the employment of the ‘LAESI microscope’ source to perform spatially resolved MS analysis of cells and MS imaging (MSI) of tissues at high spatial resolution. This source configuration utilizes a long-working distance reflective objective that permits both visualization of the sample and a smaller LAESI laser beam profile than conventional LAESI setups. In this work, we analyzed 200 single cells of Allium cepa (red onion) and imaged Fittonia argyroneura (nerve plant) in high spatial resolution using this source coupled to a Fourier transform mass spectrometer for high mass resolution and high mass accuracy metabolomics.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Streamers at the Subnanosecond Breakdown of Argon and Nitrogen in Nonuniform Electric Field at Both Polarities

An ICCD camera was used to study plasma glow at the stage of the streamer (ionization wave) formation in the tip–plane gap with a length of 3 mm filled with argon or nitrogen at a pressure of 12.5–400 kPa. Positive and negative nanosecond voltage pulses were applied across the gap. Images of streamer were obtained at different time at its propagation along the gap. A streak-camera equipped with a spectrometer was used to measure time evolution of the radiation intensity of nitrogen molecules at a wavelength of 337.1 nm in several regions along the gap at the negative polarity. Average streamer velocity (1.8 cm/ns) was estimated from experimental data at atmospheric pressure of nitrogen. Amplitude–time characteristics of voltage, discharge current and the current of runaway electron beam behind the aluminum-foil anode with a thickness of 10 μm were measured. Reasons for a diffuse discharge under the given experimental conditions were discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

On Measurements of the Electrons and Holes Impact-Ionization Coefficients in 4H–SiC

All published results of measurements (at 300 K) of the impact ionization coefficients for electrons α{sub n} and holes α{sub p} in 4H–SiC are analyzed. It is shown that the most plausible approximations of dependences of α{sub n,} {sub p} on electric-field strength E have the usual form α{sub n,} {sub p} = a{sub n,p} exp(–E{sub n,} {sub p}/E) at fitting-parameter values of a{sub n} = 38.6 × 106 cm{sup –1}, E{sub n} = 25.6 MV/cm, a{sub p} = 5.31 × 106 cm{sup –1}, and E{sub p} = 13.1 MV/cm. These dependences α{sub n,} {sub p}(E) are used to calculate the highest field strength E{sub b} and thickness w{sub b} of the space-charge region at the breakdown voltage U{sub b}. A number of new formulas for calculating α{sub n,} {sub p}(E) are obtained from the results of measuring the avalanche-multiplication coefficients and the excess-noise factors under the single-sided illumination of photodiodes with stepped doping.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Spray Mechanism of Contained-Electrospray Ionization

Analytical characteristics of contained electrospray ionization (ESI) are summarized in terms of its potential to modify the analyte solution during the stages of droplet formation to provide opportunities to generate native versus denatured biomolecular gas-phase ions, without the need for bulk-phase analyte modifications. The real-time modification of the charged microdroplets occurs in a cavity that is included in the outlet of the contained-ESI ion source. Close examination of the inside of the cavity using a high-speed camera revealed the formation of discrete droplets as well as thin liquid films in the droplets wake. When operated at 20 psi N2 pressure, the droplets were observed to move at an average speed of 8 mm/s providing ~1 s mixing time in a 10 mm cavity length. Evidence is provided for the presence of highly reactive charged droplets based on myoglobin charge state distribution, apo-myoglobin contents, and ion mobility drift time profiles under different spray conditions. Mechanistic insights for the capture of vapor-phase reagents and droplet dynamics as influenced by different operational modes are also described.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1988

Charging and the cross-field discharge during electron accelerator operation on a rocket

Preliminary results are presented from experiments to study the neutralization processes around an electron beam emitting rocket. The rocket, SCEX II, was flown on January 31, 1987 from Alaska, with a payload consisting of two independent electron accelerators and two arms with conducting elements to act as Langmuir probes and to measure floating potentials. It was expected that electrons in the strong electric fields around the charged rocket would gain sufficient energy to ionize neutrals, producing ions which would be hurled outward at energies up to the rocket potential. Three hemispherical retarding potential analyzers were ejected from the main payload to measure these ions. The measurements show that fields sufficient to accelerate electrons to ionizing energies were present around the rocket.

Kellogg, Paul J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Calibration of the liquid argon ionization response to low energy electronic and nuclear recoils with DarkSide-50

DarkSide-50 has demonstrated the high potential of dual-phase liquid argon time projection chambers in exploring interactions of WIMPs in the GeV=c 2 mass range. The technique, based on the detection of the ionization signal amplified via electroluminescence in the gas phase, allows us to explore recoil energies down to the sub-keV range. We report here on the DarkSide-50 measurement of the ionization yield of electronic recoils down to ~180 eV er , exploiting 37 Ar and 39 Ar decays, and extrapolated to a few ionization electrons with the Thomas-Imel box model. Further, we present a model-dependent determination of the ionization response to nuclear recoils down to ~500 eV nr , the lowest ever achieved in liquid argon, using in situ neutron calibration sources and external datasets from neutron beam experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A compact high-resolution X-ray ion mobility spectrometer

For the ionization of gaseous samples, most ion mobility spectrometers employ radioactive ionization sources, e.g., containing {sup 63}Ni or {sup 3}H. Besides legal restrictions, radioactive materials have the disadvantage of a constant radiation with predetermined intensity. In this work, we replaced the {sup 3}H source of our previously described high-resolution ion mobility spectrometer with 75 mm drift tube length with a commercially available X-ray source. It is shown that the current configuration maintains the resolving power of R = 100 which was reported for the original setup containing a {sup 3}H source. The main advantage of an X-ray source is that the intensity of the radiation can be adjusted by varying its operating parameters, i.e., filament current and acceleration voltage. At the expense of reduced resolving power, the sensitivity of the setup can be increased by increasing the activity of the source. Therefore, the performance of the setup can be adjusted to the specific requirements of any application. To investigate the relation between operating parameters of the X-Ray source and the performance of the ion mobility spectrometer, parametric studies of filament current and acceleration voltage are performed and the influence on resolving power, peak height, and noise is analyzed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗