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DOE OSTI2026

Measurements of the electron energy distribution function in partially magnetized low temperature plasmas

While Langmuir probes (LPs) are relatively simple and inexpensive plasma diagnostics for the electron density, temperature, and the electron energy distribution function (EEDF), the interpretation of the measured current–voltage (I–V) characteristic is complicated considerably by the presence of a magnetic field. In regimes where the electron gyroradius is comparable to the probe radius, the electron flux to the probe surface is retarded by reduced mobility across field lines and can no longer be described by a thermal model. Predicting the current collected by the probe in these regimes requires accurate estimates of the plasma diffusion coefficients, which are usually difficult to obtain. In this work, we measure electron energy distribution functions in E×B plasmas with magnetized electrons and non-magnetized ions in argon and krypton gases, using both a LP and laser Thomson scattering (LTS) at various magnetic fields. Using the LTS measurements to provide a robust benchmark for comparison, we compare existing theories describing the flux to the probe under magnetized conditions. We find that even when the electron gyroradius associated with the effective electron temperature is small compared to the probe radius, the EEDF computed using classical probe theory is still robust at energies higher than the energy at which the gyroradius becomes larger than the probe size. For plasmas that are not strongly non-Maxwellian, we formulate a method to extract robust density and temperature measurements using physics-informed fitting techniques to analyze EEDFs computed using classical theory.

Devin, E. G. [Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ↗

DOE OSTI2024

Establishing criteria for the transition from kinetic to fluid modeling in hollow cathode analysis

Hollow cathodes for plasma switch applications are investigated via 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations of the channel and plume region. The kinetic nature of the plasma within the channel is dependent on the thermalization rate of electrons, emitted from the insert. When Coulomb collisions occur at a much greater rate than ionization or excitation collisions, the electron energy distribution function rapidly relaxes to a Maxwellian and the plasma within the channel can be described accurately via a fluid model. In contrast, if inelastic processes are much faster than Coulomb collisions, then the electron energy distribution function in the channel exhibits a notable high-energy tail, and a kinetic treatment is required. This criterion is applied to hollow cathodes from the literature, revealing that a fluid approach is suitable for most electric propulsion applications, whereas a kinetic treatment can be more critical to accurate modeling of plasma switches.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Single-shot ultrafast dynamics of nanosecond pulsed plasmas: Transition from ps–ns nonequilibrium to near-full ionization

The ultrafast multi-stage evolution of state-defining properties in atmospheric-pressure nanosecond pulsed plasmas is quantified using single-discharge, jitter-free, continuous streak-sweep spectroscopy of N 2 (C → B) molecular and N + /O + ionic species with a single-shot time resolution as short as ∼160 ps. An early period of extreme nonequilibrium is observed with vibrational temperatures [T V (C)] dropping from ∼8000 K at <200 ps after plasma breakdown to <4000 K within ∼1 ns, with near-ambient rotational temperatures [T R (C)] ∼ 300 K due to limited collisional energy transfer. This early-time T V (C) trend is representative of a direct and unquenched look into the high-energy tail of the electron energy distribution function; thus, it tracks real-time changes in the mean electron energy via the N2(C) emission signatures. This is followed by the rapid onset of N + /O + ionic emission after a distinct time delay of ∼14.9 ns due to multistep chemical kinetics. The ionic emission enables determination of electron densities (n e ) >2 × 10 19 cm −3 and electron temperatures (T e ) >36 000 K, indicating the transition to a nearly fully ionized regime. The ps–ns temporal dynamics are also compared between air and N 2 plasmas to assess the influence of collisional partners, as well as across the anode, cathode, and central gap regions to identify spatial variations in plasma behavior. Finally, this work demonstrates versatile continuously probing approach capable of spectro-temporal and spatially resolved single-shot measurements of key state variables in the ps–ns evolution of atmospheric-pressure nanosecond pulsed plasmas.

Electric discharges↗

DOE OSTI2026

Partially Ionized Plasma Physics and Technological Applications

Partially ionized plasma physics has attracted increased attention recently due to numerous technological applications made possible by the increased sophistication of computer modelling, the depth of the theoretical analysis, and the technological applications to a vast field of manufacturing for computer components. Partially ionized plasma is characterized by a significant presence of neutral particles in contrast to the fully ionized plasma. The theoretical analysis is based upon solutions of the kinetic Boltzmann equation, yielding the non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution function (EEDF), thereby emphasizing the difference with a fully ionized plasma. The impact of the effect on discharges in inert and molecular gases is described in detail, yielding the complex nonlinear phenomena resulting in plasma selforganization. A few examples of such phenomena are given, including the non-monotonic EEDFs in the discharge afterglow in a mixture of argon with the molecular gas NF3; the explosive generation of cold electron populations in capacitive discharges, hysteresis of EEDF in inductively coupled plasmas. Recently, highly advanced computer codes were developed in order to address the outstanding challenges in plasma technology. These developments are briefly described in general terms.

non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution functi↗

DOE OSTI2024

Helium metastable density determination in the COST reference source by absolutely calibrated optical emission spectroscopy

Helium metastable densities in the COST Reference Microplasma Jet are estimated for a variety of He/N2 admixtures and dissipated powers by applying a collisional-radiative model to absolutely calibrated optical emission spectroscopy measurements. This is accomplished by delineating the excitation mechanisms that result in the N2(C–B) and N2+(B–X) emission bands, the latter of which is strongly coupled to the presence of helium metastables. A number of other plasma parameters are established and discussed for each operating condition including the electron energy distribution function, reduced electric field, rate constants, and electron density. With these parameters, the reaction rates for the primary ionization pathways are also calculated, emphasizing the importance of helium metastables for discharge sustainment. Good agreement with the existing literature is found for most plasma parameters and for helium metastable densities, in particular. A clear [N2]−1 relationship between the nitrogen concentration and density of helium metastables is demonstrated, as has been identified in previous studies in analogous atmospheric pressure plasma jets. This validates the efficacy of this optical technique for determining helium metastable densities and establishes it as a viable, and in many cases, more accessible alternative to other means of quantifying helium metastables in low-temperature plasmas.

Physics↗

DOE OSTI2025

Multimodal azimuthal oscillations in electron beam generated E×B plasma

Electron beam (e-beam) generated plasmas with applied crossed electric and magnetic (E×B) fields are promising for low-damage material processing. However, these plasmas can be subject to the formation of azimuthally propagating structures that enhance the radial transport of energetic charged species, which can harm the gentle processing capability of the plasma. In this work, we investigate the azimuthal structure formation in an e-beam generated E×B plasma using experimental diagnostics and 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations. Our findings demonstrate the formation of multiple simultaneously occurring azimuthally propagating modes that exhibit nontrivial radial dependence. It is suggested that the multimodal azimuthal spectrum is caused in part by the radial outflow of ions in the plasma.

electron beams↗

DOE OSTI2026

Fluid-kinetic modeling of a high power density radio frequency inductively coupled positive hydrogen ion source

High power density radio-frequency (RF) inductively coupled positive ion sources are attractive candidates for next-generation neutral beam injection (NBI) systems, where higher injected power and longer pulse lengths are desired without sacrificing source reliability. Operating at absorbed power densities of order $\gt 1~\mathrm{W\,cm}^{-3}$ places these sources in a regime with stronger gas heating, higher dissociation, and non-Maxwellian electron energy distributions. The Large Uniform Plasma for Ionizing Neutrals (LUPIN) is an RF inductively coupled plasma source designed to explore this high power density regime and to provide guidance for a positive ion source upgrade for the DIII-D NBI system. LUPIN is designed to operate at up to 20 kW of RF power at 2 MHz, coupling energy through a cylindrical quartz vessel to achieve target ion current densities of $2100\,\mathrm{A\,m}^{-2}$ . This paper presents fluid-kinetic modeling of LUPIN using the hybrid plasma equipment model where electrons are treated kinetically, and the simulations reveal that electron energy distribution function transitions from nearly Maxwellian in the core to bi-Maxwellian towards the edge. Parametric simulations investigate the effects of RF power, gas pressure, and frequency on plasma density, ion flux, and uniformity. Parametric sweeps reveal that increasing power shifts the primary ionization channel from molecular to atomic with diminishing flux gains due to skin-depth contraction and gas rarefaction. Higher frequency localizes heating and increases $\mathrm{H}_2^+$ and $\mathrm{H}_3^+$ delivery to the grid, while elevated pressure boosts ionization yet hinders ion transport due to increase in collisionality.

inductively coupled plasma↗

DOE OSTI2025

Laser aberration signatures in expelled electrons from a tenuous gas

We describe a mechanism by which the aberration content of a focused, multiterawatt laser is imprinted upon the forward angular distribution of electrons ionized within and ponderomotively expelled from the focal volume. In our experiments, the laser aberration type and magnitude are controllably varied, and the measured electron distributions are correspondingly modified in a way consistent with predictions from numerical simulations. This imprint mechanism shows potential for enabling the development of accurate focal-spot characterization of intense lasers when fired at full power and is being developed for extension to petawatt laser systems.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Particle Acceleration and Pitch-angle Evolution in Relativistic Turbulence

Synchrotron radiation detected from relativistic astrophysical objects such as pulsar-wind nebulae and jets from active galactic nuclei depends on the magnetic fields and the distribution functions of energetic electrons in these systems. Relativistic magnetically dominated turbulence has been recognized as an efficient mechanism for structure formation and nonthermal particle acceleration in these environments. Recent numerical simulations of relativistic turbulence have provided insights into the energy distribution functions of accelerated electrons. Much less is currently understood about their pitch angle distributions, which are crucial for accurately interpreting the spectra of synchrotron radiation. We perform a detailed case study of the pitch angle distributions formed during the process of turbulent acceleration for B 0 /δB 0 = 10 and $\tilde{σ}$ 0 ~40, where B0 is the uniform component of the magnetic field, δB0 is the fluctuating component, and $\tilde{σ}$ 0 is the plasma magnetization based on the magnetic fluctuations. We find that even minimal numerical noise can cause substantial pitch angle scattering, but we demonstrate techniques for overcoming the numerical challenges associated with the evolution of very small pitch angles. Our numerical results are consistent with the phenomenological considerations found in C. Vega et al. (2024a, 2025).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Characterization and Optimization of the Fitting of Quantum Correlation Functions

This case study presents a characterization and optimization of an application code for extracting parton distribution functions from high energy electron-proton scattering data. Profiling this application code reveals that the phase-space density computation accounts for 93% of the overall execution time for a single iteration on a single core. When executing multiple iterations in parallel on a multicore system, the application spends 78% of its overall execution time idling due to load imbalance. We address these issues by first transforming the application code from Python to C++ and then tackling the application load imbalance via a hybrid scheduling strategy that combines dynamic and static scheduling. These techniques result in a 62% reduction in CPU idle time and a 2.46x speedup in overall execution time per node. In addition, the typically enabled power-management mechanisms in supercomputers (e.g., AMD Turbo Core, Intel Turbo Boost, and RAPL) can significantly impact intra-node scalability when more than 50% of the CPU cores are used. This finding underscores the importance of understanding system interactions with power management, as they can adversely impact application performance, and highlights the necessity of intra-node scaling tests to identify performance degradation that inter-node scaling tests might otherwise overlook.

Chuang, Pi-Yueh [Virginia Tech,Dept. of Computer S↗

DOE OSTI2024

Oblique instability of quasi-parallel whistler waves in the presence of cold and warm electron populations

Whistler waves propagating nearly parallel to the ambient magnetic field experience a nonlinear instability due to transverse currents when the background plasma has a population of sufficiently low energy electrons. Intriguingly, this nonlinear process may generate oblique electrostatic waves, including whistlers near the resonance cone with properties resembling oblique chorus waves in the Earth’s magnetosphere. Focusing on the generation of oblique whistlers, earlier analysis of the instability is extended here to the case where low-energy background plasma consists of both a “cold” population with energy of a few eV and a “warm” electron component with energy of the order of 100 eV. This is motivated by spacecraft observations in the Earth’s magnetosphere where oblique chorus waves were shown to interact resonantly with the warm electrons. The main new results are: 1) the instability producing oblique electrostatic waves is sensitive to the shape of the electron distribution at low energies. In the whistler range of frequencies, two distinct peaks in the growth rate are typically present for the model considered: a peak associated with the warm electron population at relatively low wavenumbers and a peak associated with the cold electron population at relatively high wavenumbers; 2) overall, the instability producing oblique whistler waves near the resonance cone persists (with a reduced growth rate) even in the cases where the temperature of the cold population is relatively high, including cases where cold population is absent and only the warm population is included; 3) particle-in-cell simulations show that the instability leads to heating of the background plasma and formation of characteristic plateau and beam features in the parallel electron distribution function in the range of energies resonant with the instability. The plateau/beam features have been previously detected in spacecraft observations of oblique chorus waves. However, they have been attributed to external sources and have been proposed to be the mechanism generating oblique chorus. In the present scenario, the causality link is reversed and the instability generating oblique whistler waves is shown to be a possible mechanism for formation of the plateau and beam features.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Grain Boundary Segregation Suppresses Local Short‐Range Ordering in Nanocrystalline High‐Entropy Alloys

Multi-principal-element alloys like high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have potential applications in many engineering fields due to their unique mechanical/functional properties. While HEAs are generally considered random solid solutions, recent studies revealed that they are prone to short-range-ordering (SRO) due to the complex multi-pair-wise interactions among the constituent elements. Meanwhile, SROs' evolution can sometimes be deleterious, and it is necessary to have control over their evolution. Examining the AlCoCrFe-Zr model alloy, long-range ordering occurs following the expectation of enthalpic predictions. Advanced characterization techniques—transmission electron microscopy, high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction/pair distribution function, and atom probe tomography, reveal that SRO is suppressed in as-milled and GB-decorated NC-(AlCoCrFe)100-xZrx (x = 0–1.5 atomic %). Warren-Cowley coefficient calculations are further used to validate the suppression of SRO. Besides the low segregation enthalpies of Cr, Fe, and Zr, and the high-mixing enthalpy of Cr and Fe, the short diffusion path to GBs due to high-GB density in the NC-HEAs and the higher energy state of the GBs than the matrix promotes GB-segregation that further alters the matrix chemistry and consequently disfavors SRO formation within the matrix. Despite the GB-segregation of Cr, Fe, and Zr, the matrices and GBs remain in a random solid solution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Conditional diffusion machine-learning framework for mapping valence electron distribution from convergent beam electron diffraction

Quantitative convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) enables determination of aspherical valence electron distributions through refinement of low-order structure factors, which are highly sensitive to chemical bonding and charge density variations. However, conventional quantitative CBED (QCBED) requires solving a highly nonlinear inverse problem with many coupled parameters, and computationally intensive dynamical diffraction calculations, making it time-consuming and difficult to apply to complex systems. More broadly, reconstructing charge density and orbital electron distribution from diffraction data has long been a central challenge in both x-ray and electron crystallography. Here, in this study, we introduce an artificial-intelligence (AI)-based framework that replaces traditional refinement with a data-driven inverse solver. Using a large synthetic CBED dataset generated by Bloch-wave simulations, we train a conditional diffusion model to directly infer crystal structural parameters and multipole density formalism parameters, and hence valence electron distributions, from CBED patterns alone. By learning from forward simulations across realistic parameter space, the model effectively solves the inverse problem. Compared with direct regression approaches, the diffusion-based framework provides posterior parameter distributions for rigorous uncertainty quantification while preserving quantitative fidelity and reducing analysis time by orders of magnitude. By eliminating the need for external single-crystal x-ray diffraction data and complex nonlinear refinement, this approach enables practical, high-throughput, and in situ quantitative CBED, enabling real-time mapping of valence electron distributions and their correlation with functional responses in quantum and energy materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2026

A Review of Advanced Characterization Methods and Techniques for Amorphous and Poorly Crystalline Materials Applicable to Cementitious Waste Forms

This review covers advanced characterization methods of cementitious materials. The particular focus is to understand cementitious compositions with amorphous content because conventional techniques such as X-ray diffraction are more applicable to materials with long range order. Also of interest is advanced characterization that provides deeper insights into properties such as porosity. There are five groups of characterization methods discussed in this review which are: electron beam/microscopy, X-ray, neutron diffraction and scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and optical techniques. The techniques can be further grouped by the categories of nanoscale structural understanding (transmission electron microscopy and pair distribution function), microscale structural understanding (focused ion beam and x-ray tomography), microscopic elemental distributions (energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence), and chemical binding information (electron energy loss spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy), with advantages and disadvantages of each method discussed. The recommendation for further research is to begin with techniques that are easier to prepare samples for, measure, and analyze, such as the optical techniques of Raman and infrared spectroscopy. If more information is needed, pursue collaborations, other techniques, or proposals for beam time at the synchrotron sources.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2025

New Measurements of the Deuteron-to-Proton 𝐹 2 Structure-Function Ratio

Nucleon structure functions, as measured in lepton-nucleon scattering, have historically provided a critical observable in the study of partonic dynamics within the nucleon. However, at very large parton momenta, it is both experimentally and theoretically challenging to extract parton distributions due to the probable onset of nonperturbative contributions and the unavailability of high-precision data at critical kinematics. Extraction of the neutron structure and the d quark distribution have been further challenging because of the necessity of applying nuclear corrections when utilizing scattering data from a deuteron target to extract the free neutron structure. However, a program of experiments has been carried out recently at the energy-upgraded Jefferson Lab electron accelerator aimed at significantly reducing the nuclear correction uncertainties on the d quark distribution function at large partonic momentum. This allows leveraging the vast body of deuterium data covering a large kinematic range to be utilized for d quark parton distribution function extraction. In this Letter, we present new data from experiment E12-10-002, carried out in Jefferson Lab Experimental Hall C, on the deuteron to proton cross section ratio at large Bjorken 𝑥. These results significantly improve the precision of existing data and provide a first look at the expected impact on quark distributions extracted from parton distribution function fits.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Structural Characterization of the Platinum Nanoparticle Hydrogen-Evolving Catalyst Assembled on Photosystem I by Light-Driven Chemistry

Directed assembly of abiotic catalysts onto biological redox protein frameworks is of interest as an approach for the synthesis of biohybrid catalysts that combine features of both synthetic and biological materials. In this report, we provide a multiscale characterization of the platinum nanoparticle (NP) hydrogen-evolving catalysts that are assembled by light-driven reductive precipitation of platinum from an aqueous salt solution onto the photosystem I protein (PSI), isolated from cyanobacteria as trimeric PSI. The resulting PSI-NP assemblies were analyzed using a combination of X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and high-energy X-ray scattering with atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analyses. The results show that the PSI-supported NPs are approximately 1.8 nm diameter disk-shaped particles that assemble at discrete sites with 145 Å separation. This separation is too large to be consistent with NP nucleation and growth at a site adjacent to the F B cofactor site. Instead, we suggest a mechanism for NP growth at hydrophobic sites on the PSI stromal surface. The NPs photoreductively assembled on the PSI stromal surface are found to be analogous to the nanostructures produced by successive cycles of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of platinum onto 40 nm porous anodic alumina oxide supports, although the mechanisms for nucleation appear to differ. In conclusion, this work establishes a foundation for the investigation of the reductive assembly of abiotic metal catalysts at sites connected to photochemically reducing equivalent production in PSI.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Search for an Anomalous Production of Charged-Current 𝜈 𝑒 Interactions without Visible Pions across Multiple Kinematic Observables in MicroBooNE

This Letter presents an investigation of low-energy electron-neutrino interactions in the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam by the MicroBooNE experiment, motivated by the excess of electron-neutrino-like events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment. This is the first measurement to use data from all five years of operation of the MicroBooNE experiment, corresponding to an exposure of 1.11 × 10 21 protons on target, a 70% increase on past results. Two samples of electron neutrino interactions without visible pions are used, one with visible protons and one without any visible protons. The MicroBooNE data show reasonable agreement with the nominal prediction, with 𝑝 values ≥26.7% when the two 𝜈 𝑒 samples are combined, though the prediction exceeds the data in limited regions of phase space. The data are further compared to two empirical models that modify the predicted rate of electron-neutrino interactions in different variables in the simulation to match the unfolded MiniBooNE low energy excess. In the first model, this unfolding is performed as a function of electron neutrino energy, while the second model aims to match the observed shower energy and angle distributions of the MiniBooNE excess. This measurement excludes an electronlike interpretation of the MiniBooNE excess based on these models at >99% CLs in all kinematic variables.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Inverse bremsstrahlung absorption rate for super-Gaussian electron distribution functions including plasma screening

Here we provide analytic expressions for the effective Coulomb logarithm for inverse bremsstrahlung absorption which predict significant corrections to the Langdon effect and overall absorption rate compared to previous estimates. The calculation of the collisional absorption rate of laser energy in a plasma by the inverse bremsstrahlung mechanism usually makes the approximation of a constant Coulomb logarithm. We dispense with this approximation and instead take into account the velocity dependence of the Coulomb logarithm, leading to a more accurate expression for the absorption rate valid in both classical and quantum conditions. In contrast to previous work, the laser intensity enters into the Coulomb logarithm. In most laser-plasma interactions the electron distribution function is super-Gaussian [Langdon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 44, 575 (1980)], and we find the absorption rate under these conditions is increased by as much as ≈ 30% compared to previous estimates at low density. In many cases of interest the correction to Langdon's predicted reduction in absorption is large; for example at Z = 6 and Te = 400 eV the Langdon prediction for the absorption is in error by a factor of ≈ 2. However, we also account for the additional effect of plasma screening, which predicts a reduction in absorption by a similar amount (up to ≈ 30%). These two effects compete to determine the overall absorption, which may be increased or decreased, depending on the conditions. The corrections can be incorporated into radiation-hydrodynamics simulation codes by replacing the familiar Coulomb logarithm with an analytic expression which depends on the super-Gaussian order “M” and the screening length.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗