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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 OSTI2025

Toward the Development of Molten Salt Reactor Diagnostics based on Resonantly Enhanced Laser Spectroscopy

One emerging concern within the safeguards community is how to best ensure compliance with nuclear security regulations within molten salt reactor (MSR) facilities. This problem is nontrivial as molten salts used for fuel or coolant are highly corrosive, chemically complex, and inherently require high operational temperatures. Laser spectroscopy methods such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) have previously been suggested for molten salt diagnostics due to their compatibility with liquid phase samples and potential for in-situ measurements [1]. In the former, the laser is used to ionize the sample, allowing for the characteristic light from electronic de-excitation as the resultant plasma cools to be used for material characterization. In the latter, a tunable light source is set be resonant with a specific transition, resulting in element specific excitation and the emission of fluorescence light. In our previous work [2], we demonstrated that LIF could be used for the detection of fission fragments such as Nd in solution through the separation of laser scatter and fluorescence within the time domain. Here, we present progress towards two alternate measurement schemes: LIF measurements based on spectroscopic discrimination of fluorescence emissions and resonant LIBS measurements that induce plasma using a light source set to the resonant frequency of a specific electronic transition. Both methods aim to exploit resonant excitation methods to enhance the emitted signal. The studies may provide routes for element-specific detection of constituents within complicated matrices and a means to better understand the chemical behavior of lanthanides and actinides relevant to MSRs.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electrochemical Residence Time Distribution as a Diagnostic Tool for Redox Flow Batteries

The fluid dynamic and electrochemical performance of redox flow batteries (RFBs) stems from the relationship between the flow field and the porous electrode, whose interplay determines how active species move and react during device operation. While characterization techniques, such as residence time distribution, offer insights into species mobility within a reactive volume for a traditional chemical reactor, electrochemical reactors also enable simultaneous measurement of the redox reactions, unlocking another dimension of analysis. Herein, we demonstrate how potentiodynamic measurements, using injections of electrolyte examined through moment analysis, can provide electrode-specific performance scaling relationships across a matrix of carbon paper and cloth electrodes with flow through and interdigitated flow fields. We further combine experimental campaigns with multiphysics simulations to demonstrate how electrode surface area can be estimated with this technique, which we then validate with activated and unactivated commercial carbon cloth electrodes. These studies reveal the multiscale observations that potentiodynamic measurements afford, augmenting existing electrochemical techniques for holistic electrochemical reactor diagnostics.

Electrochemistry↗
NASA NTRS1992

Wall catalytic recombination and boundary conditions in nonequilibrium hypersonic flows - With applications

The meaning of catalysis and its relation to aerodynamic heating in nonequilibrium hypersonic flows are discussed. The species equations are described and boundary conditions for them are derived for a multicomponent gas and for a binary gas. Slip effects are included for application of continuum methods to low-density flows. Measurement techniques for determining catalytic wall recombination rates are discussed. Among them are experiments carried out in arc jets as well as flow reactors. Diagnostic methods for determining the atom or molecule concentrations in the flow are included. Results are given for a number of materials of interest to the aerospace community, including glassy coatings such as the RCG coating of the Space Shuttle and for high temperature refractory metals such as coated niobium. Methods of calculating the heat flux to space vehicles in nonequilibrium flows are described. These methods are applied to the Space Shuttle, the planned Aeroassist Flight Experiment, and a hypersonic slender vehicle such as a transatmospheric vehicle.

Scott, Carl D.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Towards the development of resonantly enhanced laser-based diagnostics for molten salt reactor safeguards

The adoption of Generation IV molten salt reactors (MSRs) depends on the ability to implement compatible monitoring instrumentation to ensure adherence to nuclear safeguards. This task is nontrivial due to the high temperature, reactive, and chemically complex fuel and coolant components contained within these systems. Optical spectroscopy techniques such as laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are candidates for monitoring instrumentation. They offer many advantages for continuous monitoring, including the ability to operate at a standoff and compatibility with liquid-phase analytes. We discuss the use of LIF for the detection of Nd, a common fission fragment, within a liquid matrix. Results show that for NdCl3 dissolved in water, the Nd I 492.45 nm resonant transition is detectable without the need to induce a plasma and that the fluorescence emission can be separated in the time domain from the laser scatter signal. Additionally, we present a setup and preliminary results for measurements of solid Nd and U using resonant LIBS. The results demonstrate element-selective measurement capabilities and provide the foundational data necessary to continue the development of laser-based MSR diagnostics. This work also helps address gaps in the literature regarding energy level assignments of Nd.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2023

Xenon Detection Using Double-Pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy has been proposed as a diagnostic tool for fuel failure monitoring in helium-cooled fast reactor designs. Here, we show preliminary results which indicate that using double-pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, a sub-ppm sensitivity for xenon in a helium ambient can be achieved. We additionally propose future studies which could help elucidate the mechanisms which lead to the observed signal enhancement.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS2001

Detection of Chamber Conditioning Through Optical Emission and Impedance Measurements

During oxide etch processes, buildup of fluorocarbon residues on reactor sidewalls can cause run-to-run drift and will necessitate some time for conditioning and seasoning of the reactor. Though diagnostics can be applied to study and understand these phenomena, many of them are not practical for use in an industrial reactor. For instance, measurements of ion fluxes and energy by mass spectrometry show that the buildup of insulating fluorocarbon films on the reactor surface will cause a shift in both ion energy and current in an argon plasma. However, such a device cannot be easily integrated into a processing system. The shift in ion energy and flux will be accompanied by an increase in the capacitance of the plasma sheath. The shift in sheath capacitance can be easily measured by a common commercially available impedance probe placed on the inductive coil. A buildup of film on the chamber wall is expected to affect the production of fluorocarbon radicals, and thus the presence of such species in the optical emission spectrum of the plasma can be monitored as well. These two techniques are employed on a GEC (Gaseous Electronics Conference) Reference Cell to assess the validity of optical emission and impedance monitoring as a metric of chamber conditioning. These techniques are applied to experimental runs with CHF3 and CHF3/O2/Ar plasmas, with intermediate monitoring of pure argon plasmas as a reference case for chamber conditions.

Cruden, Brett A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dependence of ion-cyclotron range of frequencies instabilities on species mix and fast-ion distribution: I. Stability

Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) driven by fast ions has the potential to be a reactor relevant diagnostic of confined and escaping fast ions; moreover, controlled experiments in magnetic fusion devices can shed light on similar magnetospheric instabilities below and above the ion cyclotron frequency f ci . Dedicated DIII-D experiments studied instabilities below f ci and at cyclotron harmonics l f ci by injecting thirteen different neutral beam populations into plasmas with different thermal compositions of H, D, and 3He at five different values of toroidal field. High-frequency magnetic loops diagnose mode properties. Each beam type is individually injected for an approximate slowing-down time (~100 ms), resulting in a database of 2529 conditions that are analyzed in frequency bands corresponding to ICE harmonics and < f ci global Alfvén eigenmodes. The sub-cyclotron modes are more unstable at low field and in plasmas with large H concentration. For D injection, first harmonic ICE at f cD is more unstable in hydrogen plasmas but, for H injection, the converse is true (ICE at f cH is more unstable in D), suggesting that thermal same-species ions damp fundamental ICE. ICE stability also depends upon the pitch-angle anisotropy gradient and upon the ‘bump-on-tail’ gradient ∂f/∂v. Although the frequency of unstable ICE in these plasmas always occurs near the central cyclotron frequency, the precise value also depends on the Alfvén speed and beam direction, consistent with the idea that instability occurs for modes that simultaneously satisfy ω ≃ 2πlf ci , the magnetosonic dispersion relation, and the Doppler-shifted resonance condition.

electromagnetic ion cyclotron instabilities↗
DOE OSTI2025

Risk-informed Graded Approach for Reliability and Performance Assessment of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Condition Monitoring Techniques

With the shift away from time-based maintenance and toward condition-based maintenance, and to reduce overall maintenance costs, there has been an upsurge in the usage and development of advanced condition monitoring (ACM) techniques for real-time monitoring of nuclear power plant (NPP) components. ACM is particularly useful in the development of digital twins, which are designed to predict the failure or degradation of plant components. Successful implementation of ACM requires an assessment to inform the development of a risk-informed approach to evaluate the use of ACM to meet Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC) regulations for in-service testing (IST) programs. This includes the monitoring and diagnostics of reactor components and systems in current, new, and advanced reactors. A key component in ACM is the usage of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that can employ real-time data from instrumentation and sensors to detect and predict reactor component degradations. Such predictive capabilities enable early detection of component degradation so as to help plant personnel plan and execute necessary maintenance. For successful implementation of ML/AI in ACM such that regulatory requirements are met, a risk-informed graded approach is needed to assess the reliability and performance of ML/AI for ACM. The American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) developed their Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Code to provide guidance on safe, reliable O&M of NPPs. The IST section of the O&M Code specifically establishes requirements for IST and examination to gauge operational readiness of components in water-cooled NPPs. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of how reliability and risk assessment can be integrated with ACM to assess component performance by non-nuclear industries. This is followed by different methodologies and approaches for conducting performance and reliability assessments so as to meet IST requirements for NPP components.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Risk-informed Graded Approach for Reliability and Performance Assessment for Advanced Condition Monitoring Techniques

With the shift away from time-based maintenance and toward condition-based maintenance, and to reduce overall maintenance costs, there has been an upsurge in the usage and development of advanced condition monitoring (ACM) techniques for real-time monitoring of nuclear power plant (NPP) components. ACM is particularly useful in the development of digital twins, which are designed to predict the failure or degradation of plant components. Successful implementation of ACM requires an assessment to inform the development of a risk-informed approach to evaluate the use of ACM to meet Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC) regulations for in-service testing (IST) programs. This includes the monitoring and diagnostics of reactor components and systems in current, new, and advanced reactors. A key component in ACM is the usage of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that can employ real-time data from instrumentation and sensors to detect and predict reactor component degradations. Such predictive capabilities enable early detection of component degradation so as to help plant personnel plan and execute necessary maintenance. For successful implementation of ML/AI in ACM such that regulatory requirements are met, a risk-informed graded approach is needed to assess the reliability and performance of ML/AI for ACM. The American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) developed their Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Code to provide guidance on safe, reliable O&M of NPPs. The IST section of the O&M Code specifically establishes requirements for IST and examination to gauge operational readiness of components in water-cooled NPPs. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of how reliability and risk assessment can be integrated with ACM to assess component performance by non-nuclear industries. This is followed by different methodologies and approaches for conducting performance and reliability assessments so as to meet IST requirements for NPP components.

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Frontier system-on-chip (SoC) technology for microwave diagnostics (invited)

The next generation of fusion reactors, exemplified by projects such as the Demonstration Power Plant following the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, faces the monumental challenge of proving the viability of generating electricity through thermonuclear fusion. This pursuit introduces heightened complexities in diagnostic methodologies, particularly in microwave-based diagnostics. The increased neutron fluence necessitates significant reductions in vessel penetrations and the elimination of internal diagnostics, posing substantial challenges. SoC technology offers a promising solution by enabling the miniaturization, modularization, integration, and enhancing the reliability of microwave systems. After seven years of research, our team successfully pioneered the V- and W-band system-on-chip approach, leading to the development of active transmitters and passive receiver modules applied in practical settings, notably within the DIII-D tokamak project. Arrays of these modules have supported microwave imaging diagnostics. New physics measurement results from the Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging system on DIII-D provide compelling evidence of improved diagnostics following the adoption of SoC technology. Furthermore, we achieved a breakthrough in developing an F-band SoC, advancing higher frequency capabilities for fusion devices. These achievements represent a significant leap forward in fusion diagnostic technology, marking substantial progress toward establishing reliable and efficient plasma diagnostics for future fusion reactors.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1995

Two-Photon Laser-Induced Fluorescence O and N Atoms for the Study of Heterogeneous Catalysis in a Diffusion Reactor

Advanced laser-based diagnostics have been developed to examine catalytic effects and atom/surface interactions on thermal protection materials. This study establishes the feasibility of using laser-induced fluorescence for detection of O and N atom loss in a diffusion tube to measure surface catalytic activity. The experimental apparatus is versatile in that it allows fluorescence detection to be used for measuring species selective recombination coefficients as well as diffusion tube and microwave discharge diagnostics. Many of the potential sources of error in measuring atom recombination coefficients by this method have been identified and taken into account. These include scattered light, detector saturation, sample surface cleanliness, reactor design, gas pressure and composition, and selectivity of the laser probe. Recombination coefficients and their associated errors are reported for N and O atoms on a quartz surface at room temperature.

Pallix, Joan B.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structured light approaches in laser-based plasma diagnostics

There is a growing demand for plasma diagnostics suitable for industrial plasma reactors employed in semiconductor nanofabrication, especially relevant to microelectronics and quantum information systems. Such reactors typically have limited optical access and pose considerable diagnostic challenges, including intense background emission, significant thermal loads, and contamination of optical viewports. In this study, we outline research into structured light techniques (laser beams with tailored spatial, temporal, or phase characteristics) that effectively overcome these issues using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) as an example. The focus of presented diagnostics is on ion kinetics analysis within an industrial plasma source, although this approach is broadly applicable to other plasma systems and diagnostic contexts. We present a confocal LIF implementation using an axicon-generated Bessel annular beam, achieving spatial resolutions of approximately 5 mm at a focal distance of 300 mm, with potential improvements to about 1 mm. This approach matches conventional orthogonal LIF performance but requires only one optical port. Wavelength-modulation LIF employs nonlinear laser wavelength tuning to measure spectral line derivatives, suppressing background emission and enhancing details of spectral line shape. Additionally, we present new results on applying vortex beams (laser beams carrying orbital angular momentum, OAM) for LIF measurements in an industrial plasma device. These measurements enable simultaneous axial and tangential velocity determination using a single laser beam and have been tested with xenon ion transition. Initial quantification of results was performed. Together, these structured-light approaches provide robust, background-resilient, multi-dimensional diagnostics for complex plasma environments.

Romadanov, Ivan [Princeton Plasma Physics Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2024

The motional Stark effect diagnostic for ITER

An overview of the plans for the motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic installation on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is presented. The MSE diagnostic uniquely provides spatially localized magnetic field measurements inside the plasma. These are used to constrain equilibrium reconstructions to determine q(r), the safety factor as a function of minor radius. Meeting the system requirements to deliver q-profiles and related quantities with the specified radial resolution of 20 points over the minor radius, 10 ms time resolution, and better than 10% accuracy is challenging. MSE systems observe the D/H-α emission near 656.3 nm from neutral beams. As the beam atoms traverse the magnetic field, B⃗, at high velocity, v⃗, they experience a Lorentz electric field, v⃗×B⃗, which causes the spectral emission to be split and polarized due to the Stark effect. Traditional MSE-LP (line polarization) measurements determine the direction of the magnetic field in the observation volume using polarimetric analysis of the detected light. The harsh conditions of ITER are expected to deposit thin films of contaminants on the first mirror, which would alter the polarization state of reflected light significantly. On ITER, the combination of high magnetic field strength and high energy beams makes the Stark spectrum resolution suitable for the determination of the magnetic field magnitude from the line shift, so this approach has been selected. Every aspect of the measurement system must be planned for the burning plasma environment and carefully analyzed ahead of time. Current status and plans for the system are presented.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigations of atomic and molecular processes of NBI-heated discharges in the MAST Upgrade Super-X divertor with implications for reactors

This experimental study presents an in-depth investigation of the performance of the MAST-U Super-X divertor during NBI-heated operation (up to 2.5 MW) focussing on volumetric ion sources and sinks as well as power losses during detachment. The particle balance and power loss analysis revealed the crucial role of Molecular Activated Recombination and Dissociation (MAR and MAD) ion sinks in divertor particle and power balance, which remain pronounced in the change from ohmic to higher power (NBI heated) L-mode conditions. The importance of MAR and MAD remains with double the absorbed NBI heating. MAD results in significant power dissipation (up to ${\sim} 20\%$ of $P_\textrm{SOL}$), mostly in the cold ($T_e \lt 5$ eV) detached region. Theoretical and experimental evidence is found for the potential contribution of $D^-$ to MAR and MAD, which warrants further study. These results suggest that MAR and MAD can be relevant in higher power conditions than the ohmic conditions studied previously. Post-processing reactor-scale simulations suggests that MAR and MAD can play a significant role in divertor physics and synthetic diagnostic signals of reactor-scale devices, which are currently underestimated in exhaust simulations. This raises implications for the accuracy of reactor-scale divertor simulations of particularly tightly baffled (alternative) divertor configurations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

The co-located arrangement of ECEI and MIR microwave imaging diagnostics on EAST tokamak

The co-located configuration of Passive Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) and active Microwave Imaging Reflectometry (MIR) diagnostics systems has been successfully implemented on the EAST fusion reactor. These advanced 2D microwave diagnostic tools offer 10–20 mm poloidal spatial resolution through large aperture quasi optics. This arrangement not only optimizes the utilization of limited observation windows but also facilitates concurrent measurements of plasma density and electron temperature at specific toroidal positions. Furthermore, this co-located setup holds great promise for enhancing research into electron heat transport and other pivotal plasma phenomena.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Latent space mapping: Revolutionizing predictive models for divertor plasma detachment control

The inherent complexity of boundary plasma, characterized by multi-scale and multi-physics challenges, has historically restricted high-fidelity simulations to scientific research due to their intensive computational demands. Consequently, routine applications such as discharge control and scenario development have relied on faster but less accurate empirical methods. This work introduces DivControlNN, a novel machine-learning-based surrogate model designed to address these limitations by enabling quasi-real-time predictions (i.e., ~ 0.2 ms) of boundary and divertor plasma behavior. Trained on over 70,000 2D UEDGE simulations from KSTAR tokamak equilibria, DivControlNN employs latent space mapping to efficiently represent complex divertor plasma states, achieving a computational speed-up of over 10 8 compared to traditional simulations while maintaining a relative error below 20% for key plasma property predictions. During the 2024 KSTAR experimental campaign, a prototype detachment control system powered by DivControlNN successfully demonstrated detachment control on its first attempt, even for a new tungsten divertor configuration and without any fine-tuning. These results highlight the transformative potential of DivControlNN in overcoming diagnostic challenges in future fusion reactors by providing fast, robust, and reliable predictions for advanced integrated control systems.

Artificial neural networks↗
DOE OSTI2024

Validating automated resonance evaluation with synthetic data

The integrity and precision of nuclear data are crucial for a broad spectrum of applications, from national security and nuclear reactor design to medical diagnostics, where the associated uncertainties can significantly impact outcomes. A substantial portion of uncertainty in nuclear data originates from the subjective biases in the evaluation process, a crucial phase in the nuclear data production pipeline. Recent advancements indicate that automation of certain routines can mitigate these biases, thereby standardizing the evaluation process and enhancing reproducibility. This research aims to provide a methodology, framework, and metrics for the validation of automated nuclear data evaluation software leveraging high-quality synthetic data that closely mimic real experimental observables. An introduced error metric provides a scale and intuitive measure of the evaluation quality by quantifying the estimate’s accuracy and performance across the specified energy range. Synthetic data provides access to experimental observables and underlying resonance parameters, enabling comparison of different evaluations. The methodology is demonstrated using Ta-181 isotope data in the resolved resonance region. The Automated Resonance Identification Subroutine (ARIS), which operates without prior resonance information, was used to test and showcase the framework’s capabilities utilizing the proposed error metrics. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and framework for optimizing software parameters and testing hypotheses through “what-if” controlled experiments, such as modifying assumptions about experimental conditions or average resonance parameters.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗