Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “future”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

Measuring galaxy cluster masses with CMB lensing using a Maximum Likelihood estimator: statistical and systematic error budgets for future experiments

We develop a Maximum Likelihood estimator (MLE) to measure the masses of galaxy clusters through the impact of gravitational lensing on the temperature and polarization anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We show that, at low noise levels in temperature, this optimal estimator outperforms the standard quadratic estimator by a factor of two. For polarization, we show that the Stokes Q/U maps can be used instead of the traditional E- and B-mode maps without losing information. We test and quantify the bias in the recovered lensing mass for a comprehensive list of potential systematic errors. Using realistic simulations, we examine the cluster mass uncertainties from CMB-cluster lensing as a function of an experiment’s beam size and noise level. We predict the cluster mass uncertainties will be 3 - 6% for SPT-3G, AdvACT, and Simons Array experiments with 10,000 clusters and less than 1% for the CMB-S4 experiment with a sample containing 100,000 clusters. The mass constraints from CMB polarization are very sensitive to the experimental beam size and map noise level: for a factor of three reduction in either the beam size or noise level, the lensing signal-to-noise improves by roughly a factor of two.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Casting a wide signal net with future direct dark matter detection experiments

As dark matter (DM) direct detection experiments continue to improve their sensitivity they will inevitably encounter an irreducible background arising from coherent neutrino scattering. This so-called "neutrino floor" may significantly reduce the sensitivity of an experiment to DM-nuclei interactions, particularly if the recoil spectrum of the neutrino background is approximately degenerate with the DM signal. This occurs for the conventionally considered spin-independent (SI) or spin-dependent (SD) interactions. In such case, an increase in the experiment's exposure by multiple orders of magnitude may not yield any significant increase in sensitivity. The typically considered SI and SD interactions, however, do not adequately reflect the whole landscape of the well-motivated DM models, which includes other interactions. Since particle DM has not been detected yet in laboratories, it is essential to understand and maximize the detection capabilities for a broad variety of possible models and signatures. Here, we investigate the impact of the background arising from various neutrino sources on the discovery potential of a DM signal for a large class of viable DM-nucleus interactions and several potential futuristic experimental settings, with different target elements. For some momentum suppressed cross sections, large DM particle masses and heavier targets, we find that there is no suppression of the discovery limits due to neutrino backgrounds. Further, we explicitly demonstrate that inelastic scattering, which could appear in models with multicomponent dark sectors, would help to lift the signal degeneracy associated with the neutrino floor. This research could assist with mapping out the optimal DM detection strategy for the next generation of experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A glossary of plant cell structures: Current insights and future questions

Abstract In this glossary of plant cell structures, we asked experts to summarize a present-day view of plant organelles and structures, including a discussion of outstanding questions. In the following short reviews, the authors discuss the complexities of the plant cell endomembrane system, exciting connections between organelles, novel insights into peroxisome structure and function, dynamics of mitochondria, and the mysteries that need to be unlocked from the plant cell wall. These discussions are focused through a lens of new microscopy techniques. Advanced imaging has uncovered unexpected shapes, dynamics, and intricate membrane formations. With a continued focus in the next decade, these imaging modalities coupled with functional studies are sure to begin to unravel mysteries of the plant cell.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Measuring recoiling nucleons from the nucleus with the future Electron Ion Collider

Short range correlated nucleon-nucleon (NN) pairs are an important part of the nuclear ground state. They are typically studied by scattering an electron from one nucleon in the pair and detecting its spectator correlated partner (spectator-nucleon tagging). The Electron Ion Collider (EIC)should be able to detect these nucleons, since they are boosted to high momentum in the lab frame by the momentum of the ion beam. To determine the feasibility of these studies with the planned EIC detector configuration, we have simulated quasi-elastic scattering for two electron and ion beam energy configurations: 5 GeV electrons and 41 GeV/A ions, and 10 GeV electrons and 110 GeV/A ions. We show that the knocked-out and recoiling nucleons can be detected over a wide range of initial nucleon momenta. We also show that these measurements can achieve much larger momentum transfers than current fixed target experiments. By detecting both low and high initial-momentum nucleons,the EIC will provide the data that should allow scientists to definitively show if the EMC effect and short-range correlation are connected, and to improve our understanding of color transparency

Hauenstein, F. (ORCID:0000000212652212)↗

Will Advanced Public Charging Infrastructure Speed Up Electrification of Future Transportation?

This study focuses on evaluating impacts of advanced, urban public charging infrastructure on the battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption in the U.S market. Under various infrastructure scenarios (e.g., current and developed conditions), we investigate the infrastructure impacts on the near-term BEV adoption using a consumer-choice based market simulation approach. Our results suggest that current public charging infrastructure has continuous and significant impacts on the near-term BEV adoption. Additional infrastructure investment could further stimulate the public acceptance of BEVs. We also find that the actual infrastructure impact may vary depending on the assumption of how charging deployment could affect consumers' access of chargers and consumers' daily available charging time. However, this impact variability could be reduced when infrastructure is getting mature.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

From Atoms to Wheels: The Role of Multi-Scale Modeling in the Future of Transportation Electrification

Traditionally, prototype hardware is built for validation testing to ensure battery systems design changes meet vehicle-level requirements, which is expensive both in cost and time. Virtual engineering (VE) of battery systems for electric vehicle (EV) propulsion offers a reduced-cost alternative to the traditional development process and uses multi-scale modeling to virtually probe the impact of design changes in a particular part on the overall performance of the system. This allows for rapid iteration over multiple design spaces, without committing to build hardware. This perspective article discusses current trends in VE for EV applications and proposes improvements to accelerate EV adoption.

Garrick, Taylor R. (ORCID:0000000322518129)↗

Dirac plasmons and beyond: the past, present, and future of plasmonics in 3D topological insulators

Here, we review progress studying unique plasmonics in topological insulators (TIs). First, we describe exfoliation and deposition synthesis approaches. TI materials have substantially improved: it is now possible to grow samples with few trivial electrons and controllable doping. We then describe the theory behind the unique behavior of the coupled, 2D Dirac plasmons. While reviewing experimental efforts, we note that Dirac plasmons have been conclusively demonstrated in TIs and they show remarkable properties including long lifetimes, large mode indices, and huge modulation depths. Finally, we describe the opportunities that are present now that high-quality materials can be obtained, including spin and nanoparticle plasmons.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Future Nuclear Energy Factual Status Document: Resource Document for the Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Future Nuclear Energy, July 2017

Since commercialization in the mid-1950s, nuclear power has been widely deployed and provides an important clean source of energy, primarily through the generation of electricity. There are currently 449 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries with over 390 GWe total capacity, with 99 operating units in the United States with a total generating capacity of about 100 GWe. Nuclear power plants provide over 11% of the world’s electricity production and, as of 2016, thirteen countries rely on nuclear energy to supply at least one-quarter of their total electricity. Virtually all of that power is generated with water-cooled reactor systems. A number of advanced nuclear energy system concepts have been developed to provide improved efficiency, greater fissile fuel utilization, reduced high level waste generation, and increased margins of safety over today’s water-cooled systems. However, there are a number of technical challenges that must be addressed to enable the broad deployment of these systems from concept to the electrical grid. This Technical Document is written to provide workshop participants with an overview of the current status of a number of advanced reactor systems: Key issues for advanced nuclear energy, including coolants, materials in extremes (irradiation, coolant, and/or high temperature) and interfaces; Nuclear fuel technologies for key reactor types and limitations in testing and design; State of science and understanding for nuclear systems, including characterization, testing, and modeling and simulation tools. For each of these technical areas, this document describes the technological challenge, current state of the art for the technology, and barriers to advanced nuclear concepts.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Global Futures: The Future of Nonrenewable Resource Security

Nonrenewable resources are distributed unevenly throughout the world. Throughout history, the ability to access nonrenewable resources has been a source of geopolitical tension. Modern civilization is increasingly dependent on unevenly distributed resources that are traded globally. This cooperation has helped to increase resource security by increasing affordable access to resources around the world. The continued accessibility of nonrenewable resources is the key uncertainty to security over the next 15 to 25 years. Increased global demands for nonrenewable resources, fragility to resource shocks, and geopolitical upheavals may threaten nonrenewable resource security. A reduction in resource security could exacerbate defense and economic vulnerabilities to resource shocks, and increased fears of resource insecurity could drive conflict over resources leading to geopolitical upheavals. National security organizations can help build resource security by making investments that create resilience to resource shocks. They can also promote international cooperation that builds trust. Together, increased resilience to shocks and increased global trust should help reduce fears of resource insecurity and expand global cooperation on resource issues, thereby bolstering resource security.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Report of the 2021 U.S. Community Study on the Future of Particle Physics (Snowmass 2021)

In 2019, with the construction of the projects supported by the 2014 P5 process well underway or in an advanced stage of planning, the Division of Particle and Fields (DPF) of the American Physical Society (APS) began to prepare a new community study of U.S. high energy physics (HEP) for the decade of 2025 – 2035, and beyond. This “Snowmass 2021” HEP Community Planning Exercise began formally with a kick-off meeting at the 2020 APS April Meeting and a Community-wide Planning Meeting in October of 2020. The exercise was to conclude in July of 2021 with a workshop in Seattle hosted by the University of Washington. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted these plans. Work was paused from January to September of 2021 to lighten the burden on our younger scientists. We resumed work by September of 2021 and, despite the continuing challenges of COVID-19, our community was well prepared for the Seattle meeting, which had been rescheduled for July 17–26, 2022.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Innovating the next generation of commercial smart building software

Nearly 30% of commercial building energy use is wasted due to equipment faults and HVAC controls problems. The result is increased emissions, compromised comfort and productivity, and less reliable coordination of building power needs with a clean grid. The energy impact alone represents $17 billion in potential savings. Today’s smart building software provides a robust solution to address these operational deficiencies. Energy management and information systems (EMIS) are saving up to 9% on average, with two-year paybacks. They are being incorporated into energy management processes, commissioning services, and utility programs. As effective as they are, two barriers prevent even deeper benefits; limited personnel to fix problems once they are identified, and the expense and time to manually implement changes in control systems. In partnership with the research community, the EMIS industry is developing new capabilities to overcome these barriers. Moving beyond siloed products for either fault detection and diagnostics, or optimal control, these new capabilities empower users to not only automatically identify faults, but also to push corrective action, and control improvements to their buildings. In this paper, several areas for enhancements are documented: ‘one-time’ correction of faults such as setpoints, schedules, and economizer lockouts; short-term active testing for automated proportional integral derivative (PID) loop tuning and functional testing; and continuous supervisory control for demand flexibility and year-round efficiency. Results are presented from a pair of partner implementations out of a dozen providers integrating these enhancements into their products, including field tests from across the country, and insights into operator acceptance and integration into operations and maintenance practices.

Casillas, Armando↗

The Wright Brothers and the Future of Bio-Inspired Flight: 1899 through to the Future

This viewgraph presentation reviews the experiments that the Wright Brothers conducted prior to their first powered flight in 1903 to developing the first practical aircraft in 1905. Many pictures of the gliders and other devices are used to illustrate the gradual development and experimentation that proceeded the first powered flight.

Bowers, Albion↗