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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 OSTI2023

Methodology to Generate the Decay Gamma Source for a Second Target Station Target Wedge

This report details the specifics of applying the Position-Averaged Method methodology for the calculation of the rotating lasagna-style target wedge activation and the resulting decay gamma source terms. The methodology uses MCNP® Code Version 6.2.0 with the RNUCS patch coupled with CINDER2008 from the AARE V1.0 package. The process begins with model preparations that include ensuring impurities are included in the materials in the regions of interest along with segmentation of the geometry in order to capture the decay gamma source gradients. This report also details the physics models and other MCNP®, CINDER2008, and ADVANTG 3.2.0 related options used to calculate the decay gamma source terms. ADVANTG 3.2.0 is used to generate a weight window set to aid in convergence of the neutron fluxes in the initial MCNP® protons-on-target particle transport calculation to calculate the neutron fluxes and spallation products in the regions of interest. The neutron fluxes and spallation products are then used in the CINDER2008 transmutation calculation, and the decay gamma sources are generated by the AARE_GAMMA_SOURCE_SCRIPT as a part of the AARE V1.0 package. These decay gamma sources include the energy distributions as well as the necessary distributions to sample the location of the source using the cell rejection method. The gamma sources that are produced using the methodology may be used for a wide variety of analysis involving the target wedge. This report includes the material specifications, physics options, proton source term description, geometrical configuration, and post-processing details.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Methodology to Generate Decay Gamma Sources for the Second Target Station Full Target Assembly

This report details the specifics of applying the Position-Averaged Method to the target wedges and staves. The methodology used to calculate the decay gamma sources for a single target wedge to the calculation of the Second Target Station (STS) target assembly activation and the resulting decay gamma source terms are detailed in this report. The methodology has been applied to the entire STS target assembly including all of the target wedges, staves, shaft, and drive. The target staves and shaft have been vertically segmented to ensure the decay gamma source gradient is sufficiently captured. MCNP ® Code Version 6.2.0 with the RNUCS patch coupled with CINDER2008 from the AARE V1.0 package are the main tools used to calculate the decay gamma source terms.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Study of $Z \rightarrow ll\gamma$ decays at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents a study of $Z \rightarrow ll\gamma$ decays with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis uses a proton–proton data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb -1 collected at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV. Integrated fiducial cross-sections together with normalised differential fiducial cross-sections, sensitive to the kinematics of final-state QED radiation, are obtained. The results are found to be in agreement with state-of-the-art predictions for final-state QED radiation. First measurements of $Z \rightarrow ll\gamma\gamma$ decays are also reported.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for the $ {B}_s^0$ → μ + μ – $\gamma$ decay

A search for the fully reconstructed ${B}_s^0$ → μ + μ – γ decay is performed at the LHCb experiment using proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb –1 . No significant signal is found and upper limits on the branching fraction in intervals of the dimuon mass are set ${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\gamma \right)<4.2\times {10}^{-8},& m\left({\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)\in \left[2{m}_{\mu },1.70\right]\textrm{GeV}/{c}^2,\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\gamma \right)<7.7\times {10}^{-8},&\ m\left({\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)\in \left[\textrm{1.70,2.88}\right]\textrm{GeV}/{c}^2,\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\gamma \right)<4.2\times {10}^{-8},& m\left({\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)\in \left[3.92,{m}_{B_s^0}\right]\textrm{GeV}/{c}^2,\end{array}}\\{}$ at 95% confidence level. Additionally, upper limits are set on the branching fraction in the [2m μ , 1.70] GeV/c 2 dimuon mass region excluding the contribution from the intermediate Φ(1020) meson, and in the region combining all dimuon-mass intervals.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Gamma Decay of the 154 Sm Isovector Giant Dipole Resonance: Smekal-Raman Scattering as a Novel Probe of Nuclear Ground-State Deformation

𝛾 decays of the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) of the deformed nucleus 154 Sm were measured using 2$^{+}_{1}$-Smekal-Raman and elastic scattering of linearly polarized, quasimonochromatic photon beams. The two scattering processes were disentangled through their distinct angular distributions. Their branching ratio and cross sections were determined at six excitation energies covering the 154 Sm IVGDR. Both agree with the predictions of the geometrical model for the IVGDR and confirm 𝛾 decay as an observable sensitive to the structure of the resonance. Consequently, the data place strong constraints on the nuclear shape, including the degree of triaxiality. The derived 154 Sm shape parameters 𝛽 = 0.2925⁢(25) and 𝛾 = 5.0⁢(15)° agree well with other measurements and recent Monte Carlo shell-model calculations.

150 ≤ A ≤ 189↗
DOE OSTI2024

Searches for exclusive Higgs boson decays into D *$\gamma$ and Z boson decays into D 0 $\gamma$ and K $^{0}_{s}$$\gamma$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Searches for exclusive decays of the Higgs boson into D*$\gamma$ and of the Z boson into D 0 $\gamma$ and K$_{s}^{0}$$\gamma$ can probe flavour-violating Higgs boson and Z boson couplings to light quarks. Searches for these decays are performed with a pp collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 136.3 fb -1 collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13TeV between 2016–2018 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. In the D*$\gamma$ and D 0 $\gamma$ channels, the observed (expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits on the respective branching fractions are B(H→D*$\gamma$) < 1.0(1.2)×10 -3 , B(Z→D 0 $\gamma$) < 4.0(3.4)×10 -6 , while the corresponding results in the K$_{s}^{0}$$\gamma$ channel are B(Z→K$_{s}^{0}$$\gamma$) < 3.1(3.0)×10 -6 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantum imaging with positronium-decay-emitted gamma rays

The use of entangled gamma rays from positronium decay for quantum-enhanced imaging of dense materials is demonstrated. Quantum ghost images, where only one of the entangled 511-keV photons interacts with the object, are obtained for tantalum samples of varying density using a 210-ps time-resolution dual detector system and a Na-22 positron source. An analysis comparing both classical and quantum imaging modalities is employed to isolate true 511-keV events from background noise. Image quality is quantitatively assessed using transmission ratios and the Michelson contrast. Quantum-correlated images are found to exhibit superior (up to approximately 1.7x, from 0.49 to 0.83 in the thickest sample measured) contrast compared to classical methods and align well with theoretical expectations. These results suggest that quantum ghost imaging with positronium-based entangled gamma rays could significantly enhance noninvasive imaging of high-density objects, with potential applications in areas such as cargo inspection and security screening.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Gamma and Decay Energy Spectroscopy Measurements of Trinitite

We report gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements of trinitite samples and analogous samples obtained from detonation sites in Nevada and Semipalatinsk, as well as in situ measurements of topsoil at the Trinity site. We also report the first isotopic composition measurements of trinitite using the novel forensics technique of decay energy spectroscopy (DES) as a complement to traditional forensics techniques. Our gamma spectroscopy and DES measurements are compared to other published results.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Titanium Material Comparison for Second Target Station Moderators

Two titanium alloys, Ti 15-3-3-3 and Grade 5 Ti, have been analyzed for their neutronic differences after being exposed to neutron fluxes from a 5-year operational period in the Second Target Station (STS)moderators. There are several differences in the original composition of the two alloys where Ti 15-3-3-3contains Cr and Sn and Grade 5 Ti does not. The differences in original composition propagate through the analysis to yield discrepancies in decay power density and decay gamma intensity density of more than a factor of 3.5 at some times during operation. Immediately after the 5-year operational period, Ti 15-3-3-3has a factor of 3.59 higher intensity of high-energy decay gammas than Grade 5 Ti, and Ti 15-3-3-3 also has a factor of 3.53 higher decay power than Grade 5 Ti. After 1 year of shutdown, Ti 15-3-3-3 has a 48% higher intensity of high-energy decay gammas and a 86% greater decay power density when compared with Grade 5 Ti. The quantities-of-interest in this report are per unit volume and the overall volume of titanium should be considered when making engineering judgment on final titanium alloy selection.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Analysis of Second Target Station Target Removal Dose Rates

The Second Target Station (STS) project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s spallation neutron source is a crucial initiative for maintaining U.S. leadership in neutron sciences. The STS aims to create the world’s brightest pulsed cold neutron source, enabling cutting-edge research across various scientific disciplines. To ensure safe and efficient maintenance operations, understanding the effects of shutdown dose rates from activated components within the STS target systems is essential. This study establishes a computational framework for calculating decay gamma sources and subsequent shutdown dose rates utilizing advanced methods to account for all activation channels, including high-energy interactions down to thermal neutron capture. This study describes a novel integration of multiple tools and provides an effective means of analyzing activation and shutdown dose rates at spallation neutron facilities. A custom-developed script automates the decay gamma source generation process, ensuring proper sampling during the variance reduction phase, which is critical for accurate predictions of shutdown dose rates.

Transmutation↗
DOE OSTI2022

Decay Curve Correction Analysis Report

The decay curve analysis that is done on the short-lived radionuclide gas samples is used to differentiate between gaseous radionuclides that have the same characteristic gamma decay energy, 511 kiloelectron-volts (keV). A sample of stack gas is isolated and the total counts in the 511 keV peak are counted repeatedly in 10-second intervals to evaluate the decay rate of the sample over time. Analysis of this decay data required a series of steps. First, a raw data report is generated by the gamma acquisition system, based on an analysis template within the acquisition software. The data report file was then loaded into Microsoft Word, and a macro was used to perform minor formatting (remove colons and insert tabs between data columns) to allow analysis within Excel. The file is then saved as a text file at this point. The text file is then uploaded into Excel and a series of macros are used to add labels, calculate radioactive decay constants, and analyze the gamma decay data using linear regression techniques. The analysis template has been used since 1998 for stack 53000303 (TA-53, building 0003, exhaust stack 03) and 2000 for stack 53000702. The overall process, including the gamma report format and the macros used in Word and Excel for processing the report, had remained unchanged until 2015. In October of 2015, staff made a change to the report template in the gamma acquisition software which resulted in an error in the calculations later performed by the Excel macro. This error was not caught until a more in-depth review of the analysis took place regarding 2020 data. This report covers a much more complete review of the issue that occurred regarding the decay curve analysis, a review of the calculations completed to correct the issue, a review of the updated decay curve analysis process, and recommendations for moving forward.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Neutronics Evaluation of the Preliminary Design of the Service Cell Door for the Second Target Station

The service cell door needs to provide sufficient shielding to achieve 0.25 mrem/h dose rates in the adjacent room while remote handling operations of waste materials are going on within the service cell for the Second Target Station (STS). This analysis provides a neutronics evaluation of the preliminary design of the service cell door to evaluate the required thickness and the effect of streaming gaps around the door. As radiation source, we use the decay gamma source of the moderator reflector assembly (MRA) of the STS with a decay time of either two days or six months. As the MRA contains a significant amount of beryllium, photonuclear reactions induce a neutron source, which dictates the required door thickness in certain situations. Four scenarios with different MRA positions and decay times have been analyzed. The required thickness differs drastically depending on the chosen scenario and on the material of the door. The streaming through the gaps around the door is relatively small with high dose rates limited to small sections of the geometry.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for the rare decays $W^+ → D^+_s \gamma$ and $Z → D^0 \gamma$ at LHCb

A search for the rare decays $W^+ → D^+_s \gamma$ and $Z → D^0 \gamma$ is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0fb -1 . No significant signal is observed for either decay mode and upper limits on their branching fractions are set using W⁺ → μ⁺v and Z → μ⁺μ⁻ decays as normalization channels. The upper limits are 6.5 x 10 -4 and 2.1 x 10 -3 at 95% confidence level for the $W^+ → D^+_s \gamma$ and $Z → D^0 \gamma$ decay modes, respectively. This is the first reported search for the $Z → D^0 \gamma$ decay, while the upper limit on the branching fraction $W^+ → D^+_s \gamma$ improves upon the previous best limit.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Alpha Decay Chains as Thermal Power Sources: Analysis and Applications for RTGs

Radioactive sources can provide power in remote and environmentally harsh locations such as the arctic or space. The generators powered by such sources are rugged and can withstand extreme temperatures, lack of sunlight, and require no human intervention for multiple years. Radioisotopes are used in thermoelectric generators to provide power at remote sites and deep in space. Isotopes like Pu-238, Cm-244, and Am-241 are used in these generators by NASA for power in space probes and spacecrafts. These power sources deliver a steady supply of energy over extended periods of time. Alpha particles created during decay do not travel far in a material. Their kinetic energy is transferred to heat that we can then convert into energy. Unlike beta and gamma decay, the slower-moving alpha particles stop in the material, making their energy available for use. Energy from these natural decay processes provides a reliable source of power. Spontaneous fission is rare and unreliable, and unlike induced fission processes, alpha decay occurs naturally and does not require external management or ignition. The ideal properties of an isotope for use as a power source depend upon the intended use. For use in an Arctic research base over a period of several years, but less than a decade, an isotope that provides high power output over a shorter lifespan may be the most suitable option. Whereas, for deep space missions where a consistent power source for decades or perhaps more than 100 years is needed that would require a very different isotope. One with a much longer half-life that would provide consistent power throughout that time and survive in that state in for these extended periods of time. These examples represent two extreme sides in terms of time frames. By analyzing the power produced by different radioactive decay processes over time, we can evaluate the suitability of various isotope decay chains for specific uses. Some unstable isotopes undergo a series of radioactive decays, transforming into different isotopes at each step and resulting in a stable isotope. The lists of isotopes in these decay processes are known as decay chains. Some of these chains, illustrated in the figures below, are currently being investigated for use in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) designed for a range of operational durations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Toward $\nu_{\mu}$CC $\eta$ Meson Cross Sections on Argon in SBND

The modeling of resonant neutrino interactions on argon is critical for achieving precision neutrino oscillation measurements and searching for physics beyond the Standard Model with both DUNE and the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program. Higher mass resonances beyond the $\Delta$(1232) baryon are particularly poorly constrained experimentally, and yet contribute a significant rate in multi-GeV interactions. The measurement of $\eta$(548) meson production from the decay of these resonances provides a unique probe, as well as the opportunity to measure observables sensitive to final state interactions with the nucleus. This poster will present progress towards the measurement of meson production with the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) at Fermilab, leveraging the clean $\eta \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ decay channel. The large statistics of the SBND dataset will provide high-precision measurements of this channel capable of constraining uncertainties in the modeling of higher order resonant interactions. This analysis further provides important handles on electromagnetic shower reconstruction performance through evaluation of the 548 MeV $\eta$ invariant mass peak.

Antonakis, Alexander [UC, Santa Barbara]↗
DOE OSTI2023

Second Target Station Target Segment PIE Dose Estimates

The purpose of the analysis described in this document is to support post irradiation examination (PIE) future decisions as related to the Second Target Station (STS) Project. The STS Project is discussing plans for future PIE studies, and the radionuclide inventories and dose rates included in this study will aid decision makers as they consider the need for various PIE-related machinery. Three configurations of the lasagna-type target segment are evaluated for this analysis: a single bare tungsten plate, a slice of the segment containing a single tungsten plate, and the upstream half of a segment. The lasagna type target segment used in this analysis has a precipitation hardenable nickel alloy (UNS N07718 or inconel 718) shroud, copper (C10100) cladding, and pure tungsten plates. The target segment is evaluated for 10 years of operation followed by two decay periods: 6 months and 2 years. For each decay period, decay gamma dose rates are tallied 30 cm from the upstream, downstream, top, bottom, and sides of the configurations. Radionuclide inventories are also provided in this report separated by material. The highest dose rates calculated in this study are 2872 rem/hr 30 cm away from the top and bottom of the half-target configuration after 6 months of decay.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for flavour-changing neutral-current couplings between the top quark and the Higgs boson in multi-lepton final states in 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for flavour-changing neutral-current interactions involving the top quark, the Higgs boson and an up-type quark (q = u, c ) with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis considers leptonic decays of the top quark along with Higgs boson decays into two W bosons, two Z bosons or a τ + τ - pair. It focuses on final states containing either two leptons (electrons or muons) of the same charge or three leptons. The considered processes are $t\bar{t}$ and Ht production. For the $t\bar{t}$ production, one top quark decays via $t\rightarrow Hq$. The proton–proton collision data set analysed amounts to (140 fb -1 ) at $(\sqrt{s}={13}\,\hbox {TeV})$. No significant excess beyond Standard Model expectations is observed and upper limits are set on the $t\rightarrow Hq$ branching ratios at 95 % confidence level, amounting to observed (expected) limits of $\mathcal {B}(t\rightarrow Hu)<2.8\,(3.0) \times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal {B}(t\rightarrow Hc)<3.3\,(3.8) \times 10^{-4}$. Combining this search with other searches for tHq flavour-changing neutral-current interactions previously conducted by ATLAS, considering $H\rightarrow b\bar{b}$ and $H\rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ decays, as well as $H\rightarrow \tau ^{+}\tau ^{-}$ decays with one or two hadronically decaying τ-leptons, yields observed (expected) upper limits on the branching ratios of $\mathcal {B}(t\rightarrow Hu)<2.6\,(1.8) \times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal {B}(t\rightarrow Hc)<3.4\,(2.3) \times 10^{-4}$.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗