Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Particle shape”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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

At least 1,495 records · Page 83

Anisotropic flow of identified particles in Pb-Pb collisions at $ {\sqrt{s}}_{\mathrm{NN}}=5.02 $ TeV

The elliptic (v 2 ), triangular (v 3 ), and quadrangular (v 4 ) flow coefficients of π ± , K ± , p+$ \overline{p}\ $,Λ+$ \overline{Λ}\ $,K S 0 , and the Φ-meson are measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $ {\sqrt{s}}_{\mathrm{NN}}=5.02 $ TeV. Results obtained with the scalar product method are reported for the rapidity range |y| < 0.5 as a function of transverse momentum, p T , at different collision centrality intervals between 0–70%, including ultra-central (0–1%) collisions for π ± , K ± , and p + $ \overline{p}\ $. For p T < 3 GeV/c, the flow coefficients exhibit a particle mass dependence. At intermediate transverse momenta (3 < p T < 8–10 GeV/c), particles show an approximate grouping according to their type (i.e., mesons and baryons). The Φ-meson v 2 , which tests both particle mass dependence and type scaling, follows p + $ \overline{p}\ $ v 2 at low p T and π ± v 2 at intermediate p T . The evolution of the shape of v n (p T ) as a function of centrality and harmonic number n is studied for the various particle species. Flow coefficients of π ± , K ± , and p + $ \overline{p}\ $ for p T < 3 GeV/c are compared to iEBE-VISHNU and MUSIC hydrodynamical calculations coupled to a hadronic cascade model (UrQMD). The iEBE-VISHNU calculations describe the results fairly well for p T < 2.5 GeV/c, while MUSIC calculations reproduce the measurements for p T < 1 GeV/c. A comparison to v n coefficients measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $ {\sqrt{s}}_{\mathrm{NN}}=2.76 $ TeV is also provided. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A computer program for thermal radiation from gaseous rocket exhuast plumes (GASRAD)

A computer code is presented for predicting incident thermal radiation from defined plume gas properties in either axisymmetric or cylindrical coordinate systems. The radiation model is a statistical band model for exponential line strength distribution with Lorentz/Doppler line shapes for 5 gaseous species (H2O, CO2, CO, HCl and HF) and an appoximate (non-scattering) treatment of carbon particles. The Curtis-Godson approximation is used for inhomogeneous gases, but a subroutine is available for using Young's intuitive derivative method for H2O with Lorentz line shape and exponentially-tailed-inverse line strength distribution. The geometry model provides integration over a hemisphere with up to 6 individually oriented identical axisymmetric plumes, a single 3-D plume, Shading surfaces may be used in any of 7 shapes, and a conical limit may be defined for the plume to set individual line-of-signt limits. Intermediate coordinate systems may specified to simplify input of plumes and shading surfaces.

Reardon, J. E.↗

Radar Cross Section of Orbital Debris Objects

This discussion is concerned with the radar-data analysis and usage involved in the building of model orbital debris (OD) populations in the near-Earth environment, focusing on radar cross section (RCS). While varying with radar wavelength, physical dimension, material composition, overall shape and structure, the RCS of an irregular object is also strongly dependent on its spatial orientation. The historical records of observed RCSs for cataloged OD objects in the Space Surveillance Network are usually distributed over an RCS range, forming respective characteristic patterns. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Size Estimation Model provides an empirical probability-density function of RCS as a function of “effective diameter” (or “characteristic length”), which makes it feasible to predict possible RCS distributions for a given model OD population and to link data with model from a statistical perspective. The discussion also includes application of the widely used method of moments (MoM) and the Generalized Multi-particle Mie-solution (GMM) in the prediction of the RCS of arbitrarily shaped objects. Theoretical calculation results for an aluminum cube are compared with corresponding experimental measurements.

Xu, Yu-Lin↗

Modeling ExB drift transport in conceptual slot divertor configurations

At DIII-D, a slot divertor concept, called small-angle-slot (SAS), is under development, aiming to enable detachment at relatively low plasma edge density. We report on simulations using the SOLPS-ITER two-dimensional edge code to examine the performance of conceptual “SAS 2” slot configurations. The focus of the analysis is on E × B drift effects on upstream density at detachment (UDD), with detachment marked by electron temperature T e ≤ 3 eV at the outer strike point (OSP). With toroidal field such that radial E × B drift carries particles from the OSP towards the private flux region (PFR), placing the OSP near the inner slot wall gives ≈20% lower UDD than having the OSP near the outer wall. The inner wall effectively traps the radial E × B drift flux, resulting in low T e and associated radial electric field in the PFR, and thus small losses from the slot to the inner target via poloidal E × B drift flux. With toroidal field reversed such that radial E × B drift is reversed, OSP placement near the inner wall gives ≈10% lower UDD than OSP placement near the outer wall. Although radial E × B flux is from the OSP towards the outer wall, this flux largely escapes the slot, raising the UDD. Finally, a change in the slot shaping is suggested with the goal of eliminating such E × B-driven particle losses from the slot.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Temperature Quenching in LAB based liquid scintillator

The effect of temperature changes on the light output of LAB based liquid scintillator is investigated in a range from –5 C to 30 °C with a-particles and electrons in a small scale setup. Two PMTs observe the scintillator liquid inside a cylindrically shaped aluminum cuvette that is heated or cooled and the temperature dependent PMT sensitivity is monitored and corrected. The a-emitting isotopes in dissolved radon gas and in natural Samarium (bound to a LAB solution) excite the liquid scintillator mixtures and changes in light output with temperature variation are observed by fitting light output spectra. Furthermore, also changes in light output by compton electrons, which are generated from external calibration g-ray sources, is analysed with varying temperature. Assuming a linear behaviour, a combined negative temperature coefficient of (–0:29 0:01) % /°C is found. Considering hints for a particle type dependency, electrons show (–0:17 0:02) % /°C, whereas the temperature dependency seems stronger for a-particles, with (–0:35 0:03) % /°C. Furthermore, due to a high sampling rate, a pulse shape analysis can be performed and shows an enhanced slow decay component at lower temperatures, pointing to reduced non-radiative triplet state de-excitations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Room-temperature fabrication of a delafossite CuCrO 2 hole transport layer for perovskite solar cells

Delafossite oxides are promising hole transport layer (HTL) candidates for perovskite solar cells, due to their wide band gap, favorable energy band alignment relative to the perovskite absorber and simplicity of processing. In this paper, we investigate the properties of CuCrO2 (CCO) delafossite films using an integration of experimental and computational techniques. Phase-pure CCO films are deposited at room temperature by spin-casting suspensions of hydrothermally-synthesized nanoparticles, for use in a glass/ITO/CCO/CH3NH3PbI3/C60/BCP/Ag device structure. Although density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict an elevated hole effective mass along certain crystallographic directions, the nearly isotropic shape and small size of the CCO nanoparticles preserves transport properties within the films by randomizing particle orientation, preventing these unfavorable directions from dominating the film conductivity. Experimental measurements confirm that the CCO films display appropriate optical and electrical properties for use as an HTL, in good agreement with the DFT calculations. Solar cells made using these films exhibit stabilized power conversion efficiencies exceeding 14%, with only minor hysteresis in the current–voltage characteristics.

Dunlap-Shohl, Wiley A.↗

Pulse-shape discrimination against low-energy Ar-39 beta decays in liquid argon with 4.5 tonne-years of DEAP-3600 data

The DEAP-3600 detector searches for the scintillation signal from dark matter particles scattering on a 3.3 tonne liquid argon target. The largest background comes from 39 Ar beta decays and is suppressed using pulse-shape discrimination (PSD). We use two types of PSD estimator: the prompt-fraction, which considers the fraction of the scintillation signal in a narrow and a wide time window around the event peak, and the log-likelihood-ratio, which compares the observed photon arrival times to a signal and a background model. We furthermore use two algorithms to determine the number of photons detected at a given time: (1) simply dividing the charge of each PMT pulse by the mean single-photoelectron charge, and (2) a likelihood analysis that considers the probability to detect a certain number of photons at a given time, based on a model for the scintillation pulse shape and for afterpulsing in the light detectors. The prompt-fraction performs approximately as well as the log-likelihood-ratio PSD algorithm if the photon detection times are not biased by detector effects. We explain this result using a model for the information carried by scintillation photons as a function of the time when they are detected.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Pinatubo and pre-Pinatubo optical-depth spectra: Mauna Loa measurements, comparisons, inferred particle size distributions, radiative effects, and relationship to lidar data

The Ames airborne tracking sunphotometer was operated at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) in 1991 and 1992 along with the NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL) automated tracking sunphotometer and lidar. June 1991 measurements provided calibrations, optical-depth spectra, and intercomparisons under relatively clean conditions; later measurements provided spectra and comparisons for the Pinatubo cloud plus calibration checks. June 1991 results are similar to previous MLO springtime measurements, with midvisible particle optical depth at the near-background level of 0.012 +/- 0.006 and no significant wavelength dependence in the measured range (lambda = 0.38 to 1.06 micrometers). The arrival of the Pinatubo cloud in July 1991 increased midvisible particle optical depth by more than an order of magnitude and changed the spectral shape of to an approximate power law with an exponent of about -1.4. By clearly September 1991, the spectrum was broadly peaked near 0.5 micrometers, and by July 1992, it was peaked near 0.8 micrometers. Our optical-depth spectra include corrections for diffuse light. NOAA- and Ames Research Center (ARC)-measured spectra are in good agreement. Columnar size distributions inverted from the spectra show that the initial (July 1991) post-Pinatubo cloud was relatively rich in small particles (r less than 0.25 micrometers), which were progressively depleted in the August-September 1991 and July 1992 periods. Conversely, both of the later periods had more of the optically efficient medium-sized particles (0.25 less than r less than 1 micrometers) than did the fresh July 1991 cloud. These changes are consistent with particle growth by condensation and coagulation. Photometer-inferred column backscatter values agree with those measured by the CMDL lidar on nearby nights. Combining lidar-measured backscatter profiles with photometer-derived backscatter-to-area ratios gives peak particle areas that could cause rapid heterogeneous loss of ozone, given sufficiently low particle acidity and suitable solar zenith angles (achieved at mid- to high latitudes). Top-of-troposphere radiative forcings for the September 1991 and July 1992 optical depths and size distributions over MLO are about -5 and -3 W/sq m, respectively (hence comparable in magnitude but opposite in sign to the radiative forcing caused by the increase in manmade greenhouse gases since the industrial revolution). Heating rates in the Pinatubo layer over MLO are 0.55 +/- 0.13 and 0.41 +/- 0.14 K/d for September 1991 and July 1992, respectively.

Russell, P. B.↗

Flash radiotherapy accelerator

Methods, devices and systems for ultra-high dose radiotherapy are disclosed. The described techniques rely in-part on active switching control of a photoconductive switch during the time the accelerator is accelerating charged particles to produce the output radiation at the desired dose rates. One flash radiotherapy system includes an induction accelerator, and a controllable switch coupled to the induction accelerator. The switch is operable to produce a plurality of voltage pulses to drive the induction accelerator. The radiotherapy system also includes a radiation measurement device to measure output radiation produced by the radiotherapy system and provide feedback to the controllable switch. The controllable switch is operable to, based on the received feedback, modify an amplitude, shape, spacing, number or width of the voltage pulses that are supplied to the particle accelerator to deliver the desired output radiation.

Sampayan, Stephen E.↗

Modulating the Surface Ligand Orientation for Stabilized Anionic Redox in Li‐Rich Oxide Cathodes

Abstract Anionic redox chemistry is emerging as a key concept in the development of high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries, as it enables a nearly doubled charge storage capacity, aiding the development of high‐capacity batteries. However, the anionic reactivity is frequently irreversible from charge to discharge, leading to rapid decay of the capacity and voltage of batteries over long‐term cycling. Although the possibility of controlling the anionic redox reactions by tuning the geometric and electronic structures has recently been proposed, the implementation of this strategy is still a critical challenge. Herein, a strategy is proposed to improve the anionic redox reversibility of a model anionic redox active cathode material, Li 1.2 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 Mn 0.54 O 2 , by tuning the surface ligand geometry via the growth of a lattice‐compatible spinel LiCoO 2 coating layer on the particle surface. Detailed local structure and first principles investigations reveal that the shape and orientation of the octahedral layer in the host lattice are modified. Accordingly, a two‐band oxygen redox behavior is triggered in the ligand‐orientation‐regulated Li‐rich cathode, leading to enhanced reversibility, and thus, remarkably improved capacity and voltage retention over cycling. This study highlights the importance of controllable ligand orientation, carving a new path for the development and design of Li‐rich cathodes in the future.

Liu, Yanchen↗

Resolution effects in the hybrid strong/weak coupling model

Within the context of a hybrid strong/weak coupling model of jet quenching, we study the consequences of the fact that the plasma produced in a heavy ion collision cannot resolve the substructure of a collimated parton shower propagating through it with arbitrarily fine spatial resolution. We introduce a screening length parameter, L res , proportional to the inverse of the local temperature in the plasma, estimating a range for the value of the proportionality constant via comparing weakly coupled QCD calculations and holographic calculations appropriate in strongly coupled plasma. We then modify the hybrid model so that when a parton in a jet shower splits, its two offspring are initially treated as unresolved, and are only treated as two separate partons losing energy independently after they are separated by a distance L res . This modification delays the quenching of partons with intermediate energy, resulting in the survival of more hadrons in the final state with p T in the several GeV range. We analyze the consequences of different choices for the value of the resolution length, L res , and demonstrate that introducing a nonzero L res results in modifications to the jet shapes and jet fragmentations functions, as it makes it more probable for particles carrying a small fraction of the jet energy at larger angles from the jet axis to survive their passage through the quark-gluon plasma. Furthermore, these effects are, however, small in magnitude, something that we confirm via checking for effects on missing- p T observables.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Impact of oleylamine: Oleic acid ratio on the morphology of yttria nanomaterials

In this paper, the impact on the final morphology of yttria (Y 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles from different ratios (100/0, 90/10, 65/35, and 50/50) of oleylamine (ON) and oleic acid (OA) via a solution precipitation route has been determined. In all instances, powder X-ray diffraction indicated that the cubic Y 2 O 3 phase (PDF #00-025-1200) with the space group I-3a (206) had been formed. Analysis of the collected FTIR data revealed the presence of stretches and bends consistent with ON and OA, for all ratios investigated, except the 100/0. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed regular and elongated hexagons were produced for the ON (100/0) sample. As OA was added, the nanoparticle morphology changed to lamellar pillars (90/10), then irregular particles (65/35), and finally plates (50/50). The formation of the hexagonal-shaped nanoparticles was determined to be due to the preferential adsorption of ON onto the {101} planes. As OA was added to the reaction mixture, it was found that the {111} planes were preferentially coated, replacing ON from the surface, resulting in the various morphologies noted. The roles of the ratio of ON/OA in the synthesis of the nanocrystals were elucidated in the formation of the various Y 2 O 3 morphologies, as well as a possible growth mechanism based on the experimental data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Polymer Based Palladium Nanocatalyst for the Degradation of Nitrate and Congo Red

In this study, the Pd catalyst based on chitosan-tannin (CT) framework as support was prepared and characterized. The CT support and Pd catalyst were characterized by attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (SEM–EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectra revealed the coordination of Pd via hydroxyl and amino functional groups. Raman spectral analysis was carried out to give information about the structural defect of the catalyst compared to CT support. The SEM–EDX results revealed regular surface morphology and presence of Pd in the catalyst as compared to CT support. TEM analysis revealed that the deposition of Pd on organic support with a spherical shape possessing size in the range of 6.01 nm–20.7 nm (average particle size = 12.65 ± 3.14 nm). The XRD results revealed the amorphous nature of the catalyst compared to CT support. TGA analysis revealed that the catalyst is highly thermally-stable compared to CT support. The catalytic activity of Pd catalyst was investigated for the reduction of nitrate and Congo red in the presence and absence of H{sub 2}. The catalytic activities exhibited 71.11% and 23% removal of nitrate and Congo red in 20 and 60 min, respectively. Thus, results suggested that Pd catalyst has a potential of catalytic activity toward reduction of nitrate and Congo red in presence H{sub 2}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

End-to-End Physics Event Classification with CMS Open Data: Applying Image-Based Deep Learning to Detector Data for the Direct Classification of Collision Events at the LHC

This paper describes the construction of novel end-to-end image-based classifiers that directly leverage low-level simulated detector data to discriminate signal and background processes in pp collision events at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. To better understand what end-to-end classifiers are capable of learning from the data and to address a number of associated challenges, we distinguish the decay of the standard model Higgs boson into two photons from its leading background sources using high-fidelity simulated CMS Open Data. We demonstrate the ability of end-to-end classifiers to learn from the angular distribution of the photons recorded as electromagnetic showers, their intrinsic shapes, and the energy of their constituent hits, even when the underlying particles are not fully resolved, delivering a clear advantage in such cases over purely kinematics-based classifiers.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Design and construction of the DEAP-3600 dark matter detector

The Dark matter Experiment using Argon Pulse-shape discrimination (DEAP) has been designed for a direct detection search for particle dark matter using a single-phase liquid argon target. The projected cross section sensitivity for DEAP-3600 to the spin-independent scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) on nucleons is 10 –46 cm 2 for a 100 GeV/c 2 WIMP mass with a fiducial exposure of 3 tonne-years. In conclusion, this paper describes the physical properties and construction of the DEAP-3600 detector.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Extending continuum models for atom probe simulation

Highlights: • Demonstration of 3D curvature level set methods for APT simulations • Demonstration of non-rotationally symmetric tip shape simulations • Optimised speed for simulations, calculations achievable on minute timescales This work describes extensions to existing level-set algorithms developed for application within the field of atom probe tomography (APT). We present a new simulation tool for the simulation of 3D tomographic volumes, using advanced level set methods. By combining narrow-band, B-Tree and particle-tracing approaches from level-set methods, we demonstrate a practical tool for simulating shape changes to APT samples under applied electrostatic fields, in three dimensions. This work builds upon our previous studies by allowing for non-axially symmetric solutions, with minimal loss in computational speed, whilst retaining numerical accuracy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Controlled Self-Assembly and Tuning of Large PbS Nanoparticle Supercrystals

Self-assembly of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) into ordered superlattices (SLs) and supercrystals (SCs) enables new artificial NC solids for nanoelectronic and nanophotonic applications, which requires critical control of nucleation and growth conditions. In this paper, large SCs of PbS NCs up to ~100 μm size were synthesized by two controlled self-assembly methods from NC solutions. Both translational symmetry and orientational ordering of the nanocrystals in the SCs were readily tuned by excess oleic acid ligands and antisolvents. Slow evaporation and the counterdiffusion method of solvents resulted in the formation of single SCs with two different SLs from the same PbS NCs: a face-centered cubic SL with weak yet complex orientational order or a body-centered cubic SL with strong and uniform particle orientation, respectively. The translational ordering was mainly determined by the effective shape of the NCs while the difference in orientational order was a result of the balance between ligand–ligand attraction and rotational entropy. Finally, the ease of the growth of large SC solids could lead to diverse NC systems and facilitate essential investigation of nanoparticle interactions and coupling based nanoelectronic and nanophotonic properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗