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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 OSTI2013

THE POST-MERGER MAGNETIZED EVOLUTION OF WHITE DWARF BINARIES: THE DOUBLE-DEGENERATE CHANNEL OF SUB-CHANDRASEKHAR TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE AND THE FORMATION OF MAGNETIZED WHITE DWARFS

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play a crucial role as standardizable cosmological candles, though the nature of their progenitors is a subject of active investigation. Recent observational and theoretical work has pointed to merging white dwarf binaries, referred to as the double-degenerate channel, as the possible progenitor systems for some SNe Ia. Additionally, recent theoretical work suggests that mergers which fail to detonate may produce magnetized, rapidly rotating white dwarfs. In this paper, we present the first multidimensional simulations of the post-merger evolution of white dwarf binaries to include the effect of the magnetic field. In these systems, the two white dwarfs complete a final merger on a dynamical timescale, and are tidally disrupted, producing a rapidly rotating white dwarf merger surrounded by a hot corona and a thick, differentially rotating disk. The disk is strongly susceptible to the magnetorotational instability (MRI), and we demonstrate that this leads to the rapid growth of an initially dynamically weak magnetic field in the disk, the spin-down of the white dwarf merger, and to the subsequent central ignition of the white dwarf merger. Additionally, these magnetized models exhibit new features not present in prior hydrodynamic studies of white dwarf mergers, including the development of MRI turbulence in the hot disk, magnetized outflows carrying a significant fraction of the disk mass, and the magnetization of the white dwarf merger to field strengths {approx}2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 8} G. We discuss the impact of our findings on the origins, circumstellar media, and observed properties of SNe Ia and magnetized white dwarfs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

On the Spectral Evolution of Hot White Dwarf Stars. II. Time-dependent Simulations of Element Transport in Evolving White Dwarfs with STELUM

White dwarf stars are subject to various element transport mechanisms that can cause their surface composition to change radically as they cool, a phenomenon known as spectral evolution. In this paper, we undertake a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the spectral evolution of white dwarfs. First, we introduce STELUM, a new implementation of the stellar evolutionary code developed at the Université de Montréal. We provide a thorough description of the physical content and numerical techniques of the code, covering the treatment of both stellar evolution and chemical transport. Then, we present two state-of-the-art numerical simulations of element transport in evolving white dwarfs. Atomic diffusion, convective mixing, and mass loss are considered simultaneously as time-dependent diffusive processes and are fully coupled to the cooling. We first model the PG 1159-DO-DB-DQ evolutionary channel: a helium-, carbon-, and oxygen-rich PG 1159 star transforms into a pure-helium DB white dwarf due to gravitational settling and then into a helium-dominated, carbon-polluted DQ white dwarf through convective dredge-up. We also compute for the first time the full DO-DA-DC evolutionary channel: a helium-rich DO white dwarf harboring residual hydrogen becomes a pure-hydrogen DA star through the float-up process and then a helium-dominated, hydrogen-bearing DC star due to convective mixing. We demonstrate that our results are in excellent agreement with available empirical constraints. In particular, our DO-DA-DC simulation perfectly reproduces the lower branch of the bifurcation observed in the Gaia color–magnitude diagram, which can therefore be interpreted as a signature of spectral evolution.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

White Dwarf Rotation as a Function of Mass and a Dichotomy of Mode Line Widths: Kepler Observations of 27 Pulsating DA White Dwarfs through K2 Campaign 8

We present photometry and spectroscopy for 27 pulsating hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarfs (DAVs; a.k.a. ZZ Ceti stars) observed by the Kepler space telescope up to K2 Campaign 8, an extensive compilation of observations with unprecedented duration (>75 days) and duty cycle (>90%). The space-based photometry reveals pulsation properties previously inaccessible to ground-based observations. We observe a sharp dichotomy in oscillation mode line widths at roughly 800 s, such that white dwarf pulsations with periods exceeding 800 s have substantially broader mode line widths, more reminiscent of a damped harmonic oscillator than a heat-driven pulsator. Extended Kepler coverage also permits extensive mode identification: we identify the spherical degree of 87 out of 201 unique radial orders, providing direct constraints of the rotation period for 20 of these 27 DAVs, more than doubling the number of white dwarfs with rotation periods determined via asteroseismology. We also obtain spectroscopy from 4 m-class telescopes for all DAVs with Kepler photometry. Using these homogeneously analyzed spectra, we estimate the overall mass of all 27 DAVs, which allows us to measure white dwarf rotation as a function of mass, constraining the endpoints of angular momentum in low- and intermediate-mass stars. We find that 0.51–0.73 M {sub ⊙} white dwarfs, which evolved from 1.7–3.0 M {sub ⊙} ZAMS progenitors, have a mean rotation period of 35 hr with a standard deviation of 28 hr, with notable exceptions for higher-mass white dwarfs. Finally, we announce an online repository for our Kepler data and follow-up spectroscopy, which we collect at http://k2wd.org.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Tunable White-Light Emission in Single-Cation-Templated Three-Layered 2D Perovskites (CH 3 CH 2 NH 3 ) 4 Pb 3 Br 10– x Cl x

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid halide perovskites come as a family (B) 2 (A) n-1 PbnX 3n+1 (B and A= cations; X= halide). These perovskites are promising semiconductors for solar cells and optoelectronic applications. Among the fascinating properties of these materials is white-light emission, which has been mostly observed in single-layered 2D lead bromide or chloride systems (n = 1), where the broad emission comes from the transient photoexcited states generated by self-trapped excitons (STEs) from structural distortion. Here we report a multilayered 2D perovskite (n = 3) exhibiting a tunable white-light emission. Ethylammonium (EA+) can stabilize the 2D perovskite structure in EA 4 Pb 3 Br 10–x Cl x (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9.5, and 10) with EA + being both the A and B cations in this system. Because of the larger size of EA, these materials show a high distortion level in their inorganic structures, with EA4Pb3Cl10 having a much larger distortion than that of EA 4 Pb 3 Br 10 , which results in broadband white-light emission of EA 4 Pb 3 Cl 10 in contrast to narrow blue emission of EA4Pb3Br10. The average lifetime of the series decreases gradually from the Cl end to the Br end, indicating that the larger distortion also prolongs the lifetime (more STE states). The band gap of EA 4 Pb 3 Br 10–x Cl x ranges from 3.45 eV (x = 10) to 2.75 eV (x = 0), following Vegard’s law. First-principles density functional theory calculations (DFT) show that both EA 4 Pb 3 Cl 10 and EA 4 Pb 3 Br 10 are direct band gap semiconductors. The color rendering index (CRI) of the series improves from 66 (EA 4 Pb 3 Cl 10 ) to 83 (EA 4 Pb 3 Br 0.5 Cl 9.5 ), displaying high tunability and versatility of the title compounds.

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

THE SPECTRAL EVOLUTION OF CONVECTIVE MIXING WHITE DWARFS, THE NON-DA GAP, AND WHITE DWARF COSMOCHRONOLOGY

The spectral distribution of field white dwarfs shows a feature called the 'non-DA gap'. As defined by Bergeron et al., this is a temperature range (5100-6100 K) where relatively few non-DA stars are found, even though such stars are abundant on either side of the gap. It is usually viewed as an indication that a significant fraction of white dwarfs switch their atmospheric compositions back and forth between hydrogen-rich and helium-rich as they cool. In this Letter, we present a Monte Carlo model of the Galactic disk white dwarf population, based on the spectral evolution model of Chen and Hansen. We find that the non-DA gap emerges naturally, even though our model only allows white dwarf atmospheres to evolve monotonically from hydrogen-rich to helium-rich through convective mixing. We conclude by discussing the effects of convective mixing on the white dwarf luminosity function and the use thereof for Cosmochronology.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of ZnO on the whiteness of white Portland cement clinker

The addition of ZnO to significantly improve the Hunter whiteness of white Portland cement (WPC) clinkers is introduced in this paper. The effects of ZnO on the whiteness of WPC were studied by chroma analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), the Rietveld method, hydration heat measurements and SEM-EDS. The results showed that adding ZnO increased the visible light reflectance, increased the brightness (L{sup ⁎}), and reduced the yellowness (b{sup ⁎}) of WPC clinker with high Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Therefore, ZnO can increase the whiteness of WPC clinker. Zn was mainly distributed in the amorphous phase and unquantifiable crystalline phase (ACn), and then dissolved in the silicate phase. ZnO stabilized R-C{sub 3}S, reduced the crystallization of C{sub 3}A, and increased the ACn content. ZnO increased the amount of Fe in the ACn and minerals, thereby reducing the formation of C{sub 4}AF and improving whiteness. ZnO increased the accumulated heat of hydration but prolonged the induction period. This method provides a new approach for the WPC industry to broaden sources of raw materials and improve product quality.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Tunable color and energy transfer in single-phase white-emitting Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68}:Ce{sup 3+},Dy{sup 3+} phosphors for UV white light-emitting diodes

Ce{sup 3+} and/or Dy{sup 3+} activated Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68} phosphors were synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction and their luminescent properties were studied. There are two emissions peaking at 407 and 577 nm in the emission spectra of Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68}:Ce{sup 3+}, Dy{sup 3+}, which are due to the transitions of Ce{sup 3+} and Dy{sup 3+} ions, respectively. More importantly, the effective energy transfer from Ce{sup 3+} to Dy{sup 3+} ions has been confirmed and investigated by emission/excitation spectra and luminescent decay behaviors. Furthermore, the energy level scheme and mechanism of energy transfer were investigated and it was demonstrated to be resonant type via dipole–dipole reaction. Under the excitation of 345 nm, the emitting color can change from blue to white by adjusting the relative doping concentration of Ce{sup 3+} and Dy{sup 3+} ions, indicating that the phosphors Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68}:Ce{sup 3+}, Dy{sup 3+} are promising single-phase white-emitting phosphors for application in pc-white LEDs. - Highlights: • The Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68}:Ce{sup 3+},Dy{sup 3+} are novel luminescent materials that have not been reported before. • The crystal structure of Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68} and energy transfer from Ce{sup 3+} to Dy{sup 3+} were investigated. • The emission color of Ca{sub 20}Al{sub 26}Mg{sub 3}Si{sub 3}O{sub 68}:Ce{sup 3+},Dy{sup 3+} can be adjusted from blue to white. • The phosphors have great application value in WLEDs as a kind of blue-to-white emitting phosphors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Phase transformations of nano-sized cubic boron nitride to white graphene and white graphite

We report quantum-mechanical investigations that predict the formation of white graphene and nano-sized white graphite from the first-order phase transformations of nano-sized boron nitride thin-films. The phase transformations from the nano-sized diamond-like structure, when the thickness d > 1.4 nm, to the energetically more stable nano-sized white graphite involve low activation energies of less than 1.0 eV. On the other hand, the diamond-like structure transforms spontaneously to white graphite when d ≤ 1.4 nm. In particular, the two-dimensional structure with single-layer boron nitride, the so-called white graphene, could be formed as a result of such transformation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

PTF1 J082340.04+081936.5: a hot subdwarf B star with a low-mass white dwarf companion in an 87-minute orbit

We present the discovery of the hot subdwarf B star (sdB) binary PTF1 J082340.04+081936.5. The system has an orbital period of P{sub orb} = 87.49668(1) minutes (0.060761584(10) days), making it the second-most compact sdB binary known. The light curve shows ellipsoidal variations. Under the assumption that the sdB primary is synchronized with the orbit, we find a mass of M{sub sdB}=0.45{sub −0.07}{sup +0.09} M{sub ⊙}, a companion white dwarf mass of M{sub WD}=0.46{sub −0.09}{sup +0.12} M{sub ⊙}, and a mass ratio of q=((M{sub WD})/(M{sub sdB}))=1.03{sub −0.08}{sup +0.10}. The future evolution was calculated using the MESA stellar evolution code. Adopting a canonical sdB mass of M{sub sdB}=0.47 M{sub ⊙}, we find that the sdB still burns helium at the time it will fill its Roche lobe if the orbital period was less than 106 minutes at the exit from the last common envelope (CE) phase. For longer CE exit periods, the sdB will have stopped burning helium and turned into a C/O white dwarf at the time of contact. Comparing the spectroscopically derived logg and T{sub eff} with our MESA models, we find that an sdB model with a hydrogen envelope mass of 5×10{sup −4} M{sub ⊙} matches the measurements at a post-CE age of 94 Myr, corresponding to a post-CE orbital period of 109 minutes, which is close to the limit to start accretion while the sdB is still burning helium.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

GRMHD formulation of highly super-Chandrasekhar magnetized white dwarfs: stable configurations of non-spherical white dwarfs

The topic of magnetized super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs is in the limelight, particularly in the last few years, since our proposal of their existence. By full-scale general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) numerical analysis, we confirm in this work the existence of stable, highly magnetized, significantly super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs with mass more than 3 solar mass. While a poloidal field geometry renders the white dwarfs oblate, a toroidal field makes them prolate retaining an overall quasi-spherical shape, as speculated in our earlier work. These white dwarfs are expected to serve as the progenitors of over-luminous type Ia supernovae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

The NEXT White (NEW) detector

Conceived to host 5 kg of xenon at a pressure of 15 bar in the fiducial volume, the NEXT-White apparatus is currently the largest high pressure xenon gas TPC using electroluminescent amplification in the world. It is also a 1:2 scale model of the NEXT-100 detector for 136 Xe ββ0ν decay searches, scheduled to start operations in 2019. Both detectors measure the energy of the event using a plane of photomultipliers located behind a transparent cathode. They can also reconstruct the trajectories of charged tracks in the dense gas of the TPC with the help of a plane of silicon photomultipliers located behind the anode. A sophisticated gas system, common to both detectors, allows the high gas purity needed to guarantee a long electron lifetime. NEXT-White has been operating since October 2016 at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC), in Spain. This paper describes the detector and associated infrastructures, as well as the main aspects of its initial operation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

PROPERTIES OF CARBON–OXYGEN WHITE DWARFS FROM MONTE CARLO STELLAR MODELS

We investigate properties of carbon–oxygen white dwarfs with respect to the composite uncertainties in the reaction rates using the stellar evolution toolkit, Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) and the probability density functions in the reaction rate library STARLIB. These are the first Monte Carlo stellar evolution studies that use complete stellar models. Focusing on 3 M{sub ⊙} models evolved from the pre main-sequence to the first thermal pulse, we survey the remnant core mass, composition, and structure properties as a function of 26 STARLIB reaction rates covering hydrogen and helium burning using a Principal Component Analysis and Spearman Rank-Order Correlation. Relative to the arithmetic mean value, we find the width of the 95% confidence interval to be ΔM{sub 1TP} ≈ 0.019 M{sub ⊙} for the core mass at the first thermal pulse, Δt{sub 1TP} ≈ 12.50 Myr for the age, Δlog(T{sub c}/K) ≈ 0.013 for the central temperature, Δlog(ρ{sub c}/g cm{sup −3}) ≈ 0.060 for the central density, ΔY{sub e,c} ≈ 2.6 × 10{sup −5} for the central electron fraction, ΔX{sub c}({sup 22}Ne) ≈ 5.8 × 10{sup −4}, ΔX{sub c}({sup 12}C) ≈ 0.392, and ΔX{sub c}({sup 16}O) ≈ 0.392. Uncertainties in the experimental {sup 12}C(α,γ){sup 16}O, triple-α, and {sup 14}N(p,γ){sup 15}O reaction rates dominate these variations. We also consider a grid of 1–6 M{sub ⊙} models evolved from the pre main-sequence to the final white dwarf to probe the sensitivity of the initial–final mass relation to experimental uncertainties in the hydrogen and helium reaction rates.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A novel single-phase white phosphor NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} for near-UV white light-emitting diodes

Highlights: • A white phosphor NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} with CIE coordinate (0.301, 0.308) was synthesized. • The optimum doping concentration of Dy{sup 3+} ions was found. • The effect and mechanism of K{sup +} ion as a charge compensator were discussed. • Temperature-dependent PL property of NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} was studied. • PL decay and quantum efficiency behaviors of the samples were investigated. - Abstract: A novel Dy{sup 3+}-doped NaBaBO{sub 3} white-emitting phosphor has been prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction method. The phase structure and luminescence properties of NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} samples were investigated. Photoluminescence results show that the as-prepared samples could be effectively excited by near-ultraviolet (NUV) light and generate white light emission due to the {sup 4}F{sub 9/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 15/2} (blue) transition and {sup 4}F{sub 9/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 13/2} (yellow) transition of Dy{sup 3+} ions, respectively. The optimum doping concentration of Dy{sup 3+} ions in the NaBaBO{sub 3} host was determined to be 5.0 mol% and the CIE chromaticity of the sample was determined to be (0.301, 0.308). Moreover, the mechanism of K{sup +} ion as a charge compensator on the improvement of photoluminescence property and the effect of temperature on the photoluminescence property of NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} were investigated. Furthermore, photoluminescence decay and quantum efficiency behaviors of NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} were also studied. The present work demonstrates that the NaBaBO{sub 3}:Dy{sup 3+},K{sup +} phosphor is a potential candidate for NUV white light emitting diodes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Intracellular pathways for lignin catabolism in white-rot fungi

White-rot fungi, the most efficient organisms at breaking down lignin from wood in Nature, utilize lignin degradation products as a carbon source. 15 Lignin is a biopolymer found in plant cell walls that accounts for 30% of the organic carbon in the biosphere. White-rot fungi (WRF) are considered the most efficient organisms at degrading lignin in Nature. While lignin depolymerization by WRF has been exhaustively studied, the possibility that WRF are able to utilize lignin as a carbon source is still a matter of controversy. Here we employ 13C-labeling and systems biology approaches to demonstrate that two WRF, Trametes versicolor and Gelatoporia subvermispora, funnel lignin-derived aromatic compounds into central carbon metabolism via intracellular catabolic pathways. These results provide insights into global carbon cycling in 20 soil ecosystems, and furthermore establishes a foundation for employing WRF in simultaneous lignin depolymerization and bioconversion to bioproducts – a key step towards enabling a sustainable bioeconomy.

Del Cerro, Carlos↗
DOE OSTI2018

Calibration of the NEXT-White detector using 83m Kr decays

We report the NEXT-White (NEW) detector is currently the largest radio-pure high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber with electroluminescent readout in the world. It has been operating at Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC) since October 2016. This paper describes the calibrations performed using 83m Kr decays during a long run taken from March to November 2017 (Run II). Krypton calibrations are used to correct for the finite drift-electron lifetime as well as for the dependence of the measured energy on the event transverse position which is caused by variations in solid angle coverage both for direct and reflected light and edge effects. After producing calibration maps to correct for both effects we measure an excellent energy resolution for 41.5 keV point-like deposits of (4.553 +/- 0.010 (stat.) ± 0.324 (sys.)) % FWHM in the full chamber and (3.804 ± 0.013 (stat.) ± 0.112 (sys.)) % FWHM in a restricted fiducial volume. Laslty, using naive 1/$ \sqrt{E} $ scaling, these values translate into resolutions of (0.5916 ± 0.0014 (stat.) ± 0.0421 (sys.)) % FWHM and (0.4943 ± 0.0017 (stat.) +/- 0.0146 (sys.)) % FWHM at the Qᵦᵦ energy of xenon double beta decay (2458 keV), well within range of our target value of 1%.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Catabolism of lignin-related methoxylated compounds in white-rot fungi utilizes non-canonical oxidoreductases

White-rot fungi (WRF) are the most effective lignin-degrading organisms in nature, making them essential to Earth’s carbon cycle. Lignin is a highly methoxylated, heterogeneous biopolymer derived from plants. However, the pathways WRF use to metabolize methoxylated aromatic monomericcompounds as carbon sources remain unidentified. Here, we employ a systems biology approach to elucidate the intracellular catabolism of vanillate – a monomethoxylated aromatic compound – in two white-rot fungi (WRF), Gelatoporia subvermispora and Trametes versicolor. We identified and biochemically validated a four-enzyme pathway that converts vanillate into ß-ketoadipate – a metabolite that enters central carbon metabolism. This pathway deviates from typical bacterial pathways, where vanillate is initially demethylated and ring-cleaved by intradiol dioxygenases; instead, oxidative decarboxylation occurs prior to ring cleavage by extradiol dioxygenases. Thus, we conducted an in-depth investigation of ring cleavage and further downstream catabolism by the identified fungal enzymes using biochemical and structural approaches. This revealed non-canonical enzymes, including a highly substrate-specific extradiol dioxygenase and a metal-free, promiscuous reductase, the latter capable of acting on catabolic intermediates derived from both methoxylated and non-methoxylated aromatic compounds. This work emphasizes the potential of WRF and their enzymes to advance lignin valorization and enhance our understanding of their role during wood decay.

dioxygenase↗
DOE OSTI2015

Luminescent carbon quantum dots with high quantum yield as a single white converter for white light emitting diodes

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with high quantum yield (51.4%) were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method using thiosalicylic acid and ethylenediamine as precursor. The CQDs have the average diameter of 2.3 nm and possess excitation-independent emission wavelength in the range from 320 to 440 nm excitation. Under an ultraviolet (UV) excitation, the CQDs aqueous solutions emit bright blue fluorescence directly and exhibit broad emission with a high spectral component ratio of 67.4% (blue to red intensity to total intensity). We applied the CQDs as a single white-light converter for white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) using a UV-LED chip as the excitation light source. The resulted WLED shows superior performance with corresponding color temperature of 5227 K and the color coordinates of (0.34, 0.38) belonging to the white gamut.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Unified Protocol for CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Knockout in Tephritid Fruit Flies Led to the Recreation of White Eye and White Puparium Phenotypes in the Melon Fly

Abstract Tephritid fruit flies are among the most invasive and destructive agricultural pests worldwide. Over recent years, many studies have implemented the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology to dissect gene functions in tephritids and create new strains to facilitate their genetics, management, and control. This growing literature allows us to compare diverse strategies for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 components into tephritid embryos, optimize procedures, and advance the technology to systems outside the most thoroughly studied species within the family. Here, we revisit five years of CRISPR research in Tephritidae and propose a unified protocol for candidate gene knockout in fruit flies using CRISPR/Cas9. We demonstrated the efficiency of our protocol by disrupting the eye pigmentation gene white eye (we) in the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae). High rates of somatic and germline mutagenesis were induced by microinjecting pre-assembled Cas9-sgRNA complexes through the chorion of embryos at early embryogenesis, leading to the rapid development of new mutant lines. We achieved comparable results when targeting the we orthologue in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), illustrating the reliability of our methods when transferred to other related species. Finally, we functionally validated the recently discovered white pupae (wp) loci in the melon fly, successfully recreating the white puparium phenotype used in suppression programs of this and other major economically important tephritids. This is the first demonstration of CRISPR-based genome-editing in the genus Zeugodacus, and we anticipate that the procedures described here will contribute to advancing genome-editing in other non-model tephritid fruit flies.

Entomology↗