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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 OSTI2016

Gas Filled RF Resonator Hadron Beam Monitor for Intense Neutrino Beam Experiments

MW-class beam facilities are being considered all over the world to produce an intense neutrino beam for fundamental particle physics experiments. A radiation-robust beam monitor system is required to diagnose the primary and secondary beam qualities in high-radiation environments. We have proposed a novel gas-filled RF-resonator hadron beam monitor in which charged particles passing through the resonator produce ionized plasma that changes the permittivity of the gas. The sensitivity of the monitor has been evaluated in numerical simulation. A signal manipulation algorithm has been designed. A prototype system will be constructed and tested by using a proton beam at the MuCool Test Area at Fermilab.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

RF beam scattering by cylindrical filaments and interfacial density fluctuations

Radio Frequency (RF) waves are routinely used in tokamaks for heating, current drive, NTM control, as well as for diagnostics purposes. Frequently, RF waves, aiming towards the plasma core, propagate through a turbulent environment. The latter can exhibit strong coherent density fluctuations as well as filamentary structures mainly (though, not perfectly) aligned along the local magnetic field lines. The scattering process of RF waves by these structures is studied both analytically and numerically. RF waves can be either single plane waves or spatially confined beams. For that purpose, the filaments are considered to have cylindrical shape with infinite length with the cylinder axis not aligned with the local magnetic field and the results are compared to the ones from the study of the aligned case. On the other hand, the interfacial density fluctuations are considered periodic with spatial periods larger, smaller or of the same order of the wavelength of the incident RF waves. The frequency range of the RF waves studied is mainly in the Electron Cyclotron (EC) range of frequencies for ITER-like and Medium Size Tokamak applications. Furthermore, the study covers a variety of density contrasts, filament sizes and fluctuation strengths.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mitigating the Effects of Au-Al Intermetallic Compounds Due to High-Temperature Processing of Surface-Electrode Ion Traps

Stringent physical requirements need to be met for the high-performing surface-electrode ion traps used in quantum computing and timekeeping. In particular, these traps must survive a high-temperature environment for vacuum chamber preparation and support high RF voltage on closely spaced electrodes. Due to the use of gold wire bonds on aluminum pads, intermetallic growth can lead to wire bond failure via breakage or high resistance, limiting the lifetime of a trap assembly to a single multiday bake at 200 ° C. Using traditional thick metal stacks to prevent intermetallic growth, however, can result in trap failure due to RF breakdown events. Through high-temperature experiments, we conclude that an ideal metal stack for ion traps is Ti/Pt/Au (20/100/250 nm), which allows for a cumulative bakeable time of roughly 86 days without compromising the trap voltage performance. This increase in the bakeable lifetime of ion traps will remove the need to discard otherwise functional ion traps when vacuum hardware is upgraded, which will greatly benefit ion trap experiments.

Haltli, Raymond A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Frequency stabilization for mobile satellite terminals via LORAN

Digital satellite communication systems require careful management of frequency stability. Historically, frequency stability has been accomplished by continuously powered, high cost, high performance reference oscillators. Today's low cost mobile satellite communication equipment must operate under wide ranging environmental conditions, stabilize quickly after application of power, and provide adequate performance margin to overcome RF link impairments unique to the land mobile environment. Methods for frequency stabilization in land mobile applications must meet these objectives without incurring excessive performance degradation. A frequency stabilization scheme utilizing the LORAN (Long Range Navigation) system is presented.

Ernst, Gregory J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

MEMS Spaceborne Testbed

Micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) technology can significantly reduce the cost to design, launch and operate space systems. MEMS technology offers low cost, small light weight and reliable devices which can significantly reduce the size, weight and cost of spacecraft while increasing their reliability through durability and redundancy. A standard spaceborne interface/cabinet that is readily available for experiments for inexpensive testing of MEMS devices in space is discussed. The MEMS testbed will provide fixtures for holding MEMS devices, ambient environment monitoring, an assortment of available operating voltages, RF and low frequency signal inputs, sources of various gases and pressure monitors, a command and control interface computer, and a data interface which will record or transmit the data and performance parameters of these small systems.

Holderman, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2007

Expanding Hardware-in-the-Loop Formation Navigation and Control with Radio Frequency Crosslink Ranging

The Formation Flying Testbed (FFTB) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) provides a hardware-in-the-loop test environment for formation navigation and control. The facility continues to evolve as a modular, hybrid, dynamic simulation facility for end-to-end guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) design and analysis of formation flying spacecraft. The core capabilities of the FFTB, as a platform for testing critical hardware and software algorithms in-the-loop, are reviewed with a focus on recent improvements. With the most recent improvement, in support of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 testing of the Inter-spacecraft Ranging and Alarm System (IRAS) for the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, the FFTB has significantly expanded its ability to perform realistic simulations that require Radio Frequency (RF) ranging sensors for relative navigation with the Path Emulator for RF Signals (PERFS). The PERFS, currently under development at NASA GSFC, modulates RF signals exchanged between spacecraft. The RF signals are modified to accurately reflect the dynamic environment through which they travel, including the effects of medium, moving platforms, and radiated power.

Mitchell, Jason W.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Performance Comparison of Wireless Sensor Network Standard Protocols in an Aerospace Environment: ISA100.11a and ZigBee Pro

Standards-based wireless sensor network (WSN) protocols are promising candidates for spacecraft avionics systems, offering unprecedented instrumentation flexibility and expandability. Ensuring reliable data transport is key, however, when migrating from wired to wireless data gathering systems. In this paper, we conduct a rigorous laboratory analysis of the relative performances of the ZigBee Pro and ISA100.11a protocols in a representative crewed aerospace environment. Since both operate in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency (RF) band shared by systems such as Wi-Fi, they are subject at times to potentially debilitating RF interference. We compare goodput (application-level throughput) achievable by both under varying levels of 802.11g Wi-Fi traffic. We conclude that while the simpler, more inexpensive ZigBee Pro protocol performs well under moderate levels of interference, the more complex and costly ISA100.11a protocol is needed to ensure reliable data delivery under heavier interference. This paper represents the first published, rigorous analysis of WSN protocols in an aerospace environment that we are aware of and the first published head-to-head comparison of ZigBee Pro and ISA100.11a.

Wagner, Raymond S.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Superconducting RF Gun with High Current and the Capability to Generate Polarized Electron Beams

High-current low-emittance CW electron beams are indispensable for nuclear and high-energy physics fixed target and collider experiments, cooling high energy hadron beams, generating CW beams of monoenergetic X-rays (in FELs) and gamma-rays (in Compton sources). Polarization of electrons in these beams provides extra value by opening a new set of observables and frequently improving the data quality. We report on the upgrade of the unique and fully functional CW SRF 1.25 MeV SRF gun, built as part of the Coherent electron Cooling (CeC) project, which has demonstrated sustained CW operation with CsK2Sb photocathodes generating electron bunches with record-low transverse emittances and record-high bunch charge exceeding 10 nC. We propose to extend the capabilities of this system to high average current of 100 milliampere in two steps: increasing the current 30-fold at each step with the goal to demonstrate reliable long-term operation of the high-current low-emittance CW SRF guns. We also propose to test polarized GaAs photocathodes in the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment of the SRF gun, which has never been successfully demonstrated in RF accelerators.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Teleoperator systems for manned space missions

The development of remote mechanical systems to augment man's capabilities in our manned space effort is considered. A teleoperator system extends man's innate intelligence and sensory capabilities to distant hostile and hazardous environments through a manipulator-equipped spacecraft and an RF link. Examined are space teleoperator system applications in the space station/space shuttle program, which is where the most immediate need exists and the potential return is greatest.

Interian, A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A comparison of 8.415-, 32.0- and 565646-GHz deep space telemetry links

An economic and performance comparison is made of spacecraft telecommunication links at 8.415, 32.0, and 565646 GHz (0.53-micron wavelength) for the return of 3.43 x 10 to the 11th power bits from a Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe mission in year 2000. Technical performance and costs for both ends of the links are included. Spacecraft antenna or telescope efficiencies, pointing losses, ground-based or Earth-orbiting relay terminals efficiencies, noise temperatures, recurring and nonrecurring engineering, and maintenance and operations costs are modeled. Weather effects, dc-to-RF or laser power conversion efficiencies, gravity and other environment distortions gain reductions, and the cost of pointing and tracking are analyzed. The effort is focused primarily on the microwave frequency links. There are large uncertainties in the cost results, but conclusions indicate that for a mid-1990's launch, the Ka-band system is as cost effective as X-band. The Ka-band system has a data rate advantage as compared to the X-band system for the same dc power input to the spacecraft. The magnitude of the advantage is a complex function of the weather at the DSN stations and the elevation angle of the ground antenna. A simple numerical comparison of the advantage is difficult and curves are provided. The optical frequency link is more costly based on the launch-to-orbit costs for the orbiting terminal. A more detailed study of the optical system is recommended to quantify astrometric tracking benefits and improve the accuracy of the cost estimate.

Dickinson, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Measurement of satellite PCS fading using GPS

A six-channel commercial GPS receiver with a custom-made 40 deg tilted, rotating antenna has been assembled to make fade measurements for personal satellite communications. The system can measure up to two times per minute fades of up to 15 dB in the direction of each tracked satellite from 10 to 90 deg elevation. Photographic fisheye lens images were used to categorize the fade data obtained in several test locations according to fade states of clear, shadowed, or blocked. Multipath effects in the form of annular rings can be observed when most of the sky is clear. Tree fading by a Pecan exceeding 3.5 dB and 12 dB at 50 to 10 percent probability, respectively, compared with median fades of 7.5 dB measured earlier and the discrepancy is attributed to the change in ratio when measuring over an area as opposed to along a line. Data acquired inside buildings revealed 'rf-leaky' ceilings. Satellite diversity gain in a shadowed environment exceeded 6 dB at the 10 percent probability.

Vogel, Wolfhard J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Two-terminator RF adapter for background/environment noise measurement

A two-terminator RF adapter for background noise measurement in a test environment comprises a system test port comprising a system test port termination and a system test port connector to connect to a system under test; and a data acquisition port, comprising a data acquisition port termination and a data acquisition port connector to connect to a data acquisition system.

Kolski, Jeffrey↗
DOE OSTI2016

Imaging of electrical response of NiO x under controlled environment with sub-25-nm resolution

The spatially resolved electrical response of rf-sputtered polycrystalline NiO x films composed of 40 nm crystallites was investigated under different relative humidity levels (RH). The topological and electrical properties (surface potential and resistance) were characterized using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and conductive scanning probe microscopy at 0%, 50%, and 80% relative humidity with sub 25nm resolution. The surface potential of NiO x decreased by about 180 mV and resistance decreased in a nonlinear fashion by about 2 G when relative humidity was increased from 0% to 80%. The dimensionality of surface features obtained through autocorrelation analysis of topological, surface potential and resistance maps increased linearly with increased relative humidity as water was adsorbed onto the film surface. Spatially resolved surface potential and resistance of the NiO x films were found to be heterogeneous, with distinct features that grew in size from about 60 nm to 175 nm between 0% and 80% RH levels, respectively. Here, we find that the changes in the heterogeneous character of the NiO films are consistent through the topological, surface potential, and resistance measurements, suggesting that the nanoscale surface potential and resistance properties converge with the mesoscale properties as water is adsorbed onto the NiO x film.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Wireless microwave acoustic sensor system for condition monitoring in power plant environments

This project successfully demonstrated novel wireless microwave acoustic temperature and pressure sensors that can be embedded into equipment and structures located in fossil fuel power plant environments to monitor the condition of components such as steam headers, re-heat lines, water walls, burner tubes, and power turbines. The wireless microwave acoustic sensor technology researched and developed through a collaborative partnership between the University of Maine and Environetix Technologies Corporation can provide a revolutionary impact in the power industry since it is anticipated that the wireless sensors will deliver reliable real-time sensing information in harsh power plant conditions that involve temperatures up to 1100oC and pressures up to 750 psi. The work involved the research and development of novel high temperature harsh environment thin film electrodes, piezoelectric smart microwave acoustic sensing elements, sensor encapsulation materials that were engineered to function over long times up to 1100oC, and a radio-frequency (RF) wireless interrogation electronics unit that are located both inside and outside the high temperature harsh environment. The UMaine / Environetix team have interacted with diverse power plant facilities, and identified as a testbed a local power generation facility, which burns municipal solid waste (MSW), the Penobscot Energy Recovery Company (PERC), Orrington, Maine. In this facility Environetix / UMaine successfully implemented and tested multiple wireless temperature sensor systems within the harsh-environment of the economizer chamber and at the boiler tubes, transferring the developed technology to the power plant environment to perform real-time sensor monitoring experiments under typical operating conditions, as initially targeted in the project. The wireless microwave acoustic sensor technology developed under this project for power plant applications offers several significant advantages including wireless, battery-free, maintenance-free operation, and operation in the harsh-environment of power plant equipment up to about 1100 oC. Their small size and configuration allows flexible sensor placement and embedding of multiple sensor arrays into a variety of components within power systems that can be interrogated by a single RF unit. The outcomes of this project and technological transfer respond to a DOE analysis need, which indicated that if one percent efficiency in coal burning is achieved, an additional 2 gigawatt-hours of energy per year is generated and the resulting coal cost savings is $300 million per year, also accompanied by a reduction of more than 10 million metric tons of CO2 per year emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, the developed harsh environment wireless microwave acoustic sensor technology and the technological transfer achievements that resulted from the execution of this project have significant impact for power plant equipment and systems and are well-positioned to contribute to the cost reduction in power generation, the increase in power plant efficiency, the improvement in maintenance, the reduction in down-time, and the decrease in environmental pollution. The technology is also in a position to be extended to address other types of high-temperature harsh-environment power plant and energy sector sensing needs.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Data Acquisition System for RF Cavity Hadron Monitor

As Fermilab pursues intensity frontier physics, the conventional detectors are not up to the challenge of higher radiation exposure. The detectors in the NuMI beamline rely on knowing the beam composition in order to infer properties of the resultant neutrino beam. Anovel gas-filled RF cavity beam detector is proposed that will be simple and radiation robust in high-radiation environments. Charged particles passing through the cavity produce ionized plasma, which changes the permittivity of the gas and modulate the stored RF field in the cavity. The recent preliminary beam result demonstrates the proof of principle of the beam detector. In an effort to acquire a large amount of data for various cavity parameters, an automatic data acquisition(DAQ)system is designed in LabVIEW. The DAQ system utilizes a Real-Time Power meter from Boonton to acquire RF power data from the cavity.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Data Acquisition System for RF Cavity Hadron Monitor

As Fermilab pursues intensity frontier physics, the conventional detectors are not up to the challenge of higher radiation exposure. The detectors in the NuMI beamline rely on knowing the angular distribution of the secondary hadrons in order to infer properties of the resultant neutrino beam. A novel gas-filled RF cavity beam detector is proposed that will be simple and radiation robust in high-radiation environments. Charged particles passing through the cavity produce ionized plasma, which changes the permittivity of the gas and modulate the stored RF field in the cavity. The preliminary beam test of an RF cavity demonstrates the proof of principle of the beam detector. In an effort to acquire a large amount of data for various cavity parameters, an automatic data acquisition (DAQ) system is designed in LabVIEW. The DAQ system utilizes a Real-Time Power meter from Boonton to acquire RF power data from the cavity.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2015

New Hadron Monitor By Using A Gas-Filled RF Resonator

It is trend to build an intense neutrino beam facility for the fundamental physics research, e.g. LBNF at Fermilab, T2K at KEK, and CNGS at CERN. They have investigated a hadron monitor to diagnose the primary/secondary beam quality. The existing hadron monitor based on an ionization chamber is not robust in the high-radiation environment vicinity of MW-class secondary particle production targets. We propose a gas-filled RF resonator to use as the hadron monitor since it is simple and hence radiation robust in this environment. When charged particles pass through the resonator they produce ionized plasma via the Coulomb interaction with the inert gas. The beam-induced plasma changes the permittivity of inert gas. As a result, a resonant frequency in the resonator shifts with the amount of ionized electrons. The radiation sensitivity is adjustable by the inert gas pressure and the RF amplitude. The hadron profile will be reconstructed with a tomography technique in the hodoscope which consists of X, Y, and theta layers by using a strip-shaped gas resonator. The sensitivity and possible system design will be shown in this presentation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗