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DOE OSTI2016

Upgrading of data acquisition software for centralized radiation monitoring system in Malaysian Nuclear Agency

With the growth of technology, many devices and equipments can be connected to the network and internet to enable online data acquisition for real-time data monitoring and control from monitoring devices located at remote sites. Centralized radiation monitoring system (CRMS) is a system that enables area radiation level at various locations in Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) to be monitored centrally by using a web browser. The Local Area Network (LAN) in Nuclear Malaysia is utilized in CRMS as a communication media for data acquisition of the area radiation levels from radiation detectors. The development of the system involves device configuration, wiring, network and hardware installation, software and web development. This paper describes the software upgrading on the system server that is responsible to acquire and record the area radiation readings from the detectors. The recorded readings are called in a web programming to be displayed on a website. Besides the main feature which is acquiring the area radiation levels in Nuclear Malaysia centrally, the upgrading involves new features such as uniform time interval for data recording and exporting, warning system and dose triggering.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2016

Mass separation of deuterium and helium with conventional quadrupole mass spectrometer by using varied ionization energy

Deuterium pressure in deuterium-helium mixture gas is successfully measured by a common quadrupole mass spectrometer (model: RGA200) with a resolution of ∼0.5 atomic mass unit (AMU), by using varied ionization energy together with new developed software and dedicated calibration for RGA200. The new software is developed by using MATLAB with the new functions: electron energy (EE) scanning, deuterium partial pressure measurement, and automatic data saving. RGA200 with new software is calibrated in pure deuterium and pure helium 1.0 × 10{sup −6}–5.0 × 10{sup −2} Pa, and the relation between pressure and ion current of AMU4 under EE = 25 eV and EE = 70 eV is obtained. From the calibration result and RGA200 scanning with varied ionization energy in deuterium and helium mixture gas, both deuterium partial pressures (P{sub D{sub 2}}) and helium partial pressure (P{sub He}) could be obtained. The result shows that deuterium partial pressure could be measured if P{sub D{sub 2}} > 10{sup −6} Pa (limited by ultimate pressure of calibration vessel), and helium pressure could be measured only if P{sub He}/P{sub D{sub 2}} > 0.45, and the measurement error is evaluated as 15%. This method is successfully employed in EAST 2015 summer campaign to monitor deuterium outgassing/desorption during helium discharge cleaning.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2016

RAY-UI: A powerful and extensible user interface for RAY

The RAY-UI project started as a proof-of-concept for an interactive and graphical user interface (UI) for the well-known ray tracing software RAY [1]. In the meantime, it has evolved into a powerful enhanced version of RAY that will serve as the platform for future development and improvement of associated tools. The software as of today supports nearly all sophisticated simulation features of RAY. Furthermore, it delivers very significant usability and work efficiency improvements. Beamline elements can be quickly added or removed in the interactive sequence view. Parameters of any selected element can be accessed directly and in arbitrary order. With a single click, parameter changes can be tested and new simulation results can be obtained. All analysis results can be explored interactively right after ray tracing by means of powerful integrated image viewing and graphing tools. Unlimited image planes can be positioned anywhere in the beamline, and bundles of image planes can be created for moving the plane along the beam to identify the focus position with live updates of the simulated results. In addition to showing the features and workflow of RAY-UI, we will give an overview of the underlying software architecture as well as examples for use and an outlook for future developments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2021

Radio frequency mixing modules for superconducting qubit room temperature control systems

As the number of qubits in nascent quantum processing units increases, the connectorized RF (radio frequency) analog circuits used in first generation experiments become exceedingly complex. The physical size, cost, and electrical failure rate all become limiting factors in the extensibility of control systems. We have developed a series of compact RF mixing boards to address this challenge by integrating I/Q quadrature mixing, intermediate frequency/LO (local oscillator)/RF power level adjustments, and direct current bias fine tuning on a 40 × 80 mm 2 four-layer printed circuit board with electromagnetic interference shielding. The RF mixing module is designed to work with RF and LO frequencies between 2.5 and 8.5 GHz. The typical image rejection and adjacent channel isolation are measured to be ~27 dBc and ~50 dB. By scanning the drive phase in a loopback test, the module short-term amplitude and phase linearity are typically measured to be 5 ×10 -4 (V pp /V mean ) and 1 ×10 -3 radian (pk-pk). The operation of the RF mixing board was validated by integrating it into the room temperature control system of a superconducting quantum processor and executing randomized benchmarking characterization of single and two qubit gates. We measured a single-qubit process infidelity of 9.3(3) × 10 -4 and a two-qubit process infidelity of 2.7(1) × 10 -2 .

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Mitigation of the Brighter-fatter Effect in the LSST Camera

Abstract Thick, fully depleted charge-coupled devices are known to exhibit nonlinear behavior at high signal levels due to the dynamic behavior of charges collecting in the potential wells of pixels, called the brighter-fatter effect (BFE). The effect results in distorted images of bright calibration stars, creating a flux-dependent point-spread function that if left unmitigated, could make up a large fraction of the error budget in Stage IV weak-lensing (WL) surveys such as the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). In this paper, we analyze image measurements of flat fields and artificial stars taken at different illumination levels with the LSST Camera (LSSTCam) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in order to quantify this effect in the LSSTCam before and after a previously introduced correction technique. We observe that the BFE evolves anisotropically as a function of flux due to higher-order BFEs, which violates the fundamental assumption of this correction method. We then introduce a new method based on a physically motivated model to account for these higher-order terms in the correction, and then we test the modified correction on both data sets. We find that the new method corrects the effect in flat fields better than it corrects the effect in artificial stars, which we suggest is the result of sub-pixel physics not included in this correction model. We use these results to define a new metric for the full-well capacity of our sensors and advise image processing strategies to further limit the impact of the effect on LSST WL science pathways.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2017

Non-steady wind turbine response to daytime atmospheric turbulence

Relevant to drivetrain bearing fatigue failures, we analyse non-steady wind turbine responses from interactions between energy-dominant daytime atmospheric turbulence eddies and the rotating blades of a GE 1.5 MW wind turbine using a unique dataset from a GE field experiment and computer simulation. Time-resolved local velocity data were collected at the leading and trailing edges of an instrumented blade together with generator power, revolutions per minute, pitch and yaw. Wind velocity and temperature were measured upwind on a meteorological tower. The stability state and other atmospheric conditions during the field experiment were replicated with a large-eddy simulation in which was embedded a GE 1.5 MW wind turbine rotor modelled with an advanced actuator line method. Both datasets identify three important response time scales: advective passage of energy-dominant eddies (≈25–50 s), blade rotation (once per revolution (1P), ≈3 s) and sub-1P scale (<1 s) response to internal eddy structure. Large-amplitude short-time ramp-like and oscillatory load fluctuations result in response to temporal changes in velocity vector inclination in the aerofoil plane, modulated by eddy passage at longer time scales. Generator power responds strongly to large-eddy wind modulations. Lastly, we show that internal dynamics of the blade boundary layer near the trailing edge is temporally modulated by the non-steady external flow that was measured at the leading edge, as well as blade-generated turbulence motions.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2011

Real-time verification of multileaf collimator-driven radiotherapy using a novel optical attenuation-based fluence monitor

Purpose: Multileaf collimator (MLC)-driven conformal radiotherapy modalities [e.g., such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), intensity-modulated arc therapy, and stereotactic body radiotherapy] are more subject to delivery errors and dose calculation inaccuracies than standard modalities. Fluence monitoring during treatment delivery could reduce such errors by allowing an independent interface to quantify and assess measured difference between the delivered and planned treatment administration. We developed an optical attenuation-based detector to monitor fluence for the on-line quality control of radiotherapy delivery. The purpose of the current study was to develop the theoretical background of the invention and to evaluate the detector's performance both statistically and in clinical situations. Methods: We aligned 60 27-cm scintillating fibers coupled to a photodetector via clear optical fibers in the direction of motion of each of the 60 leaf pairs of a 120 leaves Millenium MLC on a Varian Clinac iX. We developed a theoretical model to predict the intensity of light collected on each side of the scintillating fibers when placed under radiation fields of varying sizes, intensities, and positions. The model showed that both the central position of the radiation field on the fiber (x{sub c}) and the integral fluence passing through the fiber ({Phi}{sub int}) could be assessed independently in a single measurement. We evaluated the performance of the prototype by (1) measuring the intrinsic variation of the measured values of x{sub c} and {Phi}{sub int}, (2) measuring the impact on the measured values of x{sub c} and {Phi}{sub int} of random leaf positioning errors introduced into IMRT fields, and (3) comparing the predicted values of x{sub c} and {Phi}{sub int} calculated with the treatment planning software to the measured values of x{sub c} and {Phi}{sub int} in order to assess the predictive effectiveness of the developed theoretical model. Results: We observed a very low intrinsic dispersion, dominated by Poisson statistics, for both x{sub c} (standard deviations of less than 1 mm) and {Phi}{sub int} (standard deviations of less than 0.20%). When confronted with random leaf positioning errors from IMRT segments, {Phi}{sub int} was highly sensitive to single leaf positioning errors as small as 1 mm at isocenter, while x{sub c} was sensitive to leaf pair translation errors of at least 2 mm at isocenter. Owing to the uncertainties in the doses calculated in regions of high perpendicular dose gradients, the measured values of x{sub c} and {Phi}{sub int} deviated from the predicted values of x{sub c} and {Phi}{sub int} by a mean of 1.3 mm and 2.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study showed that an optical attenuation-based detector can be used to effectively monitor integral fluence during radiotherapy delivery. The performance of such a system would enable real-time quality control of the incident fluence in current MLC-driven treatments such as IMRT and future adaptive radiotherapy procedures where new treatment plans will have to be delivered without passing thru the current standard quality control chain.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2012

Monte Carlo performance on the x-ray converter thickness in digital mammography using software breast models

Purpose: In x-ray mammography, some of the components that play significant role to early diagnosis are the x-ray source, the breast composition as well as the composition of the x-ray converter. Various studies have previously investigated separately the influence of breast characteristics and detector configuration on the optimization of mammographic imaging systems. However, it is important to examine the combined effect of both components in improving the signal transfer properties in mammography systems of the mammograms. In the present study, the authors compared and evaluated x-ray converters using software breast models and realistic mammographic spectra in terms of: (a) zero-frequency detective quantum efficiency (DQE) and (b) sensitivity. The impact of x-ray converter thickness on contrast threshold (C{sub TH}) for observer assessment, based on the Rose model, was demonstrated as well. Methods: Monte Carlo techniques were applied to simulate the x-ray interactions within the software breast phantoms and thereafter within the detective medium. Simulations involved: (a) two mammographic x-ray spectra: 28 kV Mo, 0.030 mm Mo, and 32 kV W, 0.050 mm Rh of different entrance surface air kerma (ESAK: 3-7 mGy), (b) realistic breast models (dense and fatty) and (c) x-ray converter materials most frequently considered in investigations on energy integrating digital mammography detectors: the Gd{sub 2}O{sub 2}S:Tb granular phosphor, the CsI:Tl structured phosphor, and the a-Se photoconductive layer. Detector material thickness was considered to vary in the range from 50 mg/cm{sup 2} up to 150 mg/cm{sup 2}. Results: The Monte Carlo study showed that: (a) the x-ray beam becomes less penetrating after passing through dense breasts leading to higher values of zero-frequency DQE of the x-ray imaging converters and improved C{sub TH} values in all cases considered, (b) W/Rh target/filter combination results in improved C{sub TH} values at higher ESAK values, and (c) a-Se shows higher zero-frequency DQE values than the phosphor-based converters, Gd{sub 2}O{sub 2}S:Tb and CsI:Tl. However, thicker layers of CsI:Tl could be comparable to a-Se layers achieving approximately 27.6% C{sub TH} improvement at a thickness of 150 mg/cm{sup 2}. Conclusions: The present Monte Carlo investigation indicates that in the energy range employed in mammography, an upper limit, approximately 100 mg/cm{sup 2}, should be considered in the development of thicker a-Se converters. On the other hand, above this thickness value, CsI:Tl converter could improve its imaging performance.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-R-12: Prediction of TrueBeam Hardware Issues Using Trajectory Log Analysis

Purpose: To predict potential failures of hardware within the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator in order to proactively replace parts and decrease machine downtime. Methods: Machine downtime is a problem for all radiation oncology departments and vendors. Most often it is the result of unexpected equipment failure, and increased due to lack of in-house clinical engineering support. Preventative maintenance attempts to assuage downtime, but often is ineffective at preemptively preventing many failure modes such as MLC motor failures, the need to tighten a gantry chain, or the replacement of a jaw motor, among other things. To attempt to alleviate downtime, software was developed in house that determines the maximum value of each axis enumerated in the Truebeam trajectory log files. After patient treatments, this data is stored in a SQL database. Microsoft Power BI is used to plot the average maximum error of each day of each machine as a function of time. The results are then correlated with actual faults that occurred at the machine with the help of Varian service engineers. Results: Over the course of six months, 76,312 trajectory logs have been written into the database and plotted in Power BI. Throughout the course of analysis MLC motors have been replaced on three machines due to the early warning of the trajectory log analysis. The service engineers have also been alerted to possible gantry issues on one occasion due to the aforementioned analysis. Conclusion: Analyzing the trajectory log data is a viable and effective early warning system for potential failures of the TrueBeam linear accelerator. With further analysis and tightening of the tolerance values used to determine a possible imminent failure, it should be possible to pinpoint future issues more thoroughly and for more axes of motion.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-478: Effect of Deconvolution in Analysis of Mega Voltage Photon Beam Profiles

Purpose: To study and compare the penumbra of 6 MV and 15 MV photon beam profiles after deconvoluting different volume ionization chambers. Methods: 0.125cc Semi-Flex chamber, Markus Chamber and PTW Farmer chamber were used to measure the in-plane and cross-plane profiles at 5 cm depth for 6 MV and 15 MV photons. The profiles were measured for various field sizes starting from 2×2 cm till 30×30 cm. PTW TBA scan software was used for the measurements and the “deconvolution” functionality in the software was used to remove the volume averaging effect due to finite volume of the chamber along lateral and longitudinal directions for all the ionization chambers. The predicted true profile was compared and the change in penumbra before and after deconvolution was studied. Results: After deconvoluting the penumbra decreased by 1 mm for field sizes ranging from 2 × 2 cm till 20 x20 cm. This is observed for along both lateral and longitudinal directions. However for field sizes from 20 × 20 till 30 ×30 cm the difference in penumbra was around 1.2 till 1.8 mm. This was observed for both 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams. The penumbra was always lesser in the deconvoluted profiles for all the ionization chambers involved in the study. The variation in difference in penumbral values were in the order of 0.1 till 0.3 mm between the deconvoluted profile along lateral and longitudinal directions for all the chambers under study. Deconvolution of the profiles along longitudinal direction for Farmer chamber was not good and is not comparable with other deconvoluted profiles. Conclusion: The results of the deconvoluted profiles for 0.125cc and Markus chamber was comparable and the deconvolution functionality can be used to overcome the volume averaging effect.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2010

Hardware authentication using transmission spectra modified optical fiber.

The ability to authenticate the source and integrity of data is critical to the monitoring and inspection of special nuclear materials, including hardware related to weapons production. Current methods rely on electronic encryption/authentication codes housed in monitoring devices. This always invites the question of implementation and protection of authentication information in an electronic component necessitating EMI shielding, possibly an on board power source to maintain the information in memory. By using atomic layer deposition techniques (ALD) on photonic band gap (PBG) optical fibers we will explore the potential to randomly manipulate the output spectrum and intensity of an input light source. This randomization could produce unique signatures authenticating devices with the potential to authenticate data. An external light source projected through the fiber with a spectrometer at the exit would 'read' the unique signature. No internal power or computational resources would be required.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2012

CO 2 Storage and Enhanced Oil Recovery: Bald Unit Test Site, Mumford Hills Oil Field, Posey County, Indiana

The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) carried out a small-scale carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) injection test in a sandstone within the Clore Formation (Mississippian System, Chesterian Series) in order to gauge the large-scale CO 2 storage that might be realized from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of mature Illinois Basin oil fields via miscible liquid CO 2 flooding.

02 PETROLEUM↗

DOE OSTI2017

FY 2016 Site-Directed Research & Development Annual Report

As the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) continues to evolve and transition its mission to a broader scope, significant challenges lie ahead that present unique opportunities for our research and development (R&D) enterprise. At the juncture, we are poised to create a different future investment strategy. Our decisions at the beginning of a new tri-decade span must be guided as expertly as possible given the greater complexity and multifaceted nature of our work.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2018

Girder Profile Reproducing Residuals Report

Girder profile is represented by 6 or 8 girder fiducials, depending on the length of the girder. The profile is recorded precisely in environmentally controlled room (ER) where vibrating wire measurement is taken place. The girder profile is expected to be reproduced in tunnel by following a strictly-designed procedure. Girder profile is adjusted by referring to the dynamic reading of laser tracker and is recorded by multiple shots to common targets and girder fiducials. A final 6 tracker setup is performed to confirm the girder profile reported by 2 trackers and report the magnet relative height location by including magnet top fiducial observation. In order to further isolate the impact of instrument and monument geometry, the girder fiducials that are symmetrical relative to beam centerline will be averaged to compute girder profile error. The girder profile reproducing residuals will be summarized for the girders have been profiled so far.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2013

Girder Profile Reproducing Residuals Report

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Remote Sensing of Dynamic Events [Slides]

Research into using advanced methods for remote sensing applications. A particular interest is in remote sensing of dynamic events involving high explosives (HE) and estimating parameters (e.g., temperature) that characterize the fireball. However, the research is interested in machine learning (ML) for infrared remote sensing in general. The motivation is to improve remote sensing methods of dynamic events to help with validation of computational physics codes.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2020

Development of an Advanced Integrated Operations Concept for Hybrid Control Rooms

The U.S. Nuclear Industry has an urgent need to reduce the operations and maintenance costs to remain economically competitive in today’s energy market. Measures to improve efficiency in operations will need to leverage technology in a way that safely transforms how plants are operated. This work describes the development of an integrated operations concept that integrates data from existing Instrumentation and Control (I&C) infrastructure, upgraded I&C systems, new sensors, and field technologies such as computer-based procedures to provide operators with centralized, streamlined instructions. The concept was developed to allow for an operator to remotely supervise many plant activities and to dramatically streamline plant operations and maintenance. This report describes the design philosophy, the analysis used to inform design, the implementation in the Human Systems Simulation Laboratory, and illustrates the design concept.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Demonstration and Evaluation of an Advanced Integrated Operations Concept for Hybrid Control Rooms

The U.S. nuclear industry has an urgent need to reduce operations and maintenance costs to remain economically competitive in today’s energy market. Measures to improve efficiency in operations will need to leverage technology in a way that safely transforms how plants are operated. This work describes the Evaluation of an integrated operations concept that draws together data from existing Instrumentation and Control (I&C) infrastructure, upgraded I&C systems, new sensors, and field technologies such as computer-based procedures to provide operators with centralized, streamlined instructions. The concept was developed to allow for an operator to remotely supervise many plant activities and to dramatically streamline plant operations and maintenance. This describes the methods, results, and design recommendations for the concept based on an operator workshop to evaluate the concept.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗