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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Demonstration of Selective Single-Barium Ion Detection with Dry Diazacrown Ether Naphthalimide Turn-on Chemosensors

Single-molecule fluorescence imaging (SMFI) of gas-phase ions has been proposed for “barium tagging,” a burgeoning area of research in particle physics to detect individual barium daughter ions. This has potential to significantly enhance the sensitivity of searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) that is obscured by background radiation events. The chemistry required to make such sensitive detection of Ba 2+ by SMFI in dry Xe gas at solid interfaces has implications for solid-phase detection methods but has not been demonstrated. Here, we synthesized simple, robust, and effective Ba 2+ -selective chemosensors capable of function within ultrapure high-pressure 136 Xe gas. Turn-on fluorescent naphthalimide-(di)azacrown ether chemosensors were Ba 2+ -selective and achieved SMFI in a polyacrylamide matrix. Here, fluorescence and NMR experiments supported a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism for turn-on sensing. Ba 2+ selectivity was achieved with computational calculations correctly predicting the fluorescence responses of sensors to barium, mercury, and potassium ions. With these molecules, dry-phase single-Ba 2+ ion imaging with turn-on fluorescence was realized using an oil-free microscopy technique for the first time—a significant advance toward single-Ba 2+ ion detection within large volumes of 136 Xe, plausibly enabling a background-independent technique to search for the hypothetical process of 0νββ.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1975

Results of magnetospheric barium ion cloud experiment of 1971

The barium ion cloud experiment involved the release of about 2 kg of barium at an altitude of 31 482 km, a latitude of 6.926 N., and a longitude of 74.395 W. Significant erosion of plasma from the main ion core occurred during the initial phase of the ion cloud expansion. From the motion of the outermost striational filaments, the electric field components were determined to be 0.19 mV/m in the westerly direction and 0.68 mV/m in the inward direction. The differences between these components and those measured from balloons flown in the proximity of the extremity of the field line through the release point implied the existence of potential gradients along the magnetic field lines. The deceleration of the main core was greater than theoretically predicted. This was attributed to the formation of a polarization wake, resulting in an increase of the area of interaction and resistive dissipation at ionospheric levels. The actual orientation of the magnetic field line through the release point differed by about 10.5 deg from that predicted by magnetic field models that did not include the effect of ring current.

Adamson, D.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Probability of the two-electron mechanism of the formation of doubly charged barium ions as a function of laser radiation intensity

The formation of singly and doubly charged ions upon nonlinear ionization of barium atoms is studied as a function of the frequency and intensity of a 8800-8920-cm{sup -1} IR color center laser. Barium atoms are ionized via the four-photon resonance with the strongly perturbed bound 6p{sup 21}D{sub 2} state. Doubly charged barium ions are produced by a two-electron mechanism. It is found that the probability of the formation of doubly charged ions under these conditions linearly depends on the laser radiation intensity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Meteorological support to the West German-United States Barium Ion Cloud Project.

The objective of the Barium Ion Cloud Project was to study a barium ionized cloud released at an altitude of 5 earth radii. Accurate forecasting of weather conditions to prevail during the experiment period was critical to the project success. Good seeing conditions were required at all optical sites during the experiment. All meteorological support was the responsibility of the National Weather Service at Wallops Station, Virginia. Preliminary results confirm the scientists' theories of the magnetic fields and the existence of electric fields in the magnetosphere.

Westfall, R. R.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Mobility and clustering of barium ions and dications in high-pressure xenon gas

The clustering and drift properties of barium ions in xenon gas are explored theoretically, using density-functional theory and computational ion mobility theory, with the goal of better understanding barium ion transport for neutrinoless double beta decay. Here, we derive the equilibrium conformations, energies, and entropies of molecular ions in the Ba + -Xe and Ba 2 + -Xe systems, which yield a predictive model of cluster formation in high-pressure gas. In this work, we calculate ion-neutral interaction potential curves for these species and use them to predict effective molecular ion mobilities. Our calculation consistently reproduces experimental data on effective mobility and molecular ion formation for the Ba + system, and predicts strong cluster formation in the Ba 2 + system, dominated by stable [ BaXe 6 ] 2 + , [ BaXe 7 ] 2 + , [ BaXe 8 ] 2 + , and [ BaXe 9 ] 2 + complexes in the range of interest. Some implications for barium tagging in gas-phase neutrinoless double beta decay experiments are discussed, and the first predictions of pressure-dependent mobility of the doubly charged Ba 2 + species are presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1973

Triangulation Error Analysis for the Barium Ion Cloud Experiment

The triangulation method developed specifically for the Barium Ion Cloud Project is discussed. Expression for the four displacement errors, the three slope errors, and the curvature error in the triangulation solution due to a probable error in the lines-of-sight from the observation stations to points on the cloud are derived. The triangulation method is then used to determine the effect of the following on these different errors in the solution: the number and location of the stations, the observation duration, east-west cloud drift, the number of input data points, and the addition of extra cameras to one of the stations. The pointing displacement errors, and the pointing slope errors are compared. The displacement errors in the solution due to a probable error in the position of a moving station plus the weighting factors for the data from the moving station are also determined.

Long, S. A. T.↗
DOE OSTI2014

A system for trapping barium ions in a microfabricated surface trap

We have developed a vacuum chamber and control system for rapid testing of microfabricated surface ion traps. Our system is modular in design and is based on an in-vacuum printed circuit board with integrated filters. We have used this system to successfully trap and cool barium ions and have achieved ion ‘dark' lifetimes of 31.6 s ± 3.4 s with controlled shuttling of ions. We provide a detailed description of the ion trap system including the in-vacuum materials used, control electronics and neutral atom source. We discuss the challenges presented in achieving a system which can work reliably over two years of operations in which the trap under test was changed at least 10 times.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Requirements for laser radar detection of a barium ion cloud at five earth radii.

The requirements for a tuned laser radar capable of detecting and ranging a high altitude barium ion cloud release are discussed. A high energy pulsed dye laser tuned to the 455.4 nm Ba II resonance line is considered as the transmitter. Photon counting detection is employed and the resultant signal is integrated over a number of successive laser firings. The solar induced radiance of the cloud is the major background noise source. Detection and ranging may be achieved with signal-to-noise ratios of the order of unity using currently available equipment. This technique has the potential of improved resolution as compared to photographic measurements previously made.

Mumola, P. B.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Static and dynamic photoinduced magnetic effects in yttrium-iron garnet lightly doped with barium ions

In yttrium-iron garnet lightly doped with barium, direct measurements of the photoinduced changes in magnetostrictive strains disagree with those in magnetostriction constants at 78-100 K. This is attributed to a considerable photoinduced modification of the initial state in this sample due to a redistribution of the charge (during illumination) between cations of the ferromagnetic octahedral sublattice. In the same sample, the temperature dependence of the photoinduced disaccomodation of magnetic permeability characterizing the initial demagnetized state is measured and calculated. A change in the electron mechanism of the phenomenon during the transition to room temperature is shown. The conclusion about the promising prospects for using such samples for remagnetization by light is advanced.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gradient Doping in Sn–Pb Perovskites by Barium Ions for Efficient Single-Junction and Tandem Solar Cells

Narrow bandgap tin-lead (NBG Sn-Pb) perovskites generally have a high density of unintentional p-type self-doping, which reduces the charge carrier lifetimes, diffusion lengths and device efficiencies. Here, we demonstrate a p-n homojunction across the Sn-Pb perovskite resulted from a gradient doping by Ba 2+ . We report that 0.1 mol% Ba 2+ can effectively compensate the p-doping of Sn-Pb perovskites or even turns it to n-type without changing its bandgap. Ba 2+ cations are found to stay at the interstitial sites and work as shallow electron donor. In addition, Ba 2+ cations show a unique heterogeneous distribution in perovskite film. Most of the barium ions stay in the top 600 nanometer region of the perovskite films and turn it into weakly n-type, while the bottom portion of the film remains to be p-type. The gradient doping forms of a homojunction from top to bottom of the perovskite films with a built-in field that facilitates extraction of photogenerated carriers, resulting an increased carrier extraction length. Furthermore, this strategy enhanced the efficiency of Sn-Pb perovskite single-junction solar cells to over 21.0% and boosted the efficiencies of monolithic perovskite-perovskite tandem solar cells to 25.3% and 24.1%, for active areas of 5.9 mm2 and 0.94 cm 2 , respectively.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Interactions of cesium and barium ions with calcium silicate hydrate under the condition saturated with saline water - 15247

The interaction of cesium (Cs) and barium (Ba) ions with calcium silicate hydrate (CSH gel) without drying processes was examined under the condition saturated with saline water, by monitoring the concentrations of Cs and Ba and using the Raman spectroscopy and the zeta potential. In the experiments, Ca/Si molar ratios of CSH gel were set to 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6. Each sample was synthesized with CaO powder, SiO{sub 2} powder and NaCl solution in given combinations. The concentration of NaCl solution was set to 0.006, 0.06 and 0.6 M. At the same time, CsCl or BaCl{sub 2} solution was added to the sample in order to adjust its concentration to 1.0 mM. The curing period was set to 7, 14, 30 days. As a results, the sorption of Cs and Ba ions on CSH gel became stronger with lower Ca/Si molar ratio. On the other hand, even though the zeta potential showed the surface charge of higher Ca/Si ratio samples was positive charge which inhibits the sorption of cations, Cs and Ba ions significantly sorbed on CSH gel. In addition, Raman spectra of higher Ca/Si ratio samples showed that the degree of depolymerization of silicate chain increased with the sorption of Cs and Ba ions on CSH gel. In other words, even in higher Ca/Si ratio samples, Cs and Ba ions can sorb on CSH gel through the structural deformation of CSH gel. These results suggest that CSH gel might be able to contribute the migration retardation of Cs and/or Ba ions through the interaction with CSH gel, even if the near-field of the geological repository are saturated by saline groundwater. (authors)

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Communication: Barium ions and helium nanodroplets: Solvation and desolvation

The solvation of Ba{sup +} ions created by the photoionization of barium atoms located on the surface of helium nanodroplets has been investigated. The excitation spectra corresponding to the 6p {sup 2}P{sub 1/2} Leftwards-Arrow 6s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2} and 6p {sup 2}P{sub 3/2} Leftwards-Arrow 6s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2} transitions of Ba{sup +} are found to be identical to those recorded in bulk He II [H. J. Reyher, H. Bauer, C. Huber, R. Mayer, A. Schafer, and A. Winnacker, Phys. Lett. A 115, 238 (1986)], indicating that the ions formed at the surface of the helium droplets become fully solvated by the helium. Time-of-flight mass spectra suggest that following the excitation of the solvated Ba{sup +} ions, these are being ejected from the helium droplets either as bare Ba{sup +} ions or as small Ba{sup +}He{sub n} (n < 20) complexes.

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

Interaction of Cesium and Barium Ions with Calcium Silicate Hydrate under a Geological Temperature Condition - 16239

The interaction of calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH gel) and cationic radionuclides such as cesium-135 significantly affects the assessment of radionuclide migration. This study examined the influence of temperature on the interaction of Cs and barium (Ba) ions with CSH gel because temperature generally affects chemical reactions such as sorption. In the sorption experiments, CSH gel was prepared by the hydration of CaO and fumed silica without a drying process, with Ca/Si molar ratios ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 and the liquid/solid weight ratio set to 20. The concentration of Cs and/or Ba ions was adjusted to 1.0 mM. The temperature conditions during the sorption experiments for 14 days were set to 298, 313 and 333 K. As a result, the sorption of Cs ions on CSH gel increased at higher temperature. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy studies showed that the silicate chain of CSH gel depolymerized with the increase in temperature. That is, the structural deformation of CSH gel at a relatively high temperature facilitates the sorption of Cs ions. On the other hand, the sorption of Ba ions on CSH gel remained high (90 %) regardless of temperature, and hardly affected the sorption of Cs ions. These findings suggest that CSH gel around the repository is expected to further retard the migration of cationic radionuclides under temperature condition up to 333 K. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1973

A cylindrical shell model of the NASA-MPE barium ion cloud experiment.

A computer model is developed using infinitely long concentric cylindrical shells to represent the neutral atoms, ions and electrons in the barium cloud. The neutral shells are given a distribution of positions and velocities whose parameters are chosen to be consistent with the dynamics of the release. From this distribution, the ion and electron shells are generated at random using the observed time constant for photoionization. The ion and electron shells thus formed are followed using self-consistent equations of motion. Various averages which could be compared with observation of the actual cloud are calculated at regular time intervals. An unexpected result is the predicted very early return of the magnetic field within the cloud to its ambient value.

Grauer, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Acceleration of barium ions near 8000 km above an aurora

A barium shaped charge, named Limerick, was released from a rocket launched from Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, on March 30, 1982, at 1033 UT. The release took place in a small auroral breakup. The jet of ionized barium reached an altitude of 8100 km 14.5 min after release, indicating that there were no parallel electric fields below this altitude. At 8100 km the jet appeared to stop. Analysis shows that the barium at this altitude was effectively removed from the tip. It is concluded that the barium was actually accelerated upward, resulting in a large decrease in the line-of-sight density and hence the optical intensity. The parallel electric potential in the acceleration region must have been greater than 1 kV over an altitude interval of less than 200 km. The acceleration region, although presumably auroral in origin, did not seem to be related to individual auroral structures, but appeared to be a large-scale horizontal structure. The perpendicular electric field below, as deduced from the drift of the barium, was temporally and spatially very uniform and showed no variation related to individual auroral structures passing through.

Stenbaek-Nielsen, H. C.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Demonstration of Single-Barium-Ion Sensitivity for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging

Here, a new method to tag the barium daughter in the double beta decay of $^{136}$Xe is reported. Using the technique of single molecule fluorescent imaging (SMFI), individual barium dication (Ba$^{++}$) resolution at a transparent scanning surface has been demonstrated. A single-step photo-bleach confirms the single ion interpretation. Individual ions are localized with super-resolution ($\sim$2~nm), and detected with a statistical significance of 12.9~$\sigma$ over backgrounds. This lays the foundation for a new and potentially background-free neutrinoless double beta decay technology, based on SMFI coupled to high pressure xenon gas time projection chambers.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ablation loading of barium ions into a surface-electrode trap

Trapped-ion quantum information processing may benefit from qubits encoded in isotopes that are practically available in only small quantities, e.g., due to low natural abundance or radioactivity. Laser ablation provides a method of controllably liberating neutral atoms or ions from low-volume targets, but energetic ablation products can be difficult to confine in the small ion-electrode distance, micron-scale microfabricated traps amenable to high-speed, high-fidelity manipulation of ion arrays. Here, we investigate ablation-based ion loading into surface-electrode traps of different sizes to test a model describing ion loading probability as a function of effective trap volume and other trap parameters. We characterize loading of ablated barium from a metallic source in two cryogenic surface-electrode traps with 730 and 50 μm ion-electrode distances. Furthermore, our loading rate agrees with a predictive analytical model, providing insight for the confinement of limited-quantity species of interest for quantum computing, simulation, and sensing.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗