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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 1,225 records · Page 68

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NASA NTRS1998

Quantitative Interferometry in the Severe Acoustic Environment of Resonant Supersonic Jets

There is renewed interest in the study of supersonic jets due to advances in high speed jet propulsion, supersonic combustion, and jet noise suppression for the next generation supersonic commercial transport. Understanding fundamental fluid dynamic and acoustic processes for these applications requires quantitative velocity, density and temperature measurements. In this paper we present data demonstrating a new, robust interferometer that can provide accurate data even in the presence of intense acoustic fields. This novel interferometer, the Liquid Crystal Point Diffraction Interferometer (LCPDI), was developed earlier for space flight experiments and is applied here to the case of a supersonic shock-containing jet. The LCPDI is briefly described, then integrated line-of-sight density data from the LCPDI for two underexpanded free jets are presented. The experimental shock spacings agree well with theory.

Mercer, Carolyn R.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph Optical Modeling

The Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph will rely heavily on modeling and analysis throughout its mission lifecycle. Optical modeling is especially important, since the tolerances on the optics as well as scattered light suppression are critical for the mission's success. The high contrast imaging necessary to observe a planet orbiting a distant star requires new and innovative technologies to be developed and tested, and detailed optical modeling provides predictions for evaluating design decisions. It also provides a means to develop and test algorithms designed to actively suppress scattered light via deformable mirrors and other techniques. The optical models are used in conjunction with structural and thermal models to create fully integrated optical/structural/thermal models that are used to evaluate dynamic effects of disturbances on the overall performance of the coronagraph. The optical models we have developed have been verified on the High Contrast Imaging Testbed. Results of the optical modeling verification and the methods used to perform full three-dimensional near-field diffraction analysis are presented.

space telescopes↗

NASA NTRS2020

Capturing an Evolving Nebular Environment: A Petrographic and Geochemical Study of a Type A, B & C CAI

Calcium, Aluminum-rich Inclusions (CAIs) were the first formed solids in our Solar System, with mineral assemblages reflecting the first phases predicted to condense out of a hot nebular gas of Solar composition. Geochemical, textural and crystallographic information in CAIs can be used to constrain the temperature, pressure, and composition (e.g., oxygen fugacity) of the gaseous reservoir(s) from which they formed, as well as any secondary (nebular and parent body) processes they underwent. Coordinated geochemical and textural analyses provide information on nebular conditions (i.e., astrophysical environments and dynamics of nebular gas reservoirs) in which these CAIs formed. In order to better understand the evolution of nebular reservoirs at the time of CAI formation, we analyzed a Type A, B and C CAI using Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer (EPMA) and Electron BackScatter Diffraction (EBSD) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).

Comins, M. B.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Local aging effects in PuB 4 : Growing inhomogeneity and slow dynamics of local field fluctuations probed by 239 Pu NMR

Plutonium-based correlated electron materials host exotic physical phenomena ranging from unconventional heavy-fermion superconductivity to topological Kondo insulating states. Self-irradiation damage can influence many properties of such radioactive materials. Structural disorder effects due to α radiation have been frequently studied using techniques such as transport, thermodynamics, and x-ray diffraction. Here, in this study, we use 239 Pu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study the long-term influence of self-damage on the lattice and local electronic structures in a single crystal of the candidate topological insulator plutonium tetraboride (PuB 4 ). We first characterize the anisotropy of the 239 Pu resonance and confirm the local axial-site symmetry inferred from previous polycrystalline measurements. Aging effects are then evaluated over the time frame of six years. We find that, though the static 239 Pu NMR spectra show a slight modulation in their shape, their field-rotation pattern reveals no change in 239 Pu local site symmetry over time, suggesting that aging has a surprisingly small impact on the spatial distribution of the static hyperfine field. Further, ligand-site 11 B NMR finds little time-dependent change in the size of electric field gradient around 11 B sites. By contrast, aging has a prominent impact on the 239 Pu NMR relaxation processes and signal intensity. Specifically, aging-induced damage manifests itself as an increase in the spin-lattice relaxation time 𝑇 1 , an increased distribution of 𝑇 1 , and a signal intensity that decreases linearly by 20% per year. An effective spin-spin relaxation time 𝑇 2,eff in the aged sample shortens drastically towards lower temperature, suggesting growth of slow fluctuations of the hyperfine field that are linked to radiation-damage-induced inhomogeneity. Our NMR study sheds light on the interplay of radiation damage and local magnetic interactions in correlated insulators.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2024

In‐Operando Spatiotemporal Imaging of Coupled Film‐Substrate Elastodynamics During an Insulator‐to‐Metal Transition

Abstract The drive toward non‐von Neumann device architectures has led to an intense focus on insulator‐to‐metal (IMT) and the converse metal‐to‐insulator (MIT) transitions. Studies of electric field‐driven IMT in the prototypical VO 2 thin‐film channel devices are largely focused on the electrical and elastic responses of the films, but the response of the corresponding TiO 2 substrate is often overlooked, since it is nominally expected to be electrically passive and elastically rigid. Here, in‐operando spatiotemporal imaging of the coupled elastodynamics using X‐ray diffraction microscopy of a VO 2 film channel device on TiO 2 substrate reveals two new surprises. First, the film channel bulges during the IMT, the opposite of the expected shrinking in the film undergoing IMT. Second, a microns thick proximal layer in the substrate also coherently bulges accompanying the IMT in the film, which is completely unexpected. Phase‐field simulations of coupled IMT, oxygen vacancy electronic dynamics, and electronic carrier diffusion incorporating thermal and strain effects suggest that the observed elastodynamics can be explained by the known naturally occurring oxygen vacancies that rapidly ionize (and deionize) in concert with the IMT (MIT). Fast electrical‐triggering of the IMT via ionizing defects and an active “IMT‐like” substrate layer are critical aspects to consider in device applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Temperature- and Rate-Dependent Pathways in Formation of Metastable Silicon Phases under Rapid Decompression

High-pressure metallic beta-Sn silicon (Si-II), depending on temperature, decompression rate, stress, etc., may transform to diverse metastable forms with promising semiconducting properties under decompression. However, the underlying mechanisms governing the different transformation paths are not well understood. Here, two distinctive pathways, viz., a thermally activated crystal-crystal transition and a mechanically driven amorphization, were characterized under rapid decompression of Si-II at various temperatures using in situ time-resolved x-ray diffraction. Under slow decompression, Si-II transforms to a crystalline bc8/r8 phase in the pressure range of 4.3-9.2 GPa through a thermally activated process where the overdepressurization and the onset transition strain are strongly dependent on decompression rate and temperature. In comparison, Si-II collapses structurally to an amorphous form at around 4.3 GPa when the volume expansion approaches a critical strain via rapid decompression beyond a threshold rate. The occurrence of the critical strain indicates a limit of the structural metastability of Si-II, which separates the thermally activated and mechanically driven transition processes. The results show the coupled effect of decompression rate, activation barrier, and thermal energy on the adopted transformation paths, providing atomistic insight into the competition between equilibrium and nonequilibrium pathways and the resulting metastable phases.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2018

Asymmetric cross rolling (ACR): A novel technique for enhancement of Goss/Brass texture ratio in Al-Cu-Mg alloy

Highlights: • The main components of the ACR were Goss, Rotated Goss, Goss-Brass, and α-fiber. • The ACR process was obviously impactful to enhance the Goss/Brass texture ratio. • The Goss/Brass texture ratio increased to 1.51 after 30% ACR process. • During 30% rolling, the DRX occurred and the intensity of Goss and Cube increased. - Abstract: The present work focused on the effect of asymmetric cross rolling (ACR) process as a novel technique on microstructure and texture evolution of Al-Cu-Mg alloys. The microstructural observation and bulk texture from RD–TD plane of the initial and deformed samples were characterized by optical microscopy (OM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the deformed Al-Cu-Mg alloy consisted of strong Goss, Rotated Goss, Goss-Brass, and α-fiber textures. Usually, straight rolling leads to a significant strengthening of the Brass component with increasing strain in the Al-Cu-Mg alloy, but for asymmetrically cross rolled samples, the Goss orientation was stable after 40% deformation. Results showed that the ACR process was effective to intensify (up to 1.51 after 30% thickness reduction) the low Goss/Brass texture ratio often existing in the rolled Al-Cu-Mg alloy. During 30% ACR, the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurred, which led to increasing the intensity of Goss and Cube components and the fraction of extra high angle grain boundaries (EHAGBs).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2018

Propagation of a stable gaseous detonation in a circular arc configuration

Here, we examine numerically the effect that detonation wavefront curvature has on gaseous detonation cellular structure in a circular arc geometry with rigid walls. For the model considered, a planar detonation is weakly unstable. The detonation curvature is induced by diffraction and flow divergence as the wave sweeps around the arc. We examine the effect of arc thickness, inner arc radius and activation energy on the cellular pattern. A combination of pseudo-Schlieren, pseudo-soot foil records and detonation shock and sonic flow loci are used to explore the observed detonation structures. We find that for sufficiently wide arcs, the detonation wavefront curvature renders the detonation hydrodynamically stable, i.e. laminar flow with no cells. The stable configuration consists of a broadly curved wave originating from the inner arc surface, which is typically connected to the outer arc boundary by a stable Mach stem. The stable detonation is driven by a small region of subsonic flow attached to the inner arc surface, outside of which the flow is supersonic. The initiation dynamics of a stable propagating wave case are explored. The evolution dynamics between an unstable (cellular) and stable arc thickness are also examined. Finally, smaller inner arc radii and lower activation energies increase the range of stable solutions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2018

Constitutive Behavior and Processing Map of T2 Pure Copper Deformed from 293 to 1073 K

The deformation behavior of T2 pure copper compressed from 293 to 1073 K with strain rates from 0.01 to 10 s{sup −1} was investigated. The constitutive equations were established by the Arrhenius constitutive model, which can be expressed as a piecewise function of temperature with two sections, in the ranges 293-723 K and 723-1073 K. The processing maps were established according to the dynamic material model for strains of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8, and the optimal processing parameters of T2 copper were determined accordingly. In order to obtain a better understanding of the deformation behavior, the microstructures of the compressed samples were studied by electron back-scattered diffraction. The grains tend to be more refined with decreases in temperature and increases in strain rate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Effect of aging on failure mechanism of Alloy 709 at various temperatures

Alloy 709 is a novel austenitic stainless steel with high temperature creep strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance. These properties make the material suitable for applications in the structure of next-generation nuclear power plants. Enduring high temperatures for an extended period of time in the harsh environments of a nuclear power plant results in thermal aging of the material. Therefore, it is imperative to study the effect of thermal aging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Alloy 709 before its application in the next generation power plants. In this study, hot-processed (forged + rolled), annealed and quenched ingots of Alloy 709 are aged at 650 °C for 2000 h in air and then tested at various temperatures up to 850 °C in an in-situ heating-loading Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The effect of testing temperature and aging on microstructural evolutions during tensile testing of as-received and aged samples are studied. Furthermore, both as-received and aged samples displayed serrations and drop in ductility at elevated temperatures, due to the effect of dynamic strain aging (DSA). The occurrence of DSA activity was found within temperatures range of 500 °C–750 °C in as-received and 550 °C - 650 °C in aged samples. The aged samples showed less elongation accompanied by shallower dimples on the fractured surface, indicating less ductile failure mechanism compared to as-received samples. Failure mechanism observations on the fracture surface using SEM fractography are correlated to the observations made on the sample surface using in-situ SEM to achieve a complementary set of information to better understand the failure mechanism of this novel alloy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

High-Pressure Synthesis of Bulk Cobalt Cementite, Co 3 C

Transition metal carbides find use in a wide range of advanced high-resilience applications including high-strength steels, heat shields, and deep-earth drills. However, carbides of the mid-to-late transition metals remain difficult to isolate and characterize on account of their metastability, which precludes the preparation of high-quality bulk single crystal samples using traditional solid-state methods. Herein, we report a combined computational and experimental survey of the cobalt-carbon binary system under high pressures and demonstrate that pressure offers a route toward the bulk synthesis of the metastable cementite-type cobalt carbide, Co 3 C, which under ambient conditions can only be prepared in low-dimensional thin film or nanoparticle forms. First-principles calculations reveal two competitive low-energy stoichiometric phases under ambient pressures - Pnnm-Co 2 C (Fe 2 C-type) and Pnma-Co 3 C (Fe 3 Ctype) - consistent with the known low-dimensional phases that have been studied for their promising magnetic properties. However, the calculated formation enthalpy of Pnma-Co 3 C decreases steadily with the applied pressure, while that of Pnnm-Co 2 C increases. Here, we pursue these results using high-pressure laser-heated synthesis methods coupled with in situ X-ray diffraction and observe the formation of Pnma-Co 3 C above 4.8 GPa. We determine the experimental bulk modulus of Co 3 C to be K o = 237 GPa (K p = 4.0). First-principles calculations of the phonon modes in Co 3 C reveal dynamical instabilities at ambient pressure that are absent under compression. These results offer a promising new route for the synthesis of rare-earth-free magnets.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Nucleation kinetics model for primary crystallization in Al–Y–Fe metallic glass

The high density of aluminum nanocrystals (>10 21 m -3 ) that develop during the primary crystallization in Al-based metallic glasses indicates a high nucleation rate (~10 18 m -3 s -1 ). Several studies have been advanced to account for the primary crystallization behavior, but none have been developed to completely describe the reaction kinetics. Recently, structural analysis by fluctuation electron microscopy has demonstrated the presence of the Al-like medium range order (MRO) regions as a spatial heterogeneity in as-spun Al 88 Y 7 Fe 5 metallic glass that is representative for the class of Al-based amorphous alloys that develop Al nanocrystals during primary crystallization. From the structural characterization, an MRO seeded nucleation configuration is established, whereby the Al nanocrystals are catalyzed by the MRO core to decrease the nucleation barrier. The MRO seeded nucleation model and the kinetic data from the delay time (τ) measurement provide a full accounting of the evolution of the Al nanocrystal density (N v ) during the primary crystallization under isothermal annealing treatments. Moreover, the calculated values of the steady state nucleation rates (J ss ) predicted by the nucleation model agree with the experimental results. Moreover, the model satisfies constraints on the structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic parameters, such as the critical nucleus size, the interface energy, and the volume-free energy driving force that are essential for a fully self-consistent nucleation kinetics analysis. In conclusion, the nucleation kinetics model can be applied more broadly to materials that are characterized by the presence of spatial heterogeneities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

Nanoscale structure of a hybrid aqueous–nonaqueous electrolyte

A new class of electrolytes have been reported, hybridizing aqueous with non-aqueous solvents, which combines non-flammability and non-toxicity characteristics of aqueous electrolytes with the superior electrochemical stability of non-aqueous systems. Here, we report measurements of the structure of an electrolyte composed of an equal-mass mixture of 21 m LiTFSI-water and 9 m LiTFSI-dimethyl carbonate using high-energy x-ray diffraction and polarized neutron diffraction with isotope substitution. Neutron structure factors from partially and fully deuterated samples exhibit peaks at low scattering vector Q that we ascribe to long-range correlations involving both solvent molecules and TFSI − anions. Here we compare both sets of measurements with results of molecular dynamics simulations based on a polarizable force field. The structures derived from simulations are generally in agreement with those measured, except that neutron structure factors predicted for two partially deuterated samples show very intense scattering increasing up to the low- Q limit of simulation, indicating a partial segregation between the two solvents not observed in experimental measurements.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Randomized probe imaging through deep k-learning

Randomized probe imaging (RPI) is a single-frame diffractive imaging method that uses highly randomized light to reconstruct the spatial features of a scattering object. The reconstruction process, known as phase retrieval, aims to recover a unique solution for the object without measuring the far-field phase information. Typically, reconstruction is done via time-consuming iterative algorithms. In this work, we propose a fast and efficient deep learning based method to reconstruct phase objects from RPI data. The method, which we call deep k-learning, applies the physical propagation operator to generate an approximation of the object as an input to the neural network. This way, the network no longer needs to parametrize the far-field diffraction physics, dramatically improving the results. Deep k-learning is shown to be computationally efficient and robust to Poisson noise. The advantages provided by our method may enable the analysis of far larger datasets in photon starved conditions, with important applications to the study of dynamic phenomena in physical science and biological engineering.

Guo, Zhen (ORCID:0000000213473451)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Dynamics of the metastable st12 to diamond-cubic transition in germanium characterized by neutron spectroscopy

Data related to the manuscript "Dynamics of the metastable st12 to diamond-cubic transition in germanium characterized by neutron spectroscopy". It includes density of states results for st12-Ge, dc-Ge, amorphous-Ge, and the relaxation of st12-Ge to dc-Ge. It also includes diffractions results for the same relaxation experiment. The experiment was performed on the ARCS spectrometer at the SNS. See the Readme.md file in the data set for more information.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1986

Far-infrared structure in the nuclear region of M51

Far-infrared (100-micron) scans across the nucleus of M51 are presented. These scans show that much of the far-infrared luminosity of this galaxy comes from a small, sharply bounded region within a 30 arcsec radius (700 pc) of the nucleus. This radius corresponds to the innermost spiral structure, as well as that estimated from dynamical models for the radius of the inner Lindblad resonance. The results of a nonlinear image restoration analysis of the data are presented. This analysis, carried out with two different algorithms, yields information on the spatial structure of star formation near the nucleus that exceeds the diffraction limit of the telescope at this wavelength. This 'superresolution' treatment shows that star formation is enhanced at the outer edge of this region compared to the nucleus, which appears to be relatively devoid of young stars. This ring of active star formation may be produced in the same way as that seen in our own Galaxy at a galactocentric radius of 4-5 kpc and may indicate that the region near the nucleus has been swept clean of material by violent processes.

Lester, D. F.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

FLEET and PLIF Velocimetry Within A Mach 10 Hypersonic Air Flow

Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging (FLEET) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) velocity measurements utilizing molecular tagging velocity (MTV) methods from three recent test campaigns conducted at the 31-in Mach 10 Air Tunnel at the NASA Langley Research Center are highlighted within. The FLEET measurements reported here include the first direct measurement of freestream velocity at this hypersonic wind tunnel facility. Measurement challenges were exasperated by the low gas density of the Mach 10 air freestream (~0.4% of standard temperature and pressure conditions) and even lower gas densities within the hypersonic wake of a 70-degree sphere-cone model. In addition, the hypersonic freestream and very low speed velocities in the wake also tested the measurement dynamic range. To complement the FLEET measurements in the wake of the sphere-cone model, PLIF velocimetry using seeded nitric oxide was also performed. While NO-PLIF velocimetry has been performed at this facility several times by previous researchers, the use of a 1D diffractive optical element for NO-PLIF velocimetry is reported here for the first time. The 1D DOE enabled the generation of up to 75 laser lines simultaneously and improved the spatial extent of the measurement three times compared to previous work. This enabled a wide velocity measurement plane of approximately 130 mm x 130 mm. The velocimetry methods demonstrated here are expected to improve wind tunnel characterization, provide critical data to validate CFD codes, and improve the design of flight vehicles for planetary entry.

FLEET↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

FLEET and PLIF Velocimetry Within A Mach 10 Hypersonic Air Flow

FLEET↗