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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Design and Construction of a High-Resolution Hodoscope for the GlueX Experiment with High-Statistics Analysis of the p0, ¿, and ¿1 Photoproduction Cross Sections from the RadPhi Experiment

Differential cross sections for forward-angle photoproduction of p0, ¿, and ¿ 1 pseudoscalar mesons were measured using data from the RadPhi experiment conducted in Hall B at Jef ferson Lab. RadPhi utilized a tagged bremsstrahlung photon beam incident on a stationary 9Be target, with a detector system configured to trigger on a recoil proton in coincidence with multiple neutral showers in the calorimeter. Events were reconstructed and subjected to kinematic constraints, with background suppressed via sideband subtraction guided by Monte Carlo modeling of background contributions. Cross sections were extracted over the photon energy range 4.4– 5.4 GeV and binned in invariant momentum transfer t, providing measurements from one of the first high-statistics experiments of forward ¿ and ¿1 pro duction from a nuclear target at these energies. Acceptance corrections were applied using a detailed GEANT-based simulation of the detector geometry and response. The resulting cross sections are consistent with 2020 CLAS results, when scaled by the number of protons in beryllium, and show broad agreement with other data and theoretical models. In parallel, a high-resolution photon tagger detector, the Tagger Microscope (TAGM), was designed, constructed, and commissioned for the GlueX experiment in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. The TAGM was developed to provide high-rate tagging capability in the coherent bremsstrahlung peak by detecting post-bremsstrahlung electrons across a one GeV range along the focal plane of the tagging spectrometer. The detector consists of a 5ˆ102 array of 2ˆ2 mm2 square BCF-20 plastic scintillating fibers thermally fused to BCF-98 light guide fibers optically coupled to silicon photomultipliers. These fibers are mounted in a precision machined framework enabling fine positional adjustments to maintain precise alignment with post-bremsstrahlung electron trajectories, while ensuring mechanical rigidity, thermal stability, optical isolation, minimal inactive area, and radiation shielding for electronics. The construction effort involved extensive testing of fiber quality, light transmission, thermal fusing, radiation hardness, and defect analysis using SEM and EDX techniques. Following its installation and commissioning, the TAGM became a critical component of the GlueX beamline, enabling high-rate tagging essential for studies of hybrid mesons and gluonic ex citations.

McIntyre, James [Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT ↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Dynamic Networks Experiments: Virtual Experiments to Quantify Gains in Nuclear Explosion Monitoring

We describe an ongoing series of virtual experiments conducted collaboratively by four United States National Laboratories: Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. These Dynamic Network Experiments (DNEs) provide an experimental framework to evaluate the potential impact of new research tools on nuclear explosion monitoring. The second DNE (DNE2), completed in 2024, exploited waveform data (seismic, infrasound, and electromagnetic) that was recorded by multi-modal sensors within and near the Nevada National Security Site and synthetic radionuclide signatures over multiple time periods. During the execution of DNE2, we processed and analyzed data through a multi-stage event processing pipeline that ingested raw data, performed quality control, detected signals, built events from these signals, located these events, and characterized the events’ source types and sizes. For each stage and over the entire event processing pipeline, we evaluated performance changes by comparing the performance of new data processing methods, models, and algorithms against a baseline. We also performed an additional execution phase to assess event processing pipeline function, speed, and efficiency against that of an expert analyst, including computational and manual efforts. Finally, we assessed the impact and effort of modern computing infrastructure on the monitoring pipeline. This paper describes key elements of the DNEs, from formulation through execution, as demonstrated in DNE2. The DNEs introduce several novel concepts to quantitatively measure the potential impact of new methods on explosion monitoring, including the collaborative design of multi-modal datasets, performance and logistical metrics, and integrated analyses.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

International fuel performance study of fresh fuel experiments for PCMI effects during RIA experiments

This paper presents the results of High-burnup Experiments for Reactivity-initiated Accident (HERA) Modeling & Simulation (M&S) exercise. The HERA project under the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Second Framework for Irradiation Experiments (FIDES-II) program is focused on studying Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel behavior during Reactivity-Initiated Accident (RIA) conditions. The Part I M&S cases are based on a series of tests in the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility in the United States and the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) in Japan. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the test design to accomplish its goals in establishing clearer understanding of the effects of power pulse width during RIA conditions. Further, the blind predictions using various computational tools have been performed and compared amongst to interpret the behaviors of high burnup fuels during RIA. While many international participants evaluate the thermal–mechanical behavior of fuel rod under different conditions, a considerable scatter of outputs comes out for the cases due to the disparity between codes in predicting mechanical behaviors. In general, however, the results of thermal–mechanical analysis elaborate that nominal design conditions the shorter pulse width tests in NSRR should cause cladding failures while the TREAT tests appear to have more split prediction of failure or not. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis varying key testing parameters reveals the considerable effect of power pulse width and total energy deposition on prediction of fuel rod failure.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Modeling Pb(II) Adsorption on Mineral Surfaces: Bridging Density Functional Theory and Experiment with Thermodynamic Insights

Despite decades of work on aqueous lead (Pb) adsorption on a-Fe2O3 (hematite) and a-Al2O3 (alumina), gaps between measurements and modeling obscure molecular-level understanding. Achieving well-matched geometries between theory and experimental for mineral-water interfaces is a hurdle, as surface functional group type and distribution must be accounted for in determining mechanisms. Additionally, computational methods that can describe the substrate are often not appropriate to capture aqueous effects. Progress requires focusing on well-studied and relevant systems, such as key facets (001),(012), and (110) of hematite and alumina, and ubiquitous contaminants such as aqueous Pb. In the past, bulk-parametrized bond-valence principles were used to rationalize Pb(II) adsorption trends. These approaches can break down at surfaces, where flexible bonding environments and adsorption-induced surface relaxations play a critical role. Here, we adapt and apply a density functional theory (DFT) and thermodynamics framework, integrating DFT-calculated energies with experimental data and electrochemical principles, to predict Pb(II) adsorption. Our model results capture trends across the full set of surfaces and predict that inner-sphere Pb(II) sorption on (001) alumina varies from unfavorable to weakly favorable across a range of pH conditions. This aligns with experiment insights that Pb(II) interacts at that surface through outer-sphere interactions. Extending to Fe(II) adsorption, we demonstrate a coverage-dependent site preference, potentially explaining disorder in overlayers grown by the oxidative adsorption of Fe(II) on hematite (001).

lead contamination↗
DOE OSTI2025

Atmospheric River Detection Under Changing Seasonality and Mean-State Climate: ARTMIP Tier 2 Paleoclimate Experiments

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are filamentary structures within the atmosphere that account for a substantial portion of poleward moisture transport and play an important role in Earth's hydroclimate. However, there is no one quantitative definition for what constitutes an atmospheric river, leading to uncertainty in quantifying how these systems respond to global change. This study seeks to better understand how different AR detection tools (ARDTs) respond to changes in climate states utilizing single-forcing climate model experiments under the aegis of the Atmospheric River Tracking Method Intercomparison Project (ARTMIP). We compare a simulation with an early Holocene orbital configuration and another with CO2 levels of the Last Glacial Maximum to a preindustrial control simulation to test how the ARDTs respond to changes in seasonality and mean climate state, respectively. We find good agreement among the algorithms in the AR response to the changing orbital configuration, with a poleward shift in AR frequency that tracks seasonal poleward shifts in atmospheric water vapor and zonal winds. In the low CO2 simulation, the algorithms generally agree on the sign of AR changes, but there is substantial spread in their magnitude, indicating that mean-state changes lead to larger uncertainty. This disagreement likely arises primarily from differences between algorithms in their thresholds for water vapor and its transport used for identifying ARs. These findings warrant caution in ARDT selection for paleoclimate and climate change studies in which there is a change to the mean climate state, as ARDT selection contributes substantial uncertainty in such cases.

Atmospheric river, paleoclimate↗
DOE OSTI2024

Traffic Signal Control for Large-Scale Urban Traffic Networks: Real-World Experiments using Vision-Based Sensors

Effective control of traffic signals plays a critical role in ensuring smooth vehicle flow in urban areas. Expertly engineered traffic signal controllers can considerably minimize travel delays and enhance sustainability. In this paper, the team proposes the Model Predictive Control (MPC) traffic signal control strategy using real-time traffic flow data from a vision-based camera as feedback information. Also, a realistic signal timing plan that considers National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) constraints has been developed to be applied to real-world scenarios. The primary aim is to reduce the number of vehicles across all links in the controlled area, thereby optimizing traffic flow and reducing energy consumption. To validate the proposed method, several real-life experiments were conducted at 24 intersections in Chattanooga, Tennessee, by collaborating with traffic field engineers. These experiments demonstrated significant performance improvements in comparison to the existing method.

data processing↗
DOE OSTI2024

Muon g-2 experiment and future muon experiments

The Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab aims to measure the muon anomalous magnetic moment, $a_{\mu}$, with a final precision of 140 part per billions (ppb). The first results from the Run-1 dataset were released on April 7, 2021, showing a very good agreement with the previous experimental result at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) [1]. In light of the new theoretical calculation of the hadron vacuum polarization contribution of $a_{\mu}$ by the BMW group using the Lattice QCD, a strong tension arose within the theoretical side. Here we discuss this high precision measurement and the current work towards a new result, Run-2/3 analysis, on the muon anomaly that aims to reach a statistical uncertainty of 200 ppb and a systematic uncertainty of 70 ppb. Furthermore, a brief overview of other muon experiments will be given.

Bottalico, Elia↗
DOE OSTI2025

Shallow cloud variability in Houston, Texas, during the ESCAPE and TRACER field experiments

Shallow convection plays an important role in Earth's climate system by regulating the vertical transport of heat, moisture, and momentum in the lower troposphere. Aerosols, large-scale meteorology, and low-level convergence influence the spatiotemporal variability in shallow convection, and the coastal urban area of Houston, Texas, is an ideal laboratory to investigate these complex interactions. Here, geostationary satellite and ground-based radar observations from June to September 2022 during the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) and Experiment of Sea Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation, and Environment (ESCAPE) field campaigns are used to characterize the spatial coverage, vertical extent, and precipitation fraction of shallow convective clouds. The fused operational remote sensing datasets over a 250 km × 250 km domain are evaluated against profiling observations. The domain-wide diurnal shallow cloud fractions are used to identify four distinct modes of shallow convection. In all clusters, the domain-wide cloud fractions are consistently higher than the domain-wide precipitation fractions, and shallow cloud fractions are higher over water than they are over land, while the shallow precipitation fractions show the opposite behavior. In the two modes with minimal deep cloud activity, shallow cloud frequency is highest over ocean in the early morning, and there is a transition to higher shallow cloud frequency over land by the afternoon in one cluster or to high shallow cloud frequencies everywhere by the afternoon in the other. Lastly, we find regions with higher shallow cloud top heights and a large region along the coastline where shallow clouds are more likely to precipitate.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1972

Analyses of requirements for computer control and data processing experiment subsystems. Volume 1: ATM experiment S-056 image data processing system techniques development

The solar imaging X-ray telescope experiment (designated the S-056 experiment) is described. It will photograph the sun in the far ultraviolet or soft X-ray region. Because of the imaging characteristics of this telescope and the necessity of using special techniques for capturing images on film at these wave lengths, methods were developed for computer processing of the photographs. The problems of image restoration were addressed to develop and test digital computer techniques for applying a deconvolution process to restore overall S-056 image quality. Additional techniques for reducing or eliminating the effects of noise and nonlinearity in S-056 photographs were developed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

ATS-5 signal characteristics at 15.3 GHz and related experiments at 15 and 35 GHz. Part 1: Basic features of the experiments and primary results

The results are presented of observations by the University of Texas of the 15.3 GHz experiment associated with the ATS-5 satellite and of related experiments designed to provide information on earth-satellite communication links at 15.3 and 31.65 GHz. The 15.3 GHz transmissions were observed at Austin, Texas over an eighteen month interval primarily during periods of rain. Measurements were also made at Mount Locke, near Fort Davis, Texas but only for a period of two months. Essentially continuous measurements were made at Austin, Texas of the sky temperature at 35 GHz looking in the direction of the ATS-5 satellite over an interval of four months. Point-to-point transmissions over the earth's surface at 15 and 35 GHz and various meteorological parameters were studied as possible means of predicting performance over a satellite-earth path.

Straiton, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Apollo experience report: Apollo lunar surface experiments package data processing system

Apollo Program experience in the processing of scientific data from the Apollo lunar surface experiments package, in which computers and associated hardware and software were used, is summarized. The facility developed for the preprocessing of the lunar science data is described, as are several computer facilities and programs used by the Principal Investigators. The handling, processing, and analyzing of lunar science data and the interface with the Principal Investigators are discussed. Pertinent problems that arose in the development of the data processing schemes are discussed so that future programs may benefit from the solutions to the problems. The evolution of the data processing techniques for lunar science data related to recommendations for future programs of this type.

Eason, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Apollo experience report. Crew-support activities for experiments performed during manned space flight

Experiments are performed during manned space flights in an attempt to acquire knowledge that can advance science and technology or that can be applied to operational techniques for future space flights. A description is given of the procedures that the personnel who are directly assigned to the function of crew support at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center use to prepare for and to conduct experiments during space flight.

Mckee, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

AAFE man-made noise experiment project. Volume 2: Project and experiment discussions

An experiment for the acquisition and processing of man-made noise interference data on earth orbital altitudes is discussed. The objectives of the project are to confirm the results of analytical studies concerning radio frequency man-made noise in space. It is stated that the measurements of the amounts and types of noise in frequency bands of interest could allow the allocation and utilization of frequencies to be optimized and would also contribute to the engineering objective of optimizing flight receiving systems. A second objective of the project was to design and fabricate a noise measuring receiver which would demonstrate the feasibility of the experiment design under the project. The procedures for acquiring and processing the electromagnetic radiation data are discussed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

Ames Heat Pipe Experiment (AHPE) experiment description document

A gas-controlled variable-conductance heat pipe was qualified for flight aboard orbiting astronomical observatory (OAO3). Experiments were conducted to determine the performance and reliability of the pipe in the vacuum environment of space, and to demonstrate in a specific engineering application its effectiveness in providing temperature stability for spacecraft equipment which experiences varying electronic duty cycles and changing thermal boundary conditions. System design and hardware are discussed in detail.

Marcus, B. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Atmospheric variability experiment /AVE II/ pilot experiment

The Atmospheric Variability Experiment (AVE II) was conducted in May 1974. Rawinsonde releases were made at 54 upper-air stations in two thirds of the eastern U.S. at 3-hr intervals for a 24-hr period. Radar data were obtained from 11 stations located near the center of the observational area, and as many data as possible were collected from the Nimbus 5, NOAA 2, ATS-3, and DMSP satellites. The present paper provides an overview of the experiment and describes how the user community can obtain copies of the data.

Turner, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Experiment definition phase shuttle laboratory. LDRL-10.6 experiment

The work completed on the experiment definition phase of the shuttle laboratory LDRL 10.6 micrometers experiment from 27 September 1975 to 26 January 1976 was reported. This work included progress in the following areas: (1) optomechanical system: completion of detail drawings, completion of the beryllium subassembly, fabrication, checking, and weighing of approximately 95% of the detailed parts, dry film lubrication of the bearings and gears, and initiation of assembly of the gimbals; (2) optics: update of the detailed optical layout, receipt of nine mirrors and the pre-expander; (3) miscellaneous: delivery of draft material for the final report, completion of optical testing of the 10.6 micrometers receiver, and receipt, assembly, and checkout of NASA test console.

Source record↗