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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

Attitude Sensor Pseudonoise

Even assuming perfect attitude sensors and gyros, sensor measurements on a vibrating spacecraft have apparent errors. These apparent sensor errors, referred to as pseudonoise, arise because gyro and sensor measurements are performed at discrete times. This paper explains the concept of pseudonoise, quantifies its behavior, and discusses the effect of vibrations that are nearly commensurate with measurement periods. Although pseudonoise does not usually affect attitude determination it does affect sensor performance evaluation. Attitude rates are usually computed from differences between pairs of accumulated angle measurements at different times and are considered constant in the periods between measurements. Propagation using these rates does not reproduce exact instantaneous spacecraft attitudes except at the gyro measurement times. Exact sensor measurements will therefore be inconsistent with estimates based on the propagated attitude. This inconsistency produces pseudonoise. The characteristics of pseudonoise were determined using a simple, one-dimensional model of spacecraft vibration. The statistical properties of the deviations of measurements from model truth were determined using this model and a range of different periods of sensor and rate measurements. This analysis indicates that the magnitude of pseudonoise depends on the ratio of the spacecraft vibration period to the time between gyro measurements and can be as much as twice the amplitude of the vibration. In cases where the vibration period and gyro or sensor measurement period are nearly commensurate, unexpected changes in pseudonoise occur.

Hashmall, Joseph A.↗

Metrics for Linear Kinematic Features in Sea Ice

The treatment of leads as cracks or discontinuities (see Coon et al. presentation) requires some shift in the procedure of evaluation and comparison of lead-resolving models and their validation against observations. Common metrics used to evaluate ice model skills are by and large an adaptation of a least square "metric" adopted from operational numerical weather prediction data assimilation systems and are most appropriate for continuous fields and Eilerian systems where the observations and predictions are commensurate. However, this class of metrics suffers from some flaws in areas of sharp gradients and discontinuities (e.g., leads) and when Lagrangian treatments are more natural. After a brief review of these metrics and their performance in areas of sharp gradients, we present two new metrics specifically designed to measure model accuracy in representing linear features (e.g., leads). The indices developed circumvent the requirement that both the observations and model variables be commensurate (i.e., measured with the same units) by considering the frequencies of the features of interest/importance. We illustrate the metrics by scoring several hypothetical "simulated" discontinuity fields against the lead interpreted from RGPS observations.

Levy, G.↗

Digital signal processor and processing method for GPS receivers

A digital signal processor and processing method therefor for use in receivers of the NAVSTAR/GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) employs a digital carrier down-converter, digital code correlator and digital tracking processor. The digital carrier down-converter and code correlator consists of an all-digital, minimum bit implementation that utilizes digital chip and phase advancers, providing exceptional control and accuracy in feedback phase and in feedback delay. Roundoff and commensurability errors can be reduced to extremely small values (e.g., less than 100 nanochips and 100 nanocycles roundoff errors and 0.1 millichip and 1 millicycle commensurability errors). The digital tracking processor bases the fast feedback for phase and for group delay in the C/A, P.sub.1, and P.sub.2 channels on the L.sub.1 C/A carrier phase thereby maintaining lock at lower signal-to-noise ratios, reducing errors in feedback delays, reducing the frequency of cycle slips and in some cases obviating the need for quadrature processing in the P channels. Simple and reliable methods are employed for data bit synchronization, data bit removal and cycle counting. Improved precision in averaged output delay values is provided by carrier-aided data-compression techniques. The signal processor employs purely digital operations in the sense that exactly the same carrier phase and group delay measurements are obtained, to the last decimal place, every time the same sampled data (i.e., exactly the same bits) are processed.

Thomas, Jr., Jess B.↗

2D Mg-Cu Intermetallic Compounds with Nontrivial Band Topology and Dirac Nodal Lines

Synthesis of vertical heterostructures that include atomically thin layers of materials with topologically nontrivial energy bands is desirable for exploring exotic quantum states. In this study, the authors report on atomic-layer-by-layer deposition of magnesium on copper(111) surface by molecular beam epitaxy, monitored in situ by low-energy electron microscopy and diffraction, and modeled by ab initio theory. It is found that a 2D MgCu 2 intermetallic compound forms during initial Mg deposition and persists till a full monolayer of Mg is formed. Deposition of additional Mg triggers a phase transition from the commensurate MgCu 2 to an incommensurate Mg 2 Cu layer and enables growth of the second layer of Mg. Ab initio calculations indicate non-trivial topology of the electron bands in the interfacial Mg 2 Cu layer and the existence of Dirac nodal lines near the Fermi level. The new 2D Mg 2 Cu material emerges as a promising platform to study new topological states of matter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Heterostructural interface engineering for ultrawide-gap nitrides from first principles: Ta C / Al N and Ta C / Ga N rocksalt-wurtzite interfaces

Epitaxial lattice matching is an important condition for the formation of coherent interfaces with low defect densities. However, lattice-matched substrates with the same crystal structure as the active layer are often not available, suggesting opportunities for utilizing heterostructural interfaces. For example, at high Al contents that are interesting for ultrawide-gap applications in power electronics, Al x ⁢Ga 1-x ⁢N semiconductor alloys in the (0001) orientation of the wurtzite (wz) structure become lattice-matched to (111)-oriented rocksalt (rs) Ta⁢C substrates. To predict the expected interface atomic structures under different synthesis conditions, we perform high-throughput density-functional-theory calculations, using an algorithm for systematic sampling of the possible stacking sequences of the atomic layers on the in-plane hexagonal lattice. The approach considers octahedral, tetrahedral, and prismatic coordination motifs, and is generally applicable for the modeling of commensurate rs/wz heterostructural interfaces. Our results provide guidance for synthesis control of substrate-film bonding and the polarity of ultrawide-gap Al x⁢ Ga 1-x⁢ N alloys on Ta⁢C substrates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase‐Dependent Band Gap Engineering in Alloys of Metal‐Semiconductor Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Abstract Bandgap engineering plays a critical role in optimizing the electrical, optical and (photo)‐electrochemical applications of semiconductors. Alloying has been a historically successful way of tuning bandgaps by making solid solutions of two isovalent semiconductors. In this work, a novel form of bandgap engineering involving alloying non‐isovalent cations in a 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) is presented. By alloying semiconducting MoSe 2 with metallic NbSe 2 , two structural phases of Mo 0.5 Nb 0.5 Se 2 , the 1T and 2H phases, are produced each with emergent electronic structure. At room temperature, it is observed that the 1T and 2H phases are semiconducting and metallic, respectively. For the 1T structure, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) is used to measure band gaps in the range of 0.42–0.58 at 77 K. Electron diffraction patterns of the 1T structure obtained at room temperature show the presence of a nearly commensurate charge density wave (NCCDW) phase with periodic lattice distortions that result in an uncommon 4 × 4 supercell, rotated approximately 4° from the lattice. Density‐functional‐theory calculations confirm that local distortions, such as those in a NCCDW, can open up a band gap in 1T ‐Mo 0.5 Nb 0.5 Se 2 , but not in the 2H phase. This work expands the boundaries of alloy‐based bandgap engineering by introducing a novel technique that facilitates CDW phases through alloying.

Wang, Shuxi↗

Unraveling Strain Gradient Induced Electromechanical Coupling in Twisted Double Bilayer Graphene Moiré Superlattices

Moiré superlattices of 2D materials with a small twist angle are thought to exhibit appreciable flexoelectric effect, though unambiguous confirmation of their flexoelectricity is challenging due to artifacts associated with commonly used piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). For example, unexpectedly small phase contrast (≈8°) between opposite flexoelectric polarizations is reported in twisted bilayer graphene (tBG), though theoretically predicted value is 180°. We report a methodology is developed to extract intrinsic moiré flexoelectricity using twisted double bilayer graphene (tDBG) as a model system, probed by lateral PFM. For small twist angle samples, it is found that a vectorial decomposition is essential to recover the small intrinsic flexoelectric response at domain walls from a large background signal. The obtained threefold symmetry of commensurate domains with significant flexoelectric response at domain walls is fully consistent with the theoretical calculations. Incommensurate domains in tDBG with relatively large twist angles can also be observed by this technique. A general strategy is provided here for unraveling intrinsic flexoelectricity in van der Waals moiré superlattices while providing insights into engineered symmetry breaking in centrosymmetric materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dirac Fermion Cloning, Moiré Flat Bands, and Magic Lattice Constants in Epitaxial Monolayer Graphene

Tuning interactions between Dirac states in graphene has attracted enormous interest because it can modify the electronic spectrum of the 2D material, enhance electron correlations, and give rise to novel condensed-matter phases such as superconductors, Mott insulators, Wigner crystals, and quantum anomalous Hall insulators. Previous works predominantly focus on the flat band dispersion of coupled Dirac states from different twisted graphene layers. Here in this work, a new route to realizing flat band physics in monolayer graphene under a periodic modulation from substrates is proposed. Graphene/SiC heterostructure is taken as a prototypical example and it is demonstrated experimentally that the substrate modulation leads to Dirac fermion cloning and, consequently, the proximity of the two Dirac cones of monolayer graphene in momentum space. Theoretical modeling captures the cloning mechanism of the Dirac states and indicates that moiré flat bands can emerge at certain magic lattice constants of the substrate, specifically when the period of modulation becomes nearly commensurate with the ($\sqrt{3}$ x $\sqrt{3}$) R30° supercell of graphene. Our results show that epitaxial single monolayer graphene on suitable substrates is a promising platform for exploring exotic many-body quantum phases arising from interactions between Dirac electrons.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

1D to 2D Transition in Tellurium Observed by 4D Electron Microscopy

A new microwave-enhanced synthesis method for the production of tellurium nanostructures is reported here—with control over products from the 1D regime (sub-5 nm diameter nanowires), to nanoribbons, to the 2D tellurene regime—along with a new methodology for local statistical quantification of the crystallographic parameters of these materials at the nanometer scale. Using a direct electron detector and image-corrected microscope, large and robust 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy datasets for accurate structural analysis are obtained. These datasets allow the adaptation of quantitative techniques originally developed for X-ray diffraction (XRD) refinement analyses to transmission electron microscopy, enabling the first demonstration of sub-picometer accuracy lattice parameter extraction while also obtaining both the size of the coherent crystallite domains and the nanostrain, which is observed to decrease as nanowires transition to tellurene. This new local analysis is commensurate with global powder XRD results, indicating the robustness of both the new synthesis approach and new structural analysis methodology for future scalable production of 2D tellurene and characterization of nanomaterials.

2D materials↗

Long‐Range Electron Transport Rates Depend on Wire Dimensions in Cytochrome Nanowires

Abstract The ability to redirect electron transport to new reactions in living systems opens possibilities to store energy, generate new products, or probe physiological processes. Recent work by Huang et al. showed that 3D crystals of small tetraheme cytochromes (STC) can transport electrons over nanoscopic to mesoscopic distances by an electron hopping mechanism, making them promising materials for nanowires. However, fluctuations at room temperature may distort the nanostructure, hindering efficient electron transport. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of these fluctuations at the nano‐ and mesoscopic scales allowed us to develop a graph network representation to estimate maximum electron flow that can be driven through STC wires. In longer nanowires, transient structural fluctuations at protein‐protein interfaces tended to obstruct efficient electron transfer, but these blockages are ameliorated in thicker crystals where alternative electron transfer pathways become more efficient. The model implies that more flexible proteinprotein interfaces limit the required minimum diameter to carry currents commensurate with conventional electronics.

Chemistry↗

Flavor-changing light bosons with accidental longevity

We consider a model with a complex scalar field that couples to (e, μ) or (μ, τ) within the “longevity” window: [|m l 1 – m l 2 |, m l 1 + m l 2 ] in which l 1 and l 2 are the two different charged leptons. Within such a mass window, even a relatively large coupling (e.g. of the size commensurate with the current accuracy/discrepancy in the muon g – 2 experiment) leads to long lifetimes and macroscopic propagation distance between production and decay points. We propose to exploit several existing neutrino experiments and one future experiment to probe the parameter space of this model. For the μ – e sector, we exploit the muonium decay branching ratio and the production and decay sequence at the LSND experiment, excluding the parametric region suggested by g μ – 2 anomaly. For the τ – μ sector, we analyze three main production mechanisms of scalars at beam dump experiments: the Drell-Yan process, the heavy meson decay, and the muon scattering. We explore the constraints from the past CHARM and NuTeV experiments, and evaluate sensitivity for the proposed beam dump experiment, SHiP. The latter can thoroughly probe the parameter space relevant for the g μ – 2 anomaly.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The changing nature of hydroclimatic risks across South Africa

We present results from large ensembles of projected twenty-first century changes in seasonal precipitation and near-surface air temperature for the nation of South Africa. These ensembles are a result of combining Monte Carlo projections from a human-Earth system model of intermediate complexity with pattern-scaled responses from climate models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). These future ensemble scenarios consider a range of global actions to abate emissions through the twenty-first century. We evaluate distributions of surface-air temperature and precipitation change over three sub-national regions: western, central, and eastern South Africa. In all regions, we find that without any emissions or climate targets in place, there is a greater than 50% likelihood that mid-century temperatures will increase threefold over the current climate’s two-standard deviation range of variability. However, scenarios that consider more aggressive climate targets all but eliminate the risk of these salient temperature increases. A preponderance of risk toward decreased precipitation (3 to 4 times higher than increased) exists for western and central South Africa. Strong climate targets abate evolving regional hydroclimatic risks. Under a target to limit global climate warming to 1.5 °C by 2100, the risk of precipitation changes within South Africa toward the end of this century (2065–2074) is commensurate to the risk during the 2030s without any global climate target. Thus, these regional hydroclimate risks over South Africa could be delayed by 30 years and, in doing so, provide invaluable lead-time for national efforts to prepare, fortify, and/or adapt.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Sensory integration for neuroprostheses: from functional benefits to neural correlates

In the field of sensory neuroprostheses, one ultimate goal is for individuals to perceive artificial somatosensory information and use the prosthesis with high complexity that resembles an intact system. To this end, research has shown that stimulation elicited somatosensory information improves prosthesis perception and task performance. While studies strive to achieve sensory integration, a crucial phenomenon that entails naturalistic interaction with the environment, this topic has not been commensurately reviewed. Therefore, here we present a perspective for understanding sensory integration in neuroprostheses. First, we review the engineering aspects and functional outcomes in sensory neuroprosthesis studies. In this context, we summarize studies that have suggested sensory integration. We focus on how they have used stimulation-elicited percepts to maximize and improve the reliability of somatosensory information. Next, we review studies that have suggested multisensory integration. These works have demonstrated that congruent and simultaneous multisensory inputs provided cognitive benefits such that an individual experiences a greater sense of authority over prosthesis movements (i.e., agency) and perceives the prosthesis as part of their own (i.e., ownership). Thereafter, we present the theoretical and neuroscience framework of sensory integration. We investigate how behavioral models and neural recordings have been applied in the context of sensory integration. Sensory integration models developed from intact-limb individuals have led the way to sensory neuroprosthesis studies to demonstrate multisensory integration. Neural recordings have been used to show how multisensory inputs are processed across cortical areas. Lastly, we discuss some ongoing research and challenges in achieving and understanding sensory integration in sensory neuroprostheses. Here, resolving these challenges would help to develop future strategies to improve the sensory feedback of a neuroprosthetic system.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

High-Throughput Statistical Interrogation of Mechanical Properties with Build Plate Location and Powder Reuse in AlSi10Mg

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) allows agile, rapid manufacturing of geometrically complex components that would otherwise be impossible through traditional manufacturing methods. With this maturing manufacturing technology comes the need to adopt testing methods that are commensurate with the speed of additive manufacturing and take advantage of its geometric flexibility. High-throughput tensile testing (HTT) is a technique that allows a large number of tensile bars to be tested in a short amount of time. In the present study, HTT is used to evaluate AM AlSi10Mg produced using powder bed fusion with a Renishaw AM250 machine. Three parameters were varied in this study: (1) powder reuse history, (2) location on the build plate, and (3) size of the tensile specimen. For all parameter combinations, at least 22 specimens were tested; in several cases, over 40 were tested. This large dataset, consisting of over 500 tensile tests, permits Weibull statistical analysis and provides sufficient fidelity to isolate subtle trends that would have likely been missed in smaller, traditional datasets. The observed trends are rationalized in terms of the role of porosity and surface crust on mechanical response.

Carroll, Jay D. (ORCID:0000000258184709)↗

Influence of structural defects on charge density waves in 1T-TaS2

Abstract The influence of intrinsic defects of 1T-TaS 2 on charge density waves (CDWs) is studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM, STS), angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), and density functional theory (DFT). We identify several types of structural defects and find that most have a local character limited to a single CDW site, with a single exception which effectively behaves as a dopant, leading to band-bending and affecting multiple neighboring sites. While only one type of defect can be observed by STM topographic imaging, all defects are easily resolved in STS mapping. Our results indicate modulation of the Mott band gap commensurate with the CDW and breaking of the three-fold symmetry of electronic states. DFT calculations (with included Coulomb interactions) are used to investigate the electronic structure, focusing on both sulfur vacancy and oxygen-sulfur substitution. The sulfur vacancy system, characterized with a metallic behavior, is identified as the origin of one of the experimentally observed defects. Additionally, the effect of oxidation of 1T-TaS 2 depends on the substitution site, leading to the heterogeneity of electronic properties.

Chemistry↗

Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 -hydroxyapatite composite waste forms for cesium and iodine immobilization

Perovskite-based ceramic composites were developed as potential waste form materials for immobilizing cesium (Cs) and iodine (I) with high waste loadings and chemical durability. The perovskite Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 has high Cs (22 wt%) and I (58 wt%) content, and thus can be used as a potential host phase to immobilize these critical radionuclides. In this work, the perovskite Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 phase was synthesized by a cost effective solution-based approach, and was embedded into a highly durable hydroxyapatite matrix by spark plasma sintering to form dense ceramic composite waste forms. The chemical durabilities of the monolithic Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 and Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 -hydroxyapatite composite pellets were investigated by static and semi-dynamic leaching tests, respectively. Cs and I are incongruently released from the matrix for both pure Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 and composite structures. The normalized Cs release rate is faster than that of I, which can be explained by the difference in the strengths between Cs-I and Bi-I bonds as well as the formation of insoluble micrometer-sized BiOI precipitates. The activation energies of elemental releases based on dissolution and diffusion-controlled mechanisms are determined with significantly higher energy barriers for dissolution from the composite versus that of the monolithic Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 . The ceramic-based composite waste forms exhibit excellent chemical durabilities and waste loadings, commensurate with the state-of-the-art glass-bonded perovskite composites for I and Cs immobilization.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Scalable in situ non-destructive evaluation of additively manufactured components using process monitoring, sensor fusion, and machine learning

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Additive Manufacturing (AM) is among the metal 3D printing technologies most broadly adopted by the manufacturing industry. However, the current industry qualification paradigm for critical-application L-PBF parts relies heavily on expensive non-destructive inspection techniques, which significantly limits the use-cases of L-PBF. In situ monitoring of the process promises a less expensive alternative to ex situ testing, but existing sensor technologies and data analysis techniques struggle to detect sub-surface flaws (e.g., porosity and cracking) on production-scale L-PBF printers. In this work, an in situ NDE (INDE) system was engineered to detect subsurface flaws detected in X-Ray Computed Tomography (XCT) directly from process monitoring data. A multilayer, multimodal data input allowed the INDE system to detect numerous subsurface flaws in the size range of 200–1000µm using a novel human-in-the-loop annotation procedure. Furthermore, a framework was established for generating probability-of-detection (POD) and probability-of-false-alarm (PFA) curves compliant with NDE standards by systematically comparing instances of detected subsurface flaws to post-build XCT data. Here, we also introduce for the first time in the AM in situ sensing literature the a 90/95 – the flaw size corresponding to a 90% detection rate on the lower 95% confidence interval of the POD curve. The INDE system successfully demonstrated POD capabilities commensurate with traditional NDE methods. Traditional ML performance metrics were also shown to be inadequate for assessing the ability of the INDE system’s flaw detection performance. It is the hope of the authors that future studies will adopt the POD and PFA approach outlined here to provide better insight into the utility of process monitoring for AM.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗