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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 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Development and validation of a humidified CAPS-PMSSA with an improved methodology to calculate the truncation correction factor

Absorbing aerosols play an important role in the Earth’s radiation budget, and current uncertainties associated with their radiative impacts remain substantial. An element of this uncertainty derives from insufficient understanding of the extent to which water, as a coating on absorbing particles, enhances the absorption. Here, we describe and characterize the performance of a cavity-attenuated phase shift single scatter albedo spectrometer (CAPS-PMSSA) system that has been modified to enable concurrent aerosol extinction and scattering measurements, from which aerosol absorption is derived, at relative humidities up to ~90%. The modified instrument is referred to as the humidified CAPS (HCAPS). Additionally, we develop and validate an update to a method to calculate the truncation correction factor, used to correct the scattering measurements, that can account for the effects of particle growth and compositional changes resulting from water uptake. The method can be applied to experiments that use either size-selected or polydisperse aerosol samples of either known or unknown composition. Overall, we show that measurements made with the HCAPS, when processed using the updated truncation correction method, enable accurate measurement of the influence of water uptake on light absorption.

Dal Porto, Rachael [University of California, Davi↗
DOE OSTI2026

New developments in structure-property and amorphous materials research at the upgraded 16-BM-B Paris-Edinburgh press station at HPCAT

Beamline 16-BM-B of the High-Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) provides a Paris-Edinburgh press program to probe the structure and properties of crystalline and amorphous materials up to 12 GPa at room temperature or 7 GPa at 2000°C. During the recent APS upgrade, 16-BM-B undertook major improvements to its instrumentation and measurement techniques. The upgrade includes the addition of a 1.2 m horizontal “condenser” mirror and a new variable-sized collimation system, the combination of which decreases the acquisition time for energy dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements by a factor of 10 when compared to pre-upgrade measurements. The addition of a new Ge energy-sensitive detector and DANTE (XGLab) digital pulse processor allows for processing the increased diffraction counts with minimal deadtime. In addition to upgraded beamline components, new techniques are being developed for eventual release to the user community, including electrical resistivity and tomography measurements.

APS upgrade↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advancing Fusion Research and Development at TAE Technologies Through INFUSE Program

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program serves as a crucial catalyst by fostering public-private partnership that accelerates technological innovation for fusion energy research and development (R&D) in the private sector. Further, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the technical goals and accomplishments of projects awarded to TAE Technologies through the INFUSE program since 2019. We offer high-level perspectives on how these projects have contributed to fusion energy R&D, and we address key challenges encountered during these collaborations.

field-reversed configuration↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cr-Be Pushered Single Shell (PSS) Capsule Development

Pushered single shell (PSS) has emerged as an alternative platform of implosion to ease the stability issue at the ablation front. The design consists of a thin inner Be layer, a 50% Cr:Be plateau region, an S-curve gradient, a low Cr (1.5%) tamper layer, and followed by a pure Be outer layer. General Atomics has developed a way to fabricate the higher-Z Cr to lower-Z Be gradients on glow discharge polymer mandrels with a designed S-shape profile for optimal implosion stability using magnetron sputtering. Microstructure analysis of the gradient coating indicated that at lower Cr concentration a short order or amorphous structure was formed. Here, these fabricated PSS capsules were subsequently built into capsule fill tube assemblies, verified to be leak tight at both ambient and cryogenic conditions, and delivered to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for the shots. The capsule thermal stability was demonstrated by invariable Cr profiles before and after pyrolysis. However, cracking at inner Cr layers was observed, which has been attributed to thermal stress.

Capsule↗
DOE OSTI2025

The development and evolution of biological AMS at Livermore: a perspective

Biological accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) provides ultrasensitive carbon-14 isotopic analysis enabling a deeper understanding of human health concerns by enabling quantification of pharmacokinetics and other molecular endpoints directly in humans. It enables environmentally and human relevant studies of metabolic pathways through the use of very low concentrations of labeled metabolic substrates in cells and organisms. Here, we discuss why AMS is an important tool for the biosciences, the development and evolution of biological AMS at Livermore and discuss technical refinements that will improve the efficiency of operation for the measurement of ultra-trace levels of 14 C, which, long term, will enable greater ease of use and sample throughput.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of near-optimal advanced control sequences for chiller plants with water-side economizers in U.S. Climates (ASHRAE RP-1661)

Various advanced control sequences for chiller plants with water-side economizers (WSE) have been proposed in literature, but the evaluation and optimization of those controls is limited. It is possible to maximize energy savings by selecting different sequences and related parameters based on the plant configuration, load, and climate. This paper addresses this gap by developing near-optimal advanced control sequences for chiller plants with WSEs. First, advanced control sequences for chiller plants with WSEs are categorized into condenser water, chilled water, and hybrid controls and representative sequences from each category are identified. Next, 504 different scenarios are optimized. These scenarios represent all possible combinations of two plant configurations, a constant or variable load profile, three advanced control sequences, and seven optimization parameter combinations in six climate zones. The results show the recommended near-optimal sequences can reduce energy consumption by up to 15% relative to the baseline depending on the configuration, load profile, and climate. Specifically, the CW-CHW sequence is recommended for the majority of systems because it is often the most energy efficient and/or reduces the runtime of chillers. The methodology in this paper provides practical guidance for achieving energy savings through near-optimal control of chiller plants with WSEs.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Status of the development and testing of in-vessel and ECH-protection components for the ITER low-field side reflectometer

The ITER Low-Field Side Reflectometer (LFSR) is a critical diagnostic system designed to measure edge electron density profiles, fluctuations, and plasma rotation in ITER. This paper presents the latest developments in the design, testing, and validation of key in-vessel and Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) protection components. The LFSR antenna array has been optimized to provide robust coverage over expected plasma vertical displacements and a Doppler measurement for plasma rotation. Further, a comprehensive assessment of a 170-GHz diffraction grating and a novel stray-ECH power monitor demonstrates effectiveness in mitigating the impact of stray ECH power on sensitive microwave electronics. Additionally, an advancement in anti-reflective technology for millimeter waves significantly improves transmission of LFSR's vacuum window while meeting ITER's stringent safety and operational requirements. These results support the continued integration of LFSR into ITER, ensuring its diagnostic capabilities remain resilient under reactor-relevant conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development and preliminary results of 270 GHz microwave forward scattering diagnostic system on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST)

To measure localized (intermediate, high) poloidal wavenumber electron density fluctuations, a tangential millimeter-wave collective scattering system has been designed and successfully developed on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). This innovative system employs a 270 GHz mm-wave probe beam, emitted from the mid-plane of Port K and directed towards Port P after passing through a combination of two in-vessel mirrors. Here these two ports are located on the EAST device’s midplane and are 110° apart. The downward scattered signals pass through two in-vessel mirrors, and exit through the P window. The received multi-channel separated scattering signals are arranged along the poloidal direction. This optical arrangement makes the monitored turbulent wave number is poloidal dominant and up to 40 cm −1 . The tangential microwave scattering scheme enables this diagnostic to monitor local density fluctuations, with typically a radial spatial resolution △ R = 5 cm, and a wavenumber resolution of △ k = 0.4 cm −1 . The scattering system underwent comprehensive laboratory testing in 2023, with installation finalized in 2024. The system features steerable launch and receiver optics, allowing remote control to position the scattering volume from normalized radius ρ –0 to the pedestal region on a shot-by-shot basis. Effective experimental data, characterized by distinct off-center spectral peaks, have been successfully obtained in neutral beam-heated plasmas on EAST. The beam tracing forward modeling has been employed for experimental data interpretation. The advanced millimeter-wave scattering system provides fluctuation measurement capability from ion temperature gradient to electron temperature gradient scale on low field side. Preliminary experimental density fluctuation data have been successfully obtained in neutral beam-heated plasmas on EAST. The localized measurement will be used for kinetic turbulence transport numerical simulation validation.

high-k collective scattering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optical characterization of deep-level defects in n-type Al x In y Ga 1- x - y P for the development of solid-state photomultiplier analogs

Characterizing intrinsic defects is an essential step in evaluating materials for novel optoelectronic device applications. For photomultipliers, suppressing dark currents is critical, but a tradeoff is present between maximizing the band gap while remaining sensitive to the wavelength of interest and minimizing the incorporation of fresh defects by growing not-yet-optimized alloys. We present a series of capacitance-based measurements, including deep-level optical spectroscopy, steady-state photocapacitance, and illuminated capacitance-voltage, on photodiodes with lightly n-type Al x In y Ga 1−x−y P absorber regions. Several deep levels are identified, including one near the midgap. Although the inclusion of aluminum increases each trap density by approximately 10×, the hole capture cross-section also appears to decrease, suggesting that Shockley–Read–Hall dark currents may be suppressed. These materials may be good candidates for the development into silicon photomultiplier analogs with a wider bandgap for scintillator applications.

III–V↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of a high current density, high temperature superconducting cable for pulsed magnets

Abstract A low AC loss Rare Earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) cable, based on the VIPER cable technology has been developed by Commonwealth Fusion Systems for use in high field, REBCO based tokamaks. The new cable is composed of partitioned and transposed copper ‘petals’ shaped to fit together in a circular pattern with each petal containing a REBCO tape stack and insulated from each other to reduce AC losses. A stainless steel jacket adds mechanical robustness—also serving as a vessel for solder impregnation—while a tube runs through the middle for cooling purposes. Additionally, fiber optic sensors are placed under the tape stacks for quench detection. To qualify this design, a series of experiments were conducted as part of the SPARC tokamak Central Solenoid Model Coil program—to retire the risks associated with full scale, fast ramping, high flux HTS Central Solenoid (CS) and Poloidal Field (PF) coils for tokamak fusion power plants and net energy demonstrators. These risk study and risk reduction experiments include (1) AC loss measurement and model validation in the range of ~5 T/s, (2) an IxB electromagnetic loading of over 850 kN/m at the cable level and up to 300 kN/m at the stack level, (3) a transverse compression resilience of over 350 MPa, (4) manufacturability at tokamak relevant speeds and scales, (5) cable to cable joint performance, (6) fiber optic based quench detection speed, accuracy, and feasibility, and (7) overall winding pack integration and magnet assembly. The result is a cable technology, now referred to as PIT VIPER, with AC losses that measure fifteen times lower (at ~5 T/s) than its predecessor technology; a 2% or lower degradation of critical current (Ic) at high IxB electromagnetic loads; no detectable Ic degradation up to 570 MPa of transverse compression on the cable unit cell; end to end magnet manufacturing, consistently producing Ic values within 7% of the model prediction; cable to cable joint resistances at 20 K on the order of ~15 nΩ; and fast, functional quench detection capabilities that do not involve voltage taps. This cable technology will be tested comprehensively in a Central Solenoid Model Coil to prove its readiness for compact, high field tokamak operation.

Sanabria, Charlie (ORCID:0000000150175309)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of a neural network model for peeling–ballooning stability analysis in the KSTAR tokamak pedestals

The neural network model, MISHKA-NN is developed to mitigate the computational burden associated with the linear ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability analysis of the pedestal based on the peeling–ballooning (P–B) model. By utilizing both 1D plasma profiles (current density, pressure gradient, and safety factor) and 0D parameters (plasma geometry, total current, and toroidal mode number), the model predicts linear growth rate of edge-localized ideal MHD instability in a given equilibrium state. By enabling the prediction of each instability within a second, the model reduces the time required for plotting a pedestal P–B stability diagram (j - α diagram) from approximately 100 CPU hours to a few CPU minutes. Notably, even with the utilization of parametric pressure and current profiles and plasma boundary shapes for the training dataset, the model shows a satisfactory level of performance in benchmarking the j - α diagram for the reconstructed equilibrium from a KSTAR tokamak experiment. We anticipate the model to serve as a versatile alternative to 2D linear MHD stability codes, alleviating numerical costs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reversed magnetic shear scenario development in NSTX-U using TRANSP

Abstract Understanding and control of electron thermal transport is a critical point of research in magnetic fusion experiments. Previous experiments have shown that operation with reversed magnetic shear (RMS) can suppress electron thermal transport, resulting in the generation of internal transport barriers (ITBs), with the location of the ITB correlated with the location of minimum magnetic shear. The recent upgrades to NSTX—increased magnetic field up to 1 T, increased plasma current up to 2 MA, 2nd neutral beam—present an increased operating space in which to explore electron thermal transport in RMS plasmas. Utilizing TRANSP, we have developed operating scenarios by which to generate RMS in NSTX-U. The results suggest that RMS in NSTX-U can be generated through fast current ramp and early beam injection into a large plasma volume. This is very similar to the procedure that was followed in both TFTR and NSTX to generate RMS. Sustainment of RMS, disregarding non-( q min = 1) MHD events, requires maintaining a large plasma volume, and increasing the core T e , either via increased plasma current and/or adding heating power. Using this procedure, RMS was sustained for ∼1 s, with q min > 1 for that period.

Galante, M. E. (ORCID:0009000098149425)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of a data-driven neural network model for electron thermal transport in NSTX

A data-driven electron thermal transport neural network (ETT-NN) model, trained on TRANSP interpretative analysis results of National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), was developed to enable faster and more accurate ETT computation for spherical tokamaks (STs). The model incorporates both convolutional NNs and recurrent NNs, allowing it to simultaneously account for the spatial and temporal non-localities and multi-scale features of turbulent transport, which have been considered only in a limited manner in conventional models. The model was validated through interpretative analysis and predictive simulations using Tokamak Reactor Integrated Automated Suite for Simulation and Computation, demonstrating relatively high accuracy. Additionally, parameter scans were performed on test discharges known to exhibit specific turbulent modes, such as microtearing mode, trapped electron mode, kinetic ballooning mode, and electron temperature gradient mode. The scanning results revealed that the ETT-NN model exhibits the same trends as those observed in conventional gyrokinetic simulations or theories, while also capturing the global nature of turbulent transport, indicating that the data-driven model accurately reflects the underlying physical characteristics. Furthermore, due to the dimensionless nature of the model, we can feasibly expand its applicability by incorporating data from other devices and uncovering the characteristics of ETT in STs in the future.

NSTX↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development and Verification of an Improved Wake-Added Turbulence Model in FAST.Farm

We introduce a generalized wake-added turbulence (WAT) model in the multiphysics, multiturbine simulation tool FAST.Farm. The WAT model introduces additional small-scale turbulence that represents the breakdown of vortical structures and shear layers in the wake. The article describes the development, implementation, calibration, and verification of the model. The novelties of the model include support for wake asymmetry, buildup of WAT across the wind farm, and secondary effects of wake-induced turbulence (e.g., wake meandering) driven by smaller-scale turbulence structures that arise from wake breakdown. Large-eddy simulations were run to support the calibration of the WAT parameters and verification of the model. Previous studies hypothesized that the lack of WAT modeling was the source of underprediction of fatigue loads, in particular for cases at low turbulence intensities and/or stable atmospheric boundary layers. This study confirms that the newly implemented WAT model enhances the loads predictions in these cases.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

AstroPix4 — a novel HV-CMOS sensor developed for space based experiments

For the proposed space based gamma-ray observatory All-sky Medium-Energy Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer (AMEGO-X), a silicon tracker based on a novel High Voltage-CMOS (HV-CMOS) sensor called AstroPix, is currently being developed. Preliminary measurements with the first full reticle prototype AstroPix3 show that the power target of 1.5 mW/cm 2 can currently not be reached due to the digital consumption of 3.08 mW/cm 2 , while the analog power consumption of 1.04 mW/cm 2 and a break down voltage of over 350 V look promising. Based on these results, the design changes in AstroPix4, submitted in May 2023, are presented, containing changes to the time stamp generation and readout architecture. A digital power consumption below 0.25 mW/cm 2 is expected by removing the fast 200 MHz clock used to measure the time-over-threshold (ToT) and an LVDS receiver. A maximum resolution of 3.125 ns for time-of-arrival (ToA) and ToT is reached by adding per-pixel Flash-Time-to-Digital Converter (TDCs) controlled by a global delay-locked loop (DLL).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of a new CEDAR for kaon identification at the NA62 experiment at CERN

The NA62 experiment at CERN utilises a differential Cherenkov counter with achromatic ring focus (CEDAR) for tagging kaons within an unseparated monochromatic beam of charged hadrons. The CEDAR-H detector was developed to minimise the amount of material in the path of the beam by using hydrogen gas as the radiator medium. The detector was shown to satisfy the kaon tagging requirements in a test-beam before installation and commissioning at the experiment. The CEDAR-H performance was measured using NA62 data collected in 2023.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of a low-pressure Multi-Mesh THGEM detector for fission experiments at FRIB

Abstract A small-area imaging detector prototype for position measurement of fission fragments produced in low energy heavy-ion reactions is presented in this study. The detector readout is equipped with a 2-dimensional, position-sensitive gaseous avalanche readout based on the novel Multi-Mesh Thick-GEM (MM-THGEM), and is coupled to a delay-line board for particle localization. The prototype has an effective area of 10 × 10 cm 2 and is operated in isobutane at low pressure (7–10 Torr). We present and discuss a series of systematic evaluation tests performed by irradiating the detector with α-particles and fission fragments emitted by small-rate sources ( 241 Am, 249 Cf and 252 Cf). Position and time resolutions of about 0.42 mm and 1 ns were achieved, respectively. This work serves as a benchmark for the development of a large-scale array of detectors for experiments with fission and fission-like reaction products at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).

Instruments & Instrumentation↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhanced tunable cavity development for axion dark matter searches using a piezoelectric motor in combination with gears

Most search experiments sensitive to quantum chromodynamics (QCD) axion dark matter benefit from microwave cavities, as electromagnetic resonators, that enhance the detectable axion signal power and thus the experimental sensitivity drastically. As the possible axion mass spans multiple orders of magnitude, microwave cavities must be tunable and it is desirable for the cavity to have a tunable frequency range that is as wide as possible. Since the tunable frequency range generally increases as the dimension of the conductor tuning rod increases for a given cylindrical conductor cavity system, we developed a cavity system with a large dimensional tuning rod in order to increase this. Here we, for the first time, employed not only a piezoelectric motor, but also gears to drive a large and accordingly heavy tuning rod, where such a combination to increase driving power can be adopted for extreme environments as is the case for axion dark matter experiments: cryogenic, high-magnetic-field, and high vacuum. Thanks to such higher power derived from the piezoelectric motor and gear combination, we realized a wideband tunable cavity whose frequency range is about 42% of the central resonant frequency of the cavity, without sacrificing the experimental sensitivity too much.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗