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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
NASA NTRS1990

Overview of the 1989 mission selections - A quality thrust in particle astrophysics

The particle astrophysics space missions that have been selected in 1989 in response to the NASA Announcement of Opportunity are surveyed. They include the low-energy missions Small Explorer/SAMPEX, Explorer/ACE, and Earth Observing System/POEMS and the high-energy missions Space Station Freedom/Astromag, Astromag/LISA, Astromag/WiZard, Astromag/SCIN-MAGIC, and HNC. The major issues in particle astrophysics that these missions will address are reviewed.

Jones, W. V.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Theoretical Particle Astrophysics

Abstract: Theoretical Particle Astrophysics. The research carried out under this grant encompassed work on the early Universe, dark matter, and dark energy. We developed CMB probes for primordial baryon inhomogeneities, primordial non-Gaussianity, cosmic birefringence, gravitational lensing by density perturbations and gravitational waves, and departures from statistical isotropy. We studied the detectability of wiggles in the inflation potential in string-inspired inflation models. We studied novel dark-matter candidates and their phenomenology. This work helped advance the DoE's Cosmic Frontier (and also Energy and Intensity Frontiers) by finding synergies between a variety of different experimental efforts, by developing new searches, science targets, and analyses for existing/forthcoming experiments, and by generating ideas for new next-generation experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1990

Particle astrophysics - The NASA cosmic ray program for the 1990s and beyond

Various papers on particle astrophysics are presented. Individual topics addressed include: the NASA cosmic ray (CR) program for the 1990s and beyond, SAMPEX Mission overview, the Advanced Composition Explorer, Positron Electron Magnet Spectrometer for the Eos Mission, Heavy Nucleus Collector for Space Station, the Astromag Facility, Large Isotope Spectrometer for Astromag, the Solar Probe Mission, the Mercury Dual Orbiter Mission, CRs in the heliosphere, origin of high-energy Galactic CRs, CR studies with the Gamma-Ray Observatory, gamma-ray astronomy at 1 TeV, experimental search for point sources above 1 TeV, the UMC Extensive Air Shower Array, status of the MACRO experiment. Also discussed are: CRs above 1 TeV/n and neutrino astronomy, abundance of ultraheavy nuclei in solar energetic particles, CR studies with an interstellar probe, isotopic composition of CR nuclei beyond the iron peak, experimental studies of CR isotopic composition up to Zr-40, use of accelerators in particle astrophysics, development of long-duration ballooning in Antarctica, Lunar-Based Heavy Nucleus Detector, neutrino astronomy on the moon, gamma rays at airplane altitudes, source composition of CRs.

Jones, W. V.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Research in Neutrino Physics and Particle Astrophysics: Final Technical Report

The Boston University Neutrino Physics and Particle Astrophysics Group investigates the fundamental laws of particle physics using natural and man-made neutrinos and rare processes such as proton decay. The primary instrument for this research is the massive Super-Kamiokande (SK) water Cherenkov detector, operating since 1996 at the Kamioka Neutrino Observatory, one kilometer underground in a mine in Japan. We study atmospheric neutrinos from cosmic rays, which were first used to discover that neutrinos have mass, as recognized by the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics. Our latest measurements with atmospheric neutrinos are giving valuable information, complementary to longbaseline experiments, on the ordering of massive neutrino states and as to whether neutrinos violate CP symmetry. We have studied a variety of proton decay modes, including the most frequently predicted modes such as p → e + π 0 and p → ν K + , as well as more exotic baryon number violating processes such as dinucleon decay and neutronantineutron oscillation. We search for neutrinos from dark matter annihilation or decay in the universe. Our group has made significant contributions to detector operation, particularly in the area of electronics. Most recently, we have contributed to planning for an upgrade to the SK detector by the addition of gadolinium to the water, which will enable efficient neutron capture detection.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Particle astrophysics

The following scientific areas are reviewed: (1) cosmology and particle physics (particle physics and the early universe, dark matter, and other relics); (2) stellar physics and particles (solar neutrinos, supernovae, and unconventional particle physics); (3) high energy gamma ray and neutrino astronomy; (4) cosmic rays (space and ground observations). Highest scientific priorities for the next decade include implementation of the current program, new initiatives, and longer-term programs. Essential technological developments, such as cryogenic detectors of particles, new solar neutrino techniques, and new extensive air shower detectors, are discussed. Also a certain number of institutional issues (the funding of particle astrophysics, recommended funding mechanisms, recommended facilities, international collaborations, and education and technology) which will become critical in the coming decade are presented.

Sadoulet, Bernard↗
DOE OSTI2014

Studies of High Energy Particle Astrophysics

This report covers the progress of the Michigan Technological University particle astrophysics group during the period April 15th, 2011 through April 30th, 2014. The principal investigator is Professor David Nitz. Professor Brian Fick is the Co-PI. The focus of the group is the study of the highest energy cosmic rays using the Pierre Auger Observatory. The major goals of the Pierre Auger Observatory are to discover and understand the source or sources of cosmic rays with energies exceeding 10**19 eV, to identify the particle type(s), and to investigate the interactions of those cosmic particles both in space and in the Earth's atmosphere. The Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina was completed in June 2008 with 1660 surface detector stations and 24 fluorescence telescopes arranged in 4 stations. It has a collecting area of 3,000 square km, yielding an aperture of 7,000 km**2 sr.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1987

A particle astrophysics magnet spectrometer facility for Space Station

Planning for and design tradeoff studies related to the particle astrophysics magnet spectrometer known as Astromag are presented. This facility is being planned for the Space Station Freedom and address questions regarding the origin and acceleration of cosmic rays, explore the synthesis of elements by making detailed measurements of cosmic ray isotopic composition, and search for evidence of antimatter and other cosmologically significant particles. This work was supported by an international study team which includes particle physicists and cosmic ray physicists.

Ormes, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A preview of astrophysical particle acceleration

Basic mechanisms of energy particle acceleration in astrophysics are reviewed including deterministic (shock waves, parallel electric fields) and stochastic (turbulence, Fermi acceleration, and its variations) mechanisms. Particular consideration is given to more general mechanisms devised for open geometries.

Jokipii, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

ASTROMAG: A superconducting particle astrophysics magnet facility for the space station

This paper describes a superconducting magnet system which is the heart of a particle astrophysics facility to be mounted on a portion of the proposed NASA space station. This facility will complete the studies done by the electromagnetic observatories now under development and construction by NASA. The paper outlines the selection process of the type of magnet to be used to analyze the energy and momentum of charged particles from deep space. The ASTROMAG superconducting magnet must meet all the criteria for a shuttle launch and landing, and it must meet safety standards for use in or near a manned environment such as the space station. The magnet facility must have a particle gathering aperture of at least 1 square meter steradian and the facility should be capable of resolving heavy nuclei with a total energy of 10 Tev or more.

Green, M. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dark matter discovery potential of the Advanced Particle-Astrophysics Telescope

Gamma-ray observations of Milky Way dwarf galaxies have been used to place stringent constraints on the dark matter’s annihilation cross section. Here, in this paper, we evaluate the sensitivity of the proposed Advanced Particle-Astrophysics Telescope (APT) to dark matter in these systems, finding that such an instrument would be capable of constraining thermal relics with masses as large as m X ~ 600 GeV. Furthermore, in dark matter scenarios motivated by the observed Galactic Center gamma-ray excess, we predict that APT would detect several dwarf galaxies with high significance. Such observations could be used to test the predicted proportionality between the gamma-ray fluxes and J-factors of individual dwarf galaxies, providing us with an unambiguous test of the origin of the Galactic Center excess.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Astrophysical particle acceleration mechanisms in colliding magnetized laser-produced plasmas

Significant particle energization is observed to occur in numerous astrophysical environments, and in the standard models, this acceleration occurs alongside energy conversion processes including collisionless shocks or magnetic reconnection. Recent platforms for laboratory experiments using magnetized laser-produced plasmas have opened opportunities to study these particle acceleration processes in the laboratory. Through fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations, we investigate acceleration mechanisms in experiments with colliding magnetized laser-produced plasmas, with geometry and parameters matched to recent high-Mach number reconnection experiments with externally controlled magnetic fields. 2-D simulations demonstrate significant particle acceleration with three phases of energization: first, a “direct” Fermi acceleration driven by approaching magnetized plumes; second, x-line acceleration during magnetic reconnection of anti-parallel fields; and finally, an additional Fermi energization of particles trapped in contracting and relaxing magnetic islands produced by reconnection. Furthermore, the relative effectiveness of these mechanisms depends on plasma and magnetic field parameters of the experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1985

The development of a containment vessel and Dewar for the particle astrophysics magnet facility (ASTROMAG)

The ASTROMAG facility is the heart of a large charged particle detection and resolution system. ASTROMAG utilizes a superconducting magnet consisting of a large superconducting magnet coil with a stored magnetic energy of approximately 15 MJ. The active coil will have a mass of 1200 kg. This magnet will be cooled by a cryostat using a liquid helium Dewar for storage. The cryostat will have a series of gas-cooled shields with an external guard vacuum shield and an internal Dewar. The magnet and cryostat will be designed for shuttle or Delta launch and will be designed to withstand the internal pressure of expanded helium under full quench conditions when venting is prevented. The external guard vacuum shell is required to maintain a vacuum for Earth based testing and for cold launch of the cryostat and magnet. The magnet is designed to operate at 4.4 K with a peak field of 7.0 tesla. The superconducting material within the magnet is niobium titanium in a conductive matrix.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2012

Open problems in particle astrophysics

The search for an understanding of the nature of the Dark Matter is one of the fundamental problems in science. This contribution outlines the evidence for the existence of Dark Matter (DM), and discusses the possibility that it is formed by new type of Weakly Interacting Massive (m{approx} 100 GeV) elementary Particles (WIMPs). Possible methods to verify this hypothesis include the creation of these particles in high energy accelerators, the observation of the elastic scattering of ordinary nuclei with the DM particles that form the halo of the Milky Way, and the (indirect) observation of the products of the self annihilation of the DM particles in our Galaxy. Possible, controversial hints of the existence of WIMPs will be discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Exploring the Cosmic Frontier, Task A - Direct Detection of Dark Matter, Task B - Experimental Particle Astrophysics

This report summarizes the work of Task A and B for the period 2013-2016. For Task A the work is for direct detection of dark matter with the single-phase liquid argon experiment Mini-CLEAN. For Task B the work is for the search for new physics in the analysis of fluorescence events with the Auger experiment and for the search for the indirect detection of dark matter with the HAWC experiment.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1988

A particle astrophysics magnet facility: ASTROMAG

The primary scientific objectives of ASTROMAG are to: examine cosmological models by searching for antimatter and dark matter candidates; study the origin and evolution of matter in the galaxy by direct sampling of galactic matter; and study the origin and acceleration of the relativistic particle plasma in the galaxy and its effects on the dynamics and evolution of the galaxy. These general scientific objectives will be met by ASTROMAG with particle detection instruments designed to make the following observations: search, for anti-nuclei of helium and heavier element; measure the spectra of anti-protons and positrons; measure the isotopic composition of cosmic ray nuclei at energies of several GeV/amu; and measure the energy spectra of cosmic ray nuclei to very high energies.

Ormes, Jonathan F.↗