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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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DOE OSTI2024

Human Factors Considerations in Artificial Intelligence Applications for Nuclear Power Plants

In recent years, there has been a wave of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that offer to solve problems from shopping habits to mortgage approvals to critical systems operations. The rapidity of the development of these systems has led to both excitement and apprehension about the roles these systems should play in our modern societies. Furthermore, this paper focuses on the critical infrastructure industry, in general, and nuclear power generation, in particular, and seeks to scrutinize how we can leverage these novel technologies in human-centered ways to maintain or enhance the established high levels of reliability and resilience in these industries. First, we discuss the broader aspects of cognitive systems and activities that are critical to understanding the human-AI space. Then we explore different approaches to explainability in AI and the notions of trust. We then move on to discuss several human factors concepts and methods and how they can support the design of human-AI teams. We then explore recent research related to nuclear power that has been undertaken and evaluate the current industry and regulatory landscapes. Finally, we discuss identified research gaps and recommendations for solving these for the critical infrastructure space.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

TEAMER Technical Support of Ramboll's for Numerical Modeling of WECs to Support OES Task 10: Cooperative Research and Development (Final Report)

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and with guidance from Ramboll, will perform fluid dynamics simulations to support of The Ocean Energy Systems (OES) Energy Technology Collaboration Program Task 10 Wave Energy Converters (WEC) Modelling Verification and Validation effort. Specific numerical simulations include the fixed device wave impingement studies to benchmark the performance of simulation techniques against physical testing results.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2025

The MAGIS-100 Experiment and a Future, Kilometer-scale Atom Interferometer

The dearth of signals unambiguously attributable to WIMP dark matter motivates exploring new parameter space, particularly the ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) regime, where the signal is not scattering events but wave phenomena. The proliferation of quantum technologies has enabled searches for ULDM at previously inaccessible sensitivity. One such technology is atom interferometry which can measure time-dependent fluctuations in the energy spacing of atoms as well as in the light-travel time across the apparatus, enabling searches for ULDM and gravitational waves, respectively. In this talk, I will review the science case for long baseline atom interferometers, such as MAGIS-100 at Fermilab, provide an update on the experiment’s status, and discuss the need for a future, kilometer-scale atom interferometer which would achieve unprecedented sensitivity to ULDM and gravitational waves in the “Mid-Band” region between LIGO and LISA.

Temples, Dylan J. [Fermilab] (ORCID:00000001601725↗
DOE OSTI2026

Propagation of elastic waves in a flexomagnetic solid

Flexomagnetism is the coupling between magnetism and strain gradients and is a technologically relevant phenomenon. We present a theory of elastic wave propagation in a linear elastic flexomagnetic material with microstructure and strain gradient elastic interactions. The expressions of frequency, phase velocity, and group velocity of longitudinal and transverse waves are derived and are shown to depend on the flexomagnetic coefficient and microstructure. We also show that the effect of flexomagnetism and microstructure can lead to some interesting phenomena in wave propagation, which are not observed in classical linear elasticity theory of waves. Specifically, in contrast to classical linear elastic materials, where wave propagation is non-dispersive, flexomagnetic materials with microstructure can exhibit both normal and abnormal dispersion. It is also noteworthy that, in flexomagnetic materials with gradient elasticity, the phase velocities of transverse waves can exceed those of longitudinal waves, which is atypical in classical elasticity. Furthermore, waves can also attenuate for a certain range of wavenumbers that depend on the flexomagnetic coefficient and microstructural parameters. Finally, we explore the possibility of waves exhibiting zero group velocity modes, where waves are non-propagating but have strong local energy confinement, negative group velocity modes, where the wave packet moves in the opposite direction to that of wave propagation, and the phenomenon of wave freezing, where a propagating wave stops in space without diffusing or spreading.

Ghosh, Swarnava [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000338005264)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental Validation of a Modular All-Electric Power Take-Off Topology for Wave Energy Converter Enabling Marine Renewable Energy Interconnection

Power electronic converters are an enabling technology for the emerging marine energy applications, such as using ocean waves to produce electricity. This paper outlines the power take-off system and its key components used in a wave energy converter offering modularity and scalability to generate power efficiently. The proposed power take-off system was implemented based on a modular multilevel converter and could be deployed to convert any alternating current electrical energy to a different alternating current for interconnection to grid or non-grid applications. Examples of widespread deployment are supplying electricity to coastal communities or producing clean drinking water. The analysis using both the simulation tests and laboratory experiments verified the design objectives and basic functionality of the developed power take-off system. An acceptable response using a field programmable gate array-based controlled laboratory testbench was achieved, complying with guidelines specified in the prevalent industry standards. Seamless operation during steady-state and transients for the studied wave energy converter was achieved as supported by the obtained results. The key findings of this work were experimentally examined under different load conditions, direct current bus voltage fluctuations, and generator speed–torque regulation. The ability of the power take-off system to generate high-power quality of the waveforms, e.g., against adhering to the IEEE 519-2022 standard for total harmonic distortion limits, is also confirmed.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamometer Facts

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Flatirons Campus features four dynamometers that can perform research validation on wind turbine systems and ocean energy devices. These dynamometers can validate wave and water power systems over capacity ratings ranging from 1 kilowatt (kW) to 5 megawatts (MW) by replacing water with a controllable, electric motor. By combining these capabilities with other tools, such as the controllable grid interface (https://www.nrel.gov/grid/controllable-grid-interface.html), researchers can verify how their device interacts with the grid or integrates with other technologies.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2024

Coherent High-Frequency Axial Oscillations in a Partially Magnetized Direct Current Magnetron Discharge

High-frequency oscillations are observed in a neon plasma of a direct current magnetron discharge. At low discharge currents, we see highly coherent 60 MHz fluctuations. Above a distinct current threshold, secondary 5–10 MHz fluctuations emerge in addition to turbulent fluctuations in the 60–100 MHz range. The oscillations in the total discharge current suggest axial wave propagation. A lower-hybrid wave theory is invoked to model the high-frequency oscillations. Here, we attribute the low-frequency modes to a turbulence-driven inverse cascade process, as suggested by recent simulations.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Aviation security screening optimizer for risk and throughput (ASSORT)

The increasing number of air travelers each year presents a challenge as many airports are near their capacity in terms of resources and space for passenger screening. Fortunately, advancements in technologies like next-generation millimeter wave scanning offer solutions to ease this strain. The focus remains on managing risk while enhancing the passenger experience for the traveling public. The risk model presented in this paper known as the Aviation Security Screening Optimizer for Risk and Throughput (ASSORT) is designed to assess risk-based approaches for passenger screening and checkpoint operations. Additionally, ASSORT is exploring various traveler categories — general, trusted, and trusted-plus — along with different checkpoint screening Concept of Operations tailored to each traveler type. For instance, travelers with a higher trust level may experience fewer screening technologies, resulting in quicker processing times at the checkpoint. The output of ASSORT provides a risk score for predefined threat scenarios, as well as the overall risk to the checkpoint, aircraft, and airport by traveler type. In conclusion, benefits of using this tool include assessing the trade-offs between the overall risk associated with checkpoints and the throughput rate of passengers screened. We show for example the impact that different passenger volumes at the checkpoint can have on risk.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Toroidal injection angle dependence of EC assisted plasma initiation at DIII-D

An experimental scan of the electron cyclotron waves (EC) toroidal injection angle in plasma breakdown is performed at the DIII-D tokamak. The second harmonic, extraordinary mode EC is used for the study. The dependence of n e and T e on the EC injection angle cannot be conclusively drawn from this study due to the large error bars in the n e and T e measurements. On the other hand, high T e data points are observed in some discharges which can be explained by nonlinear heating. The D α emission measurement shows a clear relation between the breakdown time and the injection angle. An experimental investigation of the cause of the dependence of breakdown delay on the EC injection angle suggests that when the injection angle is oblique, the EC heating after the reflection at the inboard wall may become ineffective and cause the breakdown delay even when the EC heating before and directly upon injection remains effective. A preliminary run of the heat and transport balance code DYON indicates that the obtained dataset is suitable for a quantitative validation of EC absorption models.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

First characterisation of the MAGO cavity, a superconducting RF detector for kHz–MHz gravitational waves

Heterodyne detection using microwave cavities is a promising method for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves (GWs) or ultralight axion dark matter. In this work, we report on studies conducted on a spherical 2-cell cavity developed by the MAGO collaboration for high-frequency GWs detection. Although fabricated around 20 years ago, the cavity had not been used since. Due to deviations from the nominal geometry, we conducted a mechanical survey and performed room-temperature plastic tuning. Measurements and simulations of the mechanical resonances and electromagnetic properties were carried out, as these are critical for estimating the cavity’s GW coupling potential. Based on these results, we plan further studies in a cryogenic environment. The cavity characterisation does not only provide valuable experience for a planned physics run but also informs the future development of improved cavity designs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

From TPL assessment to design optimization: Wave energy converter control co-design applied to the RM3

The Reference Model (RM) project developed six marine energy converter concepts using a sequential design methodology, which, while widely adopted in the industry, often overlooks interactions between system components, resulting in suboptimal designs. One such example is the Reference Model 3 (RM3), a two-body point absorber wave energy converter (WEC). An assessment using the Technology Performance Level (TPL) revealed that RM3’s low power-to-cost ratio, partly due to expensive steel construction, limits its techno-economic performance. Here, this study aims to redesign RM3 by reducing its scale and employing control co-design to integrate WEC and Power Take-Off (PTO) dynamics, constraints, and cost considerations within an optimization framework. We demonstrate the limitations of RM3’s current PTO design and explore the benefits of scaling down to enhance techno-economic viability by lowering material costs. Using WecOptTool, we conduct a parameter sweep over gear ratios and spring stiffnesses for various Commercial Off-The-Shelf generators in irregular wave conditions. Our findings emphasize the importance of aligning PTO components with WEC dynamics, showing that control co-design and strategic scaling can improve RM3’s power-to-cost ratio. This study presents a transferable example of applied control co-design for other WECs, supporting early-stage developers in their design decisions.

Off the shelf components↗
DOE OSTI2024

ODU Optimization of Nb3Sn supttering on SRF structures

High efficiency Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are the key technology to cost-effective Continuous Wave (CW) SRF accelerators. Recent advances in Nb3Sn coatings on the inner surface of SRF cavities showed the potential for this material to significantly cut the capital and operating cost of SRF accelerators. The best results are presently achieved with Nb3Sn films coated by using the so-called vapor diffusion technique. Several alternative approaches have been and are being investigated such as electrochemical deposition, bronze routes, and sputtering. Among these techniques, magnetron sputtering is a versatile technique, which has been demonstrated to deposit Nb3Sn films on SRF cavities. The technique requires further development to compete with the results demonstrated on the cavities coated with the vapor diffusion techniques. The team to develop the novel technique includes a graduate student from Old Dominion University (ODU) and other experts. ODU Prof. Elsayed-Ali directs the graduate student to coat samples and cavities in the new coating system and analyze samples with different surface science techniques. Dr. Grigory Eremeev from Fermilab assists with 2.6 GHz cavities for coating, cavity characterization at cryogenic temperature, and result analysis. The research is funded by the Office of High Energy Physics at the US Department of Energy at both Fermilab and ODU

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

HERO WEC V1: Design and Experimental Data Collection Efforts

The Hydraulic and Electric Reverse Osmosis Wave Energy Converter (HERO WEC) is a research platform aimed at developing a modular, small-scale wave-powered desalination system for remote and disaster-response applications. Funded by the Department of Energy (DOE)'s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), the project aims to advance wave-powered desalination by developing and testing a small-scale, modular wave energy converter (WEC). The insights gained from this project will help guide the design and development of larger-scale wave energy devices as well as the integration of marine energy and reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The HERO WEC was initially developed to derisk the Waves to Water prize, enabling the staff to practice WEC deployment and recovery, while optimizing installation protocols ologies, aiming to advance the broader fields of marine energy and water treatment.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

The 140 GHz notch filter development for millimeter-wave diagnostics protection on the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X

The notch filter plays a crucial role as a protective component in microwave diagnostics, primarily by addressing issues related to catastrophic interference. Designed for millimeter-wave diagnostics on the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), a WR-6 waveguide-based notch filter has been successfully developed to effectively isolate leakage from auxiliary heating gyrotrons operating at 140 GHz. The filter incorporates cylindrical cavities resonating at 140 GHz for the TE11p mode, with coupling structures that are designed and optimized for high-efficiency coupling. This configuration simplifies fabrication, thereby ensuring high-yield production. Experimental fabrication and in-house characterization confirm the notch filter's exceptional performance, with over 60 dB rejection in the vicinity of 140 GHz and low insertion loss (< 2 dB) above and below the notch frequency across a broad frequency bandwidth (121–138 GHz, 142–163 GHz). Furthermore, the utilization of this high-frequency structure fabrication technology can be applied to millimeter-wave diagnostics on other machines. In addition to the design elements of the notch filter, this paper also provides a detailed discussion of the fabrication process and methodology.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Large-Amplitude Motion Platform: A New Ocean Simulator Can Help Technologies Succeed

It's not always easy to build technologies hearty enough to operate in a powerful ocean environment. And subjecting promising prototypes to real ocean waves can be an expensive, time-consuming, and risky way to get these technologies ready for the high seas. Now, with the National Laboratory of the Rockies' (NLR's) testing platform, called the large-amplitude motion platform (or LAMP for short): www.nlr.gov/water/motion-platform, our experts can replicate powerful ocean waves in a low-risk laboratory setting. The LAMP, coupled with NLR's diverse array of testing instrumentation, can help technology developers rapidly hone their prototypes before embarking on a potentially costly and time-consuming ocean trial.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2026

Symmetry, microscopy and spectroscopy signatures of altermagnetism

The recent discovery of altermagnetism was in part motivated by the research of compensated magnets towards highly scalable spintronic technologies. Simultaneously, altermagnetism shares the anisotropic higher-partial-wave nature of ordering with unconventional superfluid phases, which have been at the forefront of research for the past several decades. These examples illustrate the interest in altermagnetism from a broad range of science and technology perspectives. Here we review the symmetry, microscopy and spectroscopy signatures of altermagnetism. We describe the spontaneously broken and retained symmetries that delineate altermagnetism as a distinct phase of matter with d-, g- or i-wave compensated collinear spin ordering. In materials ranging from weakly interacting metals to strongly correlated insulators, the microscopic crystal-structure realizations of the altermagnetic symmetries feature a characteristic ferroic order of anisotropic higher-partial-wave components of atomic-scale spin densities. These symmetry and microscopy signatures of altermagnetism are directly reflected in spin-dependent electronic spectra and responses. Here, we review salient band-structure features originating from the altermagnetic ordering, and from its interplay with spin–orbit coupling and topological phenomena. Throughout, we compare altermagnetism with traditional ferromagnetism and Néel antiferromagnetism, and with magnetic phases with symmetry-protected compensated non-collinear spin orders. We accompany the theoretical discussions with references to relevant experiments.

Jungwirth, Tomas [Czech Academy of Sciences, Pragu↗
DOE OSTI2025

The importance of shear on the collective charge transport in CDWs revealed by an XFEL source

Charge transport in materials has an impact on a wide range of devices based on semiconductor, battery, or superconductor technology. Charge transport in sliding charge density waves (CDW) differs from all others in that the atomic lattice is directly involved in the transport process. To obtain an overall picture of the structural changes associated to the collective transport, the large coherent x-ray beam generated by an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) source was used. The CDW phase can be retrieved over the entire sample from diffracted intensities using a genetic algorithm. For currents below threshold, increasing shear deformation is observed in the central part of the sample while longitudinal deformation appears above threshold when shear relaxes. Shear thus precedes longitudinal deformation, with relaxation of one leading to the appearance of the other. Moreover, strain accumulates on surface steps in the sliding regime, demonstrating the strong pinning character of these surface discontinuities. The sliding process of nanometric CDW involves macroscopic sample dimensions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗