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Results for “Electron thermal conductivity”

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 OSTI2019

Effects of electron-phonon coupling and electronic thermal conductivity in high energy molecular dynamics simulations of irradiation cascades in nickel

The two-temperature model has been applied to investigate the effects of the electronic subsystem on 150 keV Ni ion cascades in nickel using molecular dynamics simulation. We explore the effects of the magnitude of the electron-phonon coupling and the electronic thermal conductivity on defect production and cluster formation. It has been found that stronger electron-phonon coupling allows larger and more rapid energy feedback to the atomic subsystem, leading to reduction of number of point defects and suppression of the formation of larger defect clusters. It was observed that larger electronic thermal conductivity results in slightly increased number of point defects and larger size vacancy clusters. The latter takes place because of suppression of point defects recombination in faster cooling areas of initial damage.

Zarkadoula, Eva↗
NASA NTRS1989

Two-temperature radiative shocks with electron thermal conduction

The influence of electron thermal conduction on radiative shock structure is studied for both one- and two-temperature plasmas. The dimensionless ratio of the conductive length to the cooling length determines whether or not conduction is important, and shock jump conditions with conduction are established for a collisionless shock front. Approximate solutions are obtained, with the assumptions that the ionization state of the gas is constant and the cooling rate is a function of temperature alone. In the absence of magnetic fields, these solutions indicate that conduction noticeably influences normal-abundance interstellar shocks with velocities 50-100 km/s and dramatically affects metal-dominated shocks over a wide range of shock velocities.

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Two-temperature models of old supernova remnants with ion and electron thermal conduction

To investigate the potential effects thermal conduction may have on the evolution of old supernova remnants, we present the results of 1D (spherically symmetric) numerical simulations of a remnant in a homogeneous interstellar medium for four different cases: (1) without thermal conduction; (2) with both electron and ion thermal conduction assuming equal temperatures; (3) with electron thermal conduction only, following electron and ion temperatures separately; and (4) with both electron and ion thermal conduction following separate temperatures. We followed the entire evolution until the completion of the remnant bubble collapse. Our most significant result is that in remnant evolution studies concerned principally with either the shell or bubble evolution at late times, reasonable results are obtained with single-temperature models. When the electron and ion temperatures are followed separately, however, ion thermal conduction cannot safely be ignored.

Cui, Wei↗
NASA NTRS1990

Pure-oxygen radiative shocks with electron thermal conduction

Steady state radiative shock models in gas composed entirely of oxygen are calculated with the purpose of explaining observations of fast-moving knots in Cas A and other oxygen-rich SNRs. Models with electron thermal conduction differ significantly from models in which conduction is neglected. Conduction reduces postshock electron temperatures by a factor of 7-10 and flattens temperature gradients. The O III ion, whose forbidden emission usually dominates the observed spectra, is present over a wide range of shock velocities, from 100 to 170 km/s. The electron temperature in the O III forbidden line formation region is 30,000 K, in agreement with the 20,000 K derived from observations. All models with conduction have extensive warm (T above 4000 K) photoionization zones, which provides better agreement with observed optical O I line strengths.

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Electron Thermal Conductivity of Pu and Zr Substituted Gamma-Uranium

Uranium alloys are attractive recycled nuclear fuels because of their high thermal conductivity (k) and fissile density; however, the effects of alloying elements on k remain unclear. Here, the electron thermal conductivity (k_e) of U-Pu-Zr compositions are calculated using density functional theory. The electronic structure is evaluated to understand the effects of plutonium (Pu) and zirconium (Zr) substitution on the k_e of ?-U. Alloys of up to 37.5 at. % Pu and 37.5 at. % Zr are examined. Two methods are applied to calculate k_e; we find that the accuracy of each method depends on the electronic and mass similarities between the solute and solvent atoms. Specifically, when the solute atom is similar in electronic structure and mass, the method that applies the electron relaxation time of ?-U is best, while if the elements are dissimilar, a mixed method that mixes several parameters associated with k_e from each element in the alloy is best. The introduction of all alloying elements decreases k_e; however, in binary compounds, Pu and Zr have different effects. Pu generally flattens the electronic bands but compensates for this deleterious effect by increasing electron density near the Fermi level. Zr flattens the electronic bands more severely without adding electron density near the Fermi level. Therefore, Zr decreases the k_e more than Pu in binary compounds. In ternary compounds, the difference between Pu and Zr is minimal due to the phononic change from the large mass change of Zr substitution, even at 12.5 at. %. Thus, we predict that higher loadings of Pu, and potentially other actinides, can be added to U-Pu-Zr compositions for faster recycling of spent fuel with without sacrificing k. We also note that these k_e calculation methods can be applied to non-fuel alloys that require k_e predictions, such as cladding, heat exchanger, and structural materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Electron Thermal Conductivity of Pu and Zr Substituted $\mathcal{γ}$-U

Uranium alloys are attractive recycled nuclear fuels because of their high thermal conductivity (𝑘) and fissile density. Limited experimental studies of the 𝑘 of U-Pu-Zr alloys in the range of 15 to 20 wt% Pu and 6 to 15 wt% Zr indicate that increasing the content of either Zr or Pu tends to lower 𝑘. However, which element has the greater effect on 𝑘, and the associated mechanisms, remains unclear. Here, in this study, the electron thermal conductivity (𝑘 𝑒 ) of U-Pu-Zr compositions are calculated using density functional theory. The electronic structure is evaluated to understand the effects of plutonium (Pu) and zirconium (Zr) substitution on the 𝑘 𝑒 of 𝛾-U. Alloys of up to 37.5 at. % Pu and 37.5 at. % Zr are examined. Two methods are applied to calculate 𝑘 𝑒 ; we find that the accuracy of each method depends on the electronic and mass similarities between the solute and solvent atoms. Specifically, when the solute atom is similar in electronic structure and mass, the more accurate method is that which employs the electron relaxation time of 𝛾-U, while if the elements are dissimilar, a mixed method that mixes several parameters associated with JNW_S⁢3033426825100132 from each element in the alloy is best. The introduction of all alloying elements decreases 𝑘 𝑒 ; however, in binary compounds, Pu and Zr have different effects. Pu flattens the electronic bands but compensates for this deleterious effect by increasing electron density near the Fermi level. Zr flattens the electronic bands more severely without adding electron density near the Fermi level. Therefore, Zr decreases 𝑘 𝑒 more than Pu in binary compounds. In ternary compounds, the difference between Pu and Zr is minimal due to the phononic change from the large mass change of Zr substitution, even at 12.5 at. %. Thus, we predict that higher loadings of Pu, and potentially other actinides, can be added to U-Pu-Zr compositions for faster recycling of spent fuel without sacrificing 𝑘. We also note that these 𝑘 𝑒 calculation methods can be applied to non-fuel alloys that require 𝑘 𝑒 predictions, such as cladding, heat exchanger, and structural materials.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1987

X-ray and ultraviolet radiation from accreting white dwarfs. IV - Two-temperature treatment with electron thermal conduction

Results are reported from two-temperature calculations of the structures and X-ray spectra of radiation shocks generated by accretion onto nonmagnetic white dwarfs. The approach was necessitated by the domination of bremsstrahlung in the emission region by Compton cooling. Features of the shock model, which includes steady, spherical infall of fully ionized plasma and dominance of the stand-off shock by collisional processes, are summarized. A maximum hard X-ray temperature of about 50 keV and a maximum hard X-ray luminosity of 2 x 10 to the 36th ergs/sec were obtained. The results prove that the bulk of accretion energy cannot be transported to the star by electron thermal conduction, provided that bremsstrahlung cooling is dominant over cyclotron cooling.

Imamura, J. N.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Testing nonlocal models of electron thermal conduction for magnetic and inertial confinement fusion applications

Three models for nonlocal electron thermal transport are here compared against Vlasov-Fokker-Planck (VFP) codes to assess their accuracy in situations relevant to both inertial fusion hohlraums and tokamak scrape-off layers. The models tested are (i) a moment-based approach using an eigenvector integral closure (EIC) originally developed by Ji, Held, and Sovinec [Phys. Plasmas 16, 022312 (2009)]; (ii) the non-Fourier Landau-fluid (NFLF) model of Dimits, Joseph, and Umansky [Phys. Plasmas 21, 055907 (2014)]; and (iii) Schurtz, Nicolaï, and Busquet’s [Phys. Plasmas 7, 4238 (2000)] multigroup diffusion model (SNB). We find that while the EIC and NFLF models accurately predict the damping rate of a small-amplitude temperature perturbation (within 10% at moderate collisionalities), they overestimate the peak heat flow by as much as 35% and do not predict preheat in the more relevant case where there is a large temperature difference. The SNB model, however, agrees better with VFP results for the latter problem if care is taken with the definition of the mean free path. Additionally, we present for the first time a comparison of the SNB model against a VFP code for a hohlraum-relevant problem with inhomogeneous ionisation and show that the model overestimates the heat flow in the helium gas-fill by a factor of ∼2 despite predicting the peak heat flux to within 16%.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1969

Thermally conducting electron transfer polymers

New polymeric material exhibits excellent physical shock protection, high electrical resistance, and thermal conductivity. It is especially useful for electronic circuitry, such as subminiaturization of components and modular construction of circuits.

Byrd, N. R.↗
DOE OSTI2016

SUPPRESSION OF ELECTRON THERMAL CONDUCTION IN THE HIGH β INTRACLUSTER MEDIUM OF GALAXY CLUSTERS

Understanding the thermodynamic state of the hot intracluster medium (ICM) in a galaxy cluster requires knowledge of the plasma transport processes, especially thermal conduction. The basic physics of thermal conduction in plasmas with ICM-like conditions has yet to be elucidated, however. We use particle-in-cell simulations and analytic models to explore the dynamics of an ICM-like plasma (with small gyroradius, large mean free path, and strongly sub-dominant magnetic pressure) driven by the diffusive heat flux associated with thermal conduction. Linear theory reveals that whistler waves are driven unstable by electron heat flux, even when the heat flux is weak. The resonant interaction of electrons with these waves then plays a critical role in scattering electrons and suppressing the heat flux. In a 1D model where only whistler modes that are parallel to the magnetic field are captured, the only resonant electrons are moving in the opposite direction to the heat flux, and the electron heat flux suppression is small. In 2D or more, oblique whistler modes also resonate with electrons moving in the direction of the heat flux. The overlap of resonances leads to effective symmetrization of the electron distribution function and a strong suppression of heat flux. The results suggest that thermal conduction in the ICM might be strongly suppressed, possibly to negligible levels.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Suppression of Electron Thermal Conduction by Whistler Turbulence in a Sustained Thermal Gradient

The dynamics of weakly magnetized collisionless plasmas in the presence of an imposed temperature gradient along an ambient magnetic field is explored with particle-in-cell simulations and modeling. Two thermal reservoirs at different temperatures drive an electron heat flux that destabilizes off-angle whistler-type modes. The whistlers grow to large amplitude, δB/B 0 ≃ 1, and resonantly scatter the electrons, significantly reducing the heat flux. Interestingly, the resulting steady-state heat flux is largely independent of the thermal gradient. The rate of thermal conduction is instead controlled by the finite propagation speed of the whistlers, which act as mobile scattering centers that convect the thermal energy of the hot reservoir. The findings are relevant to thermal transport in high-β astrophysical plasmas such as hot accretion flows and the intracluster medium of galaxy clusters.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1992

Inhibition of electron thermal conduction by electromagnetic instabilities

Heat flux inhibition by electromagnetic instabilities in a hot magnetized plasma is investigated. Low-frequency electromagnetic waves become unstable due to anisotropy of the electron distribution function. The chaotic magnetic field thus generated scatters the electrons with a specific effective mean free path. Saturation of the instability due to wave-wave interaction, nonlinear scattering, wave propagation, and collisional damping is considered. The effective mean free path is found self-consistently, using a simple model to estimate saturation level and scattering, and is shown to decrease with the temperature gradient length. The results, limited to the assumptions of the model, are applied to astrophysical systems. For some interstellar clouds the instability is found to be important. Collisional damping stabilizes the plasma, and the heat conduction can be dominated by superthermal electrons.

Levinson, Amir↗
NASA NTRS1972

Improved thermally conducting electron transfer polymers

Development of polymers with improved heat transfer coefficients for use in encapsulating electronic modules is discussed. Chemical reactions for synthesizing the polymers are described and thermodynamic and physical properties are analyzed.

Jenkins, R. K.↗