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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

Specific features of the radial distributions of plasma parameters in the initial segment of a supersonic jet generated by a pulsed capillary discharge

Results are presented from spectroscopic studies of the initial segment of a supersonic plasma jet generated by a pulsed capillary discharge with an ablative carbon-containing polymer wall. Specific features of the spatial distributions of the electron density and intensities of spectral components caused, in particular, by the high electron temperature in the central zone, much exceeding the normal temperature, as well as by the high nonisobaricity of the initial segment of the supersonic jet, are revealed. Measurements of the radiative properties of the hot jet core (the intensity and profile of the H{sub α} and H{sub β} Balmer lines and the relative intensities of C II lines) with high temporal (1–50 μs) and spatial (30–50 μm) resolutions made it possible to determine general features of the pressure and temperature distributions near the central shock. The presence of molecular components exhibiting their emission properties at the periphery of the plasma jet allowed the authors to estimate the parameters of the plasma in the jet region where “detached” shock waves form.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Pt/HTCC Alumina based Electronic Packaging System and Integration Processes for High Temperature Harsh Environment Applications

Electronic devices capable of operation at 500°C are required for long term Venus surface missions, as well as for in situ monitoring and control of next generation aeronautical engines. High temperature sensors and electronics can also find many applications in military, and energy and automobile industries. Various silicon carbide (SiC) sensors and electronic devices have been developed for operation at 500 °C, and a compatible packaging system is needed for long term test and deployment of these high temperature devices. High temperature co-fired ceramics (HTCC) alumina with platinum (Pt) conductor was proposed for high temperature electronic packaging. A prototype Pt/HTCC alumina packaging system including chip-level package and circuit board has been briefly reported previously for long-term electrical testing of SiC integrated circuits at 500 °C, and brief testing at much higher temperatures. HTCC alumina is an excellent dielectric material with acceptable dielectric constant and low dielectric loss over wide temperature and frequency ranges. Pt is chemically noble and can be co-fired with HTCC alumina in air ambient producing a viable electronic packaging material system for high temperature applications. This paper presents a more detailed description of this packaging system including prototype low power packages and circuit boards based on HTCC alumina and Pt metallization for 500°C and other harsh environment applications. The key technical considerations for chip-level packaging and circuit board assembly, including materials and processes for 500 °C durable wire-bonding and SiC die attach, and integration of multi-chip circuit boards, are presented. Experimental test results of this packaging approach applied to SiC integrated circuits at 500 °C and 700°C are discussed as well.

electronic packaging↗

The production of excited molecular species by electron impact in high temperature nonequilibrium air

Low-energy electron-impact excitation cross sections of N2 and CO are calculated using the Schwinger multichannel formulation, and calculations are extended to the important threshold region where experimental measurement becomes difficult. Cross sections are used to determine the excitation rate coefficients for the production of the important radiative states of N2 at a variety of electronic, rotational, and vibrational temperatures. Excitation of these states requires at least 6.2 eV, and the rate coefficients increase with the electronic temperature. The dependence on the vibrational temperature is mainly determined by the shape of the potential function for the vibrational motion. A strong resonance feature near threshold is found for the excitation of CO, in agreement with previous measurements.

Huo, Winifred M.↗

Temperature and compression effects on electron heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling in aluminum and beryllium: Insights from ab initio simulations

Ultrafast laser experiments on metals usually induce a high electron temperature and a low ion temperature and, thus, an energy relaxation process. The electron heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling factor are crucial thermal quantities to describe this process. We perform ab initio theoretical studies to determine these thermal quantities and their dependence on density and electron temperature for the metals aluminum and beryllium. The heat capacity shows an approximately linear dependence on the temperature, similar to free electron gas, and the compression only slightly affects the capacity. The electron-phonon coupling factor increases with both temperature and density, and the change observed for beryllium is more obvious than that for aluminum. The connections between thermal quantities and electronic/atomic structures are discussed in detail, and the different behaviors of aluminum and beryllium are well explained.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

New insights on the synthesis and electronic transport in bulk polycrystalline Pr-doped SrTiO{sub 3−δ}

Recently, we have reported a significant enhancement in the electronic and thermoelectric properties of bulk polycrystalline SrTiO{sub 3} ceramics via praseodymium doping. This improvement was originated from the simultaneous enhancement in the thermoelectric power factor and reduction in thermal conductivity, which was contributed to the non-uniform distribution of Pr dopants. In order to further understand the underlying mechanism, we herein investigate the role of praseodymium doping source (Pr{sub 2}O{sub 3} versus Pr{sub 6}O{sub 11}) on the synthesis and electronic transport in Pr-doped SrTiO{sub 3} ceramics. It was observed that the high-temperature electronic transport properties are independent of the choice of praseodymium doping source for samples prepared following our synthesis strategy. Theoretical calculations were also performed in order to estimate the maximum achievable power factor and the corresponding optimal carrier concentration. The result suggests the possibility of further improvement of the power factor. This study should shed some light on the superior electronic transport in bulk polycrystalline Pr-doped SrTiO{sub 3} ceramics and provide new insight on further improvement of the thermoelectric power factor.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Vibrational and electron-phonon coupling properties of $β$-Ga 2 O 3 from first-principles calculations: Impact on the mobility and breakdown field

The wide band gap semiconductor $β$-Ga 2 O 3 shows promise for applications in high-power and high-temperature electronics. The phonons of $β$-Ga 2 O 3 play a crucial role in determining its important material characteristics for these applications such as its thermal transport, carrier mobility, and breakdown voltage. In this work, we apply predictive calculations based on density functional theory and density functional perturbation theory to understand the vibrational properties, phonon-phonon interactions, and electron-phonon coupling of $β$-Ga 2 O 3 . We calculate the directionally dependent phonon dispersion, including the effects of LO-TO splitting and isotope substitution, and quantify the frequencies of the infrared and Raman-active modes, the sound velocities, and the heat capacity of the material. Our calculated optical-mode Grüneisen parameters reflect the anharmonicity of the monoclinic crystal structure of $β$-Ga 2 O 3 and help explain its low thermal conductivity. We also evaluate the electron-phonon coupling matrix elements for the lowest conduction band to determine the phonon mode that limits the mobility at room temperature, which we identified as a polar-optical mode with a phonon energy of 29 meV. We further apply these matrix elements to estimate the breakdown field of $β$-Ga 2 O 3 . Our theoretical characterization of the vibrational properties of $β$-Ga 2 O 3 highlights its viability for high-power electronic applications and provides a path for experimental development of materials for improved performance in devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantitative characterization of high temperature oxidation using electron tomography and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

We report quantitative characterization of the high temperature oxidation process by using electron tomography and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. As a proof of principle, we performed 3D imaging of the oxidation layer of a model system (Mo 3 Si) at nanoscale resolution with elemental specificity and probed the oxidation kinetics as a function of the oxidation time and the elevated temperature. Our tomographic reconstructions provide detailed 3D structural information of the surface oxidation layer of the Mo 3 Si system, revealing the evolution of oxidation behavior of Mo 3 Si from early stage to mature stage. Based on the relative rate of oxidation of Mo 3 Si, the volatilization rate of MoO 3 and reactive molecular dynamics simulations, we propose a model to explain the mechanism of the formation of the porous silica structure during the oxidation process of Mo 3 Si. We expect that this 3D quantitative characterization method can be applied to other material systems to probe their structure-property relationships in different environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

3D Porous Graphitic Nanocarbon for Enhancing Performance and Durability of Pt Catalysts: Balance between Graphitization and Hierarchical Porosity

Carbon supports used in oxygen-reduction cathode catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are vulnerable to corrosion under harsh operating conditions, leading to poor performance durability. To address this issue, we have developed a highly stable porous graphitic carbon (PGC) produced through pyrolysis of a 3D polymer hydrogel in combination with Mn. The resulting PGC features multilayer carbon sheets assembled in porous and flower-like morphologies. In-situ high-temperature electron microscopy was employed to dynamically monitor the carbonization process up to 1100°C, suggesting that 3D polymer hydrogel provides high porosity at multiple scales, and that Mn catalyzes the graphitization process more effectively than other metals. Compared to conventional carbons such as Vulcan, Ketjenblack, and graphitized carbon, the PGC provides an improved balance between high graphitization and hierachical porosity, which is favorable for uniform Pt nanoparticle dispersion and enhanced corrosion resistance. As a result, Pt supported on PGC exhibits remarkably enhanced stability. In addition to thorough testing in aqueous electrolytes, we also conducted fuel cell testing using durability protocols recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). After 5000 voltage cycles from 1.0 to 1.5 V, the Pt/PGC catalyst only lost 9 mV at a current density of 1.5 A/cm 2 , dramatically exceeding the DOE support durability target (<30 mV), and surpassing commercial Pt/C catalysts. Along with the enhanced carbon corrosion resistance of the PGC support, the enhanced catalyst-support interactions are beneficial for stability improvement, likely due to nitrogen doping into carbon, which was further elucidated through X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Thus, the high stability and activity of PGC-based Pt catalysts are attributed to the combination of high graphitization degree, favorable surface areas and porosity, and nitrogen doping, which effectively stabilize highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

THE REST-FRAME OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF LY α -EMITTERS AT z ∼ 2.5: THE PHYSICAL ORIGINS OF STRONG LY α EMISSION

We present the rest-frame optical spectroscopic properties of 60 faint ( R {sub AB} ∼ 27; L ∼ 0.1 L {sub *}) Ly α -selected galaxies (LAEs) at z ≈ 2.56. These LAEs also have rest-UV spectra of their Ly α emission line morphologies, which trace the effects of interstellar and circumgalactic gas on the escape of Ly α photons. We find that the LAEs have diverse rest-optical spectra, but their average spectroscopic properties are broadly consistent with the extreme low-metallicity end of the populations of continuum-selected galaxies selected at z ≈ 2–3. In particular, the LAEs have extremely high [O iii] λ 5008/H β ratios (log([O iii]/H β ) ∼ 0.8) and low [N ii] λ 6585/H α ratios (log([N ii]/H α ) < 1.15). Coupled with a detection of the [O iii] λ 4364 auroral line, these measurements indicate that the star-forming regions in faint LAEs are characterized by high electron temperatures (T{sub e} ≈ 1.8 × 10{sup 4} K), low oxygen abundances (12 + log(O/H) ≈ 8.04, Z{sub neb} ≈ 0.22 Z {sub ⊙}), and high excitations with respect to their more luminous continuum-selected analogs. Several of our faintest LAEs have line ratios consistent with even lower metallicities, including six with 12 + log(O/H) ≈ 6.9–7.4 (Z {sub neb} ≈ 0.02–0.05 Z{sub ⊙}). We interpret these observations in light of new models of stellar evolution (including binary interactions) that have been shown to produce long-lived populations of hot, massive stars at low metallicities. We find that strong, hard ionizing continua are required to reproduce our observed line ratios, suggesting that faint galaxies are efficient producers of ionizing photons and important analogs of reionization-era galaxies. Furthermore, we investigate the physical trends accompanying Ly α emission across the largest current sample of combined Ly α and rest-optical galaxy spectroscopy, including both the 60 KBSS-Ly α LAEs and 368 more luminous galaxies at similar redshifts. We find that the net Ly α emissivity (parameterized by the Ly α equivalent width) is strongly correlated with nebular excitation and ionization properties and weakly correlated with dust attenuation, suggesting that metallicity plays a strong role in determining the observed properties of these galaxies by modulating their stellar spectra, nebular excitation, and dust content.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Boron Arsenide (B12As2) Between 25 C and 850 C

The semiconductor boron arsenide has a high 10B density, a wide bandgap, and a high melting temperature, all of which make it an interesting candidate for high-temperature electronic devices and radiation detectors. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the coefficients of thermal expansion for boron arsenide. B12As2 powder was synthesized from boron and arsenic heated in a sealed quartz ampoule at 1100 C for 72 hrs with excess boron. Using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) between 25 C and 850 C, the average lattice coefficients of thermal expansion were measured perpendicular and parallel to the <111> axis in the rhombohedral setting (equivalent to the a and c axes in the hexagonal setting): 4.9x10-6 K-1 and 5.3x10-6 K-1, respectively. The average unit cell volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion was determined to be 1.5x10-5 K-1.

B6As↗

Plasma heating by electron cyclotron wave and the temperature effects on lower hybrid current drive on EAST

This paper presents the progress in the long—pulse operation of the electron cyclotron (EC) system and the achievements in high—electron temperature plasmas by the combined EC and lower hybrid (LH) waves heating since the EC system was built in 2015. An electron temperature of up to 12 keV with a duration over 100 s was realized by the simultaneous heating of EC and LH waves at the line-averaged density ${\bar n_{\text{e}}}$ ~1.8 × 10 19 m –3 . The plasma heating effect strongly depends on the location of EC power deposition. H-mode plasmas with solely EC wave auxiliary heating have been obtained on EAST for the first time. These H-mode discharges show an enhanced confinement factor H 98(y,2) around 1.0, which is higher than the previous H-mode using LH power alone (Xu et al 2011 Nucl. Fusion 51 072001). The total heating power is very close to the threshold value for L–H transition according to the international tokamak scaling. In addition to the temperature effects inside the separatrix, higher electron temperature produced by EC wave is found to reduce the LH power loss in the scrape-off layer due to collisional absorption, which is beneficial to further increase the LH current drive efficiency. Ray-tracing/Fokker–Planck modeling results indicate that higher electron temperature can shorten the LH wave propagation on EAST in a multiple-pass regime, thus decreasing the collisional dissipation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Nonthermal components of low energy electrons in the ionospheric E and F region

Rocket-borne instrument observations of very low energy electrons' energy distribution in the ionospheric E and F regions showed the regions to exist where an enhanced, high energy tail of thermal electrons appeared. One such appearance was amid a region of high electron temperature, T(e),associated with the Sq anomaly, where there were large T(e) deviations from the neutral temperature. The associated electron heating was most intense at 107 km, gradually decreasing toward 130 km, where both the T(e) and the excess high energy tail became small. In the second region, excess electrons appeared in the high energy tail at 135 km, reached an intensity peak at 150 km, and gradually decreased toward 210 km. It is suggested that the anomalously elevated T(e) and the enhanced energy tail in the first region were locally generated by some dynamo current-related mechanism distinct from Joule heating. The second region's high energy tail is also related to ionospheric currents.

Oyama, K. I.↗

Real-Time Evolution of the Electron Clouds of Transition Metal Ions: Possible Electron-Pairing Medium in Unconventional High-Temperature Superconductors

The electron-pairing mechanism in unconventional high-temperature superconductors (HTS) has not been resolved. We proposed that the electron-pairing medium of unconventional HTS is the change of the electron clouds of transition metal ions, which is analogous to the lattice vibration in conventional superconductors. Real-time evolution of the electron clouds of transition metal ions under excitations in La{sub 2}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2}O{sub 2}, FeSe sheet, and HgBa{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 8} was calculated by the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The characteristic frequencies are 160 meV, 190 meV, and 250 meV, respectively. The frequencies are close to that of the lattice vibration in conventional HTS at high pressures, showing that the change of the electron clouds of the transition metal ions can be the electron-pairing medium.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Accelerator-based fusion with a low temperature target

Neutron generators are in use in a number of scientific and commercial endeavors. They function by triggering fusion reactions between accelerated ions (usually deuterons) and a stationary cold target (e.g., containing tritium). This setup has the potential to generate energy. It has been shown that if the energy transfer between injected ions and target electrons is sufficiently small, net energy gain can be achieved. Three possible avenues are: (a) a hot target with high electron temperature, (b) a cold non-neutral target with an electron deficiency, or (c) a cold target with a high Fermi energy. A study of the third possibility is reported in light of recent research that points to a new phase of hydrogen, which is hypothesized to be related to metallic hydrogen. As such, the target is considered to be composed of nuclei and delocalized electrons. The electrons are treated as conduction electrons, with the average minimum excitation energy being approximately equal to 40% of the Fermi energy. The Fermi energy is directly related to the electron density. Preliminary results indicate that if the claimed electron densities in the new phase of hydrogen were achieved in a target, the energy transfer to electrons would be small enough to allow net energy gain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Measurement of Absolute Excitation Cross Sections in Highly-Charged Ions Using Electron Energy Loss and Merged Beams

There is increasing emphasis during this decade on understanding energy balance and phenomena observed in high electron temperature plasmas. The UV spectral return from FUSE, the X-ray spectral return from the HETG on Chandra and the LETGS 011 XMM-Newton are just beginning. Line emissions are almost entirely from highly-charged ions (HCIs) of C, N, 0, Ne, Mg, S, Si, Ca, and Fe. The Constellation-X mission will provide X-ray spectroscopy up to photon energies of 0.12 nm (10 keV) where primary line emitters will be HCIs. A variety of atomic parameters are required to model the stellar and solar plasma. These include cross sections for excitation, ionization, charge-exchange, X-ray emission, direct and indirect recombination, lifetimes and branching ratios, and dependences on l, m mixing by external E and B fields. In almost all cases the atomic quantities are calculated, and few comparisons to experiment have been carried out. Collision strengths and Einstein A-values are required to convert the observed spectral intensities to electron temperatures and densities in the stellar plasma. The JPL electron energy-loss and merged beam approach has been used to measure absolute collision strengths in a number of ions, with critical comparison made to the best available theories.

Chutjian, A.↗

Sheath oscillation characteristics and effect on near-wall conduction in a krypton Hall thruster

Despite its affordability, the krypton Hall-effect thruster in applications always had problems in regard to performance. The reason for this degradation is studied from the perspective of the near-wall conductivity of electrons. Using the particle-in-cell method, the sheath oscillation characteristics and its effect on near-wall conduction are compared in the krypton and xenon Hall-effect thrusters both with wall material composed of BNSiO{sub 2}. Comparing these two thrusters, the sheath in the krypton-plasma thruster will oscillate at low electron temperatures. The near-wall conduction current is only produced by collisions between electrons and wall, thereby causing a deficiency in the channel current. The sheath displays spatial oscillations only at high electron temperature; electrons are then reflected to produce the non-oscillation conduction current needed for the krypton-plasma thruster. However, it is accompanied with intensified oscillations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Nuclear burst plasma injection into the magnetosphere and resulting spacecraft charging

The passage of debris from a high altitude ( 400 km) nuclear burst over the ionospheric plasma is found to be capable of exciting large amplitude whistler waves which can act to structure a collisionless shock. This instability will occur in the loss cone exits of the nuclear debris bubble, and the accelerated ambient ions will freestream along the magnetic field lines into the magnetosphere. Using Starfish-like parameters and accounting for plasma diffusion and thermalization of the propagating plasma mass, it is found that synchronous orbit plasma fluxes of high temperature electrons (near 10 keV) will be significantly greater than those encountered during magnetospheric substorms. These fluxes will last for sufficiently long periods of time so as to charge immersed bodies to high potentials and arc discharges to take place.

Pavel, A. L.↗