Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “BEAM DYNAMICS”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 973 records · Page 54

Integrating matrix solution of the hybrid state vector equations for beam vibration

A simple, versatile, and efficient computational technique has been developed for dynamic analysis of linear elastic beam and rod type of structures. Moreover, the method provides a rather general solution approach for two-point boundary value problems that are described by a single independent spatial variable. For structural problems, the method is implemented by a mixed state vector formulation of the differential equations, combined with an integrating matrix solution procedure. Highly accurate solutions are easily achieved with this approach. Example solutions are given for beam vibration problems including discontinuous stiffness and mass parameters, elastic restraint boundary conditions, concentrated inertia loading, and rigid body modes

Lehman, L. L.↗

Landau Damping with Electron Lenses in Space-Charge Dominated Beams

Progress on the Intensity Frontier of high energy physics critically depends on record high intensity charged particles accelerators. Beams in such machines become operationally limited by coherent beam instabilities, particularly enhanced in the regime of strong space charge (SC). Usual methods to control the instabilities, such as octupole magnets, beam feedback dampers and employment of chromatic effects, become less effective and insufficient. In [1] it was proposed to employ electron lenses for introduction of sufficient spread in particle oscillation frequencies needed for beam stabilization and in [2] it was shown that electron lenses are uniquely effective for Landau damping of transverse beam instabilities in high energy particle accelerators and their employment does not compromise incoherent (single particle) stability, dynamic aperture and the beam lifetime. Here we consider an important issue of effectiveness of the Landau damping with electron lenses in space-charge dominated beams and demonstrate that the desired stability can be assured with proper choice of the electron beam parameters and current distributions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Software for continuum modeling of controls-structures interactions

It is clear that computer software is needed to assist in the generation of the equations of motion for complex, flexible spacecraft. Daniel Poelaert of ESTEC has developed the software DISTEL with which he has modeled the structural dynamics for different satellites. He is interested in expanding the capabilities of DISTEL to include structural damping and control systems. Unfortunately, the software has not been released. The author has developed similar software, PDEMOD, which has been used to model the Spacecraft control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE), the Solar Array Flight Experiment (SAFE), the Mini-MAST truss, and the LACE satellite. PDEMOD has been used also for optimal parameter estimation and integrated control-structures design. PDEMOD is also being extended to include structural damping and control systems which are imbedded into the same equations for the structural dynamics. This paper will address the formulation of the equations for the structural dynamics of spacecraft structures which are constructed of a 3-dimensional arrangement of rigid bodies and flexible beam elements. Control system dynamics are imbedded into the same equations so that model order reduction approximations are not necessary. The input data consists of the physical data of the elements and the topological information describing how the elements are connected. PDEMOD accomplishes the following: (1) automatically assembles the equations of motion for the entire structural model; (2) calculates the modal frequencies; (3) calculates the mode shapes; (4) generates perspective views of the mode shapes; and (5) forms selected transfer functions. The software PDEMOD continues to be developed to provide additional features to assist in analyzing and synthesizing control and structural systems for flexible spacecraft.

Taylor, Lawrence W., Jr.↗

Exploring electron beam induced atomic assembly via reinforcement learning in a molecular dynamics environment

We report atom-by-atom assembly of functional materials and devices is perceived as one of the ultimate targets of nanotechnology. Recently it has been shown that the beam of a scanning transmission electron microscope can be used for targeted manipulation of individual atoms. However, the process is highly dynamic in nature rendering control difficult. One possible solution is to instead train artificial agents to perform the atomic manipulation in an automated manner without need for human intervention. As a first step to realizing this goal, we explore how artificial agents can be trained for atomic manipulation in a simplified molecular dynamics environment of graphene with Si dopants, using reinforcement learning. We find that it is possible to engineer the reward function of the agent in such a way as to encourage formation of local clusters of dopants under different constraints. This study shows the potential for reinforcement learning in nanoscale fabrication, and crucially, that the dynamics learned by agents encode specific elements of important physics that can be learned.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Exploration of Defect Dynamics and Color Center Qubit Synthesis with Pulsed Ion Beams

Short-pulse ion beams have been developed in recent years and now enable applications in materials science. A tunable flux of selected ions delivered in pulses of a few nanoseconds can affect the balance of defect formation and dynamic annealing in materials. We report results from color center formation in silicon with pulses of 900 keV protons. G-centers in silicon are near-infrared photon emitters with emerging applications as single-photon sources and for spin-photon qubit integration. G-centers consist of a pair of substitutional carbon atoms and one silicon interstitial atom and are often formed by carbon ion implantation and thermal annealing. Here, we report on G-center formation with proton pulses in silicon samples that already contained carbon, without carbon ion implantation or thermal annealing. The number of G-centers formed per proton increased when we increased the pulse intensity from 6.9 × 10 9 to 7.9 × 10 10 protons/cm 2 /pulse, demonstrating a flux effect on G-center formation efficiency. We observe a G-center ensemble linewidth of 0.1 nm (full width half maximum), narrower than previously reported. Pulsed ion beams can extend the parameter range available for fundamental studies of radiation-induced defects and the formation of color centers for spin-photon qubit applications.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Low Earth Orbit satellite traffic simulator

This paper describes a significant tool for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity analysis, needed to support marketing, economic, and design analysis, known as a Satellite Traffic Simulator (STS). LEO satellites typically use multiple beams to help achieve the desired communication capacity, but the traffic demand in these beams in usually not uniform. Simulations of dynamic, average, and peak expected demand per beam is a very critical part of the marketing, economic, and design analysis necessary to field a viable LEO system. An STS is described in this paper which can simulate voice, data and FAX traffic carried by LEO satellite beams and Earth Station Gateways. It is applicable world-wide for any LEO satellite constellations operating over any regions. For aeronautical applications to LEO satellites. the anticipates aeronautical traffic (Erlangs for each hour of the day to be simulated) is prepared for geographically defined 'area targets' (each major operational region for the respective aircraft), and used as input to the STS. The STS was designed by Constellations Communications Inc. (CCI) and E-Systems for usage in Brazil in accordance with an ESCA/INPE Statement Of Work, and developed by Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI) to execute on top of its Satellite Tool Kit (STK) commercial software. The STS simulates constellations of LEO satellite orbits, with input of traffic intensity (Erlangs) for each hour of the day generated from area targets (such as Brazilian States). accumulated in custom LEO satellite beams, and then accumulated in Earth Station Gateways. The STS is a very general simulator which can accommodate: many forms of orbital element and Walker Constellation input; simple beams or any user defined custom beams; and any location of Gateways. The paper describes some of these features, including Manual Mode dynamic graphical display of communication links, to illustrate which Gateway links are accessible and which links are not, at each 'step' of the satellite orbit. In the two Performance Modes, either Channel capacity or Grade Of Service (GOS) for objects (Satellite beams, Gateways, and an entire satellite) are computed respectively by standard traffic table capacity lookup and blocking probability equations. GOS can be input, with number of channels calculated, or number of channels can be input, with GOS calculated. Also described are some of the STS Test Procedure approach and results. AGI plans to make the STS features available through their normal commercial STK products. E-Systems is a co-developer, tester, and user of the STS. The Test Procedure for the STS was prepared by E-Systems, as an independent tester for CCI, to support the CCI delivery of the STS to ESCA, for their customer INPE.

Hoelzel, John↗

Data driven methods to recognize patterns in EIC weak-strong simulation

Beam-Beam simulations are currently being studied in preparation for future EIC experiments to study beam-beam effects and, in turn, maximize luminosity. Weak-strong methods are studied for single-particle dynamics during collision. 1 million macro-particles for 1 million turns are typically tracked, corresponding to only 10 seconds in the EIC. The goal of this study is to predict beam properties over the scale of hours. A potential solution focuses on using data-driven methods such as machine learning methods to analyze and extend the insights of the beam properties such as long-term nonlinear effects. This would aid in long-term predictions where results would be more efficiently acquired than a typical tracking simulation. Some limitations such as inaccurate predictions and spatial complexity are also discussed. These methods can then be applied to strong-strong simulations in the future studies.

Accelerator Physics↗

Miniature drag-force anemometer

A miniature drag-force anemometer is described which is capable of measuring dynamic velocity head and flow direction. The anemometer consists of a silicon cantilever beam 2.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, and 0.25 mm thick with an integrated diffused strain-gage bridge, located at the base of the beam, as the force measuring element. The dynamics of the beam are like those of a second-order system with a natural frequency of about 42 kHz and a damping coefficient of 0.007. The anemometer can be used in both forward and reversed flow. Measured flow characteristics up to Mach 0.6 are presented along with application examples including turbulence measurements.

Krause, L. N.↗

Miniature drag force anemometer

A miniature drag force anemometer is described which is capable of measuring dynamic velocity head and flow direction. The anemometer consists of a silicon cantilevered beam 2.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, and 0.25 mm thick with an integrated diffused strain gage bridge, located at the base of the beam, as the force measuring element. The dynamics of the beam are like that of a second order system with a natural frequency of about 42 kHz and a damping coefficient of 0.007. The anemometer can be used in both forward and reversed flow. Measured flow characteristics up to Mach 0.6 are presented along with application examples including turbulence measurements.

Krause, L. N.↗

An investigation of kV CBCT image quality and dose reduction for volume-of-interest imaging using dynamic collimation

Purpose: The focus of this work was to investigate the improvements in image quality and dose reduction for volume-of-interest (VOI) kilovoltage-cone beam CT (CBCT) using dynamic collimation. Methods: A prototype iris aperture was used to track a VOI during a CBCT acquisition. The current aperture design is capable of 1D translation as a function of gantry angle and dynamic adjustment of the iris radius. The aperture occupies the location of the bow-tie filter on a Varian On-Board Imager system. CBCT and planar image quality were investigated as a function of aperture radius, while maintaining the same dose to the VOI, for a 20 cm diameter cylindrical water phantom with a 9 mm diameter bone insert centered on isocenter. Corresponding scatter-to-primary ratios (SPR) were determined at the detector plane with Monte Carlo simulation using EGSnrc. Dose distributions for various sizes VOI were modeled using a dynamic BEAMnrc library and DOSXYZnrc. The resulting VOI dose distributions were compared to full-field distributions. Results: SPR was reduced by a factor of 8.4 when decreasing iris diameter from 21.2 to 2.4 cm (at isocenter). Depending upon VOI location and size, dose was reduced to 16%–90% of the full-field value along the central axis plane and down to 4% along the axis of rotation, while maintaining the same dose to the VOI compared to full-field techniques. When maintaining constant dose to the VOI, this change in iris diameter corresponds to a factor increase of approximately 1.6 in image contrast and a factor decrease in image noise of approximately 1.2. This results in a measured gain in contrast-to-noise ratio by a factor of approximately 2.0. Conclusions: The presented VOI technique offers improved image quality for image-guided radiotherapy while sparing the surrounding volume of unnecessary dose compared to full-field techniques.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Reconfigurable Terahertz Metasurface Pure Phase Holograms

Terahertz (THz) radiation has many potential applications. However, comparing with the rapid development of THz sources and detectors, functional devices for THz modulation, especially the spatial modulation devices, are still insufficient. Here, we present a novel approach for generating arbitrary wavefronts of a THz beam is presented. By dynamically creating metasurface structures through illuminating a thin silicon wafer with femtosecond laser, which is spatially modulated, an array of reconfigurable subwavelength resonators is generated. The wavefront of the THz beam is then determined by forming spatial profiles of the Pancharatnam–Berry scattering phase by dynamically controlling the resonator orientation. Proof-of-concept experiments demonstrate that streaming holographic images and lenses of variable focal length can be realized in real time. The reconfigurable scheme demonstrated here is convenient and fast, and may lead to advances in a host of THz applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Changes in "thermal lens" measure diffusivity

In an extension of "thermal lens" effect to new applications and better resolution, two laser beams combine to rapidly measure thermal diffusivity and other molecular dynamic properties. New double-beam technique handles very small samples unlike classical techniques for measuring diffusivity. It can be used for measurements on samples undergoing stress, making it applicable to data collection for structural engineering.

Gupta, A.↗

Gyrodampers for large space structures

The problem of controlling the vibrations of a large space structures by the use of actively augmented damping devices distributed throughout the structure is addressed. The gyrodamper which consists of a set of single gimbal control moment gyros which are actively controlled to extract the structural vibratory energy through the local rotational deformations of the structure, is described and analyzed. Various linear and nonlinear dynamic simulations of gyrodamped beams are shown, including results on self-induced vibrations due to sensor noise and rotor imbalance. The complete nonlinear dynamic equations are included. The problem of designing and sizing a system of gyrodampers for a given structure, or extrapolating results for one gyrodamped structure to another is solved in terms of scaling laws. Novel scaling laws for gyro systems are derived, based upon fundamental physical principles, and various examples are given.

Aubrun, J. N.↗

Ion Dynamic Capture Experiments With The High Performance Antiproton Trap (HiPAT)

To take the first step towards using the energy produced from the matter-antimatter annihilation for propulsion applications, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Propulsion Research Center (PRC) has initiated a research activity examining the storage of low energy antiprotons. The High Performance Antiproton Trap (HiPAT) is an electromagnetic system (Penning-Malmberg design) consisting of a 4 Tesla superconductor, a high voltage electrode confinement system, and an ultra high vacuum test section. It has been designed with an ultimate goal of maintaining 10(exp 12) charged particles with a half-life of 18 days. Currently, this system is being evaluated experimentally using normal matter ions that are cheap to produce, relatively easy to handle, and provide a good indication of overall trap behavior (with the exception of assessing annihilation losses). The ions are produced via a positive hydrogen ion source and transported to HiPAT in a beam line equipped with electrostatic optics. The optics serve to both focus and gate the incoming ions, providing microsecond-timed beam pulses that are dynamically captured by cycling the HiPAT forward containment field like a "trap door". Initial dynamic capture experiments have been successfully performed with beam energy and currents set to 1.9 kV and 23 micro-amps, respectively. At these settings up to 2x10(exp 9) ions have been trapped during a single dynamic cycle.

Martin, James↗

Estimation of full-field dynamic strains from digital video measurements of output-only beam structures by video motion processing and modal superposition

Strain is an necessary quantity to characterize local structural behaviors and directly correlates with structural damage initiation and development that is within local regions. Strain measurement at high spatial resolution (density) locations is thus required to characterize local structural behaviors and detect potential local damage. Traditional contact-type strain gauges are mostly discrete point-wise sensors that can only be placed in a limited number of positions. Distributed optical fiber sensing techniques can measure strains at spatially dense measurement points, but their instrumentation is a time- and labor-intensive process associated with the issue of the fragility of fibers. Noncontact optical measurement techniques, such as a family of interferometry techniques using laser beams (e.g., laser Doppler vibrometers), can provide vibration measurement at high density spatial points without the need to install sensors on the structure. Yet, these measurement devices are active sensing methods that are relatively expensive and vulnerable to ambient motion. Photogrammetry is an alternative noncontact optical measurement method using (passive) white-light imaging of digital video cameras that are relatively low-cost, agile, and provides simultaneous measurements at high spatial density locations where every pixel becomes a measurement point. Among others, digital image correlation can achieve full-field deformation measurements and subsequently estimate the full-field strains. However, it is computationally extensive. This research develops a new efficient approach to estimate the full-field (as many measurement points as the pixel number of the video frame on the structure) dynamic strains at high-spatial (pixel)-resolution/density location points from the digital video measurement of output-only vibrating structures. The developed approach is based on phase-based video motion estimation and modal superposition of structural dynamic response. Moreover, the method is augmented by a high-fidelity finite element model, which is updated with the full-field experimental modal parameters “blindly” identified from the video measurement of the output-only structure. Laboratory experiments are conducted to validate the method on a bench-scale cantilever beam structure. Results demonstrate that the full-field dynamic strain estimated by the developed approach from the video measurement of the output-only vibrating beam match very well those directly measured by the strain gauges (at discrete measurement points). Some factors associated with the effectiveness of the method are experimentally studied and discussed.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The density distribution and physical origins of intermittency in supersonic, highly magnetized turbulence with diverse modes of driving

The probability density function (PDF) of the logarithmic density contrast, s = ln (ρ/ρ 0 ), with gas density ρ and mean density ρ 0 , for hydrodynamical supersonic turbulence is well known to have significant non-Gaussian (intermittent) features that monotonically increase with the turbulent Mach number, M. By studying the mass- and volume-weighted s-PDF for an ensemble of 36 sub-to-trans-Alfvenic mean-field, supersonic, isothermal turbulence simulations with different modes of driving, relevant to molecular gas in the cool interstellar medium, we show that a more intricate picture emerges for the non-Gaussian nature of s. Using four independent measures of the non-Gaussian components, we find hydrodynamical-like structure in the highly magnetized plasma for M≲4. However, for M≳4, the non-Gaussian signatures disappear, leaving approximately Gaussian s-statistics – exactly the opposite of hydrodynamical turbulence in the high-M limit. We also find that the non-Gaussian components of the PDF increase monotonically with more compressive driving modes. To understand the M≲4 non-Gaussian features, we use one-dimensional pencil beams to explore the dynamics along and across the large-scale magnetic field, B 0 . Here we discuss kinetic, density, and magnetic field fluctuations from the pencil beams, and identify physical sources of non-Gaussian components to the PDF as single, strong shocks coupled to fast magnetosonic compressions that form along B 0 . We discuss the Gaussianization of the M≳4 s-fields through the lens of two phenomenologies: the self-similarity of the s-field and homogenization of the dynamical time-scales between the over- and underdense regions in the compressible gas.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Electrotastic Solitary Waves (ESW) in the magnetotail: BEN wave forms observed by GEOTAIL

Wave forms of BEN (Broadband Electrostatic Noise) in the geomagnetic tail were first detected by the Wave Form Capture reciever on the GEOTAIL spacecraft. The results show that most of the BEN in the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) are not continuous broadband noise but are composed of a series of solitary pulses having a special form which we term 'Electrostatic Solitary Waves (ESW)'. A nonlinear BGK potential model is proposed as the generation mechanism for the ESW based upon a simple particle simulation which considers the highly nonlinear evolution of the electron beam instability. The wave forms produced by this simulation are very similar to those observed by GEOTAIL and suggest that the nonlinear dynamics of the electron beam play an essential role in the generation of ESW.

Matsumoto, H.↗

TU-CD-304-07: Intensity Modulated Electron Beam Therapy Employing Small Fields in Virtual Scanning Mode

Purpose: Dynamic electron radiation therapies such as dynamic electron arc radiotherapy (DEAR) utilize small fields to provide target conformity and fluence modulation. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of virtual scanning mode using small fields. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations (EGSnrc/BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc) were performed using validated Varian TrueBeam phase space files for electron beam energies of 6, 9, 12, and 16 MeV and square/circular fields (1×1/1, 2×2/2, 3×3/3, 4×4/4, 5×5/5 cm{sup 2}/cm diameter). Resulting dose distributions (kernels) were used for subsequent calculations. The following analyses were performed: (1) Comparison of composite square fields and reference 10×10 cm{sup 2} dose distributions and (2) Scanning beam deliveries for square and circular fields realized as the convolution of kernels and scanning pattern. Preliminary beam weight and pattern optimization were also performed. Two linear scans of 10 cm with/without overlap were modeled. Comparison metrics included depth and orthogonal profiles at dmax. Results: (1) Composite fields regained reference depth dose profiles for most energies and fields within 5%. Smaller kernels and higher energies increased dose in the build-up and Bremsstrahlung region (30%, 16MeV and 1×1 cm{sup 2}), while reference dmax was maintained for all energies and composite fields. Smaller kernels (<2×2 cm{sup 2}) maintained penumbra and field size within 0.2 cm, and flatness within 2%. Deterioration of penumbra for larger kernels (5×5 cm{sup 2}) were observed. Balancing desirable dosimetry and efficiencies suggests that smaller kernels are used at edges and larger kernels in the center of the target. (2) Beam weight optimization improved cross-plane penumbra (0.2 cm) and increased the field size (0.4 cm) on average. In-plane penumbra and field size remained unchanged. Overlap depended on kernel size and optimal overlap resulted in flatness ±2%. Conclusion: Dynamic electron beam therapy in virtual scanning mode is feasible by employing small fields to achieve desired dose distributions and acceptable efficiencies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗