Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “diffusion length”

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 1,783 records · Page 99
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Application of near-term technology to a Mach 2.0 variable-sweep-wing, supersonic-cruise executive jet

The impact of variable sweep wing technology with relaxed static stability requirements on a supersonic-cruise executive jet with transatlantic range was assessed. The baseline vehicle utilized modified, current-technology engines and titanium structures produced with superplastic forming and diffusion bonding; this vehicle meets study requirements for both supersonic-cruise and low-speed characteristics. The baseline concept has a ramp weight of 64,500 pounds with a crew of two and eight passengers. Its Mach 2.0 cruise range is nearly 3,500 nautical miles; its Mach 0.9 cruise range is over 5,000 nautical miles. Takeoff, landing, and balanced field length requirements were calculated for a composite variant and are all less than 5,000 feet.

Beissner, F. L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The effect of ballooning modes on thermal transport and magnetic field diffusion in the solar corona

Presently favored mechanisms of coronal heating (current sheet dissipation and Alfven wave resonant heating) deposit heat in thin layers. Classical thermal conduction cannot explain how heat is transported across the magnetic field. If heating occurs in thin layers, large pressure gradients can be created which can give rise to ballooning modes. These instabilities are caused by the pressure gradient and the curvature of the magnetic field, and are stabilized by magnetic tension. The modes are broad band in wavelength and should produce turbulence. A mixing length expression for the turbulent heat transport shows that it is more than adequate to rapidly convect heat into much broader layers. Furthermore, the turbulent resistivity implies that heating occurs over most of the width of these broadened layers. The broadening also implies that much shorter time scales are required for heating. The beta values in the corona suggest that 1-10 turbulent layers are formed in typical loop or arch structures.

Strauss, H. R.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Bayesian Static Parameter Estimation for Partially Observed Diffusions via Multilevel Monte Carlo

In this article we consider static Bayesian parameter estimation for partially observed diffusions that are discretely observed. We work under the assumption that one must resort to discretizing the underlying diffusion process, for instance, using the Euler--Maruyama method. Given this assumption, we show how one can use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and particularly particle MCMC [C. Andrieu, A. Doucet, and R. Holenstein, J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B Stat. Methodol., 72 (2010), 269--342] to implement a new approximation of the multilevel (ML) Monte Carlo (MC) collapsing sum identity. Our approach comprises constructing an approximate coupling of the posterior density of the joint distribution over parameter and hidden variables at two different discretization levels and then correcting by an importance sampling method. The variance of the weights are independent of the length of the observed data set. The utility of such a method is that, for a prescribed level of mean square error, the cost of this MLMC method is provably less than i.i.d. sampling from the posterior associated to the most precise discretization. However the method here comprises using only known and efficient simulation methodologies. Finally, the theoretical results are illustrated by inference of the parameters of two prototypical processes given noisy partial observations of the process: the first is an Ornstein--Uhlenbeck process and the second is a more general Langevin equation.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Bicontinuous substrates with reduced pore restriction for CO 2 -selective composite membranes

A substrate with bicontinuous structure is attractive for thin-film composite (TFC) membrane synthesis due to its high surface porosity and well-interconnected bulk morphology. In this study, the vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) of the casting solution comprising water, 2-pyrrolidone, and polyethersulfone (PES) was studied. By tuning the water addition in the casting solution and water vapor exposure time, the optimized substrate exhibited a bicontinuous surface with a high porosity of 24.2% (or 216/µm 2 pore density), thereby mitigating pore restriction and showing a high CO 2 permeance of 2.94×10 5 GPU. Compared to the benchmark PES substrate with cellular surface pores and lower gas permeance, the use of the bicontinuous substrate led to a 12% increase in the CO 2 permeance of the TFC membrane. The mitigated pore restriction was further rationalized by a resistance-in-series model. The analysis of the lateral diffusion and substrate resistances indicates that an even higher surface pore density of the substrate is required to fully realize the potential of ultra-permeable, CO 2 -selective polymers in the TFC configuration. As a result, the scalability of the VIPS process was demonstrated by the roll-to-roll fabrication of the optimized bicontinuous substrate with a width of 21" and a length of >100'.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effects of polycrystallinity in nano patterning by ion-beam sputtering

Employing graphites with distinctly different mean grain sizes, we study the effects of polycrystallinity on the pattern formation by ion-beam sputtering. The grains influence the growth of the ripples in a highly anisotropic fashion; both the mean uninterrupted ripple length along the ridges and the surface width depend on the mean size of the grains, which is attributed to the large sputter yield at the grain boundary compared with that on the terrace. In contrast, the ripple wavelength does not depend on the mean size of the grains, indicating that the mass transport across the grain boundaries should efficiently proceed by both thermal diffusion and ion-induced processes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Observation of shock-front separation in multi-ion-species collisional plasma shocks

We observe shock-front separation and species-dependent shock widths in multi-ion-species collisional plasma shocks, which are produced by obliquely merging plasma jets of a He/Ar mixture (97% He and 3% Ar by initial number density) on the plasma liner experiment. Visible plasma emission near the He-I 587.6-nm and Ar-II 476.5–514.5-nm lines is simultaneously recorded by splitting a single visible image of the shock into two different fast-framing cameras with different narrow bandpass filters (589 ± 5 nm for observing the He-I line and 500 ± 25 nm for the Ar-II lines). For conditions in these experiments (pre-shock ion and electron densities ≈5×10 14 cm –3 , ion and electron temperatures of ≈2.2 eV, and relative plasma-merging speed of 22 km/s), the observationally inferred magnitude of He/Ar shock-front separation and the shock widths themselves are <1 cm, which correspond to ~50 post-shock thermal ion–ion mean free paths. These experimental length scales are in reasonable qualitative and quantitative agreement with results from 1D multi-fluid simulations using the CHICAGO code. However, we note there are differences between the experimentally inferred and simulation-predicted ionization states and line emission intensities, particularly in the post-shock region. Overall, the experimental and simulation results are consistent with theoretical predictions that the lighter He ions diffuse farther ahead within the overall shock front than the heavier Ar ions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Programmable bionanocomposite coated fertilizers for prolonged controlled release of nitrogen

Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) present a promising solution for alleviating food and nutrient scarcity. However, their development has been mainly hindered by both rapid and unsynchronized nutrient release and unsustainable coating materials. In this study, we address this issue by developing a new coating layer for CRFs using a programmable biopolyurethane nanocomposite. This nanocomposite is prepared from diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)-functionalized bentonite nanoclay (BNT-MDI) and a biopolyol from biomass waste. The results show that the BNT-MDI-doped CRFs (BCRFs) exhibit an impressive nitrogen (N)-release longevity of approximately 120 days at a 4 wt% coating ratio, surpassing previous CRF formulations. In a 30-day snap bean cultivation study, BCRF significantly improved root length (1000%), leaf length (257%), leaf width (400%), and plant height (1400%) compared to the control. The superior performance of BCRF is attributed to the PU-nanoclay biocomposite film, with full nano-exfoliation, controllable porosity, and high crosslinking density. Furthermore, we introduce a new dynamic release mechanism and establish a quantitative relationship between the nanostructure, property, and release performance of BCRF by combining the multiplicative and diffusion models for porous materials. Finally, this study provides a theoretical framework and a straightforward methodology for designing programmable nanocomposite structures for future biobased CRFs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Understanding Anion, Water, and Methanol Transport in a Polyethylene- b -poly(vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium) Copolymer Anion-Exchange Membrane for Electrochemical Applications

Herein, we report the anion and water transport properties of an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) comprising a block copolymer of polyethylene and poly- (vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium) (PE-b-PVBTMA) with an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of 1.08 mequiv/g. The conductivity varied little among the anions CO3 2-, HCO3 -, and F-, with a value of Ea ≈ 20 kJ/mol and a maximum fluoride conductivity of 34 mS/cm at 90 °C and 95% relative humidity. The Br- conductivity showed a transition at 60 °C. Pulsed gradient stimulated spin echo nuclear magnetic resonance (PGSE NMR) experiments showed that water diffusion in this AEM is heterogeneous and is affected by the anion present, being fastest in the presence of F-. We determined the methanol self-diffusion in this membrane and observed that it is lower than that in Nafion 117, because of the lower water uptake. This article reports the first measurements of 13C-labeled bicarbonate self-diffusion in an AEM using PGSE NMR spectrometry, which was found to be significantly slower than F- self-diffusion. Back-calculation of the bicarbonate conductivity using the Nernst-Einstein equation gave a value that was significantly lower than the measured value, implying that bicarbonate transport involves OH- in the transport mechanism. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, PGSE NMR spectrometry, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicated the presence of different types of waters present in the membrane at different length scales. The SAXS data indicated that there is a water-rich region within the hydrophilic domains of the polymer that has a temperature dependence in intensity at 95% relative humidity (RH).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

High-order two-fluid plasma solver for direct numerical simulations of plasma flows with full transport phenomena

The two-fluid plasma equations for a single ion species, with full transport terms, including temperature and magnetic field dependent ion and electron viscous stresses and heat fluxes, frictional drag force, and ohmic heating terms, have been implemented in the CFDNS code and solved by using sixth-order non-dissipative compact finite differences for plasma flows in several different regimes. In order to be able to fully resolve all the dynamically relevant time and length scales, while maintaining computational feasibility, the assumptions of infinite speed of light and negligible electron inertia have been made. Non-dimensional analysis of the two-fluid plasma equations shows that, by varying the characteristic/background number density, length scale, temperature, and magnetic strength, the corresponding Hall, resistive, and ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations can be recovered as limiting cases. The accuracy and robustness of this two-fluid plasma solver in handling plasma flows in different regimes have been validated against four canonical problems: Alfven and whistler dispersion relations, electromagnetic plasma shock, and magnetic reconnection. For all test cases, by using physical dissipation and diffusion, with negligible numerical dissipation/diffusion, fully converged Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS)-like solutions are obtained when the ion Reynolds number based on the grid size is smaller than a threshold value which is about 2.3. For the magnetic reconnection problem, the results show that the magnetic flux saturation time and value converge when the ion and magnetic Reynolds numbers are large enough. Thus, the DNS-like results become relevant to practical problems with much larger Reynolds numbers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Multiorbital charge-density wave excitations and concomitant phonon anomalies in Bi 2 Sr 2 LaCuO 6+δ

Charge-density waves (CDWs) are ubiquitous in underdoped cuprate superconductors. As a modulation of the valence electron density, CDWs in hole-doped cuprates possess both Cu-3d and O-2p orbital character owing to the strong hybridization of these orbitals near the Fermi level. Here, we investigate underdoped Bi 2 Sr 1.4 La 0.6 CuO 6+δ using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and find that a short-range CDW exists at both Cu and O sublattices in the copper-oxide (CuO 2 ) planes with a comparable periodicity and correlation length. Furthermore, we uncover bond-stretching and bond-buckling phonon anomalies concomitant to the CDWs. Comparing to slightly overdoped Bi 2 Sr 1.8 La 0.2 CuO 6+δ , where neither CDWs nor phonon anomalies appear, we highlight that a sharp intensity anomaly is induced in the proximity of the CDW wavevector (Q CDW ) for the bond-buckling phonon, in concert with the diffused intensity enhancement of the bond-stretching phonon at wavevectors much greater than Q CDW . Our results provide a comprehensive picture of the quasistatic CDWs, their dispersive excitations, and associated electron-phonon anomalies, which are key for understanding the competing electronic instabilities in cuprates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

From Lévy walks to superdiffusive shock acceleration

In this paper, we present a general scenario for nondiffusive transport and we investigate the influence of anomalous, superdiffusive transport on Fermi acceleration processes at shocks. We explain why energetic particle superdiffusion can be described within the Lévy walk framework, which is based on a power-law distribution of free path lengths and on a coupling between free path length and free path duration. A self-contained derivation of the particle mean square displacement, which grows as (Δx {sup 2}) = 2D {sub α} t {sup α} with α > 1, and the particle propagator, is presented for Lévy walks, making use of a generalized version of the Montroll-Weiss equation. We also derive for the first time an explicit expression for the anomalous diffusion coefficient D {sub α} and we discuss how to obtain these quantities from energetic particle observations in space. The results are applied to the case of particle acceleration at an infinite planar shock front. Using the scaling properties of the Lévy walk propagator, the energy spectral indices are found to have values smaller than the ones predicted by the diffusive shock acceleration theory. Furthermore, when applying the results to ions with energies of a few MeV accelerated at the solar wind termination shock, the estimation of the anomalous diffusion coefficient associated with the superdiffusive motion gives acceleration times much smaller than the ones related to normal diffusion.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

A deep search for faint galaxies associated with very low-redshift C iv absorbers. II. Program design, absorption-line measurements, and absorber statistics

To investigate the evolution of metal-enriched gas over recent cosmic epochs as well as to characterize the diffuse, ionized, metal-enriched circumgalactic medium, we have conducted a blind survey for C iv absorption systems in 89 QSO sightlines observed with the Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. We have identified 42 absorbers at z < 0.16, comprising the largest uniform blind sample size to date in this redshift range. Our measurements indicate an increasing C iv absorber number density per comoving path length (dN/dX= 7.5 ± 1.1) and modestly increasing mass density relative to the critical density of the universe (Ω{sub C iv} = 10.0 ± 1.5 × 10{sup −8}) from z ∼ 1.5 to the present epoch, consistent with predictions from cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. Furthermore, the data support a functional form for the column density distribution function that deviates from a single power law, also consistent with independent theoretical predictions. As the data also probe heavy element ions in addition to C iv at the same redshifts, we identify, measure, and search for correlations between column densities of these species where components appear to be aligned in velocity. Among these ion–ion correlations, we find evidence for tight correlations between C ii and Si ii, C ii and Si iii, and C iv and Si iv, suggesting that these pairs of species arise in similar ionization conditions. However, the evidence for correlations decreases as the difference in ionization potential increases. Finally, when controlling for observational bias, we find only marginal evidence for a correlation (86.8% likelihood) between the Doppler line width b(C iv) and column density N(C iv).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1978

Experimental clean combustor program: Phase 3: Turbulence measurement addendum

Airflow turbulence parameters were measured in the high pressure, high temperature flow stream leaving the compressor of an operating gas turbine engine. A water cooled hot film turbulence probe was used to determine the turbulence intensity and length scale in the compressor exit flow stream of the CF6-50 engine. Data were obtained only at idle operating conditions. At engine power levels above idle conditions, durability problems and erratic data readings were encountered with the turbulence measurement probes. Turbulence measurements were made at three radial immersions at a point 15.5 cm downstream of the compressor outlet guide vanes in the compressor exit diffuser. The passage height at this point is 5.54 cm. Data reduction was accomplished with a time-data fast Fourier transform (FFT) system. This system finds the power spectral density distribution (PSD) of a large number of data samples using a direct Fourier transform algorithm and finds the autocorrelation parameter for these data by doing an FFT analysis of the PSD curves for a series of time delay intervals.

Taylor, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Development of a Protocol to Test Proprioceptive Utilization as a Predictor for Sensorimotor Adaptability

Astronauts returning from space flight show significant inter-subject variations in their abilities to readapt to a gravitational environment because of their innate sensory weighting. The ability to predict the manner and degree to which each individual astronaut will be affected would improve the effectiveness of countermeasure training programs designed to enhance sensorimotor adaptability. We hypothesize participant's ability to utilize individual sensory information (vision, proprioception and vestibular) influences adaptation in sensorimotor performance after space flight. The goal of this study is to develop a reliable protocol to test proprioceptive utilization in a functional postural control task. Subjects "stand" in a supine position while strapped to a backpack frame holding a friction-free device using air-bearings that allow the subject to move freely in the frontal plane, similar to when in upright standing. The frame is attached to a pneumatic cylinder, which can provide different levels of a gravity-like force that the subject must balance against to remain "upright". The supine posture with eyes closed ensures reduced vestibular and visual contribution to postural control suggesting somatosensory and/or non-otolith vestibular inputs will provide relevant information for maintaining balance control in this task. This setup is called the gravity bed. Fourteen healthy subjects carried out three trials each with eyes open alternated with eyes closed, "standing" on their dominant leg in the gravity bed environment while loaded with 60 percent of their body weight. Subjects were instructed to: "use your sense of sway about the ankle and pressure changes under the foot to maintain balance." Maximum length of a trial was 45 seconds. A force plate underneath the foot recorded forces and moments during the trial and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) attached on the backpack's frame near the center of mass of the subject recorded upper body postural responses. Series of linear and non-linear analyses were carried out on several force plate and IMU data including stabilogram diffusion analysis on the center of pressure (COP) to find a subset of parameters that were sensitive to detect differences in postural performance between eyes open and closed conditions. Results revealed that seven parameters (root mean square (RMS) of medio-lateral (ML) COP, range of ML COP, RMS of roll moment, range of trunk roll, minimum time-to-boundary (TTB), integrated TTB, and critical mean square planar displacement (delta r (sup 2) (sub c)) were significantly different between eyes open and closed conditions. We will present data to show the efficacy of using performance in single leg stance with eyes closed on the gravity bed to assess individuals' ability to utilize proprioceptive information in a functional postural control task to predict re-adaptation for sensorimotor and functional performance.

Goel, R.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Characteristic length scale dependence on conductivity for La{sub 2-x}Er{sub x}Mo{sub 2}O{sub 9} (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) oxide ion conductors

Structural property of polycrystalline La{sub 2-x}Er{sub x}Mo{sub 2}O{sub 9} has been investigated. Rietveld refinements at room temperature of the materials suggest a single phase nature with cubic symmetry (space group P2{sub 1}3). The electron density contour plot confirms the nature of different cation-oxygen bonds. Time dependent mean square displacement (√ ) and the spatial extent of the sub-diffusive motion (√ ) are evaluated using the linear response theory. The localized hop at O{sub 2} and O{sub 3} sites is found to be favorable for oxygen ion migration for these systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Adsorption, Ordering, and Metalation of Porphyrins on MgO Nanocube Surfaces: The Directional Role of Carboxylic Anchoring Groups

The understanding of porphyrin adsorption on oxide nanoparticles including knowledge about coverages and adsorbate geometries is a prerequisite for the improvement and optimization of hybrid materials. The combination of molecular spectroscopies with small-angle X-ray scattering provides molecular insights into porphyrin adsorption on MgO nanocube dispersions in organic solvents. In particular, we address the influence of terminal carboxyl groups on the adsorption of free base porphyrins, on their chemical binding, on the metalation reaction as well as on the coverage and orientation of adsorbate molecules. We compare the free base form 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21,23H-porphyrin (2HTPP) with the carboxyl-functionalized 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-21,23H-porphyrin (2HTCPP) and show that without carboxylic anchoring groups the free base form metalates on the nanocube surface and adopts a flat-lying adsorbate geometry. The saturation limit for flat-lying adsorption on nanocubes with an average edge length of 6 nm corresponds to 90 ± 14 molecules per particle. This limit is surpassed when 2HTCPP molecules attach via their terminal carboxyl groups to the surface. The resulting upright adsorption geometry suppresses self-metalation, on the one hand, and allows for much higher porphyrin coverages, on the other (at porphyrin concentrations in the stock solution of 2 × 10 –2 mol·L –1 ). UV–vis diffuse reflectance results are perfectly consistent with conclusions from SAXS data analysis. Here, the experiments reveal concentration dependent 2HTCPP coverages in the range between 0.4 to 1.9 molecules nm –2 which correspond to the formation of a shell of upright standing porphyrin molecules around the MgO nanocubes. In contrast, after adsorption and metalation of nonfunctionalized 2HTPP the resulting porphyrin shells are in the range of a tenth of a nanometer and thus too thin to be captured by SAXS measurements. Related insights advance our opportunities to prepare well-defined nanohybrids containing highly organized porphyrin films.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

RF synchronized short pulse laser ion source

A laser ion source that produces shortly bunched ion beam is proposed. In this ion source, ions are extracted immediately after the generation of laser plasma by an ultra-short pulse laser before its diffusion. The ions can be injected into radio frequency (RF) accelerating bucket of a subsequent accelerator. As a proof-of-principle experiment of the ion source, a RF resonator is prepared and H{sub 2} gas was ionized by a short pulse laser in the RF electric field in the resonator. As a result, bunched ions with 1.2 mA peak current and 5 ns pulse length were observed at the exit of RF resonator by a probe.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗