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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

Toward a fully coherent tender and hard X-ray free-electron laser via cascaded EEHG in fourth-generation synchrotron light sources

Free-electron-laser-based beamlines utilize fully coherent laser pulses with extremely narrow bandwidth allowing direct use of X-rays without monochromators. This could be very beneficial for all users of current and future fourth-generation diffraction-limited synchrotron light sources (DL-SLSs) who need narrowband full-coherence high-brightness X-ray pulses. Based on our previous finding, i.e. that separating the two stages of echo-enabled harmonic generation (EEHG) with a few extra bending-magnet sections provides an effective way to increase the momentum compaction of chicane 1, one can simultaneously achieve adequate prebunching at extremely high harmonics as well as keep the energy modulation to the ideal minimum. This could open the door for cascaded EEHG, toward fully coherent tender and hard X-ray wavelengths. Built on our compact design of a twin-pulse seeding electron beam with an adjustable delay and timing jitter at the level of a few femtoseconds, a cascaded EEHG can be implemented, which includes two EEHG beamlines, where the radiation pulse generated by the first beamline with harmonic $h$ 1 could be used as the input seed laser pulse to the second beamline with harmonic $h$ 2 . Hence, the second radiator could potentially reach very high harmonics [$h$ = $h$ 1 (20)$h$ 2 (25–100)] from 500 to 2000, corresponding to tender and hard X-ray wavelengths. It is demonstrated that the cascaded EEHG scheme is compatible with almost any current or planned fourth-generation DL-SLS, with significant benefits for space-limited storage rings in particular. The main advantage is that this scheme requires almost no change of the storage-ring lattice and is fully compatible with other beamlines. Current proposals for rings with much longer straight sections would add self-amplified spontaneous emission as another viable option for storage-ring-based free-electron lasers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Deconstructing the root system of grasses through an exploration of development, anatomy and function

Abstract Well‐adapted root systems allow plants to grow under resource‐limiting environmental conditions and are important determinants of yield in agricultural systems. Important staple crops such as rice and maize belong to the family of grasses, which develop a complex root system that consists of an embryonic root system that emerges from the seed, and a postembryonic nodal root system that emerges from basal regions of the shoot after germination. While early seedling establishment is dependent on the embryonic root system, the nodal root system, and its associated branches, gains in importance as the plant matures and will ultimately constitute the bulk of below‐ground growth. In this review, we aim to give an overview of the different root types that develop in cereal grass root systems, explore the different physiological roles they play by defining their anatomical features, and outline the genetic networks that control their development. Through this deconstructed view of grass root system function, we provide a parts‐list of elements that function together in an integrated root system to promote survival and crop productivity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DNS of Hydrodynamic Instabilities of Laminar H2/O2/N2 Flames at Elevated Pressure

The atypical combustion properties of hydrogen have long provided an interest for hydrogen-enriched combustion, emphasized in recent years by increasingly stringent emission regulations. Significant work has been focused on the small hydrocarbon(C1-C3)/hydrogen blends, but much less is known about the effect of hydrogen on heavier hydrocarbon combustion, of interest for the aviation and automotive industry. In this work, we perform direct numerical simulations (DNS) of spherically expanding laminar n-dodecane/H2 flames in a constant-volume vessel at elevated pressure and a range of hydrogen seeding levels. A low Mach number model is used to represent the gas and flame dynamics allowing for a temporally varying, spatially homogeneous pressure field, while also enabling numerical evolution of the system numerically at time step sizes governed by the advective CFL limit rather than acoustic processes. We use an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) approach to tackle the large separation of scales associated with high pressure premixed flame surfaces propagating in a laboratory-scale closed domain. We incorporate detailed chemistry and transport models for the reacting flow and focus the analysis on the effects of the pressure rise on the flame propagation characteristics and morphology as the hydrogen content is increased. The presence of fast diffusive H2 and the pressure rise results in dramatic thinning of the flame and the potential onset of hydrodyanmic and theromdiffusive instabilities. We assess the potential role of these instabilities on the ability to accurately measure laminar burning speed experimentally based on the mean flame surface propagation speed.

high pressure↗

Numerical simulation of the hot-tail runaway electron production mechanism using CQL3D and comparison with Smith–Verwichte analytical model

Abstract The hot-tail mechanism of runaway electron (RE) production (Harvey et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas 7 4590) is the primary source of RE in the case of rapidly cooling tokamak plasma. Quantifying this mechanism is very important as it can provide most of the post-thermal-quench (TQ) current, or a seed current for the secondary source of RE through the avalanche mechanism. An analytic model which omits pitch-angle scattering is often used in literature for estimating the hot-tail RE density (Smith and Verwichte 2008 Phys. Plasmas 15 072502). In the present study, we use the CQL3D bounce-averaged Fokker–Planck code (Harvey and McCoy 1992 Proc. IAEA Technical Committee Meeting on Advances in Simulation and Modeling of Thermonuclear Plasmas p 527) to test the limits of validity of the model. In particular, we examine the cases of Z = 1 and Z = 18 ions, for sets of different initial temperature, density, electric field and the characteristic time of temperature decay. We show that for Z = 1 plasma, the ratio of RE density computed by CQL3D to that estimated from the model is within 0.6–6.0 in studied cases. For the Z = 18 case, this factor is systematically a much smaller number, typically 0.02–0.6. We suggest a simple correction to the model that narrows down the range of this ratio to 0.3–3.8 in all of the cases, including Z = 1 and Z = 18 plasmas.

Physics↗

Co 2 P-Pt Heterostructure Interfaces for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Pt-based electrocatalysts are effective for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); however, their limited ability to facilitate water dissociation and suboptimal hydrogen binding energy (H BE ) in alkaline electrolytes result in slow reaction kinetics, which hinders their cost-efficiency and practical applications. This study reports the synthesis of Co 2 P-Pt heterostructure nanorods using a seed-mediated growth method, producing a high density of Co 2 P-Pt interfacial sites. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that electronic interactions at these interfaces optimize H BE on Pt, while the interfacial sites promote water dissociation. The Co 2 P-Pt nanorods demonstrate an overpotential of 14 mV at 10 mA cm −2 for the HER, highlighting the potential of precisely engineered metal-metal phosphide interfaces for enhancing electrocatalytic efficiency.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nanoscale Strain and Octahedral Tilting Removes Structural and Nonradiative Defects in 2D-Templated FAPbI 3

The halide perovskite formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI 3 ) is a prime candidate for photovoltaics due to its excellent optoelectronic properties, but its application has been limited due to its structural instability. The large size of the FA cation results in metastability of the photoactive cubic phase and a facile degradation into thermodynamically stable hexagonal phases at room temperature. Recently, the incorporation of two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden-Popper halide perovskite seeds into a FAPbI 3 precursor solution was shown to template the growth of and stabilize cubic FAPbI 3 . Here, in this study, we investigate the nanoscale structural and optoelectronic mechanisms behind the observed bulk stabilization using synchrotron-based X-ray microscopies. Nanoprobe X-ray diffraction reveals 2D-templated FAPbI 3 films exhibit an average compressive strain normal to the substrate of -3.3%, 2-fold larger than that of MACl-stabilized FAPbI 3 . This compression creates locally templated regions composed of tetragonal-phase FAPbI 3 distributed nonuniformly throughout the film with fewer crystalline defects than purely cubic regions. Scanning X-ray excited optical luminescence (X-ray analog of photoluminescence) reveals that this local templating results in increased radiative recombination and red-shifted band edge and emission. Our results provide insight into the microscopic mechanism for the phase stabilization of FAPbI 3 using 2D perovskites as templates.

X-ray diffraction↗

Tapering-enhanced high-efficiency THz waveguide oscillator

Using a waveguide in a THz FEL has been shown to maximize the coupling and enable efficient extraction of relativistic electron beam energy from a single passage through a tapered helical undulator. An oscillator configuration can further boost energy extraction above the single-pass limits and open the door toward very high average power THz sources. Embedding the undulator in an oscillator cavity is particularly useful in combination with high repetition rate electron sources, even if at reduced peak brightness, since recycling a fraction of the radiation as an intense seed can compensate for lower single-pass gain. In this paper, we investigate the efficiency scaling of a tapering-enhanced waveguide oscillator, showcasing its capability for frequency-tuning operation and high-efficiency operation at different wavelengths. Using a thermionic-driven beamline equipped with compression elements, numerical start-to-end simulation results indicate a 16% efficiency at 200 GHz and a 2.1% efficiency at 1.5 THz, resulting in kW-level average power out-coupled in radiation pulses with few hundred μ J energy and tens of MW peak power. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Yang, Y. N. (ORCID:0009000849540151)↗

Table-top extreme ultraviolet second harmonic generation

The lack of available table-top extreme ultraviolet (XUV) sources with high enough fluxes and coherence properties has limited the availability of nonlinear XUV and x-ray spectroscopies to free-electron lasers (FELs). Here, we demonstrate second harmonic generation (SHG) on a table-top XUV source by observing SHG near the Ti M 2,3 edge with a high-harmonic seeded soft x-ray laser. Furthermore, this experiment represents the first SHG experiment in the XUV. First-principles electronic structure calculations suggest the surface specificity and separate the observed signal into its resonant and nonresonant contributions. The realization of XUV-SHG on a table-top source opens up more accessible opportunities for the study of element-specific dynamics in multicomponent systems where surface, interfacial, and bulk-phase asymmetries play a driving role.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Sulfide-Based Anode-Free Solid-State Batteries: Key Challenges and Emerging Solutions

Sulfide-based anode-free solid-state batteries (AFSSBs) have emerged as a transformative technology for next-generation energy storage, offering compelling advantages in energy density, safety, and manufacturing scalability. However, these batteries face significant challenges, particularly rapid capacity degradation that currently limits their practical implementation. This comprehensive review critically examines three fundamental issues affecting AFSSBs: nonuniform lithium nucleation on bare current collectors, unstable interfaces between plated lithium and sulfide electrolytes, and formation of interfacial voids during cycling. We systematically evaluate recent strategic advances in addressing these challenges, including metal seed coatings, conversion reaction-based compounds, and carbon-based interlayers. The review also analyzes the crucial role of advanced characterization techniques, from cryo-FIB-SEM to operando methods, in understanding failure mechanisms and validating improvement strategies. Finally, we present a forward-looking perspective on research directions necessary for commercialization. This work provides a thorough framework for understanding and advancing sulfide-based AFSSBs toward practical applications in next-generation energy storage systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Near- and far scrape-off layer transport studies in detached, small-ELM ASDEX Upgrade discharges by means of EMC3-EIRENE

We compare various diagnostics characterizing an ASDEX Upgrade upper single-null discharge to EMC3-EIRENE simulations now including volumetric recombination and main chamber plasma-wall interaction but not yet drifts. The discharge is in a small-ELM regime and is approaching detachment due to a density ramp and nitrogen seeding. Time/ELM averaged upstream density, electron and ion temperature measurements as well as downstream ion saturation current, electron temperature and power flux measurements match the simulation within the error bars before and after reaching detachment, qualifying the code for this regime. Although the Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) antenna limiters are 35 mm away from the separatrix, i.e. ten times the typical near-SOL power fall-off length $\lambda^{near}_q\ =\ $3.8 mm, they receive power fluxes of several hundreds of kW exceeding the ones to the outer target in the detached phase and strongly contribute to the particle fueling. This is explained by a substantially larger far-SOL power fall-off length $\lambda^{far}_q\ =\ $25 mm possibly caused by the small ELMs in the detached phase and the occurrence of a density shoulder.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Measurement of the Alfvén Wave Parametric Decay Instability Growth Rate

Alfvén waves, a fundamental mode of magnetized plasmas, are ubiquitous in space and laboratory plasmas. The nonlinear behavior of these modes is thought to play a key role in important problems in space plasma, such as the heating of the solar corona and solar wind turbulence. In particular, theoretical predictions show that these Alfvén waves may be unstable to various parametric instabilities, but space observations of these processes are limited. We demonstrate the first measurement of the Alfvén wave parametric decay instability (PDI) growth rate. Experiments are conducted on the Large Plasma Device at UCLA in which a high amplitude 𝛿⁢𝐵/𝐵 0 ∼ 0.7% pump Alfvén wave is launched from one end of the device and a smaller seed Alfvén wave is launched from the other side. When the frequency of the seed wave is chosen to match the backward wave expected from PDI, damping of the seed wave is reduced. We compare this reduction in damping to the theoretically expected PDI growth rate while accounting for acoustic mode damping. Results show agreement between measurements and theoretical predictions. As a result, this not only provides critical validation for PDI theories and simulations that could help interpret future space observations but also suggests a new way of studying similar nonlinear wave phenomena.

Alfvén waves↗

Twin-free, directly synthesized MFI nanosheets with improved thickness uniformity and their use in membrane fabrication

Zeolite nanosheets can be used for the fabrication of low-defect-density, thin, and oriented zeolite separation membranes. However, methods for manipulating their morphology are limited, hindering progress toward improved performance. We report the direct synthesis (i.e., without using exfoliation, etching, or other top-down processing) of thin, flat MFI nanosheets and demonstrate their use as high-performance membranes for xylene isomer separations. Our MFI nanosheets were synthesized using nanosheet fragments as seeds instead of the previously used MFI nanoparticles. The obtained MFI nanosheets exhibit improved thickness uniformity and are free of rotational and MEL intergrowths as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. The nanosheets can form well-packed nanosheet coatings. Upon gel-free secondary growth, the obtained zeolite MFI membranes show high separation performance for xylene isomers at elevated temperature (e.g., p-xylene flux up to 1.5 × 10 –3 mol m –2 s –1 and p-/o-xylene separation factor of ~600 at 250°C).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Metamaterials for Mechanically Directing Cell Phenotype

Recently, abundant research has begun to reveal how microscale surface topography can influence a wide range of cell phenotypes in vitro, such as cell mobility, cell size and cell viability (Flemming et al. 1999, Nikkhah et al. 2012, Wang et al. 2016). However, while these studies shed some light on cell interactions with 2D surfaces of different length scales, cells in vivo experience their surroundings in 3D. Therefore, investigations into cell interactions with varying 3D microstructures are needed to gain biologically relevant insight into how microarchitecture and feature size influences cell behavior. Understanding this relationship between 3D microstructure and cell behavior will have a huge impact on tissue engineering and mechanobiology. Until now, the ability to fabricate complex 3D microstructures for cell behavior studies has been limited. This study harnessed LLNL’s Projection Micro-Stereolithography (PμSL) capability to probe the effects of micron-scale changes in 3D architecture on cell phenotype. Furthermore, our studies explored the application of external forces—such as cyclic loading and flow-induced shear stress—to cell-seeded 3D microstructures to further examine cell behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hundreds of Low-mass Active Galaxies in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) Survey

We present an entirely new sample of 388 low-mass galaxies (M $\star$ ≤ 10 10 M ⊙ ) that have spectroscopic signatures indicating the presence of massive black holes (BHs) in the form of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) or tidal disruption events. Of these, 70 have stellar masses in the dwarf galaxy regime with 10 8 ≲ M $\star$ /M ⊙ ≲ 10 9.5 . We identify the active galaxies by analyzing optical spectra of a parent sample of ~23,000 low-mass emission-line galaxies in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) Survey Data Release 4, and employing four different diagnostics based on narrow emission-line ratios and the detection of high-ionization coronal lines. We find that 47 of the 388 low-mass active galaxies exhibit broad Hα in their spectra, corresponding to virial BH masses in the range M BH ~ 10 5.0–7.7 M ⊙ with a median BH mass of $\langle$M BH $\rangle$ ~ 10 6.2 M ⊙ . Our sample extends to higher redshifts (z ≤ 0.3; $\langle$z$\rangle$ = 0.13) than previous samples of AGNs in low-mass/dwarf galaxies based on Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectroscopy, which can be attributed to the spectroscopic limit of GAMA being ~2 mag deeper. Moreover, our multi-diagnostic approach has revealed low-mass active galaxies spanning a wide range of properties, from blue star-forming dwarfs to luminous "miniquasars" powered by low-mass BHs. As such, this work has implications for BH seeding and AGN feedback at low masses.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Subseasonal Tropical Cyclone Prediction and Modulations by MJO and ENSO in CESM2

Subseasonal tropical cyclone (TC) reforecasts from the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CAM6) subseasonal prediction system are examined in this study. Here, we evaluate the modeled TC climatology and the probabilistic forecast skill of basin-wide TC genesis at weekly temporal resolution. Prediction skill is calculated using the Brier skill score relative to a constant annual mean climatology and to a monthly varying seasonal climatology during TC season. The model captures the observed basin-wide climatological TC seasonality and spatial distributions at weeks 1–6, but TC genesis is largely underestimated from Week 2 onward. For some basins and lead times, the predicted TC genesis is primarily controlled by the number of TC “seeds” and the mean-state climate condition. The model has good prediction skill relative to the constant climatology across all the basins and lead times, but is only skillful in the eastern Pacific, North Indian Ocean, and Southern Hemisphere at Week 1 when compared to the seasonal climatology, indicating limited skill in predicting deviations from the seasonal cycle. We find strong modulations of the predicted TC genesis at up to 3 weeks of forecast lead time by the Madden-Julian Oscillation. The interannual variability of predicted TC genesis and accumulated cyclone energy are skillfully predicted in the North Atlantic and the Northwestern Pacific, with a strong modulation by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Nanometal-Interconnected Carbon Conductors (NICCS) for Advanced Electric Machines (RIT Final Technical Report)

Recent advancements in carbon nanotube (CNT) research have enabled lightweight, conductive wires as a transformative technology. Metal-carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid conductors aim to combine the high conductivity of traditional metals with the low mass and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of carbon nanotubes. The high conductivity of copper makes it a promising candidate to combine with CNTs in a hybrid structure, but there is limited physical and electrical interaction between copper and CNTs. The use of an interfacial layer offers one method of improving the interconnection of a Cu-CNT hybrid conductor. Over the course of this grant, a joule heating-driven chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique was developed to deposit nanometal seeds throughout a porous, low-density (0.12 g/cm 3 , ~10 tex or mg/m) CNT roving template. Modification of the applied current to the CNT roving allows for the tuning of depositions towards either hot-spot site-specificity or overall uniformity. The effects of temperature, pressure, precursor mass, and the interval of applied current were investigated, demonstrating nanometal depositions ranging from less than 5 % w/w to over 85 % w/w. The versatility of CVD allows for a wide variety of metals to be deposited including copper, titanium, nickel, silver, tungsten, palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, and iridium. One preferred demonstration involved using platinum depositions to improve the electrical properties of metal-seeded CNTs across all mass loadings studied. Moreover, when the metal-seeded CNT wires were electroplated with copper, densified, and annealed under hydrogen/argon; the result was a Cu-CNT hybrid conductor with the highest conductivities reported to date. The good interconnection of the metal and CNT portions results in a stable conductor. An electrical conductivity of 16-20 MS/m was achieved for multiple Cu-CNT hybrid conductors at 150 °C, which exceeds the program goal for conductivity of greater than 15 MS/m for a 1 m long CNT wire. Overall, the research outcomes from the project showed improvements in CNT wire fabrication from roll-to-roll CVD grown carbon nanotube wires using nanometal interconnects to bridge CNT-to-CNT junctions, thus mitigating network contact resistances. Advanced nanometal interconnected carbon conductors (NICCs) were developed as a means to achieve novel light-weight wiring appropriate for applications that require the conductivity of metallic (i.e., Cu, Al, etc.) wires at elevated temperatures. High conductivity, low TCR electrical conductors such as the nanometal interconnected Cu-CNT hybrids have numerous future applications towards high efficiency motors, generators, and transformers. Specifically, the advanced wires have the ability to operate at lower resistance during conditions for standard electric motors at 150 °C, which would improve the electrical efficiency while lowering energy needs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electron generation and multiplication at the initial stage of nanosecond breakdown in water

Electrical breakdown of liquid dielectrics under nanosecond pulsed high voltage has been investigated extensively in the last decade. Prior studies have focused on either experimental characterization of the breakdown process and discharge plasma or formulation/verification of the electrostrictive cavitation mechanism of the breakdown initiation. There remain knowledge gaps toward a clear physical picture of how the first plasma is generated in a region saturated by nanoscale cavities created by electrostrictive forces in inhomogeneous fields at the nanosecond timescale. Initial plasma results from the multiplication of primary electrons that gain energy collisionlessly in the cavities to cause collisional ionization of water molecules on the cavity walls. This paper quantitatively discusses the possible sources of primary electrons that seed the plasma discharge. Electron detachment from hydroxide is shown to be the most probable and sustainable electron source. Using numerical modeling, this study demonstrates the plausibility of an electron multiplication mechanism involving two neighboring cavities. The drift of hydrated electrons from one cavity to the next is the rate-limiting step and sets the minimum electric field requirement. Furthermore, this work will inform subsequent experimental studies and have implications in various applications such as plasma sources in biomedical applications, cavitation study, and insulation of pulsed power equipment.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Virus diversity and activity is driven by snowmelt and host dynamics in a high-altitude watershed soil ecosystem

Background: Viruses impact nearly all organisms on Earth, including microbial communities and their associated biogeochemical processes. In soils, highly diverse viral communities have been identified, with a global distribution seemingly driven by multiple biotic and abiotic factors, especially soil temperature and moisture. However, our current understanding of the stability of soil viral communities across time and their response to strong seasonal changes in environmental parameters remains limited. Here, we investigated the diversity and activity of environmental soil DNA and RNA viruses, focusing especially on bacteriophages, across dynamics’ seasonal changes in a snow-dominated mountainous watershed by examining paired metagenomes and metatranscriptomes. Results: We identified a large number of DNA and RNA viruses taxonomically divergent from existing environmental viruses, including a significant proportion of fungal RNA viruses, and a large and unsuspected diversity of positive single-stranded RNA phages ( Leviviricetes ), highlighting the under-characterization of the global soil virosphere. Among these, we were able to distinguish subsets of active DNA and RNA phages that changed across seasons, consistent with a “seed-bank” viral community structure in which new phage activity, for example, replication and host lysis, is sequentially triggered by changes in environmental conditions. At the population level, we further identified virus-host dynamics matching two existing ecological models: “Kill-The-Winner” which proposes that lytic phages are actively infecting abundant bacteria, and “Piggyback-The-Persistent” which argues that when the host is growing slowly, it is more beneficial to remain in a dormant state. The former was associated with summer months of high and rapid microbial activity, and the latter with winter months of limited and slow host growth. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that the high diversity of viruses in soils is likely associated with a broad range of host interaction types each adapted to specific host ecological strategies and environmental conditions. As our understanding of how environmental and host factors drive viral activity in soil ecosystems progresses, integrating these viral impacts in complex natural microbiome models will be key to accurately predict ecosystem biogeochemistry.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗