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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

Non-commutative disintegrations: Existence and uniqueness in finite dimensions

Motivated by advances in categorical probability, we introduce non-commutative almost everywhere (a.e.) equivalence and disintegrations in the setting of C*-algebras. We show that C*-algebras (resp. W*-algebras) and a.e. equivalence classes of 2-positive (resp. positive) unital maps form a category. We prove non-commutative disintegrations are a.e. unique whenever they exist. We provide an explicit characterization for when disintegrations exist in the setting of finite-dimensional C*-algebras, and we give formulas for the associated disintegrations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Identifying and characterizing ultracool dwarfs ejected from post-encounter disintegrating systems

ABSTRACT Disintegrating multiple systems have been previously discovered from kinematic studies of the Hipparcos catalogue. They are presumably the result of dynamical encounters taking place in the Galactic disc between single/multiple systems. In this paper, we aim to expand the search for such systems, to study their properties, as well as to characterize possible low-mass ejecta (i.e. brown dwarfs and planets). We have assembled a list of 15 candidate systems using astrometry from the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (later upgraded with Gaia DR3), and here we present the discovery and follow-up of five of them. We have obtained DECam imaging for all five systems and by combining near-infrared photometry and proper motion, we searched for ultracool ejected components. We find that the system consisting of TYC 7731-1951-1, TYC 7731-2128 AB, and TYC 7731-1995-1ABC?, contains one very promising ultracool dwarf candidate. Using additional data from the literature, we have found that three out of five disintegrating system candidates are likely to be true disintegrating systems.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Comments on filament-disintegration and its relation to other aspects of solar activity.

Studies of sudden disintegrations of filaments in solar cycles 19 and 20 (to 1969) indicate that such events occur frequently. Approximately 30% of all large filaments in these cycles disintegrated in the course of their transit across the solar disk. 'Major' flares occurred with above average frequency on the last day on which 141 large disappearing filaments were observed. Relationships between a disintegrating filament on July 10-11, 1959, a prior major flare, a newly formed spot, and concomitant growth of H-alpha plage are presented. Observation of prior descending prominence material apparently directed towards the location of the flare of July 15, 1959 is reported. The development of the filament-associated flare of Feb. 13, 1967 is described.

Dodson, H. W.↗

Pt Nanoparticle Disintegration at Oxide Interfaces Enhances CO Oxidation Catalysis

Understanding how supported metal nanoparticles dynamically evolve under reaction conditions is critical for controlling their catalytic function. Here, the mechanism behind the dynamic disintegration of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on CeOx-TiO2 (CT) during CO oxidation is elucidated, leading to the formation of single atoms (SAs) and/or sub-nanometer clusters. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that strong Pt-CO interactions weaken Pt─Pt cohesion, while electronic coupling between Pt and Ce ions stabilizes Pt-CO* intermediates at the oxide interface. Surface oxygen vacancies kinetically trap Pt-CO*, but the vacancies are replenished under oxygen-rich conditions, enabling Pt-CO* surface diffusion and subsequent structural reorganization. In situ spectroscopic analyses confirm the oxygen-driven transformation of Pt NPs, correlating with a threefold increase in mass-specific activity at 150 °C. These findings demonstrate that interfacial oxygen dynamics and metal-support interactions can be leveraged to induce nanoparticle disintegration and optimize catalytic performance, highlighting the catalytic potential of interface-engineered Pt nanostructures.

CO oxidation↗

Measuring Neutron Polarisation in Deuteron Photo-disintegration with the CLAS Start Counter [Thesis]

Deuteron photo-disintegration (γd → γp) is a reaction that represents the simplest case in which nuclear and hadron physics models can be tested. Despite this, associated polarization analyses are limited in terms of angular coverage and energy ranges, especially in observables related to the recoil neutron. This is largely due to a lack in dedicated polarimetry equipment, and represents a roadblock in global progress to understand high-energy phenomena such as hexaquarks, and quark-gluon degrees of freedom. To address this problem, this PhD thesis pioneers a new methodology for the parasitic measurement of nucleon polarization using kinematic reconstruction of (spin-dependent) nucleon-nucleus scattering of reaction products, prior to their detection in large acceptance particle detector apparatus. Following this novel approach, which requires no dedicated polarimeter, a determination of the double polarization observable, $C^n_{x'}$, from deuteron photo-disintegration is presented, using Jefferson Lab’s CLAS detector. The analysis utilizes the (n,p) charge exchange reaction in CLAS’s "start counter" (plastic scintillator) to determine the final state neutron polarizations. The results present the first ever data for this observable above 0.7 GeV (photon beam energy) and significantly extend the angular range of the world data set. This new data is largely statistically consistent with the previous measurement of $C^n_{x'}$ by Bashkanov et al . in the overlapping energy range of 0.4-0.7 GeV. It is planned for the statistical accuracy of the presented result to be increased by the inclusion of additional data. The analysis herein serves as a key proof of concept for future applications, including a recommended similar analysis to be implemented with data from the more modern CLAS12 detector. This paves the way for a plethora of additional analyses using existing data sets that would provide crucial new constraints for hadron and nuclear physics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Hydrothermal but Not Mechanical Pretreatment of Wastewater Algae Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion Energy Balance due to Improved Biomass Disintegration and Methane Production Kinetics

This study used pilot-scale high-rate algae ponds to assess algal–bacteria biomass productivity and wastewater nutrient removal as well as the impact of mechanical and hydrothermal pretreatments on biomass disintegration, methane production kinetics, and anaerobic digestion (AD) energy balance. Mechanical pretreatment had a minor effect on biomass disintegration and methane production. By contrast, hydrothermal pretreatment significantly reduced particle size and increased the solubilized organic matter content by 3.5 times. The methane yield and production rate increased by 20–55% and 20–85%, respectively, with the highest values achieved after pretreatment at 121 °C for 60 min. While the 1st-order and pseudo-1st-order reaction equation models fitted methane production from untreated biomass best (R2 > 0.993), the modified Gompertz sigmoidal-type model provided a superior fit for hydrothermally pretreated algae (R2 ≥ 0.99). The AD energy balance revealed that hydrothermal pretreatment improved the total energy output by 25–40%, with the highest values for volume-specific and mass-specific total energy outputs reaching 0.23 kW per digester m3 and 2.3 MW per ton of biomass volatile solids. Additionally, net energy recovery (energy output per biomass HHV) increased from 20% for untreated algae to 32–34% for hydrothermally pretreated algae, resulting in net energy ratio and net energy efficiency of 2.14 and 68%, respectively.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Disintegration of a Liquid Jet

This report presents an experimental determination of the process of disintegration and atomization in its simplest form, and the influence of the physical properties of the liquid to be atomized on the disintegration of the jet. Particular attention was paid to the investigation of the process of atomization.

Haenlein, A↗

Complete disintegration of the microtubular cytoskeleton precedes its auxin-mediated reconstruction in postmitotic maize root cells

The inhibitory action of 0.1 microM auxin (IAA) on maize root growth was closely associated with a rapid and complete disintegration of the microtubular (MT) cytoskeleton, as visualized by indirect immunofluorescence of tubulin, throughout the growth region. After 30 min of this treatment, only fluorescent spots were present in root cells, accumulating either around nuclei or along cell walls. Six h later, in addition to some background fluorescence, dense but partially oriented oblique or longitudinal arrays of cortical MTs (CMTs) were found in most growing cells of the root apex. After 24 h of treatment, maize roots had adapted to the auxin, as inferred from the slowly recovering elongation rate and from the reassembly of a dense and well-ordered MT cytoskeleton which showed only slight deviations from that of the control root cells. Taxol pretreatment (100 microM, 24 h) prevented not only the rapid auxin-mediated disintegration of the MT cytoskeleton but also a reorientation of the CMT arrays, from transversal to longitudinal. The only tissue to show MTs in their cells throughout the auxin treatment was the epidermis. Significant resistance of transverse CMT arrays in these cells towards auxin was confirmed using a higher auxin concentration (100 microM, 24 h). The latter auxin dose also revealed inter-tissue-specific responses to auxin: outer cortical cell files reoriented their CMTs from the transversal to longitudinal orientation, whereas inner cortical cell files lost their MTs. This high auxin-mediated response, associated with the swelling of root apices, was abolished with the pretreatment of maize root with taxol.

Zea mays/cytology/drug effects/growth & developmen↗

A Large Ground-Based Observing Campaign of the Disintegrating Planet K2-22b

We present 45 ground-based photometric observations of the K2-22 system collected between 2016 December and 2017 May, which we use to investigate the evolution of the transit of the disintegrating planet K2-22b. Last observed in early 2015, in these new observations we recover the transit at multiple epochs and measure a typical depth of <1.5%. We find that the distribution of our measured transit depths is comparable to the range of depths measured in observations from 2014 and 2015. These new observations also support ongoing variability in the K2-22b transit shape and time, although the overall shallowness of the transit makes a detailed analysis of these transit parameters difficult. We find no strong evidence of wavelength-dependent transit depths for epochs where we have simultaneous coverage at multiple wavelengths, although our stacked Las Cumbres Observatory data collected over days-to-months timescales are suggestive of a deeper transit at blue wavelengths. We encourage continued high-precision photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of this system in order to further constrain the evolution timescale and to aid comparative studies with the other few known disintegrating planets.

K2-22↗

Biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes containing evolved bacterial spores as living fillers to facilitate polymer disintegration

The field of hybrid engineered living materials seeks to pair living organisms with synthetic materials to generate biocomposite materials with augmented function since living systems can provide highly-programmable and complex behavior. Engineered living materials have typically been fabricated using techniques in benign aqueous environments, limiting their application. In this work, biocomposite fabrication is demonstrated in which spores from polymer-degrading bacteria are incorporated into a thermoplastic polyurethane using high-temperature melt extrusion. Bacteria are engineered using adaptive laboratory evolution to improve their heat tolerance to ensure nearly complete cell survivability during manufacturing at 135 °C. Furthermore, the overall tensile properties of spore-filled thermoplastic polyurethanes are substantially improved, resulting in a significant improvement in toughness. The biocomposites facilitate disintegration in compost in the absence of a microbe-rich environment. Finally, embedded spores demonstrate a rationally programmed function, expressing green fluorescent protein. This research provides a scalable method to fabricate advanced biocomposite materials in industrially-compatible processes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Satellite disintegration dynamics

The subject of satellite disintegration is examined in detail. Elements of the orbits of individual fragments, determined by DOD space surveillance systems, are used to accurately predict the time and place of fragmentation. Dual time independent and time dependent analyses are performed for simulated and real breakups. Methods of statistical mechanics are used to study the evolution of the fragment clouds. The fragments are treated as an ensemble of non-interacting particles. A solution of Liouville's equation is obtained which enables the spatial density to be calculated as a function of position, time and initial velocity distribution.

Dasenbrock, R. R.↗