Brayton-cycle radioisotope heat-source design study. Phase II /preliminary design/ report

Brayton cycle radioisotope heat source desig

Numerical Modeling of Ablation Heat Transfer

A unique numerical method has been developed for solving one-dimensional ablation heat transfer problems. This paper provides a comprehensive description of the method, along with detailed derivations of the governing equations. This methodology supports solutions for traditional ablation modeling including such effects as heat transfer, material decomposition, pyrolysis gas permeation and heat exchange, and thermochemical surface erosion. The numerical scheme utilizes a control-volume approach with a variable grid to account for surface movement. This method directly supports implementation of nontraditional models such as material swelling and mechanical erosion, extending capabilities for modeling complex ablation phenomena. Verifications of the numerical implementation are provided using analytical solutions, code comparisons, and the method of manufactured solutions. These verifications are used to demonstrate solution accuracy and proper error convergence rates. A simple demonstration of a mechanical erosion (spallation) model is also provided to illustrate the unique capabilities of the method

Nanodomains of pyrochlore formed by Ti ion implantation in yttria-stabilized zirconia

The microstructural evolution of a single crystal of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) implanted with Ti has been studied by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The implantation of 180 keV Ti ions to a dose of 1×1017 ions/cm21×1017ions/cm2 was completed at room temperature. After annealing at 1100 °C in an Ar atmosphere for 2 h, a phase transition from the fluorite structure of ZrO2ZrO2 to an isometric pyrochlore structure-type, A2B2O7,A2B2O7, occurred due to cation ordering. High-resolution TEM revealed nanodomains of pyrochlore, Y2(TixZr1−x)2O7,Y2(TixZr1−x)2O7, with a ≅ 10.24±0.05 Å.a≅10.24±0.05Å. The nanodomains of the pyrochlore phase, embedded within the YSZ fluorite substrate, occurred in a depth range from 45 to 105 nm below the surface, which corresponds to Ti concentrations from ∼10 to ∼15 at. %. The nanoscale pyrochlore precipitates and the YSZ matrix have a completely coherent orientation. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70072/2/APPLAB-80-23-4327-1.pd

A lattice NRQCD computation of the bag parameters for ΔB\Delta B = 2 operators

We present an update of our NRQCD calculation of $B_B$ at $\beta$=5.9 with increased statistics. We also discuss a calculation of $B_S$, which is relevant to the width difference in the $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ mixing.Comment: LATTICE99 (Heavy Quarks), 3 pages, 2 figures, espcrc2.st

Collidoscope: An Improved Tool for Computing Collisional Cross Sections with the Trajectory Method

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (IM-MS) can be a powerful tool for determining structural information about ions in the gas phase, from small covalent analytes to large, unfolded, and/or denatured proteins and complexes. For large biomolecular ions, which may have a wide variety of possible gas-phase conformations and multiple charge sites, quantitative, physically explicit modeling of collisional cross sections (CCSs) for comparison to IMS data can be challenging and time-consuming. We present a “trajectory method” (TM) based CCS calculator, named “Collidoscope”, which utilizes parallel processing and optimized trajectory sampling, and implements both He and N2 as collision gas options. Also included is a charge-placement algorithm for determining probable charge site configurations for protonated protein ions given an input geometry in pdb file format. Results from Collidoscope are compared to those from the current state-of-the-art CCS simulation suite, IMoS. Collidoscope CCSs are typically within 4% of IMoS values for ions with masses from ~18 Da to ~800 kDa. Collidoscope CCSs using x-ray crystal geometries are typically within a few percent of IM-MS experimental values for ions with mass up to ~3.5 kDa (melittin), and discrepancies for larger ions up to ~800 kDa (GroEL) are attributed in large part to changes in ion structure during and after the electrospray process. Due to its physically explicit modeling of scattering, computational efficiency, and accuracy, Collidoscope can be a valuable tool for IM-MS research, especially for large biomolecular ions

Reduced dimensionality spin-orbit dynamics of CH3 + HCl reversible arrow CH4 Cl on ab initio surfaces

A reduced dimensionality quantum scattering method is extended to the study of spin-orbit nonadiabatic transitions in the CH3 + HCl reversible arrow CH4 + Cl(P-2(J)) reaction. Three two-dimensional potential energy surfaces are developed by fitting a 29 parameter double-Morse function to CCSD(T)/IB//MP2/cc-pV(T+d)Z-dk ab initio data; interaction between surfaces is described by geometry-dependent spin-orbit coupling functions fit to MCSCF/cc-pV(T+d)Z-dk ab initio data. Spectator modes are treated adiabatically via inclusion of curvilinear projected frequencies. The total scattering wave function is expanded in a vibronic basis set and close-coupled equations are solved via R-matrix propagation. Ground state thermal rate constants for forward and reverse reactions agree well with experiment. Multi-surface reaction probabilities, integral cross sections, and initial-state selected branching ratios all highlight the importance of vibrational energy in mediating nonadiabatic transition. Electronically excited state dynamics are seen to play a small but significant role as consistent with experimental conclusions. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3592732

Radio Astronomy

Contains research objectives, summary of research and reports on two research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL 22-009-016)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-8415)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-7156)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U. S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U. S. Air Force) under Contract DA 28-043-AMC-02536(E

Brayton-cycle radioisotope heat source design study. Phase I - /Conceptual design/ report

Conceptual designs for radioisotope heat source systems to provide 25 kW thermal power to Brayton cycle power conversion system for space application

Nano-porosity in GaSb induced by swift heavy ion irradiation

Nano-porous structures form in GaSb after ion irradiation with 185 MeV Au ions. The porous layer formation is governed by the dominant electronic energy loss at this energy regime. The porous layer morphology differs significantly from that previously reported for low-energy, ion-irradiated GaSb. Prior to the onset of porosity, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy indicates the formation of small vacancy clusters in single ion impacts, while transmission electron microscopy reveals fragmentation of the GaSb into nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix. Following this fragmentation process, macroscopic porosity forms, presumably within the amorphous phase.The authors thank the Australian Research Council for support and the staff at the ANU Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility for their continued technical assistance. R.C.E. acknowledges the support from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the U.S. DOE (Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER45656)

Surface terms, Asymptotics and Thermodynamics of the Holst Action

We consider a first order formalism for general relativity derived from the Holst action. This action is obtained from the standard Palatini-Hilbert form by adding a topological-like term and can be taken as the starting point for loop quantum gravity and spin foam models. The equations of motion derived from the Holst action are, nevertheless, the same as in the Palatini formulation. Here we study the form of the surface terms of the action for general boundaries as well as the symplectic current in the covariant formulation of the theory. Furthermore, we analyze the behavior of the surface terms in asymptotically flat space-times. We show that the contribution to the symplectic structure from the Holst term vanishes and one obtains the same asymptotic expressions as in the Palatini action. It then follows that the asymptotic Poincare symmetries and conserved quantities such as energy, linear momentum and relativistic angular momentum found here are equivalent to those obtained from the standard Arnowitt, Deser and Misner formalism. Finally, we consider the Euclidean approach to black hole thermodynamics and show that the on-shell Holst action, when evaluated on some static solutions containing horizons, yields the standard thermodynamical relations.Comment: 16 page