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Overview of IMPACT Data Acquisition System and Data Reduction Process

This report documents the development of the data acquisition system (DAS) and data reduction methodologies for the Irradiated Material Property Accelerated Characterization Test (IMPACT) experiment at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The IMPACT experiment is designed to enable in-pile measurement of thermal conductivity in metallic nuclear fuels, specifically U-10Zr, using an instrumented thermal conductivity probe. The DAS supports both passive temperature monitoring and active thermal interrogation of the probe through controlled AC and DC excitation. Significant modifications to laboratory-scale systems were required to accommodate the higher resistance paths associated with the in-pile application. Custom electronics and relay-controlled measurement sequencing were developed to enable the measurement and sufficient power delivery to the sensing region. A reduced-order, axisymmetric thermal model based on the thermal quadrupoles method is presented to support data interpretation. This model enables efficient evaluation of transient heat transfer behavior and facilitates solution of the inverse problem required to extract thermal properties from measured signals. Multiple boundary condition formulations are discussed to address varying experimental time scales and geometries. Additionally, machine learning techniques are introduced to support data reduction and improve confidence in inverse solutions. Convolutional neural networks are applied to identify the presence of gas gaps and other evolving geometric features that significantly impact thermal response during irradiation. These efforts contribute to the broader integration of digital twin frameworks and real-time modeling capabilities within the Advanced Fuels Campaign.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN

Evaluating Polymer Properties with Different Additives for Carbon Capture and Other Applications

Anthropogenic climate change is one of this generation’s most pressing concerns, with the potential to completely alter the delicate balance we’ve struck with nature. Already, global temperatures have risen 1.29°C, leading to disrupted weather systems, extinctions, increased risks of wildfires, and sea level rise, to name a few effects. Carbon dioxide emission from the combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial activity is a large driver of this phenomenon, as it absorbs heat before it can be radiated away from Earth, trapping it. Carbon dioxide has reached unprecedented levels in our atmosphere, showing a 50% increase from preindustrial averages to a whopping 430 ppm. Thus, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide via carbon capture technology is an important endeavor that serves to benefit everyone. The Microencapsulated CO 2 Sorbent (MECS) team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned to microencapsulation to approach this endeavor. Microcapsules provide an attractive approach to carbon capture, combining large surface areas for more efficient mass transfer, regenerative abilities, reduced solvent loss, and improved handling. Additionally, while existing carbon capture technology relies on industrial plants, capsules could present a modular approach to carbon capture, reducing the need for extensive physical infrastructure. The MECS team’s design consists of a polymer membrane that contains a liquid carbon sequestering sorbent, aqueous sodium carbonate. The carbon capturing reaction occurs in three distinct steps, the first of which is the dissolution of carbon dioxide into the sorbent solution and its conversion into carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ), shown in equations 1 and 2 respectively. Because this step hinges upon the ability of carbon dioxide to reach the solution inside the capsule, it is necessary that the microcapsule shell is permeable to carbon dioxide gas. The MECS team produces these microcapsules using the in-air droplet encapsulation apparatus (IDEA) shown in figure 1, which can produce uniform micron-scale droplets at speeds much faster than traditional single-dispersal microfluidic-based techniques. The IDEA Is 100 times faster than these current techniques and can reach up to 1000 times their speed when incorporating a multi-nozzle design. Additionally, because droplets are produced in-air via vibration, IDEA can decrease post-processing times and material waste by 99% and can fabricate microgels that are 10 to 100 times more viscous than can be produced via traditional microfluidics. While this design represents a breakthrough in the throughput, efficiency, and tunability of microcapsule production, it imposes a major constraint on the microcapsule curing process. Because microcapsule shells are crosslinked with UV light while falling 30 cm through the air, this gives them a reaction window of approximately 0.2 seconds. Thus, the system and shell formulations must be optimized such that the shells can be fully crosslinked within this very narrow window, prompting investigations into curing behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Photon-Counting Interferometry to Detect Geontropic Space-Time Fluctuations with GQuEST

The gravity from the quantum entanglement of space-time (GQuEST) experiment uses tabletop-scale Michelson laser interferometers to probe for fluctuations in space-time. We present a practicable interferometer design featuring a novel photon-counting readout method that provides unprecedented sensitivity, as it is not subject to the interferometric standard quantum limit. We evaluate the potential of this design to measure space-time fluctuations motivated by recent “geontropic” quantum gravity models. The accelerated accrual of Fisher information offered by the photon-counting readout enables GQuEST to detect the predicted quantum gravity phenomena within measurement times at least 100 times shorter than equivalent conventional interferometers. The GQuEST design, thus, enables a fast and sensitive search for signatures of quantum gravity in a laboratory-scale experiment.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND

Anomalous lattice expansion of bcc Ta in helium-loaded diamond anvil cells

Anomalous lattice expansion of bcc Ta is observed in helium-loaded diamond anvil cell (DAC) experiments near 6 GPa and above 400 K, while co-loaded W, Mo, and Au exhibit normal thermal expansion. The Ta volume expansion increases with temperature, reaching ~14% near 650 K before plateauing, and is largely retained after recovery to ambient conditions. Time-resolved measurements at 500 K reveal progressive expansion over several hours, consistent with gradual, thermally activated He incorporation. The largely retained expansion during subsequent cooling and holding at 400 K indicates that the incorporated He is predominantly kinetically trapped. The data reveal two distinct regimes: below ~550 K, modest and spatially uniform expansion consistent with interstitial He trapping at isolated, randomly distributed vacancies; above ~550 K, He-vacancy cluster growth producing dramatically larger expansion, peak broadening, and a core–shell microstructure revealed by micron-resolution X-ray diffraction mapping. These results demonstrate that He is not always a passive pressure medium in DAC experiments and reveal a previously unrecognized regime of He-mediated lattice modification in Ta, complementing conventional ion-implantation studies relevant to nuclear and fusion structural materials.

Diamond anvil cell

X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy in High Temperature Oxidation of Metals and Alloys

An experimental technique is described that allows for the joint study of the kinetics and of the oxide structure during the high temperature oxidation of metal surfaces. Oxygen is supplied at the metal through an electrochemical oxygen pump and the oxygen pressure, at the metal surface, is measured during oxidation by a YSZ (yttria stabilized zirconia) oxygen sensor. XAS (x-ray absorption spectroscopy) is performed in fluorescence mode at the cation K edge and after each oxidation step. An appropriate analysis of the XAS spectra could provide information on both the oxidation kinetics and oxide structure. Experimental data on the high temperature oxidation of nickel, cobalt, and Fe(64%)Ni(36%) alloy, at low oxygen pressure, are reported and analyzed according to the proposed data reduction. These results indicate the presented technique to be particularly suitable for studying the hot corrosion of oxide film too thick for common surface spectroscopy (AUGER, ESCA) and too thin for conventional thermogravimetric technique.

Daniele Gozzi

Performance of Two Battery Prognostic Applications used by Two Octocopters for Safe Low Altitude Autonomous Flight Operations

This paper addresses the problem of building trust in online predictions of the remaining available flying time for two different electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (eUAVs) powered by lithium-ion-polymer batteries. Flight tests for various automation research missions for the two vehicles were monitored using two on-board battery health management applications to make predictions of the remaining flying time (RFT) for each eUAV and to predict the state of the battery. Playback of the voltage, current and temperature profiles of the battery discharge were used to assess the accuracy of the estimation of the voltage and the charge states of the models as well as the estimate of the RFT. The reference ground truth values were the observed landing time and the measured battery pack resting pack voltage 20 minutes after the flight. The predicted RFT, state of charge (SoC), and state of energy (SoE) were compared with the observed results. Noise values of one standard deviation from the mean values of the internal charge states of the battery model during a reference run were used to vary the states during simulation. One application used an equivalent circuit model of the electrical dynamics of the battery pack, and the other application used a reduced-order electrochemistry model. The variation of the model state components was compared to the variation in the estimate of the RFT and the variation in the SoE to estimate a confidence factor. Variation in the estimates caused by factors affecting the off-line laboratory parameter identification experiments is considered. Variation in the estimates due to environmental factors are discussed.

Assurance

Model Correlation and Thermal Analysis of xEMU Boot at Lunar South Pole Temperatures

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis program plans to send astronauts to the lunar south pole, a region of the moon that is colder than previous lunar missions and low earth orbit operations. The spacesuit boots that will be used on these missions will be directly impacted by these extremely cold temperatures (down to ~50 K). To assess the performance of the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) lunar boot in these extreme temperatures, the boot was tested at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in the Cryogenic Ice Transfer, Acquisition Development, and Excavation Laboratory (CITADEL) thermal vacuum (TVAC) chamber. This data was used to correlate thermal models to predict operational performance of the boots on the lunar south pole. This paper documents the data analysis, thermal boot model correlation, and operational predictions conducted using data from the xEMU TVAC test. Data from the test series was used to determine expected thermal conductances within the boot and between the boot and environment. These conductances were used to correlate a Thermal Desktop model of the xEMU boot across 10 different test points which varied external temperature, internal boot ventilation flowrate, and contact pressure. The correlated model was then used to predict operational performance in the lunar south pole. While the predictions indicate promising evidence for performance of the boots at the 100K test point, there is still substantial uncertainty in performance, particularly at the 48K test point. The results of this test series and model correlation stress the importance of improved testing for characterizing the expected thermal resistance between the outside of the boot and the lunar surface.

xEMU

Model Correlation and Thermal Analysis of xEMU Boot at Lunar South Pole Temperatures

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis program plans to send astronauts to the lunar south pole, a region of the moon that is colder than previous lunar missions and low earth orbit operations. The spacesuit boots that will be used on these missions will be directly impacted by these extremely cold temperatures (down to ~50 K). To assess the performance of the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) lunar boot in these extreme temperatures, the boot was tested at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in the Cryogenic Ice Transfer, Acquisition Development, and Excavation Laboratory (CITADEL) thermal vacuum (TVAC) chamber. This data was used to correlate thermal models to predict operational performance of the boots on the lunar south pole. This paper documents the data analysis, thermal boot model correlation, and operational predictions conducted using data from the xEMU TVAC test. Data from the test series was used to determine expected thermal conductances within the boot and between the boot and environment. These conductances were used to correlate a Thermal Desktop model of the xEMU boot across 10 different test points which varied external temperature, internal boot ventilation flowrate, and contact pressure. The correlated model was then used to predict operational performance in the lunar south pole. While the predictions indicate promising evidence for performance of the boots at the 100K test point, there is still substantial uncertainty in performance, particularly at the 48K test point. The results of this test series and model correlation stress the importance of improved testing for characterizing the expected thermal resistance between the outside of the boot and the lunar surface.

thermal analysis

Effects of high-dose neutron irradiation at light-water reactor relevant temperature on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites

For this study, the neutron dose-dependent evolutions and the underlying mechanisms of properties of SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites at a temperature relevant to light-water reactors (∼600 K) were investigated and analyzed. Chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC/SiC composites reinforced with Hi-Nicalon Type S or Tyranno SA3 fiber were neutron-irradiated to doses up to 30 dpa. The irradiated composites retained their flexural strengths. The thermal diffusivity and dimensional changes were mostly retained from 2.0 to 30.2 dpa. Discrepancies in irradiation responses among CVI SiC/SiC composites from different sources were found. Additional microstructural analysis using Raman spectroscopy and numerical analysis on irradiation effect on residual stress were used to explain how the microstructural variables, especially of carbon interphases, affect the mechanical properties in the 30–40 dpa dose range.

Continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composi

Biobased Polybenzoxazine Derived from Furfurylamine and Piceol with Low Cure Temperature and Advanced Properties for Composite Matrices

A novel benzoxazine made from furfurylamine, paraformaldehyde, and piceol, Bz-FA-HA, is assessed for applications in fiber reinforced (FR) composites. Piceol is a biobased phenolic compound derived from the roots of Norwegian spruce trees and contains a methyl ketone group at the para position. Bz-FA-HA is a liquid at room temperature, has a viscosity of < 1 Pa.s at temperatures above 90 °C, and a Tonset of cure at 132 °C. The carbonyl is found to react with the furan ring, yielding a crosslinking reaction, when cured above 180 °C as indicated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Poly(Bz-FA-HA) has a Tg > 350 °C, attributed to the crosslinking reaction. Furthermore, the storage modulus is > 3 GPa, regardless of cure temperature. Poly(Bz-FA-HA) has a char yield at 800 °C of 65.0 % (62.3 % at 1000 °C), and a Tonset of decomposition of 357 °C in nitrogen. The resulting carbon formed during pyrolysis shrinks during the carbonization reaction and scanning electron microscopy imaging shows a cross-section with micro cracks. The high processability, advanced mechanical properties, and exceptional char yield make it a promising candidate as the matrix for FR composites.

Benzoxazine

Phonon screening and dissociation of excitons at finite temperatures from first principles

The properties of excitons, or correlated electron–hole pairs, are of paramount importance to optoelectronic applications of materials. A central component of exciton physics is the electron–hole interaction, which is commonly treated as screened solely by electrons within a material. However, nuclear motion can screen this Coulomb interaction as well, with several recent studies developing model approaches for approximating the phonon screening of excitonic properties. While these model approaches tend to improve agreement with experiment, they rely on several approximations that restrict their applicability to a wide range of materials, and thus far they have neglected the effect of finite temperatures. Here, we develop a fully first-principles, parameter-free approach to compute the temperature-dependent effects of phonon screening within the ab initio GW -Bethe–Salpeter equation framework. We recover previously proposed models of phonon screening as well-defined limits of our general framework, and discuss their validity by comparing them against our first-principles results. We develop an efficient computational workflow and apply it to a diverse set of semiconductors, specifically AlN, CdS, GaN, MgO, and SrTiO 3 . We demonstrate under different physical scenarios how excitons may be screened by multiple polar optical or acoustic phonons, how their binding energies can exhibit strong temperature dependence, and the ultrafast timescales on which they dissociate into free electron–hole pairs.

Science & Technology - Other Topics

Predicting Operational Performance of xEMU Boot at Lunar South Pole Temperatures using Thermal Desktop ®

The spacesuit boots that will be used on Artemis lunar south pole surface missions will be exposed to extremely cold temperatures (down to ~50 K). To assess the performance of the government’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) lunar boot in these permanently shadowed regions, testing was performed at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in the Cryogenic Ice Transfer, Acquisition Development, and Excavation Laboratory (CITADEL) thermal vacuum (TVAC) chamber. This paper documents the data analysis, thermal boot model correlation, and operational predictions conducted using data from the xEMU CITADEL TVAC test. Expected thermal conductances within the boot and between the boot and environment were calculated from test data, which was then used as an initial guess for conductances within a Thermal Desktop (TD) model. Correlation of the TD model using the internal SOLVER feature was performed across 10 different test points which varied external temperature, internal boot ventilation flowrate, and contact pressure. Operational performance at the lunar south pole was then predicted using results from the correlated model. While the predictions provide evidence for acceptable performance of the boots at the 100K environment test point, there is still substantial uncertainty in performance, especially at the 48K test point. This uncertainty is due in part to testing limitations such as contacting the foot to a hard metal plate rather than granular regolith, and model limitations such as the lack of a realistic foot model. These limitations and their impacts are addressed in detail in this paper. The results of this test series and model correlation underscore the importance of additional improved testing and modeling for characterizing the expected thermal resistance between the outside of the boot and the lunar surface.

Spacesuit

Trajectory-independent speed limits for controlled open quantum systems

Existing quantum speed limits for controlled open quantum systems depend on the specified trajectory. For example, lower bounds on quantum annealing times in the presence of dissipation depend explicitly on the chosen annealing schedule. Recently, schedule-independent speed limits have been derived for annealing in the closed quantum system setting [L. P. García-Pintos et al ., SciPost Phys. 18 , 159 (2025)]. In this work, we generalize these results to open quantum systems, deriving schedule-independent lower bounds for quantum annealing times in systems described by a Lindblad master equation. We analyze the interplay between coherent control and dissipation in single- and two-qubit examples, demonstrating that the derived lower bounds capture key scaling behavior with respect to the strength of the dissipator. Finally, we apply the bound to thermal state preparation and show that the bound matches the expected asymptotic behavior for an Ising model in the high-temperature limit.

open quantum systems & decoherence

Evaluation of high-temperature properties of binary, eutectic Ni-X alloys (X = B, Ca, Ce, La, Y, Zr)

We investigated the high-temperature behavior of binary eutectic nickel-base alloys with low-solubility elements, towards developing alloys with new combinations of structural and functional (e.g. thermal or corrosion) properties. Based on thermodynamic screening, we cast binary near-eutectic Ni-B, Ni-Ca, Ni-Ce, Ni-La, Ni-Y, and Ni-Zr alloys and characterized their microstructure and high-temperature properties. All alloys (except Ni-Ca) contain a fine eutectic microstructure, containing submicron alternating lamellae of γ-Ni and continuous intermetallic phases. The eutectic microstructure did not significantly coarsen at 700°C (except for Ni-B), but measurably coarsened in all alloys at 900°C, most quickly in Ni-B, followed by Ni-Ce, Ni-La, Ni-Y, and Ni-Zr. Coarsening in these alloys occurs by fault migration; diffusion within the intermetallic, and its interfacial energy, likely influence coarsening kinetics. At room-temperature, all alloys possess negligible ductility due to the continuous, brittle intermetallic. At 700 and 900°C, the Ni-Zr alloy showed the best combination of strength and ductility. Oxidation experiments at 900°C on Ni-Zr and Ni-Ce revealed heavy internal oxidation of the continuous intermetallic phase. Overall, the Ni-Zr alloy showed good high-temperature coarsening resistance and strength, though ductility and oxidation resistance require improvement for use in structural applications. Possible routes for improving alloy properties via additive manufacturing are discussed.

Ekaputra, Clement [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000307166479)

Observational Requirements for the Regional Scale

Observational requirements are provided for the 'regional scale' (10 2 to 10 3 km space scale; 3 to 24 h time scale). Given this range, the regional scale represents a spatial and temporal domain in which important scale-interactive processes occur that act to concentrate large vertical wind shears, significant horizontal thermal gradients, and vertical motion patterns into narrow regions. A short review of the mass and momentum adjustments associated with jet streak-induced circulations is discussed. Evidence for the need to specify the wind field in the upper troposphere to accurately simulate forcing for the transverse circulations is also presented. The importance of specifying temperature tendency to resolve the lower tropospheric portion of the transverse circulations is highlighted. The observational requirements are then discussed, along with possible approaches for meeting the requirements on the regional scale.

Louis W Uccellini

Battery simulation program

Computer program calculates spacecraft battery energy at specific times dictated by input sequence of recharge, discharge, and no activity phases. Recharge phases are assumed during times not specified, unless batteries are fully charged. Warnings are printed when energy falls below specified level. Program assumes two identical batteries.

Abreu, A.

Plume Impingement Software Module for Real-Time Proximity Operations

Successfully executing proximity operations in space, such as docking or in-orbit servicing, requires sophisticated spacecraft design that accounts for induced environments. As a chaser vehicle’s attitude control thrusters fire, they create rarefied plumes that can impact the target vehicle, with the potential to overload components, exceed thermal limits, and spin the target vehicle out of control. High-fidelity simulations of the thruster plume impingement environment require the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, but DSMC is too computationally expensive to simulate proximity operations that involve thousands of thruster firings. For this analysis to be tractable, engineering models of the plume flowfield and impingement events are used to simulate these trajectories [1]. Currently, on-orbit plume impingement environments are modeled through an inefficient open-loop analysis cycle where the vehicle’s flight controller and plume impingement teams iterate on the trajectories until they pass the target vehicle’s plume requirements. As complex on-orbit missions evolve and become more frequent, lengthy design cycles will become operational bottlenecks. To address this gap, this work develops an advanced plume impingement module capable of operating at real-time scale that can be integrated with existing mission planning tools and onboard flight systems. The plume module leverages state-of-the-art plume simulation techniques [2] to deliver fast, physics-based impingement predictions in a software architecture that can be tailored to diverse proximity operations scenarios. A prototype of this plume impingement module is built to demonstrate the feasibility of real-time performance. This prototype completes plume impingement calculations in microseconds per target geometry mesh point. The software serves as a foundational capability for plume-aware trajectory design, operational risk assessment, and future autonomous decision-making systems.

Plume Impingement

Temperature-Dependent Transport Characteristics of 2D MoS2 Channel FETs Grown Using Salt-Based Precursors

D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs), particularly MoS2, are promising candidates for sub-10 nm Gate All Around (GAA) CMOS FETs. Salt-assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) enable lateral MoS2 growth at atmospheric pressure and low temperatures. This work analyzes salt-based precursor-driven CVD-grown MoS2 FETs at various temperatures. MoS2 was grown using Ammonium Molybdate salt, sulfurized at 750∘C, and transferred onto p−Si3/SiO2 substrates. At room temperature, threshold voltage (VT) ranged from -35 V to -25 V, with a peak drain current of 1.2μA/μm. As temperature increased above 325K, VT shifted exponentially, and carrier mobility dropped significantly. At 400 K, the gate lost channel control, though gate leakage current remained low. These results are compared with non-salt-based MoS2 growth to assess salt precursor effects.Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (https://www.energy.gov/doe-public-access-plan).

Jones, Andrew [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000233849687)