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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 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Modeling of transverse stimulated Raman scattering in KDP/DKDP in large-aperture plates suitable for polarization control

Transverse stimulated Raman scattering (TSRS) in potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (DKDP) plates for large-aperture, inertial confinement fusion (ICF)-class laser systems is a well-recognized limitation giving rise to parasitic energy conversion and laser-induced damage. The onset of TSRS is manifested in plates exposed to the ultraviolet section of the beam. TSRS amplification is a coherent process that grows exponentially and is distributed nonuniformly in the crystal and at the crystal surfaces. To understand the growth and spatial distribution of TSRS energy in various configurations, a modeling approach has been developed to simulate the operational conditions relevant to ICF-class laser systems. Specific aspects explored in this work include (i) the behavior of TSRS in large-aperture crystal plates suitable for third-harmonic generation and use as wave plates for polarization control in current-generation ICF-class laser system configurations; (ii) methods, and their limitations, of TSRS suppression and (iii) optimal geometries to guide future designs.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Subseasonal Great Plains Rainfall via Remote Extratropical Teleconnections: Regional Application of Theory‐Guided Causal Networks

Abstract Long‐range U.S. summer rainfall prediction skill is low. Monsoon variability, especially over the West North Pacific Monsoon (WNPM) and/or East Asian Monsoon (EAM) region, can influence U.S. Great Plains hydroclimate variability via a forced Rossby wave response. Here, we explored subseasonal monsoon variability as a source of predictability for Great Plains rainfall. The boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) is related to Great Plains convection and Great Plains low‐level jet (LLJ) anomalies as well as a cross‐Pacific wave train. Using a causal effect network, we found that the time between BSISO‐related geopotential height anomalies and Great Plains rainfall anomalies is about 2 weeks; therefore, BSISO convection may be a valuable forecast of opportunity for subseasonal prediction of Great Plains convection anomalies. More specifically, causal link patterns/maps revealed that the above‐normal weekly EAM rainfall, rather than WNPM rainfall or general geopotential height activity over the East Asia, was causally linked to Great Plains LLJ strengthening and active Great Plains convection the following week.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗
NASA NTRS2004

Injection Induced Mixing in Flows Separating From Smooth Surfaces

An analytic model for predicting the effect of unsteady local surface injection on the flow separating from a streamlined body at angle of attack is proposed. The model uses the premise that separation control results from enhanced mixing along the shear layer that develops between the main stream and the fluid in the underlying recirculation zone. High-Reynolds-number asymptotic methods are used to connect the unsteady surface injection to an instability wave propagating on the separating shear layer and then to the large-scale coherent structures that produce the increased mixing. The results is a tool that can guide the choice of fluid-actuator parameters to maximize flow-control effectiveness and may also facilitate computer-based numerical experiments.

Adamczyk, John J.↗
NASA NTRS2013

A Waveguide-coupled Thermally-isolated Radiometric Source

The design and validation of a dual polarization source for waveguide-coupled millimeter and sub-millimeter wave cryogenic sensors is presented. The thermal source is a waveguide mounted absorbing conical dielectric taper. The absorber is thermally isolated with a kinematic suspension that allows the guide to be heat sunk to the lowest bath temperature of the cryogenic system. This approach enables the thermal emission from the metallic waveguide walls to be subdominant to that from the source. The use of low thermal conductivity Kevlar threads for the kinematic mount effectively decouples the absorber from the sensor cold stage. Hence, the absorber can be heated to significantly higher temperatures than the sensor with negligible conductive loading. The kinematic suspension provides high mechanical repeatability and reliability with thermal cycling. A 33-50 GHz blackbody source demonstrates an emissivity of 0.999 over the full waveguide band where the dominant deviation from unity arises from the waveguide ohmic loss. The observed thermal time constant of the source is 40 s when the absorber temperature is 15 K. The specific heat of the lossy dielectric MF-117 is well approximated by Cv(T) = 0.12 T(exp 2.06) mJ/g/K between 3.5 K and 15 K.

Rostem, Karwan↗
DOE OSTI2025

Monolithic AlScN/SiC phononic waveguides for scalable acoustoelectric and quantum devices

Unlike conventional surface acoustic wave devices, phononic waveguide systems enable higher circuit density and stronger strain and piezoelectric fields, making them promising for advanced acoustoelectric and quantum applications. One such material system for generating and guiding phonons at gigahertz frequencies is AlScN on SiC, which can be synthesized by sputter depositing AlScN directly onto SiC wafers. The AlScN on the SiC platform allows for tightly vertically-confined acoustic modes with high electromechanical coupling, high speed of sound, and simple fabrication of strip and rib waveguides. Until now, this system has only been studied as a slab waveguide platform, i.e., without any lateral waveguiding. Here, we demonstrate a two-dimensionally confined phononic architecture in AlScN on SiC that supports guided modes at 2.95 and 4.05 GHz. These modes exhibit strong electromechanical coupling coefficients (k 2 = 4.27%) and propagation losses on the order of 10 dB/mm. Furthermore, this architecture is well-suited for phononic routing and power-efficient active or nonlinear devices such as amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators, and is compatible with the integration of quantum systems, including vacancy centers, charge carriers, photons, and spins, either embedded in SiC or heterogeneously integrated on the surface.

Electrical components↗
DOE OSTI2014

Mode couplings in a two-stream free-electron laser with a helical wiggler and an ion-channel guiding

In this study, the method of perturbation has been applied to obtain the dispersion relation (DR) of a two-stream free-electron laser (FEL) with a helical wiggler and an ion-channel with all relativistic effects on waves. This DR has been solved numerically to find the unstable modes and their growth rate. Numerical solutions of DR show that the growth rate is considerably enhanced in comparison with single-stream free-electron laser. In group II orbits, with relatively large wiggler induced velocities, new couplings are found. The effect of the velocity difference of the two electron beams on the instabilities has also been investigated in this study. Moreover, the effect of the ion-channel density on the maximum growth rate of FEL resonance has been analyzed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Filamentation of long-wave infrared pulses in the atmosphere

Filamentation of a high-power laser beam in air opens possibility of the diffraction-compensated propagation of a laser beam over long distances and as such is being considered for remote stand-off detection, lightning control, free-space communications, and long-range projection of high-energy pulses. Switching to long-wave infrared (LWIR) range for filamentation, as shown in recent experiments, allows for generation of a single centimeter-diameter channel in air that, in comparison with a short-wavelength laser filament, has four orders of magnitude larger cross-section and guides many Joules of pulse energy over multiple Rayleigh distances at a clamped intensity of ~10 12 W/cm 2 . Self-guiding of LWIR pulses in air arises from the balance between self-focusing, diffraction and defocusing caused by free carriers generated via many-body Coulomb induced ionization which effectively decrease the molecular polarizability during the long-wavelength laser pulse. Understanding where this new ionization regime plays a role, below the threshold of the well adopted single-atom tunnel ionization in gases, could became a new frontier in strong-field interactions. Here, this paper offers an overview of the atmospheric filamentation research at long-wave infrared wavelengths.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A scalable, fully implicit algorithm for the reduced two-field low-β extended MHD model

Here, we demonstrate a scalable fully implicit algorithm for the two-field low-β extended MHD model. This reduced model describes plasma behavior in the presence of strong guide fields, and is of significant practical impact both in nature and in laboratory plasmas. The model displays strong hyperbolic behavior, as manifested by the presence of fast dispersive waves, which make a fully implicit treatment very challenging. In this study, we employ a Jacobian-free Newton–Krylov nonlinear solver, for which we propose a physics-based preconditioner that renders the linearized set of equations suitable for inversion with multigrid methods. As a result, the algorithm is shown to scale both algorithmically (i.e., the iteration count is insensitive to grid refinement and timestep size) and in parallel in a weak-scaling sense, with the wall-clock time scaling weakly with the number of cores for up to 4096 cores. For a 4096 × 4096 mesh, we demonstrate a wall-clock-time speedup of ~6700 with respect to explicit algorithms. The model is validated linearly (against linear theory predictions) and nonlinearly (against fully kinetic simulations), demonstrating excellent agreement.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Control of multi-agent systems: Results, open problems, and applications

The purpose of this review article is to present some recent results on the modeling and control of large systems of agents. We focus on particular applications where the agents are capable of independent actions instead of simply reacting to external forces. In the literature, such agents were referred to as autonomous, intelligent, self-propelled, greedy, and others. The main applications we have in mind are social systems (as opinion dynamics), pedestrians’ movements (also called crowd dynamics), animal groups, and vehicular traffic. We note that the last three examples include physical constraints; however, the agents are able to inject energy into the system, thus preventing the typical conservation of momentum and energy. In addition, the control problems posed by such systems are new and require innovative methods. We illustrate some ideas developed recently, including the use of sparse controls, limiting the total variation of controls, and defining new control problems for measures. After reviewing various approaches, we discuss some future research directions of potential interest. The latter encompasses both new types of equations and new types of limiting procedures to connect several scales at which a system can be represented. We conclude by illustrating a recent real-life experiment using autonomous vehicles on an open highway to smooth traffic waves. This opens the door to a new era of interventions to control real-time multi-agent systems and to increase the societal impact of such interventions guided by control research.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Field Emission in Superconducting Accelerators: Instrumented Measurements for Its Understanding and Mitigation

Several new accelerator projects are adopting superconducting accelerator technology. When accelerating cavities maintain high RF gradients, field emission, the emission of electrons from cavity walls, can occur and may impact operational cavity gradient, radiological environment via activated components, and reliability. In this talk, we will discuss instrumented measurements of field emission from the two 1.1 GeV superconducting continuous wave (CW) linacs in CEBAF. The goal is to improve the understanding of field emission sources originating from cryomodule production, installation and operation. Such basic knowledge is needed in guiding field emission control, mitigation, and reduction toward high gradient and reliable operation of superconducting accelerators.

Geng, Rongli↗
DOE OSTI2025

Outflow Boundary Conditions for Turbine-Integrated Rotating Detonation Combustors

This study examines outflow boundary conditions (BCs) in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of a transition duct with and without guide vanes that converts supersonic flow exiting a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) to subsonic flow to drive a turbine. Since the flow exiting the transition duct has swirling shock waves with significant spatial and temporal variations in pressure, temperature, and Mach number, imposing proper BCs poses a challenge. To ensure all swirling shock waves exit the transition duct without creating non-physical reflected waves at its outlet, this study examined three outflow BCs: (1) the average pressure imposed at the duct’s outlet, (2) a nonreflecting BC (NRBC) with a specified average pressure imposed at the duct’s outlet, (3) the average pressure imposed at the outlet of an extension duct made up of a buffer layer and a sponge layer. This study is based on the three-dimensional, unsteady density-weighted-ensemble-averaged continuity, Navier–Stokes, and energy equations for a thermally perfect gas closed by the realizable k–ε model and “enhanced” wall functions. The results obtained show that imposing an average pressure at the transition duct’s outlet produces spurious waves that degrade the physical meaningfulness of the solution. When the NRBC was applied, swirling shock waves exited the duct’s outlet without creating spurious waves. However, its usage requires the gas to be thermally, as well as calorically, perfect, which this study shows could be a concern. By imposing the average pressure at the outlet of an extension duct, the gas does not need to be calorically perfect. The results obtained show the effects of the sponge layer’s length and coarsening ratio on damping nonuniformities in non-physical reflected waves to ensure the flow exiting the transition duct’s outlet can do so as if there are no boundaries present and has the desired average pressure—even though the BC is applied at the extension duct’s outlet.

gas turbines↗
NASA NTRS1977

Numerical calculation of transonic flow past a swept wing by a finite volume method

The utility of numerical methods for predicting transonic flows over wings and bodies is well established. The computer program FLO22, based on a method presented earlier, has actually been widely used to calculate the aerodynamic performance of wings of transport aircraft. Provided that a correction is made for the displacement effect of the viscous boundary layer, this code has been found to give predictions which are accurate enough to serve as a useful design guide. The main disadvantages of the scheme used in FLO22 are the use of nonconservative difference formulas, which result in a failure to satisfy conservation of mass across shock waves, and the difficulty of finding suitable transformations of coordinates to permit the treatment of more complex geometric configurations. The method described here is an attempt to overcome these shortcomings, while retaining the successful features of the previous method. The basic idea is to use a discrete approximation which directly represents a balance of the mass flow through small volume elements. This leads to a relatively simple treatment of the potential flow equation in conservation form.

Jameson, A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Application of millimeter-wave remote sensing to the investigation of comets

It is pointed out the despite years of investigation, the solid, quasi-permanent component of comets, the nucleus, remains largely a mystery. The composition and thermal properties of the nucleus determine the evolution of the more familiar and often spectacular cometary features, the coma and tail. Under certain circumstances, the nucleus may be obscured by a dust cloud of much higher temperature. The most appropriate technology for the investigation of the surface and subsurface layers of the nucleus is considered to be millimeter-wave sensing from an interplanetary spacecraft. Simple radiative transfer models, adapted from methods employed for the interpretation of remote-sensing data on terrestrial ice and snow fields, are used to predict the millimeter-wave spectra of representative model nuclei. The spectra determine the choice of the minimum set of observing frequencies that is required. An instrument configuration driven by these requirements and guided by available technology and the restraints of a proposed NASA spacecraft is then derived.

Hobbs, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1940

An Investigation of Sheet-stiffener Panels Subjected to Compression Loads with Particular Reference to Torsionally Weak Stiffeners

A total of 183 panel specimens of 24ST aluminum alloy with nominal thickness of 0.020, and 0.040 inch with extruded bulb-angle sections of 12 shapes spaced 4 and 5 inches as stiffeners were tested to obtain the buckling stress and the amplitude of the maximum wave when buckled. Bulb angles from 3 to 27 1/2 inches long were tested as pin-end columns. The experimental data are presented as stress-strain and column curves and in tabular form. Some comparisons with theoretical results are presented. Analytical methods are developed that make it possible for the designer to predict with reasonable accuracy the buckling stress and the maximum-wave amplitude of the sheet in stiffened-panel combinations. The scope of the tests was insufficient to formulate general design criteria but the results are presented as a guide for design and an indication of the type of theoretical and experimental work that is needed.

LOADS - COLUMNS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Laser-induced non-equilibrium plasma kernel dynamics

A non-equilibrium model for laser generated plasmas is validated and used to investigate plasma kernel dynamics. Breakdowns in quiescent air at different ambient conditions (e.g. pressure) for different laser parameters (e.g. power density and beam wavelength) are considered. The hydrodynamics is described based on the chemically reactive Navier–Stokes equations where non-equilibrium effects are accounted for using a three-temperature model. Laser-plasma interactions over nano-second time-scales are modeled with a radiative transfer equation (RTE), including both multiphoton ionization (MPI) and inverse Bremsstrahlung (IB). Validation is conducted by comparing absorbed energy and plasma emission with the corresponding experimental measurements, and by observations of the structure of the breakdown. The laser generated plasma exhibits a two-lobe structure, developing both in the forward and backward directions. An analysis of the dynamics suggests that the kernel evolution results from a radiation-driven wave that is: (i) triggered by MPI, (ii) sustained by energy deposition in IB interactions, which compensates for the energy lost by free-electrons in ionizing collisions, and (iii) guided by both MPI and ionization by electron impact (IE).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Moderately Relativistic Subgigawatt Microwave Oscillator of Twistron Type Operating with 50% Efficiency

A regime of quasi-stationary microwave generation in moderately relativistic microwave oscillator of the twistron type with 50 ± 20% efficiency of electron beam power conversion into electromagnetic radiation has been obtained in experiment through optimization of the electron–wave interaction. For the selected electron beam parameters (diode voltage, 210 kV; beam current. 1.36 kA) the output microwave power at 10.63 GHz frequency was 140 ± 40 MW in a guiding magnetic field of about 1.9 T. The duration of microwave pulses was about 16 ns.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1990

Propagation characteristics of optical fiber structures with arbitrary shape and index variation

The application of the scalar wave-fast Fourier transform (SW-FFT) technique to the computation of the propagation characteristics of some complex optical fiber structures is presented. The SW-FFT technique is based on the numerical solution of the scalar wave equation by a forward-marching fast Fourier transform method. This solution yields the spatial configuration of the fields as well as its modal characteristics in and around the guiding structure. The following are treated by the SW-FFT method: analysis of coupled optical fibers and computation of their odd and even modes and coupling length; the solution of tapered optical waveguides (transitions) and the study of the effect of the slope of the taper on mode conversion; and the analysis of branching optical fibers and demonstration of their mode-filtering and/or power-dividing properties.

Manshadi, F.↗