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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Plasmonic surface lattice resonances in nanoparticle arrays

This work reviews the literature and provides a detailed computational analysis of the optical properties of one- and two-dimensional arrays of silver and gold nanoparticles, with emphasis on surface lattice resonances (SLRs) that arise when localized plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in the nanoparticles couple to diffraction resonances that are determined by the interparticle spacing to give polariton modes in which the two types of excitations are coherently coupled. The computations are based on the coupled dipole approximation, which provides a nearly quantitative description of the extinction spectra for arrays of this type where the particles are well separated and not too large. The computations are used to determine many characteristics of SLRs associated with the lower polariton mode that is mostly photonic in nature, and we also study the upper polariton that is dominated by the LSPR response, as well as Rayleigh anomalies (RAs) that correspond to purely diffractive excitation. The calculations explore the sensitivity of these excitations to the directions of the incident wave and polarization vectors relative to the array axis, the effect of array spacing and number of particles in the array, and the effect of nanoparticle radius and background refractive indices. Details of the physical mechanisms involved in determining blue- and/or redshifts as structural parameters are varied is provided, with SLR’s being sensitive to far-field coupling, while LSPR’s can also be sensitive to near- and intermediatefield interactions that in some cases are similar to effects found in dye molecule aggregates.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2006

Embedded Sensors for Measuring Surface Regression

The development and evaluation of new hybrid and solid rocket motors requires accurate characterization of the propellant surface regression as a function of key operational parameters. These characteristics establish the propellant flow rate and are prime design drivers affecting the propulsion system geometry, size, and overall performance. There is a similar need for the development of advanced ablative materials, and the use of conventional ablatives exposed to new operational environments. The Miniature Surface Regression Sensor (MSRS) was developed to serve these applications. It is designed to be cast or embedded in the material of interest and regresses along with it. During this process, the resistance of the sensor is related to its instantaneous length, allowing the real-time thickness of the host material to be established. The time derivative of this data reveals the instantaneous surface regression rate. The MSRS could also be adapted to perform similar measurements for a variety of other host materials when it is desired to monitor thicknesses and/or regression rate for purposes of safety, operational control, or research. For example, the sensor could be used to monitor the thicknesses of brake linings or racecar tires and indicate when they need to be replaced. At the time of this reporting, over 200 of these sensors have been installed into a variety of host materials. An MSRS can be made in either of two configurations, denoted ladder and continuous (see Figure 1). A ladder MSRS includes two highly electrically conductive legs, across which narrow strips of electrically resistive material are placed at small increments of length. These strips resemble the rungs of a ladder and are electrically equivalent to many tiny resistors connected in parallel. A substrate material provides structural support for the legs and rungs. The instantaneous sensor resistance is read by an external signal conditioner via wires attached to the conductive legs on the non-eroding end of the sensor. The sensor signal can be transmitted from inside a high-pressure chamber to the ambient environment, using commercially available feedthrough connectors. Miniaturized internal recorders or wireless data transmission could also potentially be employed to eliminate the need for producing penetrations in the chamber case. The rungs are designed so that as each successive rung is eroded away, the resistance changes by an amount that yields a readily measurable signal larger than the background noise. (In addition, signal-conditioning techniques are used in processing the resistance readings to mitigate the effect of noise.) Hence, each discrete change of resistance serves to indicate the arrival of the regressing host material front at the known depth of the affected resistor rung. The average rate of regression between two adjacent resistors can be calculated simply as the distance between the resistors divided by the time interval between their resistance jumps. Advanced data reduction techniques have also been developed to establish the instantaneous surface position and regression rate when the regressing front is between rungs.

Gramer, Daniel J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Riverbed and Near-Surface Water Quality Data, Hanford Reach, Columbia River, February 2021 - April 2022

This dataset contains longitudinal profiles of natural groundwater tracers (temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), and Radon-222 (Rn)) collected to identify locations of hydrologic exchange flows along a 75-km reach of the Columbia River near Richland, Washington.A jetboat was used to tow a 30 foot long, weighted tether that had one set of temperature and EC sensors just below the water surface and one set of temperature and EC sensors on the end (just above the river bed). The dataset contains profiles of temperature/EC data (resolution: 1 second) collected along the left and right banks during three different sampling events. During the final sampling event, we revisited some "deep holes" where the river was more than 30 feet deep with a weighted tether that was 75 feet long. The dataset has been processed to remove data collected when the sensors were not in the water, or when the water was too deep to keep the tether on the riverbed. We collected grab samples of water for analysis of dissolved Rn in places where the temperature/EC was different from the background river water. The Rn data was joined to the temperature/EC profiles based on the sample times.This dataset is comprised of one main data folder containing (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) installation methods; (4) February 2021 data; (5) July 2021 data; (6) April 2022 data; and (7) April 2022 deep hole data. All files are .csv format and can be opened with a spreadsheet program (such as Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Monitoring Carbon Storage Sites with Time-Lapse Gravity Surveys

Monitoring technologies are deployed on carbon storage sites to demonstrate that the injected CO2 is contained within the storage complex during and long after the active life of the project and that the CO2 behavior is conforming to expectations. Detection of gravity variations accompanying mass redistributions in the subsurface caused by fluid movements in reservoirs provides a unique means for monitoring the dynamics of a carbon sequestration site. Time-lapse gravity surveys have a long history of effectively monitoring temporal density changes in the subsurface. However, monitoring of carbon storage sites with time-lapse gravity surveys using surface or borehole measurements remains limited, although it gained more attention during the last decade. With the recent progresses in instrument capabilities, and the increased number of fluid storage sites (e.g., wastewater, CO2, natural gas, etc.), the gravity method (with its unique ability to remotely estimate both the mass of an injected fluid and its location) has a promising future in monitoring. This chapter provides background information regarding the gravity method and discusses its modeling and application to various carbon storage sites.

Carbon Sequestration, time-lapse gravity, monitori↗
DOE OSTI2015

Lessons learned on the presentation of scan data

Technicians performed a radiological survey of a surplus metal tank to support disposition planning at an Oak Ridge, Tennessee site. The survey included radiation scans to identify contamination and, if identified, define the boundary and magnitude of contamination. Fixed-point 1-minute measurements were also collected at randomly selected locations for comparison against the site's free release limit of 5,000 disintegrations per minute per 100 cm² (dpm/100 cm²) (0.83 Bq/cm²). Scan data were recorded using a data logger as a means to document surveyor observation - logged data captured at 1-second intervals and converted to counts per minute (cpm) by the data logger software were presented in the project report. Both the qualitative scan data (in cpm) and the quantitative direct measurement (in dpm/100 cm²) were reported for completeness, so stakeholders had all available information to support disposition decisions. However, a new stakeholder - introduced to the project at the reporting phase of work - used the instrument efficiency and background data to convert the scan data from cpm to dpm/100 cm², then compared the converted results to the site limit. Many of the converted values exceeded 5,000 dpm/100 cm². This resulted in delays in tank disposition and additional project costs which could have been avoided if the proper use and interpretation of scan data, and implications of radon progeny buildup on oxidized metal surfaces, had been better communicated.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1988

A compact imaging spectrometer for studies of space vehicle induced environment emissions

On the basis of spectral measurements made from the Space Shuttle and on models of the possible Space Station external environment, it appears likely that, even at the planned altitudes of Space Station, photon emissions will be induced. These emissions will occur to some degree throughout the UV-visible-IR spectrum. The emissions arise from a combination of processes including gas phase collisions between relatively energetic ambient and surface emitted or re-emitted atoms or molecules, where the surface raises some species to excited energy states. At present it is not possible to model these processes or the anticipated intensity levels with accuracy, as a number of fundamental parameters needed for such calculations are still poorly known or unknown. However, it is possible that certain spectral line and band features will exceed the desired goal that contaminant emissions not exceed the natural zodiacal background. However, in the near infrared and infrared, it appears that this level will be exceeded to a significant degree. Therefore it will be necessary to monitor emission levels in the vicinity of Space Station, both in order to establish the levels and to better model the environment. In this note, we briefly describe a small spectrometer that is suitable for monitoring the spectrum from 1200A to less than or approximately 12,000A. This instrument uses focal plane array detectors to image this full spectral range simultaneously. The spectral resolution is 4 to 12A, depending on the portion of the wavelength range.

Torr, Marsha R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

3-dimensional current collection model

A three-dimensional, time dependent current collection model of a satellite has been developed for the TSS-1 system. The system has been simulated particularly for the Research of Plasma Electrodynamics (ROPE) experiment. The Maxwellian distributed particles with the geomagnetic field effects are applied in this numerical simulation. The preliminary results indicate that a ring current is observed surrounding the satellite in the equatorial plane. This ring current is found between the plasma sheath and the satellite surface and is oscillating with a time scale of approximately 1 microsec. This is equivalent to the electron plasma frequency. An hour glass shape of electron distribution was observed when the viewing direction is perpendicular to the equatorial plane. This result is consistent with previous findings from Linson (1969) and Antoniades et al. (1990). Electrons that are absorbed by the satellite are limited from the background ionosphere as indicated by Parker and Murphy (1967).

Hwang, Kai-Shen↗
NASA NTRS1995

Adaptive hybrid prismatic-tetrahedral grids for viscous flows

The paper presents generation of adaptive hybrid prismatic/tetrahedral grids for complex 3-D geometries including multi-body domains. The prisms cover the region close to each body's surface, while tetrahedra are created elsewhere. Two developments are presented for hybrid grid generation around complex 3-D geometries. The first is a new octree/advancing front type of method for generation of the tetrahedra of the hybrid mesh. The main feature of the present advancing front tetrahedra generator that is different from previous such methods is that it does not require the creation of a background mesh by the user for the determination of the grid-spacing and stretching parameters. These are determined via an automatically generated octree. The second development is an Automatic Receding Method (ARM) for treating the narrow gaps in between different bodies in a multiply-connected domain. This method is applied to a two-element wing case. A hybrid grid adaptation scheme that employs both h-refinement and redistribution strategies is developed to provide optimum meshes for viscous flow computations. Grid refinement is a dual adaptation scheme that couples division of tetrahedra, as well as 2-D directional division of prisms.

Kallinderis, Yannis↗
NASA NTRS1995

Methods for prismatic/tetrahedral grid generation and adaptation

The present work involves generation of hybrid prismatic/tetrahedral grids for complex 3-D geometries including multi-body domains. The prisms cover the region close to each body's surface, while tetrahedra are created elsewhere. Two developments are presented for hybrid grid generation around complex 3-D geometries. The first is a new octree/advancing front type of method for generation of the tetrahedra of the hybrid mesh. The main feature of the present advancing front tetrahedra generator that is different from previous such methods is that it does not require the creation of a background mesh by the user for the determination of the grid-spacing and stretching parameters. These are determined via an automatically generated octree. The second development is a method for treating the narrow gaps in between different bodies in a multiply-connected domain. This method is applied to a two-element wing case. A High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) type of aircraft geometry is considered. The generated hybrid grid required only 170 K tetrahedra instead of an estimated two million had a tetrahedral mesh been used in the prisms region as well. A solution adaptive scheme for viscous computations on hybrid grids is also presented. A hybrid grid adaptation scheme that employs both h-refinement and redistribution strategies is developed to provide optimum meshes for viscous flow computations. Grid refinement is a dual adaptation scheme that couples 3-D, isotropic division of tetrahedra and 2-D, directional division of prisms.

Kallinderis, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Profiling Sea Ice with a Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar (MABEL)

The sole instrument on the upcoming ICESat-2 altimetry mission is a micropulse lidar that measures the time-of-flight of individual photons from laser pulses transmitted at 532 nm. Prior to launch, MABEL serves as an airborne implementation for testing and development. In this paper, we provide a first examination of MABEL data acquired on two flights over sea ice in April 2012: one north of the Arctic coast of Greenland, and the other in the East Greenland Sea.We investigate the phenomenology of photon distributions in the sea ice returns. An approach to locate the surface and estimate its elevation in the distributions is described, and its achievable precision assessed. Retrieved surface elevations over relatively flat leads in the ice cover suggest that precisions of several centimeters are attainable. Restricting the width of the elevation window used in the surface analysis can mitigate potential biases in the elevation estimates due to subsurface returns at 532 nm. Comparisons of nearly coincident elevation profiles from MABEL with those acquired by an analog lidar show good agreement.Discrimination of ice and open water, a crucial step in the determination of sea ice free board and the estimation of ice thickness, is facilitated by contrasts in the observed signal background photon statistics. Future flight lines will sample a broader range of seasonal ice conditions for further evaluation of the year-round profiling capabilities and limitations of the MABEL instrument.

Lidar↗
DOE OSTI2018

Single-Volume Neutron Scatter Camera for High-Efficiency Neutron Imaging and Spectroscopy

Neutron detection provides an effective method to detect, locate, and characterize sources of interest to nuclear security applications. Current neutron imaging systems based on double-scatter kinematic reconstruction provide good signal vs. background discrimination and spectral capability, but suffer from poor sensitivity due to geometrical constraints. This weakness can be overcome if both neutron-proton scattering interactions are detected and resolved within one large contiguous active detector volume. We describe here a maximum likelihood approach to event reconstruction in a single-volume system with no optical segmentation and sensitivity to individual optical photons on the surfaces of the scintillator. We present results from a Geant4-based simulation establishing the feasibility of this single-volume neutron scatter camera concept given notional performance of existing photodetector and readout technologies.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

PROBABILITY OF CME IMPACT ON EXOPLANETS ORBITING M DWARFS AND SOLAR-LIKE STARS

Solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produce adverse space weather effects at Earth. Planets in the close habitable zone of magnetically active M dwarfs may experience more extreme space weather than at Earth, including frequent CME impacts leading to atmospheric erosion and leaving the surface exposed to extreme flare activity. Similar erosion may occur for hot Jupiters with close orbits around solar-like stars. We have developed a model, Forecasting a CME's Altered Trajectory (ForeCAT), which predicts a CME's deflection. We adapt ForeCAT to simulate CME deflections for the mid-type M dwarf V374 Peg and hot Jupiters with solar-type hosts. V374 Peg's strong magnetic fields can trap CMEs at the M dwarfs's Astrospheric Current Sheet, that is, the location of the minimum in the background magnetic field. Solar-type CMEs behave similarly, but have much smaller deflections and do not become trapped at the Astrospheric Current Sheet. The probability of planetary impact decreases with increasing inclination of the planetary orbit with respect to the Astrospheric Current Sheet: 0.5–5 CME impacts per day for M dwarf exoplanets, 0.05–0.5 CME impacts per day for solar-type hot Jupiters. We determine the minimum planetary magnetic field necessary to shield a planet's atmosphere from CME impacts. M dwarf exoplanets require values between tens and hundreds of Gauss. Hot Jupiters around a solar-type star, however, require a more reasonable <30 G. These values exceed the magnitude required to shield a planet from the stellar wind, suggesting that CMEs may be the key driver of atmospheric losses.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR4 maps and cosmological parameters

In this paper, we present new arcminute-resolution maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background temperature and polarization anisotropy from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, using data taken from 2013–2016 at 98 and 150 GHz. The maps cover more than 17,000 deg 2 , the deepest 600 deg 2 with noise levels below 10µK-arcmin. We use the power spectrum derived from almost 6,000 deg 2 of these maps to constrain cosmology. The ACT data enable a measurement of the angular scale of features in both the divergence-like polarization and the temperature anisotropy, tracing both the velocity and density at last-scattering. From these one can derive the distance to the last-scattering surface and thus infer the local expansion rate, H 0 . By combining ACT data with large-scale information from WMAP we measure H 0 = 67.6±1.1 km/s/Mpc, at 68% confidence, in excellent agreement with the independently-measured Planck satellite estimate (from ACT alone we find H 0 = 67.9 ± 1.5 km/s/Mpc). The ΛCDM model provides a good fit to the ACT data, and we find no evidence for deviations: both the spatial curvature, and the departure from the standard lensing signal in the spectrum, are zero to within 1σ; the number of relativistic species, the primordial Helium fraction, and the running of the spectral index are consistent with ΛCDM predictions to within 1.5–2.2σ. We compare ACT, WMAP, and Planck at the parameter level and find good consistency; we investigate how the constraints on the correlated spectral index and baryon density parameters readjust when adding CMB large-scale information that ACT does not measure. The DR4 products presented here will be publicly released on the NASA Legacy Archive for Microwave Background Data Analysis.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2020

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR4 maps and cosmological parameters

We present new arcminute-resolution maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background temperature and polarization anisotropy from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, using data taken from 2013{2016 at 98 and 150 GHz. The maps cover more than 17,000 deg(^2), the deepest 600 deg(^2) with noise levels below 10µK-arcmin. We use the power spectrum derived from almost 6,000 deg(^2) of these maps to constrain cosmology. The ACT data enable a measurement of the angular scale of features in both the divergence-like polarization and the temperature anisotropy, tracing both the velocity and density at last-scattering. From these one can derive the distance to the last-scattering surface and thus infer the local expansion rate, H0. By combining ACT data with large-scale information from WMAP we measure H0 = 67:6±1:1 km/s/Mpc, at 68% confidence, in excellent agreement with the independently measured Planck satellite estimate (from ACT alone we find H0 = 67:9± 1:5 km/s/Mpc). The ΛCDM model provides a good fit to the ACT data, and we find no evidence for deviations: both the spatial curvature, and the departure from the standard lensing signal in the spectrum, are zero to within 1σ; the number of relativistic species, the primordial Helium fraction, and the running of the spectral index are consistent with ΛCDM predictions to within 1.5{2.2σ. We compare ACT, WMAP, and Planck at the parameter level and find good consistency; we investigate how the constraints on the correlated spectral index and baryon density parameters readjust when adding CMB large-scale information that ACT does not measure. The DR4 products presented here will be publicly released on the NASA Legacy Archive for Microwave Background Data Analysis.

Simone Aiola↗
DOE OSTI2017

Synthesis and characterization of dense Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7 pyrochlore thin films deposited using RF magnetron sputtering

Thin films of phase-pure pyrochlore Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7 have been synthesized by RF magnetron sputtering. The films were prepared from oxide targets in 50% O 2 /Ar atmosphere and deposited on 111 yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates at a temperature of 800 °C. The pyrochlore structure was confirmed via grazing angle X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis also showed that the films were dense and of uniform thickness with surface roughness of approximately 8 nm. The total conductivity measured with AC impedance spectroscopy was found to be independent of thickness and comparable in magnitude to that of bulk Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7 . Differences were observed in the Arrhenius behavior between the bulk and thin film samples and are attributed to varying states of order in the crystalline lattice compounded by different levels of background impurities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1977

Use of clear lake as standard reflectors for atmospheric measurement

A method is proposed for using clear lakes as dark backgrounds against which the atmospheric path radiance can be determined from satellite observations. If the path radiance can be determined to sufficient accuracy, the atmospheric extinction can be inferred with suitable radiative transfer models. An extensive program of observation was made to determine the magnitude and variability of the various contributors to the total radiance observed by a satellite. It is shown that the volume and surface reflectance contributions (in the absence of sunglint) are small, constant, and can be modeled accurately enough to make these an insignificant source of error. The sunglint radiance observed in this investigation may be a significant source of error. It is shown that atmospheric extinction can be inferred from the path radiance observation after systematic differences between the model and observations are removed.

Ahern, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Nonlinear Propagation of Planet-Generated Tidal Waves

The propagation and evolution of planet-generated density waves in protoplanetary disks is considered. The evolution of waves, leading to shock formation and wake dissipation, is followed in the weakly nonlinear regime. The 2001 local approach of Goodman and Rafikov is extended to include the effects of surface density and temperature variations in the disk as well as the disk cylindrical geometry and nonuniform shear. Wave damping due to shocks is demonstrated to be a nonlocal process spanning a significant fraction of the disk. Torques induced by the planet could be significant drivers of disk evolution on timescales of approx. 10(exp 6)-10(exp 7) yr, even in the absence of strong background viscosity. A global prescription for angular momentum deposition is developed that could be incorporated into the study of gap formation in a gaseous disk around the planet.

Rafikov, R. R.↗
DOE OSTI2016

EXPLAINING INVERTED-TEMPERATURE LOOPS IN THE QUIET SOLAR CORONA WITH MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVE-MODE CONVERSION

Coronal loops trace out bipolar, arch-like magnetic fields above the Sun’s surface. Recent measurements that combine rotational tomography, extreme-ultraviolet imaging, and potential-field extrapolation have shown the existence of large loops with inverted-temperature profiles, i.e., loops for which the apex temperature is a local minimum, not a maximum. These “down loops” appear to exist primarily in equatorial quiet regions near solar minimum. We simulate both these and the more prevalent large-scale “up loops” by modeling coronal heating as a time-steady superposition of (1) dissipation of incompressible Alfvén wave turbulence and (2) dissipation of compressive waves formed by mode conversion from the initial population of Alfvén waves. We found that when a large percentage (>99%) of the Alfvén waves undergo this conversion, heating is greatly concentrated at the footpoints and stable “down loops” are created. In some cases we found loops with three maxima that are also gravitationally stable. Models that agree with the tomographic temperature data exhibit higher gas pressures for “down loops” than for “up loops,” which is consistent with observations. These models also show a narrow range of Alfvén wave amplitudes: 3 to 6 km s{sup -1} at the coronal base. This is low in comparison to typical observed amplitudes of 20–30 km s{sup -1} in bright X-ray loops. However, the large-scale loops we model are believed to compose a weaker diffuse background that fills much of the volume of the corona. By constraining the physics of loops that underlie quiescent streamers, we hope to better understand the formation of the slow solar wind.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗