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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Radio–X-ray synergy to discover and study jetted tidal disruption events

Observational consequences of tidal disruption of stars by supermassive black holes (SMBHs) can enable us to discover quiescent SMBHs, constrain their mass function, and study the formation and evolution of transient accretion disks and jet formation. A couple of jetted tidal disruption events (TDEs) have been recently claimed in hard X-rays, challenging jet models, which were previously applied to γ-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. It is therefore of paramount importance to increase the current sample. In this paper, we find that the best strategy is not to use upcoming X-ray instruments alone, which will yield between several (eRosita) and a couple of hundred (Einstein Probe) events per year below redshift one. We rather claim that a more efficient TDE hunter will be the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) operating in survey mode at 1.4 GHz. It may detect up to several hundred events per year below z ∼ 2.5 with a peak rate of a few tens per year at z ≈ 0.5. Therefore, even if the jet production efficiency is not 100% as assumed here, the predicted rates should be large enough to allow for statistical studies. The characteristic TDE decay of t{sup −5/3}, however, is not seen in radio, whose flux emission is quite featureless. Identification therefore requires localization and prompt repointing by higher energy instruments. If radio candidates would be repointed within a day by future X-ray observatories (e.g., Athena- and LOFT-like missions), it will be possible to detect up to ≈400 X-ray counterparts, almost up to redshift 2. The shortcoming is that only for redshift below ≈0.4 will the trigger times be less than 10 days from the explosion. In this regard the X-ray surveys are better suited to probe the beginning of the flare, and are therefore complementary to SKA.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Time resolved surface photovoltage measurements using a big data capture approach to KPFM

Optoelectronic behavior in materials such as organic/inorganic hybrid perovskites depend on a complex interplay between fast (electronic) and slower (ionic) processes. These processes are thought to be influenced by structural inhomogeneities (e.g. interfaces and grain boundaries) bringing forward the necessity for development of techniques capable of correlating nanostructure and photo-transport behavior. While Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is ideally suited to map surface potentials on relevant length scales, it lacks sufficient temporal resolution to extract the meaningful system dynamics. Here, we develop a time resolved surface photovoltage (SPV) measurement based on full information capture of the photodetector stream during open loop KPFM operation. G-Mode, or G-KPFM allows quantification of SPV with microsecond temporal and nanoscale spatial resolution. Using this technique, we observe concurrent spatial and fast temporal variations in the SPV generated across a methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) thin film, a possible indicator relating microstructure with heterogenous photo-transport behavior. Here, we further demonstrate the advantage of adopting big data analytics including unsupervised clustering methods to quickly discern spatial variability in the information rich SPV dataset. Beyond G-KPFM, such clustering methods will be useful for interpretation of the multidimensional datasets arising from the growing number of time resolved KPFM approaches now available.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Role of 3D neoclassical particle flux in density pump-out during ELM control by RMP in DIII-D

Application of three-dimensional (3-D) resonant magnetic perturbations, for the purpose of controlling edge localized modes (ELMs) in high confinement (H-mode) tokamak fusion operations, routinely leads to significantly reduction of the plasma density during the discharge, a phenomenon termed 'density pump-out'. Understanding the density pump-out phenomenon due to 3-D fields is a longstanding challenging issue. This work discusses a self-consistent toroidal model that allows initial value simulation of the density pump-out effect. The model successfully reproduces pump-out phenomenology in DIII-D ELM suppression experiments. The radial particle flux, associated with the 3-D neoclassical effects (the neoclassical toroidal viscosity, NTV), is discovered to play an important role in producing the observed large density pump- out. The key physics is associated with the drift kinetic Landau resonances between the toroidal precession of trapped thermal ions and electrons from one side, and the magnetic field perturbation from the other side. Such resonances, occurring near the top of the pedestal region, substantially enhances the radial particle flux associated with NTV. As a general consequence of the resonant NTV flux, larger density pump- out occurs in plasmas with lower collisionality and slower toroidal rotation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Characterization of the DUNE photodetectors and study of the event burst phenomenon

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is an upcoming neutrino physics experiment that will answer some of the most compelling questions in particle physics and cosmology. The DUNE far detectors employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) to detect light produced by charged particles interacting in a large liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). The SiPMs are photosensors consisting of an array of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) operating in Geiger mode. Their high sensitivity and dynamic range, as well as the possibility to fill large surfaces with high-granularity sensors, makes them an ideal choice for DUNE. An international consortium of research groups is currently engaged in a systematic comparison of the performances of the SiPM models that have been custom developed for DUNE by two manufacturers. Such detailed studies, which include gain measurements and a structure study of the dark count rate at 77 K, are meant to determine the best choice of the photodetection system for DUNE, as well as characterize the response of the chosen detectors for the DUNE simulation. Moreover, an investigation of a newly observed phenomenon, in which quick bursts of tens of events at close range are collected in individual SiPMs, is being carried out, which potentially impacts the design of future models and their implementation in particle physics experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

Comparison of measurement and simulation of ATLAS cavern radiation background

Sixteen Medipix2 pixel detector based (MPX) devices were operated at various positions within the ATLAS detector and cavern continuously from early 2008 up to 2013. In addition to photons, each MPX detector is capable to detect charged particles, and neutrons as it is covered with a mask of converter materials dividing its area into regions sensitive to thermal or fast neutrons. The MPX detector network was effectively used for real-time measurements of the spectral characteristics and composition of complex radiation fields in ATLAS. This article reports comparison of the results of measurements performed with MPX detectors during the LHC operation period in 2010 and 2011 with Monte Carlo simulations results from the FLUGG and GCALOR codes. For the purpose of this comparison, the MPX detectors were operated in tracking mode with low threshold (8–10 keV) allowing one to distinguish among particle categories based on the recognition of track patterns left by the particles in the MPX sensitive layer. The comparison of measurements with simulations shows that the agreement between measured and simulated data is satisfactory in most cases within a factor of two.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fermionic systems for quantum information people

The operator algebra of fermionic modes is isomorphic to that of qubits, the difference between them is twofold: the embedding of subalgebras corresponding to mode subsets and multiqubit subsystems on the one hand, and the parity superselection in the fermionic case on the other. We discuss these two fundamental differences extensively, and illustrate these through the Jordan–Wigner representation in a coherent, self-contained, pedagogical way, from the point of view of quantum information theory. Our perspective leads us to develop useful new tools for the treatment of fermionic systems, such as the fermionic (quasi-)tensor product, fermionic canonical embedding, fermionic partial trace, fermionic products of maps and fermionic embeddings of maps. We formulate these by direct, easily applicable formulas, without mode permutations, for arbitrary partitionings of the modes. It is also shown that fermionic reduced states can be calculated by the fermionic partial trace, containing the proper phase factors. We also consider variants of the notions of fermionic mode correlation and entanglement, which can be endowed with the usual, local operation based motivation, if the parity superselection rule is imposed. We also elucidate some other fundamental points, related to joint map extensions, which make the parity superselection inevitable in the description of fermionic systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Design, construction and commissioning of the proximity cryogenics systems serving two large-scale prototypes of the future DUNE neutrino detector

In the context of the Neutrino Platform, CERN has designed, constructed, and commissioned the proximity cryogenics systems that serve two CERN based large-scale prototypes of future neutrino detectors. Each of these prototypes features a high voltage time projection chamber placed inside a membrane cryostat being submerged in 600m3 of liquid argon at about 1.0 bar. A copper and molecular sieve based cryogenic purification system has to ensure that the argon in the cryostat has a contamination level below 100 ppt oxygen equivalent. The two proximity cryogenics systems provide the purging, cool-down, filling, normal operation and emptying modes for each cryostat. This paper reports on the design, construction and commissioning of the ProtoDUNE proximity cryogenics facilities.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Identification of two mechanisms for current production in a biharmonic flashing electron ratchet

Ratchets rectify the motion of randomly moving particles, which are driven by isotropic sources of energy such as thermal and chemical energy, without applying a net, time-averaged force between source and drain. We describe the behavior of a damped electron, modeled by a quantum Lindblad master equation, within a flashing ratchet (a one-dimensional potential that oscillates between a flat surface and a periodic asymmetric surface). By investigating the complete space of all biharmonic potential shapes and a large range of oscillation frequencies, two modes of ratchet operation, differentiated by their oscillation frequencies (relative to the rate of electron relaxation), are identified. Slow-oscillating, strong friction ratchets operate by a classical, overdamped mechanism. In fast-oscillating, weak friction ratchets, current is primarily produced when the frequency of the oscillating potential is resonant with the beating of the electron wave function in the potential well. The shape of the ratchet potential determines the direction of the current (and, in some cases, straightforwardly accounts for current reversals), but the maximum achievable current at any shape is controlled by the degree of friction applied to the electron.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Using a Grid-Forming Inverter to Stabilize a Low-Inertia Power System - Maui Hawaiian Island

As power systems around the world integrate greater amounts of wind and solar photovoltaic power, periods of very high instantaneous power shares of inverters, the primary interfacing technology for these generation sources, are complicating system stability and control. The contemporary, primary mode of inverter operation, grid-following, which explicitly assumes the presence of a local, stable voltage waveform, yields operational inadequacy at high instantaneous power shares potentially leading to instability due to the low-inertia conditions, as well as the correlated reduced voltage forming capacity on the respective system. Parallel connected grid-forming inverters, which directly regulate the local voltage, are a solution that is expected to bolster system stability and mitigate the shortcomings of the grid-following technology. In this paper, grid-following and two types of grid-forming inverter control, the traditional linear droop and the recently introduced nonlinear exponential droop (Droop-e), are simulated on a low-inertia, H = 0.48s, high inverter-based resource scenario, 97%, with a validated electromagentic transient domain model of the Hawaiian island of Maui power system. The benefit of a single grid-forming device over its grid-following counterpart is significant, both in terms frequency deviation and voltage stability. Further, the superiority of the Droop-e and the associated secondary power sharing control over both grid-following and linear droop grid-forming technologies is displayed, with improved nadir and rate of change of frequency over the linear droop control.

droop control↗
DOE OSTI2020

Comparison of simulated and experimentally measured detector impulse responses to pulsed x-rays

The Gamma Array Simulation Toolkit (GAST) is a multi-physics software stack comprised of Geant4, MATLAB, and experimentally measured photomultiplier tube (PMT) impulse response waveforms that is used to model and inform the end-toend performance of radiation detector systems. In order to validate the ability of GAST to predict the impulse response of a modeled detector configuration operated in current mode, experimental measurements using the Nevada National Security Site Transformational Diagnostics and Imaging 2 MeV endpoint energy electron linear accelerator (linac) with a tungsten target were performed. Seven different detector configurations consisting of unique combinations of scintillator material, size, reflectivity conditions, presence or absence of light guide, and PMT were evaluated. The resultant impulse response of each detector configuration was recorded and compared to a GAST simulation that emulated the respective linac experiment conditions. The comparison of the experimental and simulated detector impulse responses indicated that GAST can reliably predict detector impulse responses.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Distributed Load Sharing Under False Data Injection Attack in an Inverter-Based Microgrid

In microgrids, distributed load sharing plays an important role in maintaining the supply-demand balance of power. Because false data injection (FDI) is one of the crucial threats faced by future microgrids, the study of the impact of FDI on distributed load sharing is both of theoretical merit and practical value. Here, we consider the distributed load sharing problem of the microgrids operating in autonomous mode under FDI. Each bus is assumed to be equipped with an agent. Under a well-developed distributed load sharing protocol based on multiagent systems, we first construct an FDI attack model, where the attacker is capable of injecting false data into the bus agents. Finally, a utilization level is introduced for coordinating generators, and its variation is evaluated in the presence of FDI attacks with given injection strategies. The stable region of the microgrid is defined, and conditions are given to determine stability. In conclusion, theoretical results are validated on the Canadian urban distribution system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Deep Reinforcement Learning From Demonstrations to Assist Service Restoration in Islanded Microgrids

Microgrids can be operated in island mode during utility grid outages to support service restoration and improve system resilience. To schedule and dispatch distributed energy resources (DERs) in an islanded microgrid, conventional model-based methods rely on accurate distribution network models and lack generalization and adaptability. Data-driven methods are promising for DER coordination but face practical challenges such as potential hazards to microgrids during online training and insufficient online training opportunities due to low outage rates. This paper presents a novel two-stage learning framework that builds on the deep deterministic policy gradient from demonstrations to identify an optimal restoration strategy. At the pre-training stage, imitation learning is applied to equip the control agent with expert experiences to guarantee acceptable initial performance. At the online training stage, action clipping, reward shaping, and expert demonstrations are leveraged to ensure safe exploration while accelerating the training process. In conclusion, the proposed method is illustrated using the IEEE 123-node system and compared with a representative model-based method and the standard deep deterministic policy gradient method to prove solution accuracy and demonstrate increased computational efficiency.

Du, Yan↗
DOE OSTI2018

SiC MOSFET Based Modular Universal Power Electronics Regulator

A modular and scalable SiC MOSFET based universal power electronics regulator (UPER) allows coordinated integration of energy resources and loads, elimination of extra power conversion stages, and allowance of more sources or loads added with a simple plug and play feature. A comprehensive investigation has been conducted in term of the typical distributed generations and loads employed in buildings, in order to outline a detailed specification for UPER. Thus, a common DC bus voltage of 500 V and power rating of 3 kW are dedicatedly selected. The UPER hardware design and implementation are completely illustrated, including the static and dynamic characterization of the employed SiC MOSFET. The dedicated universal power cell and Plug-and-Play gate driver performs reliable continuous operation even exposed to an extreme fast switching speed (> 100 V/ns). The continuous operation of buck mode verified the UPER hardware development at 50 kHz with an overall efficiency of 98.19%. A new voltage polarity reversal phenomenon was also discovered in the verification of the isolated DAB stage with planar transformers.

Zheng, Sheng↗
DOE OSTI2018

In situ measurements of reactions in a glass-forming batch by X-ray and neutron diffraction

We report the batch materials used in glass production are often too coarse to allow phase evolution measurements by in situ high-temperature x-ray diffraction (HTXRD). Reducing the particle sizes to accommodate these measurements changes the reaction kinetics and can alter the reaction pathway. Unlike conventional laboratory XRD, which operates in reflection mode and analyzes the surface region of finely ground powder, neutron diffraction can be used to characterize as-received batch materials by means of an intense beam which penetrates through a bulk sample. In this study, the phase evolution in a glass-forming batch made with fine batch materials was probed in situ by both HTXRD and time-of-flight neutron diffraction to determine the similarities and differences between measurements by the two techniques. Therefore, the same composition, prepared using the coarser, as-received size distributions of the same batch materials, was studied by both techniques, demonstrating the unique capability of neutron diffraction to analyze material which is too coarse for the HTXRD, and to reveal the effect of the particle size distribution on the reaction kinetics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Sci—Fri PM: Dosimetry—02: A Nested Neutron Spectrometer to Measure Neutron Spectra in Radiotherapy

During high-energy radiotherapy treatments, neutrons are produced in the head of the linac through photonuclear interactions. This has been a concern for many years as photoneutrons contribute to the accepted, yet unwanted, out-of-field doses that pose an iatrogenic risk to patients and an occupational risk to personnel. Presently, in-room neutron measurements are difficult and time-consuming and have traditionally been carried out using Bonner spheres with activation foils and TLDs. In this work, a new detector, the Nested Neutron Spectrometer (NNS) is tested for use in radiotherapy bunkers. The NNS is designed for easy handling and is more practical than the traditional Bonner spheres. The NNS, operated in current mode, was used to measure the dose equivalent, average energy and energy spectrum at several positions in a radiotherapy bunker. The average energy and spectra were compared to Monte Carlo simulations while the dose equivalent was compared to bubble detector measurements. The average energies, as measured by the NNS and Monte Carlo simulations, differed by approximately 30% across the bunker. Measurements of the dose equivalent using the NNS and the bubble detectors agreed within 50% in the maze and less than 10% close to the linac head. Apart from some discrepancies at thermal energies, we also found reasonable agreement between NNS-measured and Monte Carlo-simulated spectra at a number of locations within our radiotherapy bunker. Our results demonstrate that the NNS is a suitable detector to be used in high dose-rate radiotherapy environments.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Registration of clinical volumes to beams-eye-view images for real-time tracking

Purpose: The authors combine the registration of 2D beam’s eye view (BEV) images and 3D planning computed tomography (CT) images, with relative, markerless tumor tracking to provide automatic absolute tracking of physician defined volumes such as the gross tumor volume (GTV). Methods: During treatment of lung SBRT cases, BEV images were continuously acquired with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) operating in cine mode. For absolute registration of physician-defined volumes, an intensity based 2D/3D registration to the planning CT was performed using the end-of-exhale (EoE) phase of the four dimensional computed tomography (4DCT). The volume was converted from Hounsfield units into electron density by a calibration curve and digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) were generated for each beam geometry. Using normalized cross correlation between the DRR and an EoE BEV image, the best in-plane rigid transformation was found. The transformation was applied to physician-defined contours in the planning CT, mapping them into the EPID image domain. A robust multiregion method of relative markerless lung tumor tracking quantified deviations from the EoE position. Results: The success of 2D/3D registration was demonstrated at the EoE breathing phase. By registering at this phase and then employing a separate technique for relative tracking, the authors are able to successfully track target volumes in the BEV images throughout the entire treatment delivery. Conclusions: Through the combination of EPID/4DCT registration and relative tracking, a necessary step toward the clinical implementation of BEV tracking has been completed. The knowledge of tumor volumes relative to the treatment field is important for future applications like real-time motion management, adaptive radiotherapy, and delivered dose calculations.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-P-15: Technique Factor Modulation and Reference Plane Air Kerma Rates in Response to Simulated Patient Thickness Variations for a Sample of Current Generation Fluoroscopes

Purpose: To evaluate and compare approaches to technique factor modulation and air kerma rates in response to simulated patient thickness variations for four state-of-the-art and one previous-generation interventional fluoroscopes. Methods: A polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom was used as a tissue surrogate for the purposes of determining fluoroscopic reference plane air kerma rates, kVp, mA, and spectral filtration over a wide range of simulated tissue thicknesses. Data were acquired for each fluoroscopic and acquisition dose curve within a default abdomen or body imaging protocol. Results: The data obtained indicated vendor- and model-specific variations in the approach to technique factor modulation and reference plane air kerma rates across a range of tissue thicknesses. Some vendors have made hardware advances increasing the radiation output capabilities of their fluoroscopes; this was evident in the acquisition air kerma rates. However, in the imaging protocol evaluated, all of the state-of-the-art systems had relatively low air kerma rates in the fluoroscopic low-dose imaging mode as compared to the previous-generation unit. Each of the newest-generation systems also employ copper filtration in the selected protocol in the acquisition mode of imaging; this is a substantial benefit, reducing the skin entrance dose to the patient in the highest dose-rate mode of fluoroscope operation. Conclusion: Understanding how fluoroscopic technique factors are modulated provides insight into the vendor-specific image acquisition approach and provides opportunities to optimize the imaging protocols for clinical practice. The enhanced radiation output capabilities of some of the fluoroscopes may, under specific conditions, may be beneficial; however, these higher output capabilities also have the potential to lead to unnecessarily high dose rates. Therefore, all parties involved in imaging, including the clinical team, medical physicists, and imaging vendors, must work together to ensure that adequate but not excessive radiation doses are used.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-511: Feasibility Study of Using Flattening-Filter-Free Photon Beams to Deliver Conventional Flat Beam

Purpose: Various dosimetric benefits such as increased dose rate, and reduced leakage and out of field dose has led to the growth of FFF technology in the clinic. In this study, we concentrate on investigating the feasibility of using flattening-filter-free (FFF) beams to deliver conventional flat beams (CFB), since completely getting rid of the flattening-filter module from the gantry head can not only simplify the gantry design but also decrease the workload on machine maintain and quality assurance. Methods: The sliding window based IMRT technique was utilized to generate the CFB from the FFF beam for various beam configurations on the Elekta Versa HD. The flat beam reproducibility and MU efficiency were compared for each beam configuration among FFF planning, delivery and CFB planning. Results: Compared to the CFB plan, the 3%3mm passing rates of the FFF beams from both measurement and plan are 100% and 95%(or better) for 15×15 cm{sup 2} or smaller field size and for any field size greater than 15×15 cm{sup 2}at 10 cm depth, respectively. The largest discrepancy is about 5% and typically appears at the field shoulder area. The MU increase average was 80% for FFF compared to CFB, however has a minimal impact on treatment delivery time. Conclusion: The ability to deliver conventional flat treatments is not absent when operating in FFF mode. With proper TPS manipulation and beam modulation, FFF mode can achieve reasonable flat profiles and comparable dose coverage as CFB does for various conventional treatment techniques, such as four field box, or long spine treatment techniques. The ability to deliver most clinical treatments from the same treatment unit, will allow for less quality assurance as well as maintenance, and completely eliminate the need for the flattening filter on modern linacs.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗