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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 109 records · Page 6

Thermo-Hydro-Chemical Simulation of Mid-Ocean Ridge Hydrothermal Systems: Static 2D Models and Effects of Paleo-Seawater Chemistry

Decades of research have resulted in characterization of the ocean floor manifestations of mid-ocean ridge (MOR) hydrothermal systems, yet numerical models accounting for the connections between heat transfer, hydrology and geochemistry have been slow to develop. The Thermo-hydro-chemical code ToughReact can be used to describe the coupled effects of fluid flow, heat transfer, and fluid-rock chemical interactions that occur in MOR systems. We describe the results of 2-dimensional simulations of steady state flow in fractured diabase with mineral-fluid chemical reactions. Basal heating and specified permeability yield maximum temperature of 400°C. Total fluid flux and high fracture flow velocities are in accord with observations. Fluid chemistry, mineralogical changes and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios can be compared to observations to assess and calibrate models. Simulated high temperature fracture fluids have Mg and SO 4 near zero, elevated Ca and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of about 0.7040. Total alteration is 10%–50% for simple models of spreading. Anhydrite forms mainly near the base of the upwelling zone and results in substantial local fracture porosity reduction. A calibrated model is used to predict how Sr isotopes and other features of altered oceanic crust would be different in the Cretaceous (95 Ma) early Proterozoic (1,800 Ma) and Archean (3,800 Ma), when seawater may have had high Ca and Sr concentrations, lower pH, higher temperature, and lower Na, Mg, and SO 4 . The simulations are offered as a start on what ultimately may require a longer-term community effort to better understand the role of MOR thermo-hydro-chemical systems in Earth evolution.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Object Detection and Recognition with PointPillars in LiDAR Point Clouds – Comparisions

In the field of autonomous systems, neural networks have been leveraged for object detection and recognition in 2-dimensional images captured by cameras. Other types of sensors are available for sensing surroundings, including LiDAR sensors, and corresponding networks have been developed to perform detection and recognition in the point clouds generated by these sensors. The approaches are similar, both perform convolutions, but have distinct characteristics and challenges. In designing and configuring autonomous systems, a variety of LiDAR sensors are available, along with configurable deep neural networks to leverage their data. This work presents a review of the PointPillars network, an evolution of the seminal PointNet, comparing accuracy and training time relative to different LiDAR sensors, network and training parameters, CPU and GPU hardware, and the criticality of the use of reflective intensity as a feature. The value of using reflectivity as a predictive feature is explored and quantified to determine if it makes a significant difference in accuracy of the PointPillars network. Two separate LiDAR sensors are utilized, a 16-plane and a 32-plane, and corresponding accuracies and training times with the PointPillars network are evaluated.

LiDAR, machine learning, neural network, object re↗

In-situ thermomechanical measurements during burst testing of Zr claddings using digital image correlation and infrared thermography techniques

Burst testing has long been a relied-on method for assessing fuel cladding materials in light-water reactoraccident scenarios. However, burst testing historically provided minimal in-situ observations beyond a few thermocouple readings, pressure from transducers, and post-test deformation measurements. Acquisition of full cladding thermomechanical data throughout a burst test would be invaluable to fuel system qualification, material model development and fuel performance code validation, such as the BISON fuel performance code. Recently, methodologies for simultaneously applying 2-dimensional digital image correlation and infrared thermography techniques to quantify the relationship between temperature, internal cladding pressure, and deformation during burst testing were developed. This work details results from the application of these techniques to burst testing of Zircaloy-4 cladding segments subjected to loss-of-coolant accident transients in an air environment. Two types of tests were performed with: (a) cladding segments connected to a fixed pressure reservoir as well as (b) closed systems where internal pressure increased during transients. In-situ thermomechanical measurements including strain and thermal gradient data are presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of applying combined surface measurement techniques to burst testing

Bell, Sam↗

Extremum seeking control of distributed energy resources with decaying dither and equilibrium-based switching

Embodiments relate to an operating system coupled to and controlling at least one Distributed Energy Resource (DER) in a smart grid and includes an electricity distribution network and a 2-dimensional Extremum Seeking (2D-ES) controller coupled to network. The electricity distribution network has first and second inputs and one output and maps all active power and reactive power inputs to the smart grid providing measurements of an objective function. The 2D-ES controller controls the DER and includes an active power loop and a reactive power loop. The active power loop is in communication with the first input and the output, governs active power contribution, and receives measurements of the objective function which contain static and oscillatory components. The reactive power loop is in communication with the second input and the output, governs reactive power contribution, and receives measurements of the objective function which contain static and oscillatory components.

Arnold, Daniel↗

Generative diffusion model surrogates for mechanistic agent-based biological models

Mechanistic, multicellular, agent-based models are commonly used to investigate tissue, organ, and organism-scale biology at single-cell resolution. The Cellular-Potts Model (CPM) is a powerful and popular framework for developing and interrogating these models. CPMs become computationally expensive at large space- and time- scales making application and investigation of developed models difficult. Surrogate models may allow for the accelerated evaluation of CPMs of complex biological systems. However, the stochastic nature of these models means each set of parameters may give rise to different model configurations, complicating surrogate model development. In this work, we leverage denoising diffusion probabilistic models (DDPMs) to train a generative AI surrogate of a CPM used to investigate in vitro vasculogenesis. We describe the use of an image classifier to learn the characteristics that define unique areas of a 2-dimensional parameter space. We then apply this classifier to aid in surrogate model selection and verification. Our CPM model surrogate generates model configurations 20,000 timesteps ahead of a reference configuration and demonstrates approximately a 22x reduction in computational time as compared to native code execution. Our work represents a step towards the implementation of DDPMs to develop digital twins of stochastic biological systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Aggregation in bottom-up vulnerability assessments and equity implications: The case of Jordanian households’ water supply

Bottom-up methods for water resources modeling rely on acceptability thresholds to find, through a response surface, which deeply uncertain futures lead to system failure. They commonly treat water users as aggregate actors, which may preclude analysis of the equity impacts of interventions. This paper explores how aggregation choices for large groups of water users lead to different policy recommendations in response surface assessments. Herein, two aggregation methods with varying parameters are considered: percentile satisfaction targets and generalized mean. A 2-dimensional stress-test assessment across groundwater availability and population is applied to household water supply in Jordan. The study compares six different policies covering supply enhancement and rebalancing, using a country-wide multi-agent model that characterizes households across socioeconomic strata. For different aggregation levels, policies are ordered by their associated robustness index. Results show that aggregation choices may modify response surfaces as much as policy changes and strongly determine policy preference. Modifying allocation rules can substantially reduce the disparity in household vulnerability. Preferences defined by aggregation intervals provide a finer understanding of trade-offs among water users and may improve deliberation over equity under deep uncertainty.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Interplay of Kondo physics with incommensurate charge density waves in CeTe 3

CeTe 3 is a 2-dimensional (2D) Van der Waals (VdW) material with incommensurate charge density waves (CDW), extremely high transition temperature (T CDW ), and a large momentum-dependent CDW gap that leaves a significant portion of the Fermi surface intact. It is also considered to be a weak Kondo system, a property unexpected for a material with incommensurate CDW, where each atomic site is slightly different. Here, we study the properties of the CDW state in several RTe3 (R is rare earth) materials and examine the hybridization of itinerant states with the localized Ce 4f multiplet in CeTe 3 by using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find that the renormalization of the itinerant states originating from the hybridization with the deeper localized 4f states at −260 meV is k−dependent and extends to the Fermi level. As these localized states are far from the Fermi level, the observed hybridization affects the effective masses only marginally and does not lead to heavy fermions. However, since the same renormalizing mechanism normally leads to the heavy fermion physics when the localized 4f states are near the Fermi level, our observation of its strong k−dependence suggests that this could be the reason for discrepancy between the heavy masses in specific heat and light ones in Shubnikov de Haas oscillations, often observed in heavy fermions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Autonomous direct freeform fabrication strategy for multi-axis additive manufacturing

Multi-axis additive manufacturing (M-AM) enables precise material deposition along both planar and curved layers, eliminating the need for support structures through a continuous material deposition approach. In contrast to conventional 2-dimensional planar layers constrained to a fixed building orientation, the deposition on freeform layers demands the specification of guided curves to determine material deposition directions which are no longer to be fixed to a build direction. There are challenges that arise when fabricating components with multiple “build” directions, necessitating the decomposition of geometries and the specification of guided curves for the resulting volumes. Furthermore, multi-axis systems introduce heightened challenges due to an increased degree of freedom in motion. Consequently, the potential risks of collision between the deposited geometry and the motion platform become a notable concern. This research proposes a freeform layering algorithm to address the challenge of seamless transitions between planar and curved layers in the process planning of M-AM. The algorithm computes 3D “printable” layers by leveraging topological information derived from the geometry to be built and integrates collision-free manufacturability considerations into the computational process. These accumulated volumes serve as a “substrate” and support volumes for subsequent deposition, allowing later layers to be built without the need for additional support material. In conclusion, the proposed method successfully devises a freeform layering approach suitable for intricate models that demand substantial support, thus enabling the fabrication of diverse geometries in a manner previously unachievable.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Online Monitoring System for Concrete Structures Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction

This report presents a comprehensive study of developing ultrasonic wave and acoustic emission (AE) techniques for long-term monitoring of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) development in concrete. Small, medium, and full-scale concrete specimens were cast, conditioned, and monitored for various periods, from at least one year to 2.4 years. The reactive concrete specimens contain coarse or fine reactive aggregates to study the effects of different types of reactive aggregates. Confinements were also designed to simulate the 2-dimensional confinement effects of reinforcement in the shield building of nuclear power plants. The concrete specimens were stored in a environmental chamber with high humidity and high temperature to accelerate the ASR development. The ultrasonic monitoring data shows high sensitivity to ASR development and could detect cracking initiation well before visible surface cracks occurred. However, the linear ultrasonic analysis based on wave velocity is strongly affected by temperature variation. Therefore, a nonlinear ultrasonic method was proposed to measure thermally induced nonlinear acoustic responses of concrete (thermal modulation of ultrasonic wave). The measured nonlinear acoustic parameter shows a high correlation with ASR expansion across specimens with different reactive aggregates and confinement conditions. The same conclusion was obtained from nonlinear resonance tests on small concrete prisms. Compared to the linear acoustic methods, the nonlinear tests show high sensitivities to ASR damage from internal microcracking initiation at the early stage to visible cracks at the late stage of ASR. The attributes of the thermal modulation of nonlinear ultrasonic method include high sensitivity, immunity to temperature effects, and strong correlation with ASR expansion, which demonstrate great potentials of the nonlinear ultrasonic method for diagnosis of ASR damage and prediction of concrete deterioration process. Acoustic emission is a passive sensing technique for damage assessment, and access to only one surface is needed even for thick and heavily reinforced elements such as the walls utilized for nuclear shield building. Additionally, relatively few sensors are required to monitor the progression of the damage process. Results indicate that the AE data can be related to the damage rating index, which is a petrography-based means of assessing damage due to ASR in reinforced concrete. Furthermore, AE is capable of detecting ASR damage long before surface cracking is visually noticeable. Boundary conditions play in important role in the progression of ASR damage and differences in boundary conditions are reflected in the AE data. Entropy based data assessment methods provide a means to assess the damage state, and convolutional neural network based data assessment provided a means to assess the damage state in real-time. Results indicate that artificial neural network models may be used as a means to predict volumetric expansion based on AE data.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Unraveling two distinct polymorph transition mechanisms in one n-type single crystal for dynamic electronics

Cooperativity is used by living systems to circumvent energetic and entropic barriers to yield highly efficient molecular processes. Cooperative structural transitions involve the concerted displacement of molecules in a crystalline material, as opposed to typical molecule-by-molecule nucleation and growth mechanisms which often break single crystallinity. Cooperative transitions have acquired much attention for low transition barriers, ultrafast kinetics, and structural reversibility. However, cooperative transitions are rare in molecular crystals and their origin is poorly understood. Crystals of 2-dimensional quinoidal terthiophene (2DQTT-o-B), a high-performance n-type organic semiconductor, demonstrate two distinct thermally activated phase transitions following these mechanisms. Here we show reorientation of the alkyl side chains triggers cooperative behavior, tilting the molecules like dominos. Whereas, nucleation and growth transition is coincident with increasing alkyl chain disorder and driven by forming a biradical state. We establish alkyl chain engineering as integral to rationally controlling these polymorphic behaviors for novel electronic applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Signatures of aerosol-cloud interactions in GiOcean: a coupled global reanalysis with two-moment cloud microphysics

Aerosols influence the Earth's radiative balance through direct interactions with radiation and by affecting cloud properties. Anthropogenic aerosols have led to cooling during the industrial era through aerosol–cloud interactions (ACI), including aerosol effects on cloud microphysical properties and the subsequent adjustments. However, large uncertainties remain in Earth system models (ESMs) regarding the magnitude of this cooling. In part, ESMs substantially disagree on cloud properties, thermodynamics, the hydrological cycle, and general circulation. Reanalysis provides a useful avenue for exploring the impact of ACI on clouds and radiation because its atmosphere is forced to match realistic conditions through the assimilation of observations. Here, we explore the impact of ACI on clouds in the GiOcean reanalysis – the first to incorporate aerosol-cloud interactions. We contrast variables important for ACI between GiOcean and satellite observations and develop 2-dimensional lookup tables of ACI for both using a source-sink budget perspective to attribute the changes in cloud droplet number (Nd) and liquid water path (LWP) to aerosol and meteorology. A compositing analysis using lookup tables shows that GiOcean captures key aspects of aerosol–cloud–precipitation interactions, including (1) activation of aerosol into cloud droplets, (2) effective precipitation scavenging of Nd, (3) suppression of precipitation by high Nd in regions with heavy aerosol emissions. In contrast, satellite observations do not exhibit clear patterns for processes (2) and (3). Random Forest analysis shows that interannual variability in Nd and LWP over the Northern Hemisphere ocean in GiOcean is primarily driven by precipitation, consistent with satellite observations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tabulated Fluid Properties Research Report

The Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) enables a wide range of advanced nuclear reactor simulations.[6] Under the guidance of MOOSE’s Thermal Hydraulics Team,I worked to expand the capabilities of Tabulated Fluid Properties (TFP) in the fluid properties module. The fluid properties module allows the user to determine a variety of fluid properties by interpolating points between tabulated data. I implemented the ability to use bilinear interpolation instead of bicubic interpolation for interpolating tabulated data. I also changed the method of variable set inversions to use a 2-dimensional Newton’s Method utility that I created. Variable set inversions are often done from (v,e) to (p,T), where v is specific volume, e is specific internal energy, p is pressure and T is temperature. New routines have also been added into TFP such that it can be used with more applications, such as the Navier Stokes and Thermal Hydraulics modules in MOOSE for Pronghorn[5] and RELAP-7[1] respectively. This work was spurred by interest from NASA in testing a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) engine system. NTP engines have drastically different fluid properties throughout the engine and Tabulated Fluid Properties provides the flexibility needed to properly simulate and test these engines.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Integrating collapsible plasmonic gaps on near-field probes for polarization-resolved mapping of plasmon-enhanced emission in 2D material

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is an important technique used to study the optical properties of material systems at the nanoscale. In previous work, we reported on the use of nanoimprinting to improve the reproducibility and throughput of near-field probes including complicated optical antenna structures such as the ‘campanile’ probe. However, precise control over the plasmonic gap size, which determines the near-field enhancement and spatial resolution, remains a challenge. Here, we present a novel approach to fabricating a sub-20 nm plasmonic gap in a near-field plasmonic probe through the controlled collapse of imprinted nanostructures using atomic layer deposition (ALD) coatings to define the gap width. The resulting ultranarrow gap at the apex of the probe provides a strong polarization-sensitive near-field optical response, which results in an enhancement of the optical transmission in a broad wavelength range from 620 to 820 nm, enabling tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL) mapping of 2-dimensional (2D) materials. We demonstrate the potential of this near-field probe by mapping a 2D exciton coupled to a linearly polarized plasmonic resonance with below 30 nm spatial resolution. This work proposes a novel approach for integrating a plasmonic antenna at the apex of the near-field probe, paving the way for the fundamental study of light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.

Zhou, Junze (ORCID:000000020682767X)↗

Computational Estimation by Scientific Data Mining with Classical Methods to Automate Learning Strategies of Scientists

Experimental results are often plotted as 2-dimensional graphical plots (aka graphs) in scientific domains depicting dependent versus independent variables to aid visual analysis of processes. Repeatedly performing laboratory experiments consumes significant time and resources, motivating the need for computational estimation. The goals are to estimate the graph obtained in an experiment given its input conditions, and to estimate the conditions that would lead to a desired graph. Existing estimation approaches often do not meet accuracy and efficiency needs of targeted applications. We develop a computational estimation approach called AutoDomainMine that integrates clustering and classification over complex scientific data in a framework so as to automate classical learning methods of scientists. Knowledge discovered thereby from a database of existing experiments serves as the basis for estimation. Challenges include preserving domain semantics in clustering, finding matching strategies in classification, striking a good balance between elaboration and conciseness while displaying estimation results based on needs of targeted users, and deriving objective measures to capture subjective user interests. These and other challenges are addressed in this work. The AutoDomainMine approach is used to build a computational estimation system, rigorously evaluated with real data in Materials Science. Our evaluation confirms that AutoDomainMine provides desired accuracy and efficiency in computational estimation. It is extendable to other science and engineering domains as proved by adaptation of its sub-processes within fields such as Bioinformatics and Nanotechnology.

Computer Science↗

In-situ determination of strain during transient burst testing and the temperature dependence of Zircaloy-4 claddings

Understanding fuel system behavior during postulated loss-of-coolant accidents is pertinent for continued safe and efficient operation of light water reactors, particularly as higher burnups are being pursued and safety margins re-evaluated. Conventional mechanical models for the incumbent Zr alloys typically rely on the assumption that steady-state creep is the dominant fuel cladding response during transient accident conditions. To investigate this assumption, simulated accident burst testing was performed on Zircaloy-4 claddings with balloon behavior measured in-situ. Here, two distinct loading conditions were utilized during burst testing: (1) constant-gas-inventory where pressure was allowed to increase with temperature and (2) constant pressure. In-situ strains and strain rates were measured via 2-dimensional digital image correlation techniques and synchronized with temperature to determine deformation dependencies. The temperature dependence of strain rate was characterized by a two segment Arrhenius relationship, with a distinct transition between the high and low temperature/strain regimes. The average activation energy of the lower temperature/strain regime was 328 ± 25 kJ/mol, in agreement with the ~320 kJ/mol used for conventional LOCA models. However, the higher temperature/strain segment, which encompassed most of ballooning, showed increased activation energies as well as a dependence on whether the burst region was in view. For tests that burst away from the camera view, the average high temperature/strain segment activation energy was 635 ± 150 kJ/mol. For samples where the rupture opening formed in view, the average activation energy was 1015 ± 179 kJ/mol. This observed shift in temperature dependence indicates a transition in deformation mechanism at the end of life, possibly to time independent failure mechanisms, which has not yet been visualized in the literature for Zr alloys. Parameters at the transition points were analyzed to determine thresholds for this change in behavior, which occurred at an average hoop strain of 6.9 ± 2.1 %.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Construction of extracellular matrix-based 3D hydrogel and its effects on cardiomyocytes

Highlights: • SOD and Triton X-100 could efficiently decellularize cells to get cardiac ECM. • Main proteins of cECM were fibronectin, collagen, elastin, fibrillin, laminin, etc. • 75% cECM-containing 3D hydrogel promoted cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis. • cECM3DH facilitated the differentiation of ESCs into CMs. • APcECM3DH was more conducive to NCM and ESC-derived CM maturation. Some discoveries resulted from 2-dimensional (2D) cultured cardiac cells have been disqualified in animal testing and later clinical trials. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a vital role in cardiac homeostasis, cardiac ECM (cECM)-based 3D cell cultures can mimics the physiological and pathological conditions in vivo closely, it is hopeful of addressing this challenge. Construction of cECM-based 3-dimensional (3D) hydrogel (cECM3DH) and its effects on cell behaviors were studied here. The results indicated that cellular compartments could be efficiently removed from heart tissue via sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS)- and Triton X-100-mediated decellularization, remaining the natural fibrous network structure and major proteins. 3D hydrogel consisted of 1 × 10{sup 7} cells/mL cells and 75% cECM could promote the proliferation and anti-apoptosis ability of human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293T cells. 0.25% trypsin or 0.20% collagenase was suitable to retrieve these cells from 3D hydrogel for further researches. Compared with 2D culture system, cECM3DH could significantly increase the proportion of GATA 4{sup +} cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from heart tissue of neonatal mouse or induced differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) (P < 0.05) The expression levels of mature genes including cTnT, JCN, CaV1.2, MYL2, CASQ2, NCX1, and Cx43 of these CMs in adult pig cECM-based 3D hydrogel (APcECM3DH) were significantly higher than that in 2D culture system and in newborn piglet cECM-based 3D hydrogel (NPcECM3DH), respectively (P < 0.05). Therefore, cECM3DH supports the generation of primary CMs and ESC-derived CMs, APcECM3DH was more conducive to promoting CM maturation, which contributes to building 3D model for pathogenesis exploration, drug screening, and regenerative medicine of heart diseases.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Supramolecular Assembly of Multielement Ribbon-like Structures Derived from Halide Perovskites

Halide perovskites are crucial materials with broad applications owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Vacancy-ordered double perovskites, featuring highly tunable transition metal sites, enable controllable optoelectronic properties through multielement compositional design. Here, in this study, we introduced 18-crown-6 into the vacancy-ordered double perovskites system and developed two-dimensional ribbon-like single crystals (18C6@K) 2 {PtSnTeIrRe} 1 Cl 6 via an antisolvent supramolecular assembly method, demonstrating morphology modulation through multielement composition design. The crystals crystallize in the centrosymmetric space group $P\bar{1}$. The dumbbell-shaped structural units (crown ether@A)2MX6 pack along a and b axes to form a 2-dimensional (2D) monolayer, and these monolayers further stack along the c axis to generate the ribbon-like single crystals. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) qualitatively confirmed the uniform distribution of the five transition metals throughout the crystal, while inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–AES) quantitatively verified their atomic ratios. We further investigated the origin of the morphology, distinct from the previously reported cube-like single crystals with the $R\bar{3}$ space group. When acetonitrile was used as the solvent, three-dimensional crystals with $R\bar{3}$ symmetry were obtained, whereas dimethylformamide (DMF) was essential for forming two-dimensional ribbon-like single crystals. The essential role of DMF could be ascribed to its capability to maintain a higher concentration of the building blocks. Moreover, Ir 4+ and Pt 4+ cations also played critical roles in inducing the two-dimensional ribbon-like morphology. The three-element (18C6@K) 2 {PtSnTe}1Cl 6 single crystals exhibited bright yellow emission under 375 nm laser excitation, demonstrating the tunability of optoelectronic properties of this class of material.

Zhu, Heqing [University of California, Berkeley, C↗

Three‐Dimensional Broadband Interferometric Mapping and Polarization (BIMAP‐3D) Observations of Lightning Discharge Processes

Abstract Following on our earlier single‐station, 2‐dimensional (2D) broadband interferometric mapping and polarization (BIMAP) observations of lightning discharges, we recently deployed two BIMAP stations at Los Alamos National Laboratory to map the lightning sources and their polarization in full 3‐dimensional (3D) space (BIMAP‐3D). The two stations are separated by 11.5‐km and each station consists of four antenna sets (instead of three for the original BIMAP) that form a Y ‐shaped array for improved interferometric performance. In this paper, we report the BIMAP‐3D system design, a generalized and analytical 2D interferometry technique for noncoplanar antenna array, a two‐stage 3D mapping technique based on geometric triangulation and baseline‐based differential time of arrival, and a technique to reconstruct the polarization orientation in 3D space by combining the 2D polarization results from the two‐station observations. Along with description of the techniques, we demonstrate and discuss the initial lightning results, including 3D maps for a hybrid intracloud and cloud‐to‐ground flash and for a normal intracloud flash, development of abnormal K‐change leaders, and polarization signatures for a K‐change leader. We find that with the two‐stage 3D mapping techniques, the sources can be located to meters accuracy for a favorable event that occurs between the two stations. We also find the polarization vectors for the example K leader are mostly orthogonal to the leader channel after the full 3D polarization analysis. The main purpose of this paper is to report the BIMAP‐3D techniques and capabilities. Detailed analysis of more specific discharge processes will be reported in later studies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗