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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

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DOE OSTI2013

THE COLLISIONAL EVOLUTION OF DEBRIS DISKS

We explore the collisional decay of disk mass and infrared emission in debris disks. With models, we show that the rate of the decay varies throughout the evolution of the disks, increasing its rate up to a certain point, which is followed by a leveling off to a slower value. The total disk mass falls off {proportional_to}t {sup -0.35} at its fastest point (where t is time) for our reference model, while the dust mass and its proxy-the infrared excess emission-fades significantly faster ({proportional_to}t {sup -0.8}). These later level off to a decay rate of M{sub tot}(t){proportional_to}t {sup -0.08} and M{sub dust}(t) or L{sub ir}(t){proportional_to}t {sup -0.6}. This is slower than the {proportional_to}t {sup -1} decay given for all three system parameters by traditional analytic models. We also compile an extensive catalog of Spitzer and Herschel 24, 70, and 100 {mu}m observations. Assuming a log-normal distribution of initial disk masses, we generate model population decay curves for the fraction of stars harboring debris disks detected at 24 {mu}m. We also model the distribution of measured excesses at the far-IR wavelengths (70-100 {mu}m) at certain age regimes. We show general agreement at 24 {mu}m between the decay of our numerical collisional population synthesis model and observations up to a Gyr. We associate offsets above a Gyr to stochastic events in a few select systems. We cannot fit the decay in the far-infrared convincingly with grain strength properties appropriate for silicates, but those of water ice give fits more consistent with the observations (other relatively weak grain materials would presumably also be successful). The oldest disks have a higher incidence of large excesses than predicted by the model; again, a plausible explanation is very late phases of high dynamical activity around a small number of stars. Finally, we constrain the variables of our numerical model by comparing the evolutionary trends generated from the exploration of the full parameter space to observations. Amongst other results, we show that erosive collisions are dominant in setting the timescale of the evolution and that planetesimals on the order of 100 km in diameter are necessary in the cascades for our population synthesis models to reproduce the observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2018

Quantization of the Electromagnetic Field in Three-Dimensional Photonic Structures on the Basis of the Scattering Matrix Formalism (S Quantization)

A technique for quantization of the electromagnetic field in photonic nanostructures with three-dimensional modulation of the dielectric constant is developed on the basis of the scattering matrix formalism (S quantization in the three-dimensional case). Quantization is based on equating the eigenvalues of the scattering matrix to unity, which is equivalent to equating each other the sets of Fourier expansions for the fields of the waves incident on the structure and propagating away from the structure. The spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields of the modes in a photonic nanostructure is calculated on the basis of the R and T matrices describing the reflection and transmission of the Fourier components by the structure. To calculate the reflection and transmission coefficients of individual real-space and Fourier-space components, the structure is divided into parallel layers within which the dielectric constant varies as a function of two-dimensional coordinates. Using the Fourier transform, Maxwell’s equations are written in the form of a matrix connecting the Fourier components of the electric field at the boundaries of neighboring layers. Based on the calculated reflection and transmission vectors for all polarizations and Fourier components, the scattering matrix for the entire structure is formed and quantization is carried out by equating the eigenvalues of the scattering matrix to unity. The developed method makes it possible to obtain the spatial profiles of eigenmodes without solving a system of nonlinear integro-differential equations and significantly reduces the computational resources required for calculating the probability of spontaneous emission in three-dimensional systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2013

Monitoring deformation at the Geysers Geothermal Field, California using C-band and X-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar

In this study, we resolve deformation at The Geysers Geothermal Field using two distinct sets of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. The first set of observations utilize archived European Space Agency C-band synthetic aperture radar data from 1992 through 1999 to image the long-term and large-scale subsidence at The Geysers. The peak range velocity of approximately 50 mm/year agrees with previous estimates from leveling and global positioning system observations. Data from a second set of measurements, acquired by TerraSAR-X satellites, extend from May 2011 until April 2012 and overlap the C-band data spatially but not temporally. These X-band data, analyzed using a combined permanent and distributed scatterer algorithm, provide a higher density of scatterers (1122 per square kilometer) than do the C-band data (12 per square kilometer). The TerraSAR-X observations resolve 1 to 2 cm of deformation due to water injection into a Northwest Geysers enhanced geothermal system well, initiated on October 2011. Lastly, the temporal variation of the deformation is compatible with estimates from coupled numerical modeling.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Upper and lower bounds on phase-space rearrangements

Broad classes of plasma phenomena can be understood in terms of phase-space rearrangements. For example, the net effect of a wave–particle interaction may consist of moving populations of particles from one region of phase space to another. Different phenomena drive rearrangements that obey different rules. When those rules can be specified, it is possible to calculate bounds that limit the possible effects the rearrangement could have (such as limits on how much energy can be extracted from the particles). This leads to two problems. The first is to understand the mapping between the allowed class of rearrangements and the possible outcomes that these rearrangements can have on the overall distribution. The second is to understand which rules are appropriate for which physical systems. There has been recent progress on both fronts, but a variety of interesting questions remain unanswered.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

A 1 km soil moisture dataset over eastern CONUS generated by assimilating SMAP data into the Noah-MP land surface model

An improved fine-scale soil moisture (SM) dataset at 1 km grid spacing, covering much of the eastern continental US, was generated by assimilating 9 km Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) SM data into the v4.0.1 Noah-MP land surface model. With 12 ensemble members, the assimilation was carried out using the ensemble Kalman filter algorithm within NASA's Land Information System. The SM analysis for 2016 was fully validated against in situ observations from four different networks and compared with four other existing datasets. Results indicate that this SM analysis surpasses other datasets in top-layer SM distribution, including a machine-learning-based product, despite all SM estimates being less heterogeneous than observed. The analysis of anomalous errors suggests that large similarity in intrinsic errors is likely due to overlapping data sources among the selected SM datasets. More detailed evaluations were performed over two geographic areas. The observations collected by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility in Oklahoma suggest that soil temperature and surface heat fluxes are concurrently simulated with good accuracy. Investigation into the 2016 southeastern US drought response further indicates drier conditions and higher evapotranspiration estimates compared to GLEAMv4.1. Notably, large errors are associated with grids having clay soil textures, underscoring the need for refined model treatments for specific soil types to further improve SM estimates. The dataset is publicly available on Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14370563 (Tai et al., 2024).

Tai, Sheng-Lun [Pacific Northwest National Laborat↗

DOE OSTI2015

Response to “Comment on ‘Two-dimensional positive column structure in a discharge tube with radius discontinuity’” [Phys. Plasmas 22, 094701 (2015)]

For a quantitative validation of the nonlocal approach for simulation of positive column of dc gas discharge in neon, we have performed a comparative self-consistent calculations of parameters of longitudinally uniform positive column using two approaches—a full kinetic equation with a radially inhomogeneous electron distribution function (exact calculation) and a nonlocal approach. The calculations were performed for discharge current 1 mA and neon pressures 40 and 90 Pa. It is shown that discrepancies between parameters calculated with the two approaches—radial distributions of electron number densities, ionization rates, space potentials—are minor. Physical reasons of a validity of the nonlocal approach for present conditions are discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

The grism lens-amplified survey from space (glass). VI. Comparing the mass and light in MACS J0416.1-2403 using frontier field imaging and glass spectroscopy

We present a model using both strong and weak gravitational lensing of the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1-2403, constrained using spectroscopy from the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS) and Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) imaging data. We search for emission lines in known multiply imaged sources in the GLASS spectra, obtaining secure spectroscopic redshifts of 30 multiple images belonging to 15 distinct source galaxies. The GLASS spectra provide the first spectroscopic measurements for five of the source galaxies. The weak lensing signal is acquired from 884 galaxies in the F606W HFF image. By combining the weak lensing constraints with 15 multiple image systems with spectroscopic redshifts and nine multiple image systems with photometric redshifts, we reconstruct the gravitational potential of the cluster on an adaptive grid. The resulting map of total mass density is compared with a map of stellar mass density obtained from the deep Spitzer Frontier Fields imaging data to study the relative distribution of stellar and total mass in the cluster. We find that the projected stellar mass to total mass ratio, f {sub ⋆}, varies considerably with the stellar surface mass density. The mean projected stellar mass to total mass ratio is 〈f{sub ⋆}〉=0.009±0.003 (stat.), but with a systematic error as large as 0.004–0.005, dominated by the choice of the initial mass function. We find agreement with several recent measurements of f {sub ⋆} in massive cluster environments. The lensing maps of convergence, shear, and magnification are made available to the broader community in the standard HFF format.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2018

The non-equilibrium attractor for kinetic theory in relaxation time approximation

I demonstrate that the concept of a non-equilibrium attractor can be extended beyond the lowest-order moments typically considered in hydrodynamic treatments. Using a previously obtained exact solution to the relaxation-time approximation Boltzmann equation for a transversally homogeneous and boost-invariant system subject to Bjorken flow, I derive an equation obeyed by all moments of the one-particle distribution function. Using numerical solutions, I show that, similar to the pressure anisotropy, all moments of the distribution function exhibit attractor-like behavior wherein all initial conditions converge to a universal solution after a short time with the exception of moments which are sensitive to modes with zero longitudinal momentum and high transverse momentum. In addition, I compute the exact solution for the distribution function itself on very fine lattices in momentum space and demonstrate that (a) an attractor for the full distribution function exists and (b) solutions with generic initial conditions relax to this solution, first at low momentum and later at high momentum.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2020

Changes to the Appearance of Optical Lightning Flashes Observed From Space According to Thunderstorm Organization and Structure

Optical lightning observations from space reveal a wide range of flash structure. Lightning imagers such as the Geostationary Lightning Mapper and Lightning Imaging Sensor measure flash appearance by recording transient changes in cloud top illumination. The spatial and temporal optical energy distributions reported by these instruments depend on the physical structure of the flash and the distribution of hydrometeors within the thundercloud that scatter and absorb the optical emissions. This study reported herein explores how flash appearance changes according to the scale and organization of the parent thunderstorms with a focus on mesoscale convective systems. Clouds near the storm edge are frequently illuminated by large optical flashes that remain stationary between groups. These flashes appear large because their emissions can reflect off the exposed surfaces of nearby clouds to reach the satellite. Large stationary flashes also occur in small isolated thunderstorms. Optical flashes that propagate horizontally, meanwhile, are most frequently observed in electrified stratiform regions where extensive layered charge structures promote lateral development. Highly radiant “superbolts” occur in two scenarios: embedded within raining stratiform regions or in nonraining boundary/anvil clouds where optical emissions can take a relatively clear path to the satellite.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2014

Strong exciton-photon coupling in open semiconductor microcavities

We present a method to implement 3-dimensional polariton confinement with in-situ spectral tuning of the cavity mode. Our tunable microcavity is a hybrid system consisting of a bottom semiconductor distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) with a cavity containing quantum wells (QWs) grown on top and a dielectric concave DBR separated by a micrometer sized gap. Nanopositioners allow independent positioning of the two mirrors and the cavity mode energy can be tuned by controlling the distance between them. When close to resonance, we observe a characteristic anticrossing between the cavity modes and the QW exciton demonstrating strong coupling. For the smallest radii of curvature concave mirrors of 5.6 μm and 7.5 μm, real-space polariton imaging reveals submicron polariton confinement due to the hemispherical cavity geometry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Effects of collisions on conservation laws in gyrokinetic field theory

Effects of collisions on conservation laws for toroidal plasmas are investigated based on the gyrokinetic field theory. Associating the collisional system with a corresponding collisionless system at a given time such that the two systems have the same distribution functions and electromagnetic fields instantaneously, it is shown how the collisionless conservation laws derived from Noether's theorem are modified by the collision term. Effects of the external source term added into the gyrokinetic equation can be formulated similarly with the collisional effects. Particle, energy, and toroidal momentum balance equations including collisional and turbulent transport fluxes are systematically derived using a novel gyrokinetic collision operator, by which the collisional change rates of energy and canonical toroidal angular momentum per unit volume in the gyrocenter space can be given in the conservative forms. The ensemble-averaged transport equations of particles, energy, and toroidal momentum given in the present work are shown to include classical, neoclassical, and turbulent transport fluxes which agree with those derived from conventional recursive formulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2018

Quantum cryptography and combined schemes of quantum cryptography communication networks

We discuss cryptographic data protection network schemes combining the approaches of quantum cryptography with advanced computer information processing methods. The use of the latter is due to the presence of a number of unsolved problems in the existing quantum key distribution systems and is also associated with projects for the development of network-centric quantum communications and photonic networks, which involves the employment of multi-agent control models. Developments based on the Y-00 protocol with data encoding by the quantum noise of a transmitting laser are considered, and achievements in the field of quantum-optical random number generators are presented. The latter can be also used to design secure multi-valued logic encoding schemes that are promising for increasing the dimension of the key space in the ‘one-time pad’ method, for solving the tasks of position-dependent cryptography and for implementing multi-agent models.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2019

General-Surrogate Adaptive Sampling Using Interquartile Range for Design Space Exploration

Abstract A surrogate model is a common tool to approximate system response at untested points for design space exploration. Adaptive sampling has been studied for improving the accuracy of surrogates iteratively by introducing additional samples (simulations and experiments). New samples are often selected based on the estimated uncertainty in the design space. While some surrogates such as kriging have readily available uncertainty models for their predictions, other surrogates do not. Consequently, there have been studies of using the process of leaving-samples-out (LSO) used in cross-validation tools to estimate prediction uncertainty, such as the universal prediction distribution (UPD). In this paper, an adaptive sampling scheme for general surrogates is proposed based on LSO, similar to cross-validation and interquartile range (IQR). Multiple submodels are first developed from LSO. The uncertainty is then estimated from the IQR of these surrogates at a given point. New samples are added iteratively at the point with maximum IQR for design space exploration. The proposed scheme is illustrated using kriging, radial basis function, and neural network surrogates. The proposed scheme is evaluated using four algebraic test functions. Multiple sets of initial samples were produced to account for randomness. For these test functions, the proposed scheme was found to be more accurate and robust than kriging with its own uncertainty model. The proposed scheme was more accurate than the UPD for three out of the four test functions. For a fixed number of samples, the IQR-based adaptive sampling also proved to be more accurate than all-at-once sampling in most cases even when the estimated uncertainty was only mildly correlated with prediction errors.

Engineering↗

DOE OSTI2023

Surface Properties of Double-Fin Generated Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions

Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction (SBLI) is ubiquitous in high-speed air vehicles. SBLI surface flowfield properties of crossing shocks induced by symmetric Double-Fins (DFs) at fin angles of 8° and 10° at Mach 2 are experimentally investigated; a 10° Single-Fin (SF) is also explored as a comparison. Surface visualization is used to capture distinct flowfield structures such as separation and upstream influence. Steady and unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paints (PSPs) are used to obtain global surface pressure fields. Characteristics of DF-SBLI surface topology are discussed by comparing the corresponding SF-SBLI. Here, the effect of fin angle on DF-SBLI is characterized, and unsteady dynamics of the pressure field are examined. Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (SPOD) is performed on unsteady PSP, and traveling surface pressure waves and their frequency-dependent behavior are discussed. Dispersion relation of surface pressure waves is revealed by performing two-dimensional space–time Fourier transform on unsteady PSP, and the results are compared with the phase velocity distributions obtained from SPOD. Accompanying group velocity behavior is examined for distinct SBLI regions wherein wave propagation is found dependent on its frequency. Steady surface pressures along the centerline are compared with previous experimental data. Fin-tip spacing is found to be an essential parameter for scaling of upstream influence length.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Fuel cell system with interconnect

The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2021

OSSOS. XXI. Collision Probabilities in the Edgeworth–Kuiper Belt

Here, we present results on the intrinsic collision probabilities, P {sub I}, and range of collision speeds, V {sub I}, as a function of the heliocentric distance, r, in the trans-Neptunian region. The collision speed is one of the parameters that serves as a proxy for a collisional outcome (e.g., disruption and scattering of fragments, or formation of a crater, as both processes are related to the impact energy). We utilize an improved and debiased model of the trans-Neptunian object (TNO) region from the “Outer Solar System Origins Survey” (OSSOS). It provides a well-defined model of TNO orbital distribution, based on multiple opposition observations of more than 1000 bodies. We compute collisional probabilities for the OSSOS models of the main classical, resonant, detached+outer, and scattering TNO populations. The intrinsic collision probabilities and collision speeds are computed using Öpik’s approach, as revised and modified by Wetherill for noncircular and inclined orbits. The calculations are carried out for each of the dynamical TNO groups, allowing for inter-population collisions as well as collisions within each TNO population, resulting in 28 combinations in total. Our results indicate that collisions in the trans-Neptunian region are possible over a wide range in (r, V {sub I}) phase space. Although collisions are calculated to happen within r ∼ 20–200 au and V {sub I} ∼ 0.1 km s{sup −1} to as high as V {sub I} ∼ 9 km s{sup −1}, most of the collisions are likely to happen at low relative velocities V {sub I} < 1 km s{sup −1} and are dominated by the main classical belt.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2016

Dynamics and fragmentation of van der Waals and hydrogen bonded cluster cations: (NH{sub 3}){sub n} and (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n} ionized at 10.51 eV

A 118 nm laser is employed as a high energy, single photon (10.51 eV/photon) source for study of the dynamics and fragmentation of the ammonia borane (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}) cation and its cluster ions through time of flight mass spectrometry. The behavior of ammonia ion and its cluster ions is also investigated under identical conditions in order to explicate the ammonia borane results. Charge distributions, molecular orbitals, and spin densities for (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n} and its cations are explored at both the second-order perturbation theory (MP2) and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) theory levels. Initial dissociation mechanisms and potential energy surfaces for ionized NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}, NH{sub 3}, and their clusters are calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. Protonated clusters (NH{sub 3}){sub x}H{sup +} dominate ammonia cluster mass spectra: our calculations show that formation of (NH{sub 3}){sub n−1}H{sup +} and NH{sub 2} from the nascent (NH{sub 3}){sub n}{sup +} has the lowest energy barrier for the system. The only common features for the (NH{sub 3}){sub n}{sup +} and (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n}{sup +} mass spectra under these conditions are found to be NH{sub y}{sup +} (y = 0,…,4) at m/z = 14–18. Molecular ions with both {sup 11}B and {sup 10}B isotopes are observed, and therefore, product ions observed for the (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n} cluster system derive from (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n} clusters themselves, not from the NH{sub 3} moiety of NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3} alone. NH{sub 3}BH{sub 2}{sup +} is the most abundant ionization product in the (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n}{sup +} cluster spectra: calculations support that for NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}{sup +}, an H atom is lost from the BH{sub 3} moiety with an energy barrier of 0.67 eV. For (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub 2}{sup +} and (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub 3}{sup +} clusters, a B{sup δ+}⋯H{sup δ−}⋯{sup δ−}H⋯{sup δ+}B bond can form in the respective cluster ions, generating a lower energy, more stable ion structure. The first step in the (NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3}){sub n}{sup +} (n = 2, 3) dissociation is the breaking of the B{sup δ+}⋯H{sup δ−}⋯{sup δ−}H⋯{sup δ+}B moiety, leading to the subsequent release of H{sub 2} from the latter cluster ion. The overall reaction mechanisms calculated are best represented and understood employing a CASSCF natural bond orbital description of the valence electron distribution for the various clusters and monomers. Comparison of the present results with those found for solid NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3} suggests that NH{sub 3}BH{sub 3} can be a good hydrogen storage material.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2021

Microscopic ejecta measurements from hypervelocity impacts on aluminum and powdered regolith targets

Meteoroids and space debris pose a two-fold threat to spacecraft due to the risk of both mechanical damage from the impact and electrical damage from the impact-generated plasma, which produces electromagnetic emissions. Analysis of impact products, however, has the potential to provide useful information about planetary rings and small solar system bodies, such as asteroids and comets. Understanding the plasma dynamics and radiation mechanism is essential to addressing the impact threat and extracting science data from impacts. Charge attachment to condensed-phase debris may lead to a dusty plasma under certain conditions, so interpreting hypervelocity impacts requires knowledge of both the nature of the plasma and of the ejecta. We address the latter with measurements of the microscopic ejecta distribution produced by light gas gun impacts on solid aluminum and powdered regolith simulant targets. We examine both the size and shape of the ejecta using thin-film witness plates and find that the size distributions of microscopic ejecta follow power laws. Observations from the powdered regolith simulant match well with disruption experiments of solid basalt, while measurements from the aluminum impacts diverge from extrapolations based on studies of macroscopic debris. Analysis of the ejecta shape shows a transition from smooth to irregularly shaped ejecta at the material grain size, and the shape of debris may provide insight on the phase of the ejected material. Finally, based on our results, we predict a significant number of secondary impacts on plasma sensors due to ejecta, even at considerable distance from the target, supporting the hypothesis that charged dust affects plasma measurements in the ejecta curtain.

42 ENGINEERING↗