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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

Single-shot hard X-ray spectrometer with uniform spatial and spectral response

We demonstrate a single-shot hard X-ray spectrometer based on small-angle scattering from glassy carbon that is insensitive to XFEL beam-dependent spatial and spectral variations. Comparison with established X-ray Thomson scattering diagnostics using stochastic correlation X-ray spectroscopy demonstrates full-bandwidth coverage with meV-scale spectral resolution, enabling reliable single-shot spectroscopic measurements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Toward Large Field-of-view X-ray Spectrometers with Magnetic Microcalorimeters

A future X-ray telescope mission like Lynx, a X-ray flagship mission concept, requires a large field of view, high energy resolution, and high spatial resolution. The Magnetic Microcalorimeter (MMC) detectors we are developing for such a mission feature a 5-arcminute field of view, approximately 100,000 pixels, each spanning 0.5–1 arcsecond. These detectors require the readout of 8,000 sensors. Three different array types have been designed to meet scientific goals, two of which utilize thermal multiplexing to reduce the number of readout channels in a scheme called “Hydra.” We are currently fabricating detectors on a recently completed buried wiring wafer with connections to every sensor. The sensors are read out using a microwave multiplexer (μMUX) with flux ramp modulation. A single μMUX can read out approximately 1,000 sensors with only two feed lines. We will report on the test of the first two-dimensional μMUX chip, consisting of 78 resonators. μMUX chips that pass screening will be directly bonded to MMC array chips using indium bump bonding. In parallel, we have tested a kinetic inductance traveling wave parametric amplifier (KI-TWPA) to amplify signals at low temperatures. The KI-TWPA exhibits extremely low internal noise, approaching the standard quantum limit. Since the energy resolution of an MMC is primarily limited by the readout system, the KI-TWPA is an ideal amplifier for MMCs with μMUX readout. We recently measured the readout noise of a μMUX with a KI-TWPA, demonstrating its capability for reading out MMC arrays. We present the design and fabrication of the latest MMC detectors, along with its readout performance.

Magntic Microcalorimeters↗

Sagittal collimating diaboloid: a new grazing-incidence mirror surface for higher-throughput resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometers

A major challenge in soft X-ray spectroscopy is the efficient collection of the emitted X-rays by grazing-incidence mirrors. In this energy range, grazing-incidence mirrors are widely used as optics for the collection of light. The small angle of incidence necessarily limits the collection solid angle of soft X-ray spectrometers. We present a new mirror surface, a sagittal collimating diaboloid, that can both collect and focus light from a point source in an aberration-free manner. The usefulness of this optic in increasing throughput is demonstrated with a realistic example design of a moderate-sized (3 m) medium-resolution resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Adapting High-Resolution X-Ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometers to Transform MFE Plasma Diagnostics

The aim of this project was to begin the transformation of magnetic fusion energy (MFE) X-ray diagnostics by applying detector technology developed over the past several decades by the astrophysics community. We installed and operated an X-ray microcalorimeter detector system under fusion-relevant plasma conditions at the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST). X-ray microcalorimeter spectrometers combine the best characteristics of instrumentation currently available on fusion devices: the high spectral resolution of crystal spectrometers (2 eV) and broadband coverage provided by pulse-height analysis systems. These spectrometers have small port-access requirements, a key advantage for future MFE experiments. This new plasma diagnostic technique will satisfy the need for multispecies impurity ion data by providing absolute measurements of impurity core accumulation, and it will provide the core impurity ion temperature. This project was a joint effort between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and researchers at the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPl) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison). Megan E. Eckart is the principal investigator at LLNL, which is funded separately from UW–Madison. This final report fulfills the reporting obligation of the UW–Madison effort.

Den Hartog, Daniel J. [Department of Physics, Univ↗

Implementation of Pfirsch–Schlüter parallel flow in x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer inversion analysis

The x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer (XICS) tomographic inversion code for Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) has been modified to consider the effects of parallel flows and has been applied to analyze measurements taken during recent experimental campaigns. Previous analysis neglected the effects of parallel flows due to the primarily perpendicular geometry of the sightlines and the small magnitude predicted by neoclassical theory. To reconsider these effects, the incompressibility condition for plasma flows is used to calculate the parallel Pfirsch–Schlüter flow component for the equilibrium configuration. By incorporating this condition along with the geometry of the sightlines—i.e. the fractional contributions of perpendicular and parallel flows—, an updated expression for the measured flow is used for the profile inversion. Application of this modified inversion code to data from W7-X shows that the magnitude of the radial electric field and the flux surface averaged perpendicular flow are reduced by approximately a factor of 2 and brought into better agreement with neoclassical predictions and charge exchange recombination spectroscopy measurements.

Pfirsch–Schlüter flows↗

Ground calibration plan for the Athena/X-IFU microcalorimeter spectrometer

The X-ray Integral Field Unit is the X-ray imaging spectrometer on board one of ESA’s next large missions, Athena. Athena is set to investigate the theme of the Hot and Energetic Universe, with a launch planned in the late-2030s. Based on a high-sensitivity transition edge sensor (TES) detector array operated at very low temperature (50 mK), X-IFU will provide spatially resolved high-resolution spectroscopy of the X-ray sky in the 0.2 to 12 keV energy band, with an energy resolution goal of 4 eV up to 7 keV [3 eV design goal]. This work presents the current calibration plan of the X-IFU. It provides the requirements applicable to the X-IFU calibration, describes the overall calibration strategy, and details the procedure and sources needed for the ground calibration of each parameter or characteristics of the X-IFU.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Lunar elemental analysis obtained from the Apollo gamma-ray and X-ray remote sensing experiment

Gamma-ray and X-ray spectrometers carried in the service modules of the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 spacecraft were employed for compositional mapping of the lunar surface. The measurements involved the observation of the intensity and characteristic energy distribution of gamma rays and X-rays emitted from the lunar surface. A large-scale compositional map of over 10 percent of the lunar surface was obtained from an analysis of the observed spectra. The objective of the X-ray experiment was to measure the K spectral lines from Mg, Al, and Si. Spectra were obtained and the data were reduced to Al/Si and Mg/Si intensity ratios and ultimately to chemical ratios. Analyses of the results have indicated (1) that the Al/Si ratios are highest in the lunar highlands and considerably lower in the maria, and (2) that the Mg/Si concentrations generally show the opposite relationship. The objective of the gamma-ray experiment was to measure the natural and cosmic-ray-induced activity emission spectrum. At this time, the elemental abundances for Th, U, K, Fe, Ti, Si, and O have been determined over a number of major lunar regions. Regions of relatively high natural radioactivity were found in the Mare Imbrium and Oceanus Procellarum regions.

Trombka, J. I.↗

Application of machine learning techniques for fast MeV x-ray spectra unfolding from filter stack spectrometer data

Recovery of MeV x-ray spectra from detector signals is difficult because the response matrix inversion is ill-conditioned and current methods are too slow for high-repetition-rate experiments. In this work, we make use of neural networks to unfold MeV x-ray spectra from measurements obtained with a filter stack spectrometer at rates of near 40 Hz. The neural network was trained on synthetic data and tested on both synthetic and experimental data, the latter obtained in two separate experiments performed at the Omega EP laser facility. We show here that this unfolding method has good performance on synthetic data and that it is a promising option for experimental data of up to 40 MeV. The accuracy on experimental data is verified by using a simple forward model to compare against measured values.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Energy shift of Fe-K fluorescence lines due to low ionization demonstrated with XRISM in Centaurus X-3

The Fe K$\alpha$ fluorescence line at 6.4 keV is a powerful probe of cold matter surrounding X-ray sources and has been widely used in various astrophysical contexts. The X-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer onboard XRISM can measure line shifts with unprecedented precision of ${\sim }$0.2 eV, equivalent to a line-of-sight velocity of ${\sim }$10 km s$^{-1}$. At this level of accuracy, however, several factors that influence the line energy must be carefully considered prior to astrophysical interpretation. One such important factor is the ionization degree, Fe$^{q+}$. The K$\alpha$ line shifts redward by ${\sim }$4 eV as q increases from 0 (neutral) to 8 (Ar-like). Additionally, the accompanying Fe K$\beta$ line at 7.06 keV shifts blueward by ${\sim }$30 eV from $q=0$ to 8. We demonstrate that this effect is actually observable in the XRISM data of the high-mass X-ray binary Centaurus X-3 (Cen X-3). We advocate that the differential energy shift between the K$\alpha$ and K$\beta$ line provides a robust estimate of q by decoupling from other effects that shift the two lines in the same direction. We derived $q \sim 5$ (Sc-like) for the fluorescing matter by comparing the observation with atomic structure calculations of our own and in the literature. By accounting for the derived charge state and the corresponding shift in the rest-frame line energy, we made corrections for this effect and reached a consistent residual shift among the K$\alpha$, K$\beta$, and the optical measurement attributable to the systemic velocity of the system. Consequently, we obtained a new constraint on the location of the cold matter. This ionization effect needs to be assessed in all use cases of the Fe K$\alpha$ line shift beyond Cen X-3, and the proposed metric is generally applicable to all of them.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗

First use of an InSb crystal for x-ray imaging spectroscopy of highly ionized tungsten in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator

Advances in time and space resolved measurements of highly charged states of tungsten (W) through x-ray imaging spectroscopy have enabled investigation of impurity transport in the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator. The high-resolution x-ray imaging spectrometer (HR-XIS) system on W7-X utilizes the Bragg diffraction properties of a set of multiple crystals to measure a range of impurity emission lines within sections of the 1–7 Å wavelength range, including transitions of W. A new indium–antimonide crystal has been installed on the HR-XIS system to allow viewing of the 5.5–6.2 Å region focusing on emissions of W. Consequently, many bright W emission lines from W 40+ to W 47+ were observed in this wavelength range, both in plasmas with injected W and in those with only intrinsic W impurity sources, showing the high sensitivity of the diagnostic. Three W 46+ emissions correspond in wavelength and intensity with calculated photon emissivity coefficients and can be exploited for W transport and concentration applications in plasmas with T e ≳ 2.1 keV. Here, an estimate of the core W density behavior in two separate turbulence-reduced ‘high-performance’ (HP) discharges on W7-X is done using the 5.6893 Å W 46+ line. The n W behavior in HP scenarios can be explained by previous experimental results and neoclassical predictions.

XICS↗

Instrumentation and Samples (CRADA Final Report)

Instruments which are categorized as shared user instruments at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) will be utilized for ongoing technical work. Samples will be provided by University of Colorado Boulder (CU) and thus no need for materials at NLR is anticipated.

(Ga1- xZnx)(N1-xOx)↗

Physics of Ultra-High Energy Density Relativistic Plasmas from Ordered Nanostructures

This award funded a four-year program at Colorado State University on the physics of ultra-high energy density plasmas generated by focusing femtosecond, >1021 Wcm-2 laser pulses onto ordered nanowire arrays. We used the ALEPH petawatt-class Ti:Sa laser with its high contrast 400 nm second harmonic beamline to irradiate arrays of Ni and TiO2 nanowires made by template assisted electrodeposition and atomic layer deposition over a wide range of average densities. We met two of the three original project goals: radial ion acceleration via doppler shifted K shell emission, and time and spectrally resolved K shell measurements. The main experimental advance was integrating the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) TREX ultrafast x-ray streak camera with a suite of spherically bent quartz Bragg crystal spectrometers built using Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) methodology. This is the first TREX-on-bent-quartz setup fielded at a femtosecond, >1021 Wcm-2 facility. It is now a permanent diagnostic at ALEPH and is offered to the LaserNetUS user community. The program produced three peer reviewed journal articles that acknowledge this award. The platform will continue at the upgraded CSU ATLAS facility, where the ALEPH laser is being upgraded to 2 PW.

Hollinger, Reed [Colorado State University]↗

XAFS Analysis Report

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements were performed using a laboratory-based easyXAFS 300+ spectrometer. The XAFS data shows predominantly metallic phases.

42 - ENGINEERING↗

Phosphate Textural Diversity in CI Chondrites and C-Type Asteroids

Introduction: Apatite, Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (CL/F/OH-), is a ubiquitous phosphate found throughout the solar system, including the most primitive solids, CI-chondrites [1,2] and related samples of carbonaceous asteroids Ryugu [3] and Bennu [4], returned by JAXA’s Hayabusa2 and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx missions, respectively. Apatite in these primitive solids is found as individual grains or mineral clusters and has been inferred to form from the hydrothermal sequence during cooling of their respective parent body or bodies. To better understand the formation history and reworking of these early phosphates we have undertaken a highly coordinated study of phosphate microstructures, geochemistry and U/Pb geochronology from a suite of CI meteorites and carbonaceous asteroid samples. These data have identified novel phosphate microstructures and complex relationships across a suite of apatite grains from the early solar system, indicating multiple episodes of growth and modification on the CI parent body(ies). Methods: Samples of CI chondrites, Alais, Ivuna, Orgueil, Oued Chebeika 002, Yamato (Y) 82162, Y980115, Y980134, and two chips of Hayabusa2 Ryugu particles (A0262 and C0263) have been acquired for analysis. The bulk texture of the samples were first scanned by X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) using the Nikon XT H 320 within the XFACT facility at NASA JSC or the Xradia 620 Versa at the UTCT facility. Based on the identification of petrofabrics or features of interest from the XCT data, samples were chipped, oriented, potted in epoxy and thick sections were prepared. After anhydrously polishing the samples with silicon carbide and dry diamond powder down to 1 µm, the samples were ion polished using a Hitachi ArBlade. Energy dispersive Xray spectrometry (EDS) maps were collected to ID phosphates of interest using a JEOL 7900F SEM. The internal microstructures of identified phosphates were then mapped by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) using the JEOL 7900F. Based on the EDS and EBSD data, domains of interest were targeted for quantitative chemical analyses using a JEOL 8530 EPMA. Subsequently, in situ U-Pb and 207 Pb/ 206 Pb ages will be collected using a Cameca ims1290 secondary ion mass spectrometer at UCLA across a range of microstructures. Results: Apatite grains are ubiquitous throughout the CI chondrites and carbonaceous asteroid materials, found as individual grains, disseminated clusters or grain aggregates. Apatite grains are associated with serpentine, magnet-ite, and/or carbonate. Of particular interest, we have identified individual and aggregate polycrystalline grains ex-hibiting an internal ‘honeycomb’ texture (Fig. 1). Some of these grains appear overprinted by subsequent alteration while others remain unaltered. Apatite halogen sites are dominated by the missing component, assumed to be OH, and F, comparable to published values from Bennu, Ryugu and CM-chondrites [3-5]. However, the Yamato CI-like meteorites show a broader range of Cl values, and one grain from Alais is dominated by CL. Summary: Apatite growth features indicate a protracted and complex growth history, consistent with precipitation from an evolving fluid system. The ‘honeycomb’ texture identified in some CI meteorites is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of such a microstructure in meteoritic phosphate. The microtextures and zoning will guide subsequent age analyses, to better constrain the formation and reworking of phosphate in CI(-like) materials. Acknowledgments: We thank the National Institute of Polar Research, Japan for samples of Y82162, 980115 and 980134 meteorites, ASU’s Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies for samples of Ivuna and Alais meteorites, and JAXA curation for chips of Ryugu material. This work was funded by NASA ROSES LARS grant 24-LARS24-0014. References: [1] Morlok et al., 2016, GCA 70:5371-5394. [2] Alfin g et al., 2019, Geochemistry 79:125532. [3] Nakamura et al. (2022) Science 379:1-15. [4] Seifert et al. (2026) MAPS 61:504-521. [5] Piralla et al. (2021) MAPS 56:809-828.

CI chondrites↗

Spectral deconvolution without the deconvolution: Extracting temperature from x-ray Thomson scattering spectra without the source-and-instrument function

X-ray Thomson scattering (XRTS) probes the dynamic structure factor of the system, but the measured spectrum is broadened by the combined source-and-instrument function (SIF) of the setup. In order to extract properties such as temperature from an XRTS spectrum, the broadening by the SIF needs to be removed. Recent work [Dornheim et al. Nat. Commun. 13 , 7911 (2022)] has suggested that the SIF may be deconvolved using the two-sided Laplace transform. However, the extracted information can depend strongly on the shape of the input SIF, and the SIF is in practice challenging to measure accurately. Here, we propose an alternative approach: we demonstrate that considering ratios of Laplace-transformed XRTS spectra collected at different scattering angles is equivalent to performing the deconvolution, but without the need for explicit knowledge of the SIF. From these ratios, it is possible to directly extract the temperature from the scattering spectra, when the system is in thermal equilibrium. We find the method to be generally robust to spectral noise and physical differences between the spectrometers, and we explore situations in which the method breaks down. Furthermore, the fact that consistent temperatures can be extracted for systems in thermal equilibrium indicates that non-equilibrium effects could be identified by inconsistent temperatures of a few eV between the ratios of three or more scattering angles.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗