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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

New segmented target for studies of neutron unbound systems

The study of neutron-unbound systems using invariant mass spectroscopy is often performed using low-intensity radioactive ion beams. Low reaction yields can be countered by using thick targets but at the expense of larger uncertainties in the reconstructed invariant mass. In this work, we present a new segmented target designed to address this trade-off. It is composed of three mm thick passive beryllium targets interleaved between four thick position sensitive silicon detectors. In the first experiment to use this new system the half-life of two-neutron unbound was measured to be (stat) (syst) ps, which agrees with a previous measurement made by the MoNA Collaboration.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2006

A non-PRE double-peaked burst with oscillations: burning front propagation and stalling

Non-photospheric-radius-expansion (non-PRE) double-peaked bursts may be explained in terms of spreading (and temporary stalling) of thermonuclear flames from a rotational pole on the neutron star surface, as we argued in a previous study. Here we analyze Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA) data of such a burst from the low mass X-ray binary (LMXB) system 4U 1636-536, and show that our model (with ignition at high latitudes) can qualitatively explain the observed burst profile, and spectral evolution. Moreover, the evolution of the source radius inferred from the data shows a strong signature of temporary stalling of the burning front, which is an essential ingredient of our model. This implies that an understanding of thermonuclear flame spreading on neutron stars can be achieved by a simultaneous study of the evolution of intensity and spectrum of these bursts. We also report the discovery of millisecond period brightness oscillations from this burst, which is the first such observation from a non-PRE double-peaked burst. Our model can explain the corresponding oscillation amplitude during the first (weaker) peak, and the absence of oscillations during the second peak. We discuss how observations of oscillations during non-PRE double-peaked bursts provide an additional t 001 for understanding thermonuclear flame spreading successfully.

Bhattacharyya, Sudip↗
NASA NTRS1990

The X-ray Timing Explorer

The capabilities of the X-ray Timing Explorer (XTE) are described with particular attention paid to current scientific problems it will address from galactic neutron star systems to active galactic nuclei. It features a low-background continuous 2-200 keV response with large apertures (a 0.63 sq m proportional counter array and a 0.16 sq m dual rocking NaI/CsI scintillation array). Rapid response (in hours) to temporal phenomena, e.g. transients, is obtained by virtue of a scanning all-sky monitor and rapid maneuverability. XTE will carry out detailed energy-resolved studies of phenomena close to neutron stars (e.g. QPO's) because of its submillisecond timing, its high telemetry rates, and the high throughput of its data system.

Bradt, H. V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The X-ray Timing Explorer

The capabilities of the X-ray Timing Explorer (XTE) are described with particular attention paid to current scientific problems it will address, from galactic neutron star systems to active galactic nuclei. It features a low-background continuous 2-200 keV response with large apertures (a 0.63 sq m proportional counter array and a 0.16 sq m dual rocking NaI/CsI scintillation array). Rapid response (in hours) to temporal phenomena, e.g., transients, is obtained by virtue of a scanning all-sky monitor and rapid maneuverability. The XTE will carry out detailed energy-resolved studies of phenomena close to neutron stars (e.g., quasi-periodic oscillations) because of its submillisecond timing (to 10 microsec), its high telemetry rates (to 256 kbs), and the high throughput of its data system (to greater than about (200,000 c/sec).

Bradt, H. V.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A liquid radiation detector with high spatial resolution

Detector, using point anode, minimizes problem of oblique tracks by permitting construction of very thin counter. Detector is useful in cosmic ray and high energy physics research and X-ray and neutron diffraction technology.

Alvarez, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Method of measuring the thickness of radioactive thin films

Thickness monitor consists of proportional X-ray counter coupled to pulse counting system, copper filter over face of counter, rotatable collimator containing radioactive source, and rotatable shutter. Monitor can be used as integral part of neutron generator. It has been used to measure titanium tritide film thicknesses from 0.1 to 30 micrometers.

Alger, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

1985 Nuclear Science Symposium, 32nd, and 1985 Symposium on Nuclear Power Systems, 17th, San Francisco, CA, October 23-25, 1985, Proceedings

The present conference ranges over topics in high energy physics instrumentation, detectors, nuclear medical applications, health physics and environmental monitoring, reactor instrumentation, nuclear spacecraft instrumentation, the 'Fastbus' data acquisition system, circuits and systems for nuclear research facilities, and the development status of nuclear power systems. Specific attention is given to CCD high precision detectors, a drift chamber preamplifier, a Cerenkov ring imaging detector, novel scintillation glasses and scintillating fibers, a modular multidrift vertex detector, radial wire drift chambers, liquid argon polarimeters, a multianode photomultiplier, the reliability of planar silicon detectors, the design and manufacture of wedge and strip anodes, ultrafast triode photodetectors, photomultiplier tubes, a barium fluoride plastic scintillator, a fine grained neutron hodoscope, the stability of low leakage silicon photodiodes for crystal calorimeters, and X-ray proportional counters. Also considered are positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, Geiger-Muller detectors, nuclear plant safeguards, a 32-bit Fastbus computer, an advanced light water reactor, and nuclear plant maintenance.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1997

Neutron Induced Backgrounds In the MIXE X-Ray Detector at Balloon Altitudes

The MIXE detector developed at NASA/MSFC is designed for x-ray astronomy and consists of a multiwire proportional counter sensitive to photons less than 150 keV. The detector has been flown on several balloon flights with higher than expected background levels observed. Previous predictions of the detector background due to atmospheric gamma-ray and cosmic diffuse sources were much less (factor of 3) than flight background measurements. The work reported here was undertaken to determine if the additional contribution from gamma-rays generated by albedo and cosmic-ray induced neutrons in the detector and payload assembly could account for the background levels observed. Monte Carlo nuclear interaction and radiation transport simulations were made for the ambient cosmic-ray environment corresponding to a previous MEE balloon flight at 3 g/cm(exp 2) residual atmosphere and 42 N geomagnetic latitude. The omnidirectional albedo neutron spectrum and the GCR proton spectrum which were used as input to the calculations are shown. For the albedo angular distribution, the predicted up/down flux ratio of 2.5 was used together with the angular dependence measured by Preszler, et al.

Armstrong, T. W.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Rossi-alpha measurements of fast plutonium metal assemblies using organic scintillators

The reactivity and the k-effective multiplication factor (k eff ) of a fissionable assembly are quantities of widespread interest. These values can be inferred from Rossi-alpha measurements of the prompt neutron decay constant (or the inverse:α -1 ). It has been shown that 3 He-gas proportional counter-based detection systems are insensitive to α -1 of fast assemblies (much faster than tens of microseconds). Therefore, it is of interest to investigate fast detection systems such as those based on organic scintillation detectors. In this work, an array of 12 cylindrical, 5.08 cm x 5.08 cm diameter trans-stilbene organic scintillators was used to measure five subcritical assemblies. One assembly was a sphere of approximately 4.5 kg of alpha-phase, weapons-grade plutonium (k eff = 0.773, α -1 = 11.84 ns) known as the BeRP ball encased in a thin stainless-steel clad. The other assemblies used the same encased sphere and 7.62 cm of iron, nickel, copper, or tungsten reflectors (k eff = 0.884, 0.916, 0.924, 0.939, respectively and α -1 = 36.60, 41.56, 49.60, 70.32 ns, respectively). Finally, this work (1) validates Rossi-alpha measurements with organic scintillators by demonstrating good agreement between measurements and simulations; and (2), demonstrates that organic scintillator-based systems are sensitive to α -1 on the order of 10–100 ns.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Measuring aerosol collection efficiency for the Bladewerx “New Speclon TM 5” and the older “Speclon TM 5” filter

Bladewerx TM LLC (Rio Rancho, NM) manufactures instrumentation, neutron shielding and activation foils for the radiation protection industry. Specializing in portable alpha/beta air monitors and sample counters, Bladewerx is the source of Speclon TM PTFE filter media that they recommend for high-resolution alpha spectroscopy. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) utilizes Speclon TM filter material in CAM (Continuous Air Monitor) samplers for workplace air monitoring. The LANL Aerosol Engineering Facility received air filter material from Bladewerx, referred to as “New Speclon 5” in this document, in order to distinguish from filter material that was previously received (referred to as “Speclon 5” in this document). In this document, the aerosol collection efficiency and airflow resistance (pressure drop) were measured for the New Speclon 5 filter material.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2022

A summary of air sampler filter performance data: Bladewerx Speclon 5(TM) and Millipore FMLW047 5um

Bladewerx™ LLC (Rio Rancho, NM) manufactures instrumentation, neutron shielding and activation foils for the radiation protection industry. Specializing in portable alpha/beta air monitors and sample counters, Bladewerx is the source of Speclon 5™ PTFE filter media that they recommend for high-resolution alpha spectroscopy. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) utilizes Speclon™ filter material in CAM (Continuous Air Monitor) samplers for workplace air monitoring. Millipore FMLW (5μm) filters are also used at Los Alamos, and a comparison of the two filter types has been requested. For filter face air velocities from 0.066 m/s to 1.5 m/s, the aerosol collection efficiency (for 0.3 μm particle diameters) and the filter pressure drops were measured. The FWHM (full width half maximum) of alpha spectroscopy peaks was also determined, using naturally occurring radon progeny at an alpha energy of 6 MeV.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
NASA NTRS1995

A study of the radiation environment on board the space shuttle flight STS-57

A joint NASA-Russian study of the radiation environment inside a SPACEHAB 2 locker on space shuttle flight STS-57 was conducted. The shuttle flew in a nearly circular orbit of 28.5 deg inclination and 462 km altitude. The locker carried a charged particle spectrometer, a tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC), and two area passive detectors consisting of combined NASA plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTD's) and thermoluminescent detectors (TLD's), and Russian nuclear emulsions, PNTD's, and TLD's. All the detector systems were shielded by the same shuttle mass distribution. This makes possible a direct comparison of the various dose measurement techniques. In addition, measurements of the neutron energy spectrum were made using the proton recoil technique. The results show good agreement between the integral LET spectrum of the combined galactic and trapped particles using the tissue equivalent proportional counter and track detectors between about 15 keV/micron and 200 keV/micron. The LET spectrum determined from nuclear emulsions was systematically lower by about 50%, possibly due to emulsion fading. The results show that the TEPC measured an absorbed dose 20% higher than TLD's, due primarily to an increased TEPC response to neutrons and a low sensitivity of TLD's to high LET particles under normal processing techniques. There is a significant flux of high energy neutrons that is currently not taken into consideration in dose equivalent calculations. The results of the analysis of the spectrometer data will be reported separately.

Badhwar, G. D.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Neutron Spectrum and 10B(n,α) Measurements in ZPPR-15

Neutron spectra were measured at the core center with proton recoil spectrometers in ZPPR15A loading 66, ZPPR-15B loading 90 and ZPPR loading 186. In addition, neutron spectra were measured in the SSNA shield configuration in ZPPR-15B loading 121 and in the BCNA shield configuration in ZPPR-15B loading 126. The ZPPR-15 neutron spectrum measurement and data processing techniques were described and analyzed. Total uncertainties were derived for all five spectrum measurements. A back-to-back proportional counter was used to measure the 10 B(n,α) reaction rate at six locations in the simulated shield, radial reflector and outer core in the ZPPR-15B BCNA shield experiment. The measurements were described and analyzed. A total uncertainty was derived for the 10 B(n,α) reaction rate measurements. The ZPPR-15 experimental records were used to develop detailed as-built Monte Carlo models for the five neutron spectrum measurement configurations and for the six 10 B(n,α) measurement configurations.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

LANL/LLNL 240 Pu( n,f ) Prompt Fission Neutron Spectrum Measurement (Q4 FY2022 Progress Report)

The report details the joint LANL/LLNL measurement of the 240 Pu( n,f ) prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) for incident neutron energies from 1–20 MeV. A summary of the experimental setup, including details of the parallel-plate avalanche counter (PPAC) used for this experiment, beam time awarded and received, and adaptations made for specifically for this experiment are described in Sec. II. Some preliminary results obtained with a portion of the total available statistics from the executed experiment are then described in Sec. III with a discussion of potential benefits and losses if more data were collected. Finally, some primary tasks remaining to convert these data to final results are discussed in Sec. IV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2017

A Precessing Be Disc as a Possible Model for Occultation Events in GX 304-1

We report on the RXTE detection of a sudden increase in the absorption column density, NH, during the 2011 May outburst of GX 304−1. The NH increased up to ∼16 × 10(exp 22) atoms cm(exp −2), which is a factor of 3–4 larger than what is usually measured during the outbursts of GX 304−1 as covered by RXTE. Additionally, an increase in the variability of the hardness ratio as calculated from the energy resolved RXTE-Proportional Counter Array light curves is measured during this time range. We interpret these facts as an occultation event of the neutron star by material in the line of sight. Using a simple 3D model of an inclined and precessing Be disc around the Be-type companion, we are able to qualitatively explain the NH evolution over time. We are able to constrain the Be disc density to be of the order of 10(exp −11)g cm(exp −3). Our model strengthens the idea of inclined Be discs as origin of double-peaked outbursts as the derived geometry allows accretion twice per orbit under certain conditions.

Kühnel, M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Comparison of graphite, aluminum, and TransHab shielding material characteristics in a high-energy neutron field

Space radiation transport models clearly show that low atomic weight materials provide a better shielding protection for interplanetary human missions than high atomic weight materials. These model studies have concentrated on shielding properties against charged particles. A light-weight, inflatable habitat module called TransHab was built and shown to provide adequate protection against micrometeoroid impacts and good shielding properties against charged particle radiation in the International Space Station orbits. An experiment using a tissue equivalent proportional counter, to study the changes in dose and lineal energy spectra with graphite, aluminum, and a TransHab build-up as shielding, was carried out at the Los Alamos Nuclear Science Center neutron facility. It is a continuation of a previous study using regolith and doped polyethylene materials. This paper describes the results and their comparison with the previous study. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

NASA Center JSC↗
NASA NTRS2002

Characteristics of Transients in the Galactic Bulge

Biweekly X-ray observations of the Galactic Bulge with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array for 5 years have built up statistics for different kinds of source behavior for low-mass binaries with neutron stars. The relation between the characteristic behaviors is not known. A typical transient may rise fast and decay exponentially in brightness and repeat this cycle after short (1/2 yr) or long intervals (20 yr). But an X-ray source also may be steady for an extended period (years) before the disk can become quiescent. It fades in the same way as do the transients which immediately decay. These sources have been reported to be very cool in quiescence; either not substantially heated by outbursts, or cooled very quickly. There are 3 sources active during the last 5 years which were long lasting transients which turned off and 1 which turned on. We will compare their X-ray characteristics in outburst, and in so far as available with Chandra, in quiescence.

Swank, Jean H.↗