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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2010

The {sup 12}C({alpha}, {gamma}){sup 16}O E2 cross section at stellar energies

The E2 component of the {sup 12}C({alpha}, {gamma}){sup 16}O cross section is investigated by a microscopic cluster model, and by R-matrix fits. The first approach provides S{sub E2}(300 keV){approx_equal}50 keV-b for ground-state transitions. In the R-matrix theory, we show that the background term plays a crucial role, and cannot be determined without ambiguity. Only an upper limit on the extrapolated S factor can be obtained [S{sub E2}(300 keV)<190 keV-b]. To constrain the R-matrix analysis, we use the GCM Asymptotic Normalization Constant (ANC) of the 2{sub 1}{sup +} level. This procedure strongly reduces the uncertainties on the R-matrix fit, and we end up with a recommended value of S{sub E2}(300 keV) =42{+-}2 keV-b. As ANC values derived from indirect methods are not consistent with the {sup 12}C({alpha}, {gamma}){sup 16}O cascade transitions to the 2{sub 1}{sup +} state, we suggest a remeasurement of this cross section.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2010

An A{sub r} threesome: Matrix models, 2d conformal field theories, and 4dN=2 gauge theories

We explore the connections between three classes of theories: A{sub r} quiver matrix models, d=2 conformal A{sub r} Toda field theories, and d=4N=2 supersymmetric conformal A{sub r} quiver gauge theories. In particular, we analyze the quiver matrix models recently introduced by Dijkgraaf and Vafa (unpublished) and make detailed comparisons with the corresponding quantities in the Toda field theories and the N=2 quiver gauge theories. We also make a speculative proposal for how the matrix models should be modified in order for them to reproduce the instanton partition functions in quiver gauge theories in five dimensions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Validity of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation in the indirect-dissociative-recombination process

An alternative method is introduced to solve a simple two-dimensional model describing vibrational excitation and dissociation processes during the electron-molecule collisions. The model works with one electronic and one nuclear degree of freedom. The two-dimensional R matrix can be constructed simultaneously on the electronic and nuclear surfaces using all three forms developed previously for electron-atom and electron-molecule collisions. These are the eigenchannel R-matrix form, inversion technique of Nesbet and Robicheaux, and the Wigner-Eisenbud-type form using expansion over the poles of the symmetrized Hamiltonian. The 2D R-matrix method is employed to solve a simple model tailored to describe the dissociative recombination and the vibrational excitation of H 2 + cation in the singlet ungerade symmetry 1 Σ u . These results then serve as a (near-exact) benchmark for the following calculation in which the R-matrix states are replaced by their Born-Oppenheimer approximations. Furthermore, the accuracy of this approach and its correction with the first-order nonadiabatic couplings are discussed.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fe xvii Opacity at Solar Interior Conditions

A recent study of Fe xvii R-matrix calculations aimed at resolving outstanding opacity problems claimed that substantial photon absorption from atomic core ionization processes was not previously considered. It is shown, however, that major opacity models already include cross-sections that are equivalent to the enhancements reported by the R-matrix method. Furthermore, the R-matrix calculations neglected important cross-sections that help to explain why the resultant opacity is lower than other models in the spectral range measured in transmission experiments relevant to the solar interior.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Correcting Quadrupole Roll in Magnetic Lenses with Skew Quadrupoles

Quadrupole rolls (i.e. rotation around the magnet axis) are known to be a significant source of image blurring in magnetic quadrupole lenses. These rolls may be caused by errors in mechanical mounting of quadrupoles, by uneven radiation-induced demagnetization of permanent-magnet quadrupoles, etc. Here a four-quadrupole ×10 lens with so-called ”Russian” or A -B B-A symmetry is used as a model problem. Existing SLAC 1/2 in. bore high-gradient quadrupoles are used in the design. The dominant quadrupole roll effect is changes in the first-order part of the transfer map (the R matrix) from the object to the image plane (Note effects on the R matrix can be of first order in rotation angle for some R-matrix elements and second order in rotation angle for other elements, as shown below). It is possible to correct roll-induced image blur by mechanically adjusting the roll angle of one or more of the quadrupoles. Usually, rotation of one quadrupole is sufficient to correct most of the combined effect of rolls in all four quadrupoles. There are drawbacks to this approach, however, since mechanical roll correction requires multiple entries into experimental area to make the adjustments, which are made according to their effect on images. An alternative is to use a single electromagnetic skew quadrupole corrector placed either between two of the quadrupoles or after the fourth quadrupole (so-called “non-local” correction). The basic feasibility of skew quadrupole correction of quadrupole roll effects is demonstrated here. Rolls of the third lens quadrupole of up to about 1 milliradian can be corrected with a 15 cm long skew quadrupole with a gradient of up to 1 T/m. Since the effect of rolls of the remaining three lens quadrupoles are lower, a weaker skew quadrupole can be used to correct them. Non-local correction of quadrupole roll effects by skew quadrupoles is shown to be about one-half as effective as local correction (i.e. rotating individual quadrupoles to zero roll angle or placing skew quadrupole correctors in the bores of main quadrupoles).

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Astrophysical S factor for the {sup 15}N(p,{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction

The R-matrix approach has proved to be very useful in extrapolating the astrophysical factor down to astrophysically relevant energies, since the majority of measurements are not available in this region. However, such an approach has to be critically considered when no complete knowledge of the reaction model is available. To get reliable results in such cases one has to use all the available information from independent sources and, accordingly, fix or constrain variations of the parameters. In this paper we present a thorough R-matrix analysis of the {sup 15}N(p,{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction, which provides a path from the CN cycle to the CNO bi-cycle and CNO tri-cycle. The measured astrophysical factor for this reaction is dominated by resonant capture through two strong J{sup {pi}}=1{sup -} resonances at E{sub R}=312 and 962 keV and direct capture to the ground state. Recently, a new measurement of the astrophysical factor for the {sup 15}N(p,{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction has been published [P. J. LeBlanc et al., Phys. Rev. C 82, 055804 (2010)]. The analysis has been done using the R-matrix approach with unconstrained variation of all parameters including the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC). The best fit has been obtained for the square of the ANC C{sup 2}=539.2 fm{sup -1}, which exceeds the previously measured value by a factor of {approx_equal}3. Here we present a new R-matrix analysis of the Notre Dame-LUNA data with the fixed within the experimental uncertainties square of the ANC C{sup 2}=200.34 fm{sup -1}. Rather than varying the ANC we add the contribution from a background resonance that effectively takes into account contributions from higher levels. Altogether we present ten fits, seven unconstrained and three constrained. For the unconstrained fit with the boundary condition B{sub c}=S{sub c}(E{sub 2}), where E{sub 2} is the energy of the second level, we get S(0)=39.0{+-}1.1 keVb and normalized {chi}-tilde{sup 2}=1.84, i.e., the result which is similar to LeBlanc et al. From all our fits we get the range 33.1{<=}S(0){<=}40.1 keVb which overlaps with the result of LeBlanc et al. We address also the physical interpretation of the fitting parameters.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

140,142 Ce Neutron Cross Section Resolved Resonance Region Evaluation

A resolved resonance region evaluation of 140,142 Ce was conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Requested by the US Nuclear Criticality Safety Program, this evaluation is based on recent high-resolution transmission and capture high-resolution measurements of nat Ce and 142 Ce conducted at JRC-Geel at the Geel Linear Accelerator facility. It is also based on recently measured thermal constants available from the EX FOR database. Starting from the resonance parameters from the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library and following a preliminary R-matrix analysis, an updated set of resonance parameters and corresponding covariance in formation was derived by the fit of these experimental datasets using the Reich–Moore approximation of the R-matrix theory, as implemented in the SAMMY code system. The resolved resonance region upper energy limit for 140 Ce was kept at 200 keV, whereas the 142 Ce resonance region was extended from 13 to 26 keV. This new evaluation was found to be in good agreement not only with several integral quantities of interest to the reactor physics community, but also with the stellar Maxwellian-averaged cross section.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Inner-shell photoionization of free and confined Mg in the region of the 2p thresholds

In this work, photoionization of the free and confined Mg (Mg@C 60 ) have been calculated in the vicinity of the inner-shell 2p thresholds using R -matrix at the Breit–Pauli R -matrix level with a particular emphasis on the various resonance series leading up to the two lowest inner-shell thresholds and the changes resulting from the confinement. For free Mg, the calculated resonance positions agree well with NIST values, and a number of new resonances are identified. For confined Mg, the calculation was done for various depths of the confining potential well in order to follow the trajectories of the resonances as a function of well depth. The results for the well depth corresponding to Mg@C 60 showed that most of the resonances moved to higher photon energy, as a result of the confinement, but a few moved to lower energies. This phenomenology was found to result from the fact that the 3p, 3d and 4s excitations are trapped by the confining potential well, while the higher excitations were not.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Low energy scattering cross section ratios of N 14 ( p , p ) N 14

Background: The slowest reaction in the first CNO cycle is 14 N(p, γ) 15 O, therefore its rate determines the overall energy production efficiency of the entire cycle. The cross section presents several strong resonance contributions, especially for the ground-state transition. Some of the properties of the corresponding levels in the 15 O compound nucleus remain uncertain, which affects the uncertainty in extrapolating the capture cross section to the low energy range of astrophysical interest. Purpose: The 14 N (p, γ) 15 O cross section can be described by using the phenomenological R matrix. Over the energy range of interest, only the proton and γ-ray channels are open. Since resonance capture makes significant contributions to the 14 N (p, γ) 15 O cross section, resonant proton scattering data can be used to provide additional constraints on the R-matrix fit of the capture data. Methods: A 4 MV KN Van de Graaff accelerator was used to bombard protons onto a windowless gas target containing enriched 14 N gas over the proton energy range from E p =1.0 to 3.0 MeV. Scattered protons were detected at θ lab = 90,120°,135 °,150°, and 160° using ruggedized silicon detectors. In addition, a 10 MV FN Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator was used to accelerate protons onto a solid Adenine ( C 5 H 5 N 5 ) target, of natural isotopic abundance, evaporated onto a thin self-supporting carbon backing, over the energy range from E p = 1.8 to 4.0 MeV. Scattered protons were detected at 28 angles between θ lab = 30. 4° and 167. 7° by using silicon photodiode detectors. Results: Relative cross sections were extracted from both measurements. While the relative cross sections do not provide as much constraint as absolute measurements, they greatly reduce the dependence of the data on otherwise significant systematic uncertainties, which are more difficult to quantify. The data are fit simultaneously using an R-matrix analysis and level energies and proton widths are extracted. Even with relative measurements, the statistics and large angular coverage of the measurements result in more confident values for the energies and proton widths of several levels; in particular, the broad resonance at E c.m. = 2.21 MeV, which corresponds to the 3/2 + level at E x = 9.51 MeV in 15 O. In particular, the s - and d -wave angular-momentum channels are separated. Conclusion: The relative cross sections provide a consistent set of data that can be used to better constrain a full multichannel R-matrix extrapolation of the capture data. It has been demonstrated how the scattering data reduce the uncertainty through a preliminary Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis, but several other issues remain that make large contributions to the uncertainty, which must be addressed by further capture and lifetime measurements.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1997

Computational Study of Electron-Molecule Collisions Related to Low-Temperature Plasmas

Computational study of electron-molecule collisions not only complements experimental measurements, but can also be used to investigate processes not readily accessible experimentally. A number of ab initio computational methods are available for these types of calculations. Here we describe a recently developed technique, the finite element Z-matrix method, Analogous to the R-matrix, method, it partitions the space into regions and employs real matrix elements. However, unlike the implementation of the R-matrix method commonly used in atomic and molecular physics, the Z-matrix method is fully variational. In the present implementation, a mixed basis of finite elements and Gaussians is used to represent the continuum electron, thus offering full flexibility without imposing fixed boundary conditions. Numerical examples include the electron-impact dissociation of N2 via the metastable A3Su+ state, a process which may be important in the lower thermosphere, and the dissociation of the CF radical, a process of interest to plasma etching. To understand the dissociation pathways, large scale quantum chemical calculations have been carried out for all target states which dissociate to the lowest five limits in the case of N2, and to the lowest two limits in the case of CF. For N2, the structural calculations clearly show the preference for predissociation if the initial state is the ground X1 Sg+ state, but direct dissociation appears to be preferable if the initial state is the A3Su+ state. Multi-configuration SCF target functions are used in the collisional calculation.

Huo, Winifred M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Resolved resonance region evaluations of n+ 206,207,208 Pb for fast spectrum applications

Resolved resonance region evaluations of the major isotopes of natural lead, 206 Pb, 207 Pb, 208 Pb, have been per formed to support the development of Generation IV reactors. In this study, validation of nuclear data for lead fast reactors was performed with simulations of shielding benchmarks, integral critical benchmarks, and quasi-differential scattering measurements. Sensitivity analyses of these systems showed that elastic scattering reactions above 100 keV were the dominant reactions driving system performance. The resolved resonance regions (RRRs) of the lead isotopes extend past 100 keV, making the RRR an ideal starting point to evaluate lead cross sections. Since the R-matrix requires knowledge of bound, distant, and observed resonances, it was necessary to evaluate from 10 -5 eV up to the respective limit of the RRR. The 208 Pb RRR evaluation was extended to 1.5 MeV in order to obtain resonance parameters used to calculate new elastic scattering angular distributions up to 1.5 MeV. Resonance parameter uncertainties and covariance were generated using the R-matrix code SAMMY. The new RRR parameters show a direct improvement to the scattering kernel below 1.5 MeV which in turn greatly improves fast critical experiments over ENDF/B-VIII.0.

206Pb↗
DOE OSTI2011

Calculation of Atomic Data for Astrophysics and Fusion

We report on our work program for the calculation of atomic data for astrophysical and magnetic fusion diagnostic plasma modelling. We restrict ourselves to electron-impact excitation. We look at recent work with the R-matrix method, including development of the Dirac R-matrix with pseudo-states method, as well as a new implementation of the distorted wave method within the AUTOSTRUCTURE code.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1993

Near-Threshold Rovibrational Excitation of HF by Electron Impact

The pronounced threshold peaks found in cross sections for electron-impact excitation of the vibrational levels of HF have been studied using an R-matrix method, in which electron exchange, correlation effects and polarization are included. Vibration is modelled inside the R-matrix sphere using the energy-modified adiabatic phase matrix method (EMAP). Rotation of the target molecule is treated outside the R-matrix sphere, using the frame transformation method. The external rovibronic close-coupling equations are solved by analytic methods. Analysis of the multichannel threshold structures indicates that the peaks found for rovibrational excitation of nu = 1 can be interpreted as virtual states while those for nu = 2 correspond to nuclear-excited Feshbach resonances. These two different results correspond simply to a change of sign of a small parameter that is determined by the threshold analysis. Whereas the overall shapes of the excitation peaks agree with earlier theoretical results, we have found detailed rotational fine structures for scattering energies on the order of the rotational constant above and below the opening of the vibrational channels. The partial and total cross sections for rovibrational state-to-state transitions in the energy region of the peaks are analysed. Characteristic cusp structures and excitation peaks are found at the rovibrational thresholds for transitions with small angular momentum transfer (Delta)j =0, 1 and 2. Differential cross sections are similar to recent measurements. These experimental data do not show the relatively sharp rise at the vibrational thresholds indicated by theory. Theory and experiment are in good agreement for the shape and magnitude of the angular dependence of cross sections for rovibrational state-to-state transitions, especially at larger energies.

Thummel, Helmar T.↗
DOE OSTI2011

Electron-impact ionization of moderately charged atomic ions in excited states

Nonperturbative R-matrix and perturbative distorted-wave methods are used to calculate electron-impact ionization cross sections for C{sup 3+} in excited states. Convergence studies for the cross sections of the 1s{sup 2}5s excited configuration reveal that both the R-matrix and distorted-wave methods need fairly high ejected electron angular momenta. Reasonable agreement is found between the converged R-matrix and distorted-wave cross sections. Thus, the use of the computationally less demanding distorted-wave method as a tool for the n scaling of excited-state ionization cross sections appears to be reasonable for atomic ions with charge q{>=}3.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Accurate Cross-section Calculations for Low-Energy Electron-Atom Collisions

We describe a recently developed fully relativistic B-spline R-matrix method for atomic structure as well as calculations for electron and photon collision with atoms and ions. The method is based on the solution of the many-electron Fock-Dirac equation and allows to employ non-orthogonal sets of atomic orbitals. A B-spline basis is used to generate both the target description and the R-matrix basis functions in the inner region. Employing B-splines of different orders for the large and small components prevents the appearance of spurious states in the spectrum of the Dirac equation. Using term-dependent and thus nonorthogonal sets of one-electron functions enables us to generate accurate and flexible representations of the target states and the scattering function. Our method is based upon the Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian and thus may be employed for any complex atom or ion, without the use of phenomenological core potentials. Example results from recent applications of the method for accurate calculations of low-energy electron scattering from noble gases are presented. In most cases we obtained a substantial improvement over results obtained in previous Breit-Pauli R-matrix calculations.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Connecting ground-state properties of 6 Li to each other and to scattering data

We examine the relationship between the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) of 6 Li and other low-energy observables in the α–deuteron system. Our analysis uses a set of calculations carried out within the ab initio no core shell model with continuum (NCSMC) using a variety of inter-nucleon interactions and basis sizes, and yielding 6 Li deuteron separation energies between 1.3 and 1.8 MeV (Hebborn et al 2022 Phys. Rev. Lett. 129 042503). These NCSMC calculations show that the square of the ANC is strongly correlated with the separation energy over this range. In this work, we investigate the origin of this correlation using the phenomenological R-matrix, a single-channel potential and a perturbative approach. We show that this correlation occurs because the depth of the α–deuteron central potential changes by only a small relative amount as the separation energy varies. We then investigate if the ANC can be accurately extracted from α–deuteron phase shifts in an ideal case in which low-energy data are available and there are no experimental errors. We find that both R-matrix and Coulomb-modified effective-range theory (CM-ERE) yield extracted ANCs close to, although not exactly equal to, the NCSMC value, provided the extrapolation is constrained by the known position of the bound-state pole and at least three terms are included in the fit function. The R-matrix approach converges faster than the CM-ERE as the number of parameters increases and is also more robust against the inclusion of low-energy and high-energy phase shift data. Finally, our study also shows that a naive quantification of uncertainties by comparing different truncations used in both theories is not accurate, and suggests the accuracy of ANCs extracted from phase shift data needs further investigation.

R-matrix↗
DOE OSTI2021

Investigation of secondary γ -ray angular distributions using the N 15 ( p , α 1 γ ) C * 12 reaction

The observation of secondary γ-rays provides an alternative method of measuring cross sections that populate excited final states in nuclear reactions. The angular distributions of these γ-rays also provide information on the underlying reaction mechanism. Despite a large amount of data of this type in the literature, publicly available R-matrix codes do not have the ability to calculate these types of angular distributions. In this report, the mathematical formalism derived in Brune and deBoer is implemented in the R-matrix code AZURE2 and calculations are compared with previous data from the literature for the 15 N( p, α1γ ) 12 C* reaction. In addition, new measurements, made at the University of Notre Dame Nuclear Science Laboratory using the Hybrid Array of Gamma Ray Detectors (HAGRiD), are reported that span an energy range from E p = 0.88 to 4.0 MeV. Excellent agreement between data and the phenomenological fit is obtained up to the limit of the previous fit at E p = 2.0 MeV and the R-matrix fit is extended from E x ≈ 13.5 up to E x ≈ 15.3 MeV, where 15 N+p and 12 C+α reactions are fit simultaneously for the first time. An excellent reproduction of the 15 N( p, α1γ ) 12 C* and 12 C(α, α) 12 C data is achieved, but inconsistencies and difficulty in fitting other data is encountered and discussed.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗
DOE OSTI2021

First spectral measurement of deuterium-tritium fusion γ rays in inertial fusion experiments

Here, the R-matrix analysis of A = 5 nuclear systems has been partially validated by applying the technique to the 5 Li system and comparing the predicted γ-ray spectrum with historical data. R-matrix analysis of the similar 5 He system was then used to predict the γ-ray spectral shape for the deuterium-tritium (DT) reaction. The resulting spectra have been used in the analysis of DT implosions on the Omega laser where the γ-ray interaction rate was measured by a gas Cherenkov detector. Comparison of predictions to experiment confirmed the presence of both 16.75 and ≈ 13 MeV γ-ray contributions; analysis, using R-matrix spectra, yielded a ratio of γ-ray emission from a transition to the intermediate excited state to that from a transition to the ground state of (2.1 ± 0.4):1, substantiating the first spectral measurement of the DT fusion γ ray in an inertial fusion environment.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗