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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 1,117 records · Page 62
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Process-based modeling of soil nitrous oxide emissions from United States corn fields under different management and climate scenarios coupled with evaluation using regional estimates

Direct emissions of soil nitrous oxide during a growing season (N 2 O gs ) can be quantified with process-based models considering interactions between management, climate, and soil moisture when key data are available. We used an adapted “parameterized CENTURY/DAYCENT-model” ( p CENTURY) calibrated with crop growth and soil organic matter decay coefficients at the county-level for the estimation of N 2 O gs in the United States Corn Belt. Model estimated N 2 O-emissions from corn-based biofuels scenarios considering crop rotation, fertilizer inputs, tillage, and weather were compared against meta-summary of field observations from 55 studies. Both model and meta-summary ranked N 2 O gs -emissions to be corn > wheat > soybean phase while model likely underestimated cover crop N 2 O gs -emissions. The N 2 O gs -emissions and the associated emission factors (EFs) were modeled and summarized to be greater after anhydrous ammonia than urea application and from conventional tilled than non-tilled fields. Modeled and observed N 2 O gs -emissions after organic and inorganic fertilizer amendment did not differ due to high variability associated with the treatments. However, the organic fertilizer associated EFs were greater according to meta-summary data because of N input rates. Regionalized weather scenarios indicate hotspots for N 2 O gs -emissions can occur where crop N uptake is limited during dry years and in eastern states also during normal or wet seasons. The p CENTURY-derived N 2 O gs EFs (0.91 ± 0.19%) for counties investigated were only slightly lower than literature (1.07 ± 0.57%) or Tier-1 (1%) values. Our preliminary evaluation of regional soil moisture estimates showed reasonable agreement between monthly soil moisture estimates and the North American Soil Moisture Dataset during the growing season, but overestimation of soil moisture in winter-spring can influence the estimates of annual N 2 O emissions so future work is needed to calibrate soil moisture-associated model parameters. Our work provided scenario-based estimates of climate and management impacts on soil N 2 O gs -emissions together with valuable spatial insights into EFs that will be improved by more accurate information of fertilizer inputs and more temporally refined model evaluation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Combination of the W boson polarization measurements in top quark decays using ATLAS and CMS data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV

The combination of measurements of the W boson polarization in top quark decays performed by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations is presented. The measurements are based on proton-proton collision data produced at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 20 fb$^{−1}$ for each experiment. The measurements used events containing one lepton and having different jet multiplicities in the final state. The results are quoted as fractions of W bosons with longitudinal (F$_{0}$), left-handed (F$_{L}$), or right-handed (F$_{R}$) polarizations. The resulting combined measurements of the polarization fractions are F$_{0}$ = 0.693 ± 0.014 and F$_{L}$ = 0.315 ± 0.011. The fraction F$_{R}$ is calculated from the unitarity constraint to be F$_{R}$ = −0.008 ± 0.007. These results are in agreement with the standard model predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics and represent an improvement in precision of 25 (29)% for F$_{0}$ (F$_{L}$) with respect to the most precise single measurement. A limit on anomalous right-handed vector (V$_{R}$), and left- and right-handed tensor (g$_{L}$, g$_{R}$) tWb couplings is set while fixing all others to their standard model values. The allowed regions are [−0.11, 0.16] for V$_{R}$, [−0.08, 0.05] for g$_{L}$, and [−0.04, 0.02] for g$_{R}$, at 95% confidence level. Limits on the corresponding Wilson coefficients are also derived.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

A continuous analogue of the tensor-train decomposition

We develop new approximation algorithms and data structures for representing and computing with multivariate functions using the functional tensor-train (FT), a continuous extension of the tensor-train (TT) decomposition. The FT represents functions using a tensor-train ansatz by replacing the three-dimensional TT cores with univariate matrix-valued functions. The main contribution of this paper is a framework to compute the FT that employs adaptive approximations of univariate fibers, and that is not connected to any tensorized discretization. The algorithm can be coupled with any univariate linear or nonlinear approximation procedure. We demonstrate that this approach can generate multivariate function approximations that are several orders of magnitude more accurate, for the same cost, than those based on the conventional approach of compressing the coefficient tensor of a tensor-product basis. Our approach is in the spirit of other continuous computation packages such as Chebfun, and yields an algorithm which requires the computation of “continuous” matrix factorizations such as the LU and QR decompositions of vector-valued functions. To support these developments, we describe continuous versions of an approximate maximum-volume cross approximation algorithm and of a rounding algorithm that re-approximates an FT by one of lower ranks. We demonstrate that our technique improves accuracy and robustness, compared to TT and quantics-TT approaches with fixed parameterizations, of high-dimensional integration, differentiation, and approximation of functions with local features such as discontinuities and other nonlinearities.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

A comprehensive numerical investigation on spray models for Direct-Injection Spark-Ignition engines

Gasoline direct-injection spark-ignition (DISI) engines generate a large portion of their unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) and soot emissions during the cold-start phase. A predictive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling framework can be used to understand the physical processes that characterize fuel spray evolution and fuel-film formation at cold start conditions, which can help to reduce engine-out particulate emissions. This study systematically evaluated spray submodels and developed a set of simulation best practices for physical-numerical submodels with the goal of enabling accurate simulations of liquid spray behavior in a DISI engine. Three comprehensive experimental datasets containing free-spray projected liquid volume (PLV), liquid volume fraction (LVF), and near-field X-ray radiography data were used to validate the simulation results and evaluate the spray submodels. Systematic analysis delved into injected parcel distribution, droplet collision, spray breakup, and evaporation via a detailed assessment of the relevant spray submodels. Moreover, the effects of turbulence models and the initial turbulent flow properties on the liquid spray evolution were examined. Based on extensive calibration efforts, a set of simulation best practices for the free spray was developed and validated against the PLV/LVF data. Simulation results indicated that the uniform distribution for parcel initialization, coupled with appropriate droplet collision submodels, provides an improved spray morphology compared to the cluster distribution. The findings also underscored the importance of calibrating the Kelvin-Helmholtz Rayleigh-Taylor (KH-RT) breakup model constants and droplet heat transfer coefficient scaling factor to achieve favorable agreement regarding measured liquid penetration and spray widths. In conclusion, this study marks a substantial stride towards accurately predicting fuel film evolution and soot formation within DISI engine performance.

ECN Spray G↗
DOE OSTI2022

Atmospheric Brown Carbon on the Tibetan Plateau: Regional Differences in Chemical Composition and Light Absorption Properties

In this work, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) filter samples were collected from two high-altitude remote sites located in the southern (QOMS) and northern (WLG) regions of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) to explore the regional differences in brown carbon (BrC) properties. Chemical differences in BrC composition representative of these two areas were inferred from molecular-level analysis of the PM 2.5 samples using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array and high-resolution mass spectrometry detectors. The results show that more polar BrC chromophores were abundant in QOMS samples, while contributions from polar and less polar chromophores were comparable in WLG samples. A higher mass absorption coefficient of BrC was observed at QOMS than at WLG. Strong BrC chromophores in QOMS samples were identified as oxygenated aromatics and nitrophenol compounds, while organosulfate compounds were found in the WLG sample. The results of this study indicate regional differences in BrC chromophores and provide insights into their sources and chemical processes, which should be considered for predictive understanding and modeling of the radiative forcing of aerosol in the TP area.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Incorporating the Acclimation of Photosynthesis and Leaf Respiration in the Noah‐MP Land Surface Model: Model Development and Evaluation

Abstract Realistic simulation of leaf photosynthetic and respiratory processes is needed for accurate prediction of the global carbon cycle. These two processes systematically acclimate to long‐term environmental changes by adjusting photosynthetic and respiratory traits (e.g., the maximum photosynthetic capacity at 25°C ( V cmax,25 ) and the leaf respiration rate at 25°C ( R 25 )) following increasingly well‐understood principles. While some land surface models (LSMs) now account for thermal acclimation, they do so by assigning empirical parameterizations for individual plant functional types (PFTs). Here, we have implemented an Eco‐Evolutionary Optimality (EEO)‐based scheme to represent the universal acclimation of photosynthesis and leaf respiration to multiple environmental effects, and that therefore requires no PFT‐specific parameterizations, in a standard version of the widely used LSM, Noah MP. We evaluated model performance with plant trait data from a 5‐year experiment and extensive global field measurements, and carbon flux measurements from FLUXNET2015. We show that observed R 25 and V cmax,25 vary substantially both temporally and spatially within the same PFT ( C.V. >20%). Our EEO‐based scheme captures 62% of the temporal and 70% of the spatial variations in V cmax,25 (73% and 54% of the variations in R 25 ). The standard scheme underestimates gross primary production by 10% versus 2% for the EEO‐based scheme and generates a larger spread in r (correlation coefficient) across flux sites (0.79 ± 0.16 vs. 0.84 ± 0.1, mean ± S.D.). The standard scheme greatly overestimates canopy respiration (bias: ∼200% vs. 8% for the EEO scheme), resulting in less CO 2 uptake by terrestrial ecosystems. Our approach thus simulates climate‐carbon coupling more realistically, with fewer parameters.

Ren, Yanghang [Department of Earth System Science ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Temperature dependence of the energy bandgap of multi-layer hexagonal boron nitride

The temperature dependence of the energy bandgap of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has been probed via photoluminescence emission characteristics of a donor-to-acceptor pair transition in a 20-layer h-BN epilayer. The results indicate that the universal behavior of bandgap decreasing with temperature is absent in multi-layer h-BN. Below 100 K, the bandgap energy variation with temperature, E g vs. T, is dominated by the electron-phonon coupling and conforms to the common behavior of redshift with an increase in temperature. At T > 100 K, the bandgap shows an unusual blueshift with temperature, which can be attributed to the unique behavior of the in-plane thermal expansion coefficient of h-BN that becomes negative above around 60 K. Although both graphite and h-BN have negative thermal expansion coefficients in a broad temperature range, graphite has a zero energy bandgap, which makes h-BN a unique semiconductor to exhibit this unusual temperature dependence of the energy bandgap.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fluctuation-enhanced electric conductivity in electrolyte solutions

Significance Using fluctuating hydrodynamics, we demonstrate that thermal fluctuations contribute to charge transport in binary electrolyte solutions. We show the existence of an enhancement, or renormalization, of the electric conductivity due to the coupling between fluctuations of charge and fluid velocity. This coupling results in nontrivial corrections to the classical Poisson–Nernst–Planck equations, which are of the order of the square root of the salt concentration and therefore significant even for dilute solutions. Our calculations predict a cation–anion cross-diffusion coefficient that is in quantitative agreement with experimental measurements. Our findings have important implications for the fields of both mesoscale hydrodynamics and electrolyte transport.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1981

Effects of mistuning on blade torsional flutter

An analytical model for the prediction of fan blade flutter is presented and evaluated using data from NASA tests on an advanced high performance engine. For the cascade conditions appropriate to the test points studied, the aerodynamic theory cannot predict subcritical flutter. Under the assumptions of a tuned assembly, the imaginary part of the aerodynamic coefficients does indicate flutter for a limited number of interblade phase angles, but these interblade phase angles are close to those at which the acoustic resonance is predicted. Upon using the individual blade frequencies and solving the mistuned system with aerodynamic coupling only, the results show a stable system. Eigenvectors calculated for the mistuned system demonstrate the presence of several harmonics in each mistuned mode. Inclusion of both mechanical and aerodynamic coupling in the solution of the eigenproblem influences not only the frequencies but also damping in the system with a trend toward stability.

Srinivasan, A. V.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Properties data for opening the Galileo's partially unfurled main antenna

An investigation was conducted into the friction and wear behavior of both unlubricated and dry-film-lubricated (Tiolube 460) titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) in contact with an uncoated high-nickel-content superalloy (Inconel 718) both in vacuum and in air. The acquisition of friction and wear data for this sliding couple was motivated by the need for input data for the 'antenna stuck ribs model' effort to free Galileo's High Gain Antenna. The results of the investigation indicate that galling occurred in the unlubricated system in vacuum and that the coefficient of friction increased to 1.2. The abnormally high friction (1.45) was observed when relatively large wear debris clogged at the sliding interface. The coefficient of friction for the dry-film-lubricated system in vacuum is 0.04, while the value in air is 0.13. The endurance life of the dry-film lubricant is about three orders of magnitude greater in vacuum than in air. The worn surfaces of the dry-film-lubricated Ti-6Al-4V pin and Inconel 718 disk first run in humid air and then rerun in vacuum was completely different from that of the pin and disk run only in vacuum. When galling occurred in the humid-air and vacuum contact, coefficient of friction rose to 0.32 when sliding in humid air and to 1.4 when sliding in vacuum. The galling was accompanied by severe surface damage and extensive transfer of the Ti-6Al-4V to the Inconel 718, or vice versa. When spalling occurred in the dry-film-lubricated Ti-6Al-4V pin run only in vacuum, the coefficient of friction rose to 0.36 or greater. The wear damage caused by spalling can self-heal when rerun in vacuum - the coefficient of friction decreased to 0.05. The friction and wear data obtained can be used for the 'antenna stuck ribs model' effort to free Galileo's high gain antenna.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗
NASA NTRS1991

Heterogeneous reactions of chlorine nitrate and hydrogen chloride on type I polar stratospheric clouds

A fast-flow reactor coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to study the heterogeneous reactions ClONO2 + HCl yields Cl2 + HNO3 (1) and ClONO2 + H2O yields HOCl + HNO3 (2) on vapor-deposited HNO3-H2O ice substrates. It was found that the sticking coefficient of HCl on these substrates was a strong function of the substrate composition, ranging from about 2 x 10 exp -5 at nitric acid trihydrate composition to 6 x 10 exp -3 at 45 wt pct HNO3. The HNO3-H2O ice substrates were found to have large internal surface areas, and corrections for gas-phase diffusion within the porous ices were applied to observed loss rates.

Leu, Ming-Taun↗
NASA NTRS2013

Analysis of the Impedance Resonance of Piezoelectric Multi-Fiber Composite Stacks

Multi-Fiber CompositesTM (MFC's) produced by Smart Materials Corp behave essentially like thin planar stacks where each piezoelectric layer is composed of a multitude of fibers. We investigate the suitability of using previously published inversion techniques for the impedance resonances of monolithic co-fired piezoelectric stacks to the MFCTM to determine the complex material constants from the impedance data. The impedance equations examined in this paper are those based on the derivation. The utility of resonance techniques to invert the impedance data to determine the small signal complex material constants are presented for a series of MFC's. The technique was applied to actuators with different geometries and the real coefficients were determined to be similar within changes of the boundary conditions due to change of geometry. The scatter in the imaginary coefficient was found to be larger. The technique was also applied to the same actuator type but manufactured in different batches with some design changes in the non active portion of the actuator and differences in the dielectric and the electromechanical coupling between the two batches were easily measureable. It is interesting to note that strain predicted by small signal impedance analysis is much lower than high field stains. Since the model is based on material properties rather than circuit constants, it could be used for the direct evaluation of specific aging or degradation mechanisms in the actuator as well as batch sorting and adjustment of manufacturing processes.

Multi-fiber composites↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Impacts of aerosol size-dependent below-cloud scavenging on tropospheric aerosol in the NASA GEOS model

Wet deposition is the major sink for a suite of tropospheric aerosols, and thus largely affects the global distribution and lifetime of aerosols as well as the formation of clouds in the atmosphere. In this study, we implement the aerosol size-dependent below-cloud scavenging (BCS; washout) parameterization of Croft et al. (Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2009; hereafter referred to as C09) in the GOCART bulk aerosol scheme coupled with the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model, and evaluate the simulated tropospheric aerosols against surface, airborne, and satellite observations. The current below-cloud scavenging in GOCART employs a first-order removal function with a constant scavenging coefficient that is independent of aerosol sizes and precipitation fluxes. The C09 BCS parameterization instead calculates aerosol below-cloud scavenging coefficients based on a size-dependent collision efficiency between aerosol particles and raindrops (or snow crystals). A look-up table of compiled collision efficiencies provides scavenging coefficients for sixty aerosol sizes and nine rain flux rates. We determine instantaneous coefficients according to the C09 BCS look-up table, precipitation fluxes, and a log-normal size distribution of aerosols. The implemented BCS parameterization tends to result in a large diversity of scavenging coefficient values with higher magnitudes, leading to more efficient scavenging. The model-simulated global mean tropospheric Pb-210 aerosol lifetime decreases from 7.4 days to 5.8 days. The separate consideration of rain and snow conditions in the scavenging coefficient lookup table leads to a bi-mode distribution of scavenging coefficients. These changes also cause increased mass fractions of smaller aerosols compared to the current simulation. We examine the impacts of the C09 BCS parameterization on the simulated aerosol vertical profiles, tropospheric lifetimes, and deposition fluxes through comparisons with NASA aircraft measurements (ATom), surface observations of aerosol concentrations (IMPROVE) and wet deposition fluxes (NADP and APQMP), and MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals.

Aerosols↗
DOE OSTI2018

A multi-prong approach towards the development of high performance Temperature sensor using MWCNTs/Al2O3 composite film

Highlights: • MWCNTs/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite based self-standing highly sensitive temperature sensor. • Optimization of film thickness to achieve best performance of the device. • Effect of carrier drift under strong electron-phonon coupling is examined. • Non-contact measurements reveal possibilities of ambient environment monitoring. • Highly stable and reproducible response bidding commercial scale production. - Abstract: We report fabrication of high-performance temperature sensor from free-standing MWCNTs/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite film where a multi-prong approach was undertaken to enhance sensor performance. Film thickness was varied until a threshold value was reached by playing surface-area to volume-ratio factor leading to enormous improvements in crucial sensor parameters–temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and thermal hysteresis. Increased TCR resulted in high sensitivity, ultrafast response and negligible hysteresis loss. Besides, effect of carrier-drift transport under strong electron-phonon scattering is investigated by permutation of channel-length and external DC bias. Observed TCR value is −0.96%/°C for 16.53 μm thick film, at 2 V applied-bias voltage for 1 mm channel-length. Moreover, the sensor exhibited negligible hysteresis loss along-with response and recovery times of ∼40 s and ∼185 s respectively. Non-contact mode temperature measurements also demonstrated excellent performance. Fabricated sensors exhibited good stability and negligible drift for six-months. These studies are significant towards fabricating simple, highly-sensitive, economic heat sensor with high reproducibility.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

An adaptive least-squares global sensitivity method and application to a plasma-coupled combustion prediction with parametric correlation

We introduce an efficient non-intrusive surrogate-based methodology for global sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification. Modified covariance-based sensitivity indices (mCov-SI) are defined for outputs that reflect correlated effects. The overall approach is applied to simulations of a complex plasma-coupled combustion system with disparate uncertain parameters in sub-models for chemical kinetics and a laser-induced breakdown ignition seed. The surrogate is based on an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) expansion, such as widely used in statistics, with orthogonal polynomials representing the ANOVA subspaces and a polynomial dimensional decomposition (PDD) representing its multi-dimensional components. The coefficients of the PDD expansion are obtained using a least-squares regression, which both avoids the direct computation of high-dimensional integrals and affords an attractive flexibility in choosing sampling points. This facilitates importance sampling using a Bayesian calibrated posterior distribution, which is fast and thus particularly advantageous in common practical cases, such as our large-scale demonstration, for which the asymptotic convergence properties of polynomial expansions cannot be realized due to computation expense. Effort, instead, is focused on efficient finite-resolution sampling. Standard covariance-based sensitivity indices (Cov-SI) are employed to account for correlation of the uncertain parameters. Magnitude of Cov-SI is unfortunately unbounded, which can produce extremely large indices that limit their utility. Alternatively, mCov-SI are then proposed in order to bound this magnitude $\in$ [0, 1]. The polynomial expansion is coupled with an adaptive ANOVA strategy to provide an accurate surrogate as the union of several low-dimensional spaces, avoiding the typical computational cost of a high-dimensional expansion. It is also adaptively simplified according to the relative contribution of the different polynomials to the total variance. Finally, the approach is demonstrated for a laser-induced turbulent combustion simulation model, which includes parameters with correlated effects.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Enhanced relaxed physical factorization preconditioner for coupled poromechanics

The relaxed physical factorization (RPF) preconditioner is a recent algorithm allowing for the efficient and robust solution to the block linear systems arising from the three-field displacement-velocity-pressure formulation of coupled poromechanics. For its application, however, it is necessary to invert blocks with the algebraic form C^ = (C + βFF T ), where C is a symmetric positive definite matrix, FF T a rank-deficient term, and β a real non-negative coefficient. The inversion of C^, performed in an inexact way, can become unstable for large values of β, as it usually occurs at some stages of a full poromechanical simulation. In this work, we propose a family of algebraic techniques to stabilize the inexact solve with C^. This strategy can prove useful in other problems as well where such an issue might arise, such as augmented Lagrangian preconditioning techniques for Navier-Stokes or incompressible elasticity. First, we introduce an iterative scheme obtained by a natural splitting of matrix C^. Second, we develop a technique based on the use of a proper projection operator annihilating the near-kernel modes of C^. Both approaches give rise to a novel class of preconditioners denoted as Enhanced RPF (ERPF). Furthermore, effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithms are demonstrated in both theoretical benchmarks and real-world large-size applications, outperforming the native RPF preconditioner.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigating Electron Conductivity Regimes in the Bacterial Cytochrome Wire OmcS

The anaerobic bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens produces extracellular, electronically conductive cytochrome polymer wires that are conductive over micron length scales. Structure models from cryo-electron microscopy data show OmcS wires form a linear chain of hemes along the protein wire axis, which is proposed as the structural basis supporting their electronic properties. However, the mechanism by which this heme arrangement supports long-range electronic conduction remains unknown. Structure models from cryo-electron microscopy data show these wires form a linear chain of hemes along the protein wire axis, which is proposed as the structural basis supporting their electronic properties. Existing computational models using static heme redox potentials and coupling energies fail to explain experimental observations, predicting conductances 10,000 to 100,000 times lower than measured values. Here, we investigate how dynamic disorder affects site energies, interheme coupling, and long-range electronic conductivity within these cytochrome wires. We introduce an approach to extract charge carrier site information directly from Kohn–Sham density functional theory, without employing projector schemes, and show that site and coupling energies are highly sensitive to changes in interheme geometry and the surrounding electrostatic environment. Unlike models that incorporate dynamic disorder as a thermally averaged quantity, our quantum charge carrier model incorporates proxies for dynamic disorder through decoherence corrections, yielding predicted diffusion coefficient closer to what is expected from experiment and comparable with other organic-based electronic materials. Based on these simulations, we propose that the instantaneous fluctuations of the local electrostatic environment can transiently lift energy degeneracies and delocalize charge carriers. Furthermore, these studies reveal how incorporating dynamic fluctuations associated with the environment resolves the discrepancy between theory and experiment in microbial cytochrome wires and highlight design principles for bioinspired, heme-based conductive materials.

Bioinorganic chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2017

Transport modeling of convection dominated helicon discharges in Proto-MPEX with the B2.5-Eirene code

Data-constrained interpretative analyses of plasma transport in convection dominated helicon discharges in the Proto-MPEX linear device, and predictive calculations with additional Electron Cyclotron Heating/Electron Bernstein Wave (ECH/EBW) heating, are reported. The B2.5-Eirene code, in which the multi-fluid plasma code B2.5 is coupled to the kinetic Monte Carlo neutrals code Eirene, is used to fit double Langmuir probe measurements and fast camera data in front of a stainless-steel target. The absorbed helicon and ECH power (11 kW) and spatially constant anomalous transport coefficients that are deduced from fitting of the probe and optical data are additionally used for predictive simulations of complete axial distributions of the densities, temperatures, plasma flow velocities, particle and energy fluxes, and possible effects of alternate fueling and pumping scenarios. The somewhat hollow electron density and temperature radial profiles from the probe data suggest that Trivelpiece-Gould wave absorption is the dominant helicon electron heating source in the discharges analyzed here. There is no external ion heating, but the corresponding calculated ion temperature radial profile is not hollow. Rather it reflects ion heating by the electron-ion equilibration terms in the energy balance equations and ion radial transport resulting from the hollow density profile. With the absorbed power and the transport model deduced from fitting the sheath limited discharge data, calculated conduction limited higher recycling conditions were produced by reducing the pumping and increasing the gas fueling rate, resulting in an approximate doubling of the target ion flux and reduction of the target heat flux.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗