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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 991 records · Page 55
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Comparative Investigation of Current-Source Inverters using SiC Discrete Devices and Power Modules

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the SiC device packages on the commutation performance characteristics of current-source inverters (CSIs). The parasitic components in the CSI current commutation loop between the two-phase legs and output capacitors have a significant impact on the high-frequency performance of the SiC devices. To meet the elevated current requirements of high-power CSIs, it is often necessary to connect multiple discrete devices in parallel which increases the current commutation loop length. The selection of compact high-power SiC MOSFET and Schottky diode modules instead of discrete devices can be highly desirable to reduce the loop inductance and improve the system performance and power density. Two CSI benchtop prototype units, one with SiC discrete devices and the other with power modules, have been designed and tested, and the performances of the two CSIs are compared. The CSI with SiC power modules significantly reduces the inverter volume and lowers the parasitic inductance by 60% and the voltage ripple amplitude by 20% compared to the CSI unit with discrete devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Phase Shift Control of a Three-Phase Inverter for Balanced Secondary Currents in Misaligned Three-Phase Inductive Power Transfer Systems

This paper presents a strategy for generating fundamental reference voltage commands for a double-sided LCC tuned three-phase wireless power transfer (WPT) system to achieve balanced output currents when the receiver and transmitter are not perfectly aligned. Formulas for translating the normalized fundamental current commands into phase-shift commands for two of the phase legs in a two-level three-phase inverter are derived. The methodology is validated through circuit simulations performed using coupler models derived from finite-element simulations. Simulation results for a 1.5 k W system design are included, which indicate near perfect correction of imbalance in the secondary currents for a typical misalignment case.

Pries, Jason↗
DOE OSTI2018

PlanHab * : hypoxia does not worsen the impairment of skeletal muscle oxidative function induced by bed rest alone

Key points Superposition of hypoxia on 21 day bed rest did not worsen the impairment of skeletal muscle oxidative function induced by bed rest alone. A significant impairment of maximal oxidative performance was identified downstream of cardiovascular O 2 delivery, involving both the intramuscular matching between O 2 supply and utilization and mitochondrial respiration. These chronic adaptations appear to be relevant in terms of exposure to spaceflights and reduced gravity habitats (Moon or Mars), as characterized by low gravity and hypoxia, in patients with chronic diseases characterized by hypomobility/immobility and hypoxia, as well as in ageing. Abstract Skeletal muscle oxidative function was evaluated in 11 healthy males (mean ± SD age 27 ± 5 years) prior to (baseline data collection, BDC) and following a 21 day horizontal bed rest (BR), carried out in normoxia ( = 133 mmHg; N‐BR) and hypoxia ( = 90 mmHg; H‐BR). H‐BR was aimed at simulating reduced gravity habitats. The effects of a 21 day hypoxic ambulatory confinement ( = 90 mmHg; H‐AMB) were also assessed. Pulmonary O 2 uptake ( ), vastus lateralis fractional O 2 extraction (changes in deoxygenated haemoglobin + myoglobin concentration, Δ[deoxy(Hb + Mb)]; near‐infrared spectroscopy) and femoral artery blood flow (ultrasound Doppler) were evaluated during incremental one‐leg knee‐extension exercise (reduced constraints to cardiovascular O 2 delivery) carried out to voluntary exhaustion in a normoxic environment. Mitochondrial respiration was evaluated ex vivo by high‐resolution respirometry in permeabilized vastus lateralis fibres. decreased ( P < 0.05) after N‐BR (0.98 ± 0.13 L min −1 ) and H‐BR (0.96 ± 0.17 L min −1 ) vs . BDC (1.05 ± 0.14 L min −1 ). In the presence of a decreased (by ∼6–8%) thigh muscle volume, normalized per unit of muscle mass was not affected by both interventions. Δ[deoxy(Hb + Mb)] peak decreased ( P < 0.05) after N‐BR (65 ± 13% of limb ischaemia) and H‐BR (62 ± 12%) vs . BDC (73 ± 13%). H‐AMB did not alter or Δ[deoxy(Hb + Mb)] peak . An overshoot of Δ[deoxy(Hb + Mb)] was evident during the first minute of unloaded exercise after N‐BR and H‐BR. Arterial blood flow to the lower limb during both unloaded and peak knee extension was not affected by any intervention. Maximal ADP‐stimulated mitochondrial respiration decreased ( P < 0.05) after all interventions vs . control. In 21 day N‐BR, a significant impairment of oxidative metabolism occurred downstream of cardiovascular O 2 delivery, affecting both mitochondrial respiration and presumably the intramuscular matching between O 2 supply and utilization. Superposition of H on BR did not worsen the impairment induced by BR alone.

Salvadego, Desy↗
DOE OSTI2015

Numerical Model of Thermoelectric Topping Cycle of Coal-Fired Power Plant

Traditional fossil fuel power generation process typically has low efficiency. Large amount of the energy loss in Rankine cycle steam turbines (ST) is due to the temperature difference between the combustion flame temperature ~2250 K (adiabatic) and the high pressure steam temperature up to 900 K. However, some of this energy can be harvested using solid-state thermoelectric (TE) power generators which are placed into the gap between the flame temperature and the steam temperature that produce additional electrical power. This study investigates the potential placement of TE on water tube wall inside a boiler at a coal-fired power plant. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical model of a simplified TE module is developed, and hot gas temperature and steam temperature from the boiler are used as boundary conditions at the hot side and cold side of the TE. The numerical results are compared with analytical calculations. The 3D effects of the thermal spreading in the TE module are investigated. Parameters such as TE leg cross section area and TE fill factor are examined in order to maximize the electrical power production of the TE without sacrificing the boiler efficiency (i.e., reducing the steam temperature). The study also looks into the various locations inside the boiler that have good potential for TE installation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

System Design of a 2.0 MWth Sodium/Molten Salt Pilot System

Nitrate molten salt concentrating solar power (CSP) systems are currently deployed globally and are considered state-of the art heat transfer fluids (HTFs) for present day high-temperature operation. Although slightly higher limits may be possible with molten salt, to fully realize SunShot efficiency goals of $15/kWhth HTFs and an LCOE of 6¢/kWh, HTF technologies working at higher temperatures (e.g., 650 °C to 750 °C) will require an alternative to molten salts, such as with alkali metal systems. This investigation explores the development of a 2.0 MWth sodium receiver system that employs a sodium receiver as the HTF, as well as with a ternary chloride (20%NaCl/40%MgCl/40%KCl by mol wt.%) salt as a thermal energy storage (TES) medium to facilitate a 6-hr. storage duration. A sodium-to-salt heat exchanger model as well as a salt-to-sCO2 primary heat exchanger model are employed and evaluated in this investigation. A thermodynamic system design model was developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) where state properties were calculated at inlets and outlets along both hot and cold legs of the pilot-scale plant. This investigation assesses receiver performance as well as system efficiency studies for the pump and system operational ranges. Results found that high efficiency sodium receivers were found to have higher heat transfer coefficients and required far less spreading of incident flux. The system performance model results suggest that for a pump speed of 2400 RPM, respective hot and cold pump TDH values were determined to be 260.1–307 ft. and 260.1–307 ft for pump flow rates of 90–120 GPM.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2016

An Investigation of Passive and Semi-Active TMD for a TLP Floating Offshore Wind Turbine in ULS Conditions

Floating offshore wind turbines are able to access deeper waters with stronger winds, but also have more complicated dynamic behavior than fixed-bottom offshore turbines, potentially resulting in larger loads. Structural control using tuned mass dampers (TMD) is a promising method for mitigating these loads. Previous research on structural control in wind turbines has typically considered passive devices and operational conditions. In this study, the effects of a passive tuned mass damper and a semi-active tuned mass damper, located at the tower top, are analyzed and simulated for the GE Haliade 150-6MW wind turbine located on the Glosten Pelastar tension-leg platform (TLP).

offshore wind turbines, dampers, tuned mass, semi-↗
DOE OSTI2017

1:52 Scale Testing of the First US Commercial Scale Floating Wind Turbine, VolturnUS: Testing Overview and the Evolution of Scale Model Testing Methods

Over the past 6 years, the University of Maine (UMaine) has been an active contributor in research and scale-model testing of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). This paper serves to share the evolution of UMaine’s scale-model testing pedigree by exploring the various test campaigns at a high level, culminating with the design validation of the VolturnUS floating platform. These model test campaigns have each provided key insights into the behavior of FOWT platforms as well as improving the ability to perform model tests of FOWTs. In 2011, the UMaine-led DeepCwind Consortium carried out 1/50-scale model tests of a generic tension leg platform (TLP), a semi-submersible (semi), and a spar-buoy (spar) floating platform at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) test facility. The designs were Froude-scaled and supported a scaled version of the 5-MW National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offshore research turbine. Data from these tests has been used extensively for numerical simulation validation efforts using NREL’s computer-aided engineering software FAST and laid the foundation for UMaine’s design efforts on VolturnUS. In 2013, UMaine conducted another test campaign at MARIN using the original semi-submersible from 2011 with an improved turbine as well as a 1:50-scale model of the VolturnUS concrete semi-submersible design. The improved DeepCwind semi-submersible data is currently being utilized in the validation of a large number of other analysis codes as part of the International Energy Agency’s OC5 project. In 2015, UMaine opened its own Wind/Wave test facility, the Alfond Wind/Wave Ocean Engineering Laboratory (W2). Utilizing this new facility, UMaine tested the 1:50-scale model DeepCwind semi-submersible, repeating the tests from MARIN, to validate the experimental equipment and procedures as well as demonstrate the capability of the W2. In 2016 UMaine carried out testing of a 1:52-scale model of the 100% design of the VolturnUS with a 6-MW topside as a final design validation to support the US Department of Energy-supported, full-scale Aqua Ventus demonstration project scheduled to be connected to the grid in 2019. A newly designed 6-MW scale model turbine was used in this test and the performance-matched turbine design methodology is described. Selected results from the test campaign and preliminary numerical comparisons are discussed as well as key lessons learned from the model test campaigns are presented.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Machine learning-driven design and self-sensing capabilities of automotive bumper lattices for adaptive impact response

We present a novel approach to design an automotive bumper energy absorber using carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, optimized to meet conflicting performance requirements for two distinct impact scenarios. The design must satisfy both a low-speed (2.5 mph) pendulum intrusion test, simulating vehicle-to-vehicle collisions, and a high-speed (25 mph) leg flexion test, replicating pedestrian impacts. These tests demand opposing deformation characteristics: high flexibility (deformation < 85 mm) for the former and high stiffness (deformation < 22 mm) for the latter. To address these contradictory requirements, we developed a machine learning (ML) framework for inverse optimization of lattice designs and material selection. Unlike traditional iterative design processes, our ML model directly outputs optimal design parameters and material choices based on target performance inputs. The energy absorber was fabricated using advanced additive manufacturing techniques, including extrusion deposition and digital light processing. The integration of carbon fibers provides multifunctionality to the bumper structure, enabling self-sensing capabilities through changes in electrical resistivity under compression. This electrical response demonstrates high repeatability under multiple cycles at 2% compression and exhibits distinct signatures during crack formation under high deformation. This research offers adaptive performance through innovative design methodologies and smart material integration. The approach has potential applications in various fields requiring adaptive energy absorption and real-time structural health monitoring.

Chawla, Komal [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000190327565)↗
DOE OSTI2014

A set of 4D pediatric XCAT reference phantoms for multimodality research

Purpose: The authors previously developed an adult population of 4D extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantoms for multimodality imaging research. In this work, the authors develop a reference set of 4D pediatric XCAT phantoms consisting of male and female anatomies at ages of newborn, 1, 5, 10, and 15 years. These models will serve as the foundation from which the authors will create a vast population of pediatric phantoms for optimizing pediatric CT imaging protocols. Methods: Each phantom was based on a unique set of CT data from a normal patient obtained from the Duke University database. The datasets were selected to best match the reference values for height and weight for the different ages and genders according to ICRP Publication 89. The major organs and structures were segmented from the CT data and used to create an initial pediatric model defined using nonuniform rational B-spline surfaces. The CT data covered the entire torso and part of the head. To complete the body, the authors manually added on the top of the head and the arms and legs using scaled versions of the XCAT adult models or additional models created from cadaver data. A multichannel large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping algorithm was then used to calculate the transform from a template XCAT phantom (male or female 50th percentile adult) to the target pediatric model. The transform was applied to the template XCAT to fill in any unsegmented structures within the target phantom and to implement the 4D cardiac and respiratory models in the new anatomy. The masses of the organs in each phantom were matched to the reference values given in ICRP Publication 89. The new reference models were checked for anatomical accuracy via visual inspection. Results: The authors created a set of ten pediatric reference phantoms that have the same level of detail and functionality as the original XCAT phantom adults. Each consists of thousands of anatomical structures and includes parameterized models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. Based on patient data, the phantoms capture the anatomic variations of childhood, such as the development of bone in the skull, pelvis, and long bones, and the growth of the vertebrae and organs. The phantoms can be combined with existing simulation packages to generate realistic pediatric imaging data from different modalities. Conclusions: The development of patient-derived pediatric computational phantoms is useful in providing variable anatomies for simulation. Future work will expand this ten-phantom base to a host of pediatric phantoms representative of the public at large. This can provide a means to evaluate and improve pediatric imaging devices and to optimize CT protocols in terms of image quality and radiation dose.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-D-18A-05: Assessing Elekta MLC Tracking Performance

Purpose: To investigate the technical feasibility of using Elekta MLCs in tracked radiotherapy, specifically to show the capability of an Agility MLC to follow model tumor trajectories using object tracking. The system performance of the MLC is to be assessed via dosimetric experiments and temporal response measures. Methods: The system observer in the tracking cascade consisted of a camera serving for this proof of concept; Images of a moving object were acquired continuously and decorrelated for the position information, which was fed forward to the RT computer controlling the MLC via an interface provided by Elekta. The 1D motion (in the direction of the leaves) was induced by a CIRS motion controller. Additionally, the aperture position was observed by means of the light field of the linac. Calculating the phase between aperture and object yielded the mean aperture lag for the current setup. The object was restricted to sinusoidal motion with a period of 10s. For dosimetry, GafChromic radiosensitive film was irradiated with a total dose of 1000MU using an aperture size of 40mm and a motion range of 30mm. Results: Object tracking can substantially reconstruct the geometric dose response of a static target. In the dynamic case, dose is smeared out into the legs of the static distribution, leading to a reduced plateau and increased FWHM of 5mm, compared to the static width of 38mm. The time-lag between object and aperture was determined to be approximately 300ms for the current set-up. Conclusion: We demonstrated a tracking experiment performed on a clinical Elekta linear accelator for the first time. Observed profile variations show the dosimetric impact of tracked delivery. The determined lag is a valuable descriptor for a future tracking cascade employing predictor filters. The performed experiments are generic and possible predecessors for future applications with MR-Linac or ultrasound probes. Conflict of interest: this project is partly funded by Elekta.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

WE-G-18C-07: Accelerated Water/fat Separation in MRI for Radiotherapy Planning Using Multi-Band Imaging Techniques

Purpose: Dixon sequences are used to characterize disease processes, obtain good fat or water separation in cases where fat suppression fails and to obtain pseudo-CT datasets. Dixon's method uses at least two images acquired with different echo times and thus requires prolonged acquisition times. To overcome associated problems (e.g., for DCE/cine-MRI), we propose to use a method for water/fat separation based on spectrally selective RF pulses. Methods: Two alternating RF pulses were used, that imposes a fat selective phase cycling over the phase encoding lines, which results in a spatial shift for fat in the reconstructed image, identical to that in CAIPIRINHA. Associated aliasing artefacts were resolved using the encoding power of a multi-element receiver array, analogous to SENSE. In vivo measurements were performed on a 1.5T clinical MR-scanner in a healthy volunteer's legs, using a four channel receiver coil. Gradient echo images were acquired with TE/TR = 2.3/4.7ms, flip angle 20°, FOV 45×22.5cm{sup 2}, matrix 480×216, slice thickness 5mm. Dixon images were acquired with TE,1/TE,2/TR=2.2/4.6/7ms. All image reconstructions were done in Matlab using the ReconFrame toolbox (Gyrotools, Zurich, CH). Results: RF pulse alternation yields a fat image offset from the water image. Hence the water and fat images fold over, which is resolved using in-plane SENSE reconstruction. Using the proposed technique, we achieved excellent water/fat separation comparable to Dixon images, while acquiring images at only one echo time. Conclusion: The proposed technique yields both inphase water and fat images at arbitrary echo times and requires only one measurement, thereby shortening the acquisition time by a factor 2. In future work the technique may be extended to a multi-band water/fat separation sequence that is able to achieve single point water/fat separation in multiple slices at once and hence yields higher speed-up factors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-C-16A-06: Optimum Radiation Source for Radiation Therapy of Skin Cancer

Purpose: Recently, different applicators are designed for treatment of the skin cancer such as scalp and legs, using Ir-192 HDR Brachytherapy Sources (IR-HDRS), Miniature Electronic Brachytherapy Sources (MEBXS), and External Electron Beam Radiation Therapy (EEBRT). Although, all of these methodologies may deliver the desired radiation dose to the skin, the dose to the underlying bone may become the limiting factor for selection of the optimum treatment technique. In this project the radiation dose delivered to the underlying bone has been evaluated as a function of the radiation source and thickness of the underlying bone. Methods: MC simulations were performed using MCNP5 code. In these simulations, the mono-energetic and non-divergent photon beams of 30 keV, 50 keV, and 70 keV for MEBXS, 380 keV photons for IR-HDRS, and 6 MeV mono-energetic electron beam for EEBRT were modeled. A 0.5 cm thick soft tissue (0.3 cm skin and 0.2 cm adipose) with underlying 0.5 cm cortical bone followed by 14 cm soft tissue are utilized for simulations. Results: Dose values to bone tissue as a function of beam energy and beam type, for a delivery of 5000 cGy dose to skin, were compared. These results indicate that for delivery of 5000 cGy dose to the skin surface with 30 keV, 50 keV, 70 keV of MEBXS, IR-HDRS, and EEBRT techniques, bone will receive 31750 cGy, 27450 cGy, 18550 cGy, 4875 cGy, and 10450 cGy, respectively. Conclusion: The results of these investigations indicate that, for delivery of the same skin dose, average doses received by the underlying bone are 5.2 and 2.2 times larger with a 50 keV MEBXS and EEBRT techniques than IR-HDRS, respectively.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Creation of an atlas of filter positions for fluence field modulated CT

Purpose: Fluence field modulated CT (FFMCT) and volume of interest (VOI) CT imaging applications require adjustment of the profile of the x-ray fluence incident on a patient as a function of view angle. Since current FFMCT prototypes can theoretically take on an infinite number of configurations, measuring a calibration data set for all possible positions would not be feasible. The present work details a methodology for calculating an atlas of configurations that will span all likely body regions, patient sizes, patient positioning, and imaging modes. The hypothesis is that there exists a finite number of unique modulator configurations that effectively span the infinite number of possible fluence profiles with minimal loss in performance. Methods: CT images of a head, shoulder, thorax, abdominal, wrist, and leg anatomical slices were dilated and contracted to model small, medium, and large sized patients. Additionally, the images were positioned from iso-center by three different amounts. The modulator configurations required to compensate for each image were computed assuming a FFMCT prototype, digital beam attenuator, (DBA), was set to equalize the detector exposure. Each atlas configuration should be different from the other atlas configurations. The degree of difference was quantified using the sum of the absolute differences in filter thickness between configurations. Using this metric, a set of unique wedge configurations for which no two configurations have a metric value smaller than some threshold can be constructed. Differences in the total number of incident photons between the unconstrained filters and the atlas were studied as a function of the number of atlas positions for each anatomical site and size/off-centering combination. Results: By varying the threshold used in creating the atlas, it was found that roughly 322 atlas positions provided an incident number of photons within 20% of using 19 440 unique filters (the number of atlas entries ranged from 7213 to 1). Additionally, for VOI applications implemented with a single VOI region, the number of required filter configurations was expressed in a simple closed form solution. Conclusions: The methodology proposed in this work will enable DBA-FFMCT and DBA-VOI imaging in the clinic without the need for patient specific air-scans to be performed. In addition, the methodology proposed here is directly applicable to other modulator designs such as piecewise linear, TomoTherapy multi leaf collimators, 2D fluid arrays, and inverse geometry CT.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

TU-H-207A-03: CT Hounsfield Unit Accuracy: Effect of Beam Hardening On Phantom and Clinical Whole-Body CT Images

Purpose: To assess the effect of beam hardening on measured CT HU values. Methods: An anthropomorphic knee phantom was scanned with the CT component of a GE Discovery 690 PET/CT scanner (120kVp, 300mAs, 40?0.625mm collimation, pitch=0.984, FOV=500mm, matrix=512?512) with four different scan setups, each of which induces different degrees of beam hardening by introducing additional attenuation media into the field of view. Homogeneous voxels representing “soft tissue” and “bone” were segmented by HU thresholding followed by a 3D morphological erosion operation which removes the non-homogenous voxels located on the interface of thresholded tissue mask. HU values of segmented “soft tissue” and “bone” were compared.Additionally, whole-body CT data with coverage from the skull apex to the end of toes were retrospectively retrieved from seven PET/CT exams to evaluate the effect of beam hardening in vivo. Homogeneous bone voxels were segmented with the same method previously described. Total In-Slice Attenuation (TISA) for each CT slice, defined as the summation of HU values over all voxels within a CT slice, was calculated for all slices of the seven whole-body CT datasets and evaluated against the mean HU values of homogeneous bone voxels within that slice. Results: HU values measured from the phantom showed that while “soft tissue” HU values were unaffected, added attenuation within the FOV caused noticeable decreases in the measured HU values of “bone” voxels. A linear relationship was observed between bone HU and TISA for slices of the torso and legs, but not of the skull. Conclusion: Beam hardening effect is not an issue of concern for voxels with HU in the soft tissue range, but should not be neglected for bone voxels. A linear relationship exists between bone HU and the associated TISA in non-skull CT slices, which can be exploited to develop a correction strategy.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

TH-EF-BRB-11: Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Total Body Irradiation

Purpose: To develop a modern, patient-comfortable total body irradiation (TBI) technique suitable for standard-sized linac vaults. Methods: An indexed rotatable immobilization system (IRIS) was developed to make possible total-body CT imaging and radiation delivery on conventional couches. Treatment consists of multi-isocentric volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to the upper body and parallel-opposed fields to the lower body. Each isocenter is indexed to the couch and includes a 180° IRIS rotation between the upper and lower body fields. VMAT fields are optimized to satisfy lung dose objectives while achieving a uniform therapeutic dose to the torso. End-to-end tests with a rando phantom were used to verify dosimetric characteristics. Treatment plan robustness regarding setup uncertainty was assessed by simulating global and regional isocenter setup shifts on patient data sets. Dosimetric comparisons were made with conventional extended distance, standing TBI (cTBI) plans using a Monte Carlo-based calculation. Treatment efficiency was assessed for eight courses of patient treatment. Results: The IRIS system is level and orthogonal to the scanned CT image plane, with lateral shifts <2mm following rotation. End-to-end tests showed surface doses within ±10% of the prescription dose, field junction doses within ±15% of prescription dose. Plan robustness tests showed <15% changes in dose with global setup errors up to 5mm in each direction. Local 5mm relative setup errors in the chest resulted in < 5% dose changes. Local 5mm shift errors in the pelvic and upper leg junction resulted in <10% dose changes while a 10mm shift error causes dose changes up to 25%. Dosimetric comparison with cTBI showed VMAT-TBI has advantages in preserving chest wall dose with flexibility in leveraging the PTV-body and PTV-lung dose. Conclusion: VMAT-TBI with the IRIS system was shown clinically feasible as a cost-effective approach to TBI for standard-sized linac vaults.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Modeling infrasonic propagation through a spherical atmospheric layer—Analysis of the stratospheric pair

Methods are developed to calculate acoustic propagation paths through an atmospheric layer surrounding a spherical globe in order to more accurately model the propagation of infrasonic signals, which are often observed after propagating hundreds or thousands of kilometers. A generalized curvilinear coordinate system is used to define the ray tracing equations from the eikonal equation for a moving, inhomogeneous atmosphere, and the specific case of spherical coordinates is applied to obtain a system of coupled equations describing geometric propagation paths in an atmospheric layer surrounding a globe. Comparison with propagation predictions using a Cartesian geometry shows that even for relatively short infrasonic propagation distances of a few hundred kilometers, differences introduced by the change in geometry are significant. Characteristics of the stratospheric pair are considered, and it is found that differences in the upward and downward legs of the propagation paths corresponding to the fast and slow stratospheric arrivals are changed such that spherical coordinate geometry predicts a decrease in the relative arrival time between the two. Analysis of regional infrasonic signals produced by a series of surface explosions shows that predictions obtained using spherical geometry are more accurate in cases where the tropospheric and stratospheric waveguides are accurately characterized.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Superconductivity in the doped Hubbard model and its interplay with next-nearest hopping t ′

The Hubbard model is widely believed to contain the essential ingredients of high-temperature superconductivity. However, proving definitively that the model supports superconductivity is challenging. Here, we report a large-scale density matrix renormalization group study of the lightly doped Hubbard model on four-leg cylinders at hole doping concentration δ = 12.5%. We reveal a delicate interplay between superconductivity and charge density wave and spin density wave orders tunable via next-nearest neighbor hopping t ′. For finite t ′, the ground state is consistent with a Luther-Emery liquid with power-law superconducting and charge density wave correlations associated with half-filled charge stripes. In contrast, for t ′ = 0, superconducting correlations fall off exponentially, whereas charge density and spin density modulations are dominant. Our results indicate that a route to robust long-range superconductivity involves destabilizing insulating charge stripes in the doped Hubbard model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

NSVZ Relation in Supersymmetric Theories Regularized by Higher Derivatives

We investigate the NSVZ equation in N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories, which relates the β ‑function to the anomalous dimension of the matter superfields. In particular, we argue that it is closely connected with the non-renormalization theorem for the three-point gauge-ghost vertices (in which one external leg corresponds to the quantum gauge superfield). Using finiteness of these vertices the exact NSVZ β -function can be equivalently presented in the form of a relation between the β -function and the anomalous dimensions of the quantum gauge superfield, of the Faddeev–Popov ghosts, and of the matter superfields. This equation allows explaining how the NSVZ equation appears in the perturbation theory for theories regularized by higher covariant derivatives and constructing the NSVZ scheme in all orders in the case of using this regularization. The results are verified by an explicit three-loop calculation of the terms quartic in the Yukawa couplings.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗