Removing Beam Current Artifacts in Helium Ion Microscopy: A Comparison of Image Processing Techniques.

PubMed

Barlow, Anders J; Portoles, Jose F; Sano, Naoko; Cumpson, Peter J

2016-10-01

The development of the helium ion microscope (HIM) enables the imaging of both hard, inorganic materials and soft, organic or biological materials. Advantages include outstanding topographical contrast, superior resolution down to <0.5 nm at high magnification, high depth of field, and no need for conductive coatings. The instrument relies on helium atom adsorption and ionization at a cryogenically cooled tip that is atomically sharp. Under ideal conditions this arrangement provides a beam of ions that is stable for days to weeks, with beam currents in the order of picoamperes. Over time, however, this stability is lost as gaseous contamination builds up in the source region, leading to adsorbed atoms of species other than helium, which ultimately results in beam current fluctuations. This manifests itself as horizontal stripe artifacts in HIM images. We investigate post-processing methods to remove these artifacts from HIM images, such as median filtering, Gaussian blurring, fast Fourier transforms, and principal component analysis. We arrive at a simple method for completely removing beam current fluctuation effects from HIM images while maintaining the full integrity of the information within the image.

Searching for Suicide Methods: Accessibility of Information About Helium as a Method of Suicide on the Internet.

PubMed

Gunnell, David; Derges, Jane; Chang, Shu-Sen; Biddle, Lucy

2015-01-01

Helium gas suicides have increased in England and Wales; easy-to-access descriptions of this method on the Internet may have contributed to this rise. To investigate the availability of information on using helium as a method of suicide and trends in searching about this method on the Internet. We analyzed trends in (a) Google searching (2004-2014) and (b) hits on a Wikipedia article describing helium as a method of suicide (2013-2014). We also investigated the extent to which helium was described as a method of suicide on web pages and discussion forums identified via Google. We found no evidence of rises in Internet searching about suicide using helium. News stories about helium suicides were associated with increased search activity. The Wikipedia article may have been temporarily altered to increase awareness of suicide using helium around the time of a celebrity suicide. Approximately one third of the links retrieved using Google searches for suicide methods mentioned helium. Information about helium as a suicide method is readily available on the Internet; the Wikipedia article describing its use was highly accessed following celebrity suicides. Availability of online information about this method may contribute to rises in helium suicides.

Method of fabricating silicon carbide coatings on graphite surfaces

DOEpatents

Varacalle, D.J. Jr.; Herman, H.; Burchell, T.D.

1994-07-26

The vacuum plasma spray process produces well-bonded, dense, stress-free coatings for a variety of materials on a wide range of substrates. The process is used in many industries to provide for the excellent wear, corrosion resistance, and high temperature behavior of the fabricated coatings. In this application, silicon metal is deposited on graphite. This invention discloses the optimum processing parameters for as-sprayed coating qualities. The method also discloses the effect of thermal cycling on silicon samples in an inert helium atmosphere at about 1,600 C which transforms the coating to silicon carbide. 3 figs.

Superfluid helium on orbit transfer (SHOOT)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dipirro, Michael J.

1987-01-01

A number of space flight experiments and entire facilities require superfluid helium as a coolant. Among these are the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR), the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), the Particle Astrophysics Magnet Facility (PAMF or Astromag), and perhaps even a future Hubble Space Telescope (HST) instrument. Because these systems are required to have long operational lifetimes, a means to replenish the liquid helium, which is exhausted in the cooling process, is required. The most efficient method of replenishment is to refill the helium dewars on orbit with superfluid helium (liquid helium below 2.17 Kelvin). To develop and prove the technology required for this liquid helium refill, a program of ground and flight testing was begun. The flight demonstration is baselined as a two flight program. The first, described in this paper, will prove the concepts involved at both the component and system level. The second flight will demonstrate active astronaut involvement and semi-automated operation. The current target date for the first launch is early 1991.

The development of the simultaneous GC method of helium, argon and neon measurements for the groundwater dating.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najman, Joanna; Śliwka, Ireneusz

2014-05-01

In this work we present a chromatographic method for simultaneous analysis of helium, neon and argon in groundwater from one water sample. The concentration of helium in groundwater may be a good environmental tracer for groundwater dating. Proper use of environmental tracers in hydrogeology for dating purpose, requires the knowledge of recharge temperature of the system and the so-called "Excess air". "Excess air" allows for the necessary correction of measured concentration of helium in water. Both parameters can be determined by measuring the concentration of argon and neon in groundwater. In the Department of Physicochemistry of Ecosystems from the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences the chromatographic method for the simultaneous analysis of He, Ar and Ne from one groundwater sample for dating purposes was developed. Water samples are taken to the stainless steel vessels with a capacity of 2900 cc. Gases are extracted from water by headspace method (HS). Helium, neon and argon are analyzed on two gas chromatographs equipped with capillary and packed columns and three thermo-conductive detectors (TCD). The chromatographic method was applied to groundwater dating from areas of Podhalańska Basin, Kraków and Żarnowiec. The levels of detection LOD for each measurement systems for the tested compounds are: 1,9•10-8 cm3STP/cm3 for Ne, 3,1•10-6 cm3STP/cm3 for Ar and 1,2•10-8 cm3STP/cm3 for He. Work performed within the strategic research project "Technologies supporting the development of safe nuclear power" financed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR). Research Task "Development of methods to assure nuclear safety and radiation protection for current and future needs of nuclear power plants", contract No. SP/J/6/143339/11. This work was also supported by grant No. N N525 3488 38 from the Polish National Science Centre.

Rapid permeation measurement system for the production control of monolayer and multilayer films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Botos, J.; Müller, K.; Heidemeyer, P.; Kretschmer, K.; Bastian, M.; Hochrein, T.

2014-05-01

Plastics have been used for packaging films for a long time. Until now the development of new formulations for film applications, including process optimization, has been a time-consuming and cost-intensive process for gases like oxygen (O2) or carbon dioxide (CO2). By using helium (He) the permeation measurement can be accelerated from hours or days to a few minutes. Therefore a manometric measuring system for tests according to ISO 15105-1 is coupled with a mass spectrometer to determine the helium flow rate and to calculate the helium permeation rate. Due to the accelerated determination the permeation quality of monolayer and multilayer films can be measured atline. Such a system can be used to predict for example the helium permeation rate of filled polymer films. Defined quality limits for the permeation rate can be specified as well as the prompt correction of process parameters if the results do not meet the specification. This method for process control was tested on a pilot line with a corotating twin-screw extruder for monolayer films. Selected process parameters were varied iteratively without changing the material formulation to obtain the best process parameter set and thus the lowest permeation rate. Beyond that the influence of different parameters on the helium permeation rate was examined on monolayer films. The results were evaluated conventional as well as with artificial neuronal networks in order to determine the non-linear correlation between all process parameters.

Structural changes of Ti3SiC2 induced by helium irradiation with different doses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongliang; Su, Ranran; Shi, Liqun; O'Connor, Daryl J.; Wen, Haiming

2018-03-01

In this study, the microstructure changes of Ti3SiC2 MAX phase material induced by helium irradiation and evolution with a sequence of different helium irradiation doses of 5 × 1015, 1 × 1016, 5 × 1016 and 1 × 1017 cm-2 at room temperature (RT) were characterized with grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and Raman spectra analysis. The irradiation damage process of Ti3SiC2 can be roughly divided into three stages according to the level of helium irradiation dose: (1) for a low damage dose, only crystal and damaged Ti3SiC2 exit; (2) at a higher irradiation dose, there is some damaged TiC phase additionally; (3) with a much higher irradiation dose, crystal TiC phase could be found inside the samples as well. Moreover, the 450 °C 5 × 1016 cm-2 helium irradiation on Ti3SiC2 has confirmed that Ti3SiC2 has much higher irradiation tolerance at higher temperature, which implies that Ti3SiC2 could be a potential future structural and fuel coating material working at high temperature environments.

Helium interactions with alumina formed by atomic layer deposition show potential for mitigating problems with excess helium in spent nuclear fuel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shenli; Yu, Erick; Gates, Sean; Cassata, William S.; Makel, James; Thron, Andrew M.; Bartel, Christopher; Weimer, Alan W.; Faller, Roland; Stroeve, Pieter; Tringe, Joseph W.

2018-02-01

Helium gas accumulation from alpha decay during extended storage of spent fuel has potential to compromise the structural integrity the fuel. Here we report results obtained with surrogate nickel particles which suggest that alumina formed by atomic layer deposition can serve as a low volume-fraction, uniformly-distributed phase for retention of helium generated in fuel particles such as uranium oxide. Thin alumina layers may also form transport paths for helium in the fuel rod, which would otherwise be impermeable. Micron-scale nickel particles, representative of uranium oxide particles in their low helium solubility and compatibility with the alumina synthesis process, were homogeneously coated with alumina approximately 3-20 nm by particle atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a fluidized bed reactor. Particles were then loaded with helium at 800 °C in a tube furnace. Subsequent helium spectroscopy measurements showed that the alumina phase, or more likely a related nickel/alumina interface structure, retains helium at a density of at least 1017 atoms/cm3. High resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that the thermal treatment increased the alumina thickness and generated additional porosity. Results from Monte Carlo simulations on amorphous alumina predict the helium retention concentration at room temperature could reach 1021 atoms/cm3 at 400 MPa, a pressure predicted by others to be developed in uranium oxide without an alumina secondary phase. This concentration is sufficient to eliminate bubble formation in the nuclear fuel for long-term storage scenarios, for example. Measurements by others of the diffusion coefficient in polycrystalline alumina indicate values several orders of magnitude higher than in uranium oxide, which then can also allow for helium transport out of the spent fuel.

The thermodynamic properties of normal liquid helium 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Modarres, M.; Moshfegh, H. R.

2009-09-01

The thermodynamic properties of normal liquid helium 3 are calculated by using the lowest order constrained variational (LOCV) method. The Landau Fermi liquid model and Fermi-Dirac distribution function are considered as our statistical model for the uncorrelated quantum fluid picture and the Lennard-Jones and Aziz potentials are used in our truncated cluster expansion (LOCV) to calculate the correlated energy. The single particle energy is treated variationally through an effective mass. The free energy, pressure, entropy, chemical potential and liquid phase diagram as well as the helium 3 specific heat are evaluated, discussed and compared with the corresponding available experimental data. It is found that the critical temperature for the existence of the pure gas phase is about 4.90 K (4.45 K), which is higher than the experimental prediction of 3.3 K, and the helium 3 flashing temperature is around 0.61 K (0.50 K) for the Lennard-Jones (Aziz) potential.

Helium measurements of pore fluids obtained from the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD, USA) drill cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, S.; Stute, M.; Torgersen, T.; Winckler, G.; Kennedy, B. M.

2011-02-01

4He accumulated in fluids is a well established geochemical tracer used to study crustal fluid dynamics. Direct fluid samples are not always collectable; therefore, a method to extract rare gases from matrix fluids of whole rocks by diffusion has been adapted. Helium was measured on matrix fluids extracted from sandstones and mudstones recovered during the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) drilling in California, USA. Samples were typically collected as subcores or from drillcore fragments. Helium concentration and isotope ratios were measured 4-6 times on each sample, and indicate a bulk 4He diffusion coefficient of 3.5 ± 1.3 × 10-8 cm2 s-1 at 21°C, compared to previously published diffusion coefficients of 1.2 × 10-18 cm2 s-1 (21°C) to 3.0 × 10-15 cm2 s-1 (150°C) in the sands and clays. Correcting the diffusion coefficient of 4Hewater for matrix porosity (˜3%) and tortuosity (˜6-13) produces effective diffusion coefficients of 1 × 10-8 cm2 s-1 (21°C) and 1 × 10-7 (120°C), effectively isolating pore fluid 4He from the 4He contained in the rock matrix. Model calculations indicate that <6% of helium initially dissolved in pore fluids was lost during the sampling process. Complete and quantitative extraction of the pore fluids provide minimum in situ porosity values for sandstones 2.8 ± 0.4% (SD, n = 4) and mudstones 3.1 ± 0.8% (SD, n = 4).

Ventilation distribution in rats: Part 2 – A comparison of electrical impedance tomography and hyperpolarised helium magnetic resonance imaging

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Hyperpolarised helium MRI (He3 MRI) is a new technique that enables imaging of the air distribution within the lungs. This allows accurate determination of the ventilation distribution in vivo. The technique has the disadvantages of requiring an expensive helium isotope, complex apparatus and moving the patient to a compatible MRI scanner. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) a non-invasive bedside technique that allows constant monitoring of lung impedance, which is dependent on changes in air space capacity in the lung. We have used He3MRI measurements of ventilation distribution as the gold standard for assessment of EIT. Methods Seven rats were ventilated in supine, prone, left and right lateral position with 70% helium/30% oxygen for EIT measurements and pure helium for He3 MRI. The same ventilator and settings were used for both measurements. Image dimensions, geometric centre and global in homogeneity index were calculated. Results EIT images were smaller and of lower resolution and contained less anatomical detail than those from He3 MRI. However, both methods could measure positional induced changes in lung ventilation, as assessed by the geometric centre. The global in homogeneity index were comparable between the techniques. Conclusion EIT is a suitable technique for monitoring ventilation distribution and inhomgeneity as assessed by comparison with He3 MRI. PMID:22966835

The behavior of small helium clusters near free surfaces in tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barashev, A. V.; Xu, H.; Stoller, R. E.

2014-11-01

The results of a computational study of helium-vacancy clusters in tungsten are reported. A recently developed atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo method employing empirical interatomic potentials was used to investigate the behavior of clusters composed of three interstitial-helium atoms near {1 1 1}, {1 1 0} and {1 0 0} free surfaces. Multiple configurations were examined and the local energy landscape was characterized to determine cluster mobility and the potential for interactions with the surface. The clusters were found to be highly mobile if far from the surface, but were attracted and bound to the surface when within a distance of a few lattice parameters. When near the surface, the clusters were transformed into an immobile configuration due to the creation of a Frenkel pair; the vacancy was incorporated into what became a He3-vacancy complex. The corresponding interstitial migrated to and became an adatom on the free surface. This process can contribute to He retention, and may be responsible for the observed deterioration of the plasma-exposed tungsten surfaces.

Fragmentation dynamics of ionized neon clusters (Ne(n), n=3-14) embedded in helium nanodroplets.

PubMed

Bonhommeau, David; Halberstadt, Nadine; Viel, Alexandra

2006-01-14

We report a theoretical study of the nonadiabatic fragmentation dynamics of ionized neon clusters embedded in helium nanodroplets for cluster sizes up to n=14 atoms. The dynamics of the neon atoms is modeled using the molecular dynamics with quantum transitions method of Tully [J. Chem. Phys. 93, 1061 (1990)] with the nuclei treated classically and transitions between electronic states quantum mechanically. The potential-energy surfaces are derived from a diatomics-in-molecules model to which induced dipole-induced dipole interactions are added. The effect of the spin-orbit interaction is also discussed. The helium environment is modeled by a friction force acting on charged atoms whose speed exceeds the critical Landau velocity. The dependence of the fragment size distribution on the friction strength and on the initial nanodroplet size is investigated. By comparing with the available experimental data obtained for Ne3+ and Ne4+, a reasonable value for the friction coefficient, the only parameter of the model, is deduced. This value is then used to predict the effect of the helium environment on the dissociation dynamics of larger neon clusters, n=5-14. The results show stabilization of larger fragments than in the gas phase, but fragmentation is not completely caged. In addition, two types of dynamics are characterized for Ne4+: fast and explosive, therefore leaving no time for friction to cool down the process when dynamics starts on one of the highest electronic states, and slower, therefore leading to some stabilization by helium when it starts on one of the lowest electronic states.

Injection and trapping of tunnel-ionized electrons into laser-produced wakes.

PubMed

Pak, A; Marsh, K A; Martins, S F; Lu, W; Mori, W B; Joshi, C

2010-01-15

A method, which utilizes the large difference in ionization potentials between successive ionization states of trace atoms, for injecting electrons into a laser-driven wakefield is presented. Here a mixture of helium and trace amounts of nitrogen gas was used. Electrons from the K shell of nitrogen were tunnel ionized near the peak of the laser pulse and were injected into and trapped by the wake created by electrons from majority helium atoms and the L shell of nitrogen. The spectrum of the accelerated electrons, the threshold intensity at which trapping occurs, the forward transmitted laser spectrum, and the beam divergence are all consistent with this injection process. The experimental measurements are supported by theory and 3D OSIRIS simulations.

Innovative Method for Developing a Helium Pressurant Tank Suitable for the Upper Stage Flight Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeLay, Tom K.; Munafo, Paul (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The AFRL USFE project is an experimental test bed for new propulsion technologies. It will utilize ambient temperature fuel and oxidizers (Kerosene and Hydrogen peroxide). The system is pressure fed, not pump fed, and will utilize a helium pressurant tank to drive the system. Mr. DeLay has developed a method for cost effectively producing a unique, large pressurant tank that is not commercially available. The pressure vessel is a layered composite structure with an electroformed metallic permeation barrier. The design/process is scalable and easily adaptable to different configurations with minimal cost in tooling development 1/3 scale tanks have already been fabricated and are scheduled for testing. The full-scale pressure vessel (50" diameter) design will be refined based on the performance of the sub-scale tank. The pressure vessels have been designed to operate at 6,000 psi. a PV/W of 1.92 million is anticipated.

LOX Tank Helium Removal for Propellant Scavenging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chato, David J.

2009-01-01

System studies have shown a significant advantage to reusing the hydrogen and oxygen left in these tanks after landing on the Moon in fuel cells to generate power and water for surface systems. However in the current lander concepts, the helium used to pressurize the oxygen tank can substantially degrade fuel cell power and water output by covering the reacting surface with inert gas. This presentation documents an experimental investigation of methods to remove the helium pressurant while minimizing the amount of the oxygen lost. This investigation demonstrated that significant quantities of Helium (greater than 90% mole fraction) remain in the tank after draining. Although a single vent cycle reduced the helium quantity, large amounts of helium remained. Cyclic venting appeared to be more effective. Three vent cycles were sufficient to reduce the helium to small (less than 0.2%) quantities. Two vent cycles may be sufficient since once the tank has been brought up to pressure after the second vent cycle the helium concentration has been reduced to the less than 0.2% level. The re-pressurization process seemed to contribute to diluting helium. This is as expected since in order to raise the pressure liquid oxygen must be evaporated. Estimated liquid oxygen loss is on the order of 82 pounds (assuming the third vent cycle is not required).

Verification of International Space Station Component Leak Rates by Helium Accumulation Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Underwood, Steve D.; Smith, Sherry L.

2003-01-01

Discovery of leakage on several International Space Station U.S. Laboratory Module ammonia system quick disconnects (QDs) led to the need for a process to quantify total leakage without removing the QDs from the system. An innovative solution was proposed allowing quantitative leak rate measurement at ambient external pressure without QD removal. The method utilizes a helium mass spectrometer configured in the detector probe mode to determine helium leak rates inside a containment hood installed on the test component. The method was validated through extensive developmental testing. Test results showed the method was viable, accurate and repeatable for a wide range of leak rates. The accumulation method has been accepted by NASA and is currently being used by Boeing Huntsville, Boeing Kennedy Space Center and Boeing Johnson Space Center to test welds and valves and will be used by Alenia to test the Cupola. The method has been used in place of more expensive vacuum chamber testing which requires removing the test component from the system.

Atmospheric Mining in the Outer Solar System: Resource Capturing, Storage, and Utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan

2012-01-01

Atmospheric mining in the outer solar system has been investigated as a means of fuel production for high energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as Helium 3 (3He) and hydrogen can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. Helium 3 and hydrogen (deuterium, etc.) were the primary gases of interest with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses were undertaken to investigate resource capturing aspects of atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. This included the gas capturing rate for hydrogen helium 4 and helium 3, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. Additional supporting analyses were conducted to illuminate vehicle sizing and orbital transportation issues.

Measurement of helium isotopes in soil gas as an indicator of tritium groundwater contamination.

PubMed

Olsen, Khris B; Dresel, P Evan; Evans, John C; McMahon, William J; Poreda, Robert

2006-05-01

The focus of this study was to define the shape and extent of tritium groundwater contamination emanating from a legacy burial ground and to identify vadose zone sources of tritium using helium isotopes (3He and 4He) in soil gas. Helium isotopes were measured in soil-gas samples collected from 70 sampling points around the perimeter and downgradient of a burial ground that contains buried radioactive solid waste. The soil-gas samples were analyzed for helium isotopes using rare gas mass spectrometry. 3He/4He ratios, reported as normalized to the air ratio (RA), were used to locate the tritium groundwater plume emanating from the burial ground. The 3He (excess) suggested that the general location of the tritium source is within the burial ground. This study clearly demonstrated the efficacy of the 3He method for application to similar sites elsewhere within the DOE weapons complex.

Atmospheric Mining in the Outer Solar System: Resource Capturing, Storage, and Utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan

2014-01-01

Atmospheric mining in the outer solar system has been investigated as a means of fuel production for high energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as helium 3 and hydrogen can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. Helium 3 and hydrogen (deuterium, etc.) were the primary gases of interest with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses were undertaken to investigate resource capturing aspects of atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. This included the gas capturing rate for hydrogen helium 4 and helium 3, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. Additional supporting analyses were conducted to illuminate vehicle sizing and orbital transportation issues.

Commercial helium reserves, continental rifting and volcanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballentine, C. J.; Barry, P. H.; Hillegonds, D.; Fontijn, K.; Bluett, J.; Abraham-James, T.; Danabalan, D.; Gluyas, J.; Brennwald, M. S.; Pluess, B.; Seneshens, D.; Sherwood Lollar, B.

2017-12-01

Helium has many industrial applications, but notably provides the unique cooling medium for superconducting magnets in medical MRI scanners and high energy beam lines. In 2013 the global supply chainfailed to meet demand causing significant concern - the `Liquid Helium Crisis' [1]. The 2017 closure of Quatar borders, a major helium supplier, is likely to further disrupt helium supply, and accentuates the urgent need to diversify supply. Helium is found in very few natural gas reservoirs that have focused 4He produced by the dispersed decay (a-particle) of U and Th in the crust. We show here, using the example of the Rukwa section of the Tanzanian East African Rift, how continental rifting and local volcanism provides the combination of processes required to generate helium reserves. The ancient continental crust provides the source of 4He. Rifting and associated magmatism provides the tectonic and thermal mechanism to mobilise deep fluid circulation, focusing flow to the near surface along major basement faults. Helium-rich springs in the Tanzanian Great Rift Valley were first identified in the 1950's[2]. The isotopic compositions and major element chemistry of the gases from springs and seeps are consistent with their release from the crystalline basement during rifting [3]. Within the Rukwa Rift Valley, helium seeps occur in the vicinity of trapping structures that have the potential to store significant reserves of helium [3]. Soil gas surveys over 6 prospective trapping structures (1m depth, n=1486) show helium anomalies in 5 out of the 6 at levels similar to those observed over a known helium-rich gas reservoir at 1200m depth (7% He - Harley Dome, Utah). Detailed macroseep gas compositions collected over two days (n=17) at one site allows us to distinguish shallow gas contributions and shows the deep gas to contain between 8-10% helium, significantly increasing resource estimates based on uncorrected values (1.8-4.2%)[2,3]. The remainder of the deep gas is dominantly N2 with trace levels of hydrocarbons, H2, CO2 and Ar. [1] http://www.aps.org/policy/reports/popareports/upload/HeliumReport.pdf [2] T.C. James (1966) Transactions London Institution of Mining and Metallurgy 168-174, B1-18 [3] Danabalan et al. (2016), Goldschmidt Abstract, 4150

Effects of helium implantation on the tensile properties and microstructure of Ni₇₃P₂₇ metallic glass nanostructures

DOE PAGES

Liontas, Rachel; Gu, X. Wendy; Fu, Engang; ...

2014-09-10

We report fabrication and nanomechanical tension experiments on as-fabricated and helium-implanted ~130 nm diameter Ni₇₃P₂₇ metallic glass nano-cylinders. The nano-cylinders were fabricated by a templated electroplating process and implanted with He⁺ at energies of 50, 100, 150, and 200 keV to create a uniform helium concentration of ~3 at. % throughout the nano-cylinders. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and through-focus analysis reveal that the specimens contained ~2 nm helium bubbles distributed uniformly throughout the nano-cylinder volume. In-situ tensile experiments indicate that helium-implanted specimens exhibit enhanced ductility as evidenced by a 2-fold increase in plastic strain over as-fabricated specimens, with nomore » sacrifice in yield and ultimate tensile strengths. This improvement in mechanical properties suggests that metallic glasses may actually exhibit a favorable response to high levels of helium implantation.« less

A 1.8K refrigeration cryostat with 100 hours continuous cooling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Dong; Li, Jian; Huang, Rongjin; Li, Laifeng

2017-02-01

A refrigeration cryostat has been developed to produce continuous cooling to a sample below 1.8 K over 100 hours by using a cryocooler. A two-stage 4K G-M cryocooler is used to liquefy helium gas from evacuated vapor and cylinder helium bottle which can be replaced during the cooling process. The liquid helium transfer into superfluid helium in a Joule-Thomson valve in connection with a 1000 m3/h pumping unit. The pressure of evacuated helium vapor is controlled by air bag and valves. A copper decompression chamber, which is designed as a cooling station to control the superfluid helium, is used to cool the sample attached on it uniformly. The sample connects to the copper chamber in cryostat with screw thread. The cryostat can reach the temperature of 1.7 K without load and the continuous working time is more than 100 hours.

The Design and Analysis of Helium Turbine Expander Impeller with a Given All-Over-Controlled Vortex Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiaodong; Fu, Bao; Zhuang, Ming

2014-03-01

To make the large-scale helium cryogenic system of fusion device EAST (experimental advanced super-conducting tokamak) run stably, as the core part, the helium turbine expander must meet the requirement of refrigeration capacity. However, previous designs were based on one dimension flow to determine the average fluid parameters and geometric parameters of impeller cross-sections, so that it could not describe real physical processes in the internal flow of the turbine expander. Therefore, based on the inverse proposition of streamline curvature method in the context of quasi-three-dimensional flows, the all-over-controlled vortex concept was adopted to design the impeller under specified condition. The wrap angle of the impeller blade and the whole flow distribution on the meridian plane were obtained; meanwhile the performance of the designed impeller was analyzed. Thus a new design method is proposed here for the inverse proposition of the helium turbine expander impeller.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Knížat, Branislav, E-mail: branislav.knizat@stuba.sk; Urban, František, E-mail: frantisek.urban@stuba.sk; Mlkvik, Marek, E-mail: marek.mlkvik@stuba.sk

A natural circulation helium loop appears to be a perspective passive method of a nuclear reactor cooling. When designing this device, it is important to analyze the mechanism of an internal flow. The flow of helium in the loop is set in motion due to a difference of hydrostatic pressures between cold and hot branch. Steady flow at a requested flow rate occurs when the buoyancy force is adjusted to resistances against the flow. Considering the fact that the buoyancy force is proportional to a difference of temperatures in both branches, it is important to estimate the losses correctly inmore » the process of design. The paper deals with the calculation of losses in branches of the natural circulation helium loop by methods of CFD. The results of calculations are an important basis for the hydraulic design of both exchangers (heater and cooler). The analysis was carried out for the existing model of a helium loop of the height 10 m and nominal heat power 250 kW.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Jie; He, Yunteng; Kong, Wei, E-mail: wei.kong@oregonstate.edu

We report electron diffraction of ferrocene doped in superfluid helium droplets. By taking advantage of the velocity slip in our pulsed droplet beam using a pulsed electron gun, and by doping with a high concentration of ferrocene delivered via a pulsed valve, we can obtain high quality diffraction images from singly doped droplets. Under the optimal doping conditions, 80% of the droplets sampled in the electron beam are doped with just one ferrocene molecule. Extension of this size selection method to dopant clusters has also been demonstrated. However, incomplete separation of dopant clusters might require deconvolution and modeling of themore » doping process. This method can be used for studies of nucleation processes in superfluid helium droplets.« less

Design concepts for the ASTROMAG cryogenic system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, M. A.; Castles, S.

1987-01-01

Described is a proposed cryogenic system used to cool the superconducting magnet for the Space Station based ASTROMAG Particle Astrophysics Facility. This 2-meter diameter superconducting magnet will be cooled using stored helium II. The paper presents a liquid helium storage concept which would permit cryogenic lifetimes of up to 3 years between refills. It is proposed that the superconducting coil be cooled using superfluid helium pumped by the thermomechanical effect. It is also proposed that the storage tank be resupplied with helium in orbit. A method for charging and discharging the magnet with minimum helium loss using split gas-cooled leads is discussed. A proposal to use a Stirling cycle cryocooler to extend the storage life of the cryostat will also be presented.

Theory of Positron Annihilation in Helium-Filled Bubbles in Plutonium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sterne, P A; Pask, J E

2003-02-13

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy is a sensitive probe of vacancies and voids in materials. This non-destructive measurement technique can identify the presence of specific defects in materials at the part-per-million level. Recent experiments by Asoka-Kumar et al. have identified two lifetime components in aged plutonium samples--a dominant lifetime component of around 182 ps and a longer lifetime component of around 350-400ps. This second component appears to increase with the age of the sample, and accounts for only about 5 percent of the total intensity in 35 year-old plutonium samples. First-principles calculations of positron lifetimes are now used extensively to guidemore » the interpretation of positron lifetime data. At Livermore, we have developed a first-principles finite-element-based method for calculating positron lifetimes for defects in metals. This method is capable of treating system cell sizes of several thousand atoms, allowing us to model defects in plutonium ranging in size from a mono-vacancy to helium-filled bubbles of over 1 nm in diameter. In order to identify the defects that account for the observed lifetime values, we have performed positron lifetime calculations for a set of vacancies, vacancy clusters, and helium-filled vacancy clusters in delta-plutonium. The calculations produced values of 143ps for defect-free delta-Pu and 255ps for a mono-vacancy in Pu, both of which are inconsistent with the dominant experimental lifetime component of 182ps. Larger vacancy clusters have even longer lifetimes. The observed positron lifetime is significantly shorter than the calculated lifetimes for mono-vacancies and larger vacancy clusters, indicating that open vacancy clusters are not the dominant defect in the aged plutonium samples. When helium atoms are introduced into the vacancy cluster, the positron lifetime is reduced due to the increased density of electrons available for annihilation. For a mono-vacancy in Pu containing one helium atom, the calculated lifetime is 190 ps, while a di-vacancy containing two helium atoms has a positron lifetime of 205 ps. In general, increasing the helium density in a vacancy cluster or He-filled bubble reduces the positron lifetime, so that the same lifetime value can arise fi-om a range of vacancy cluster sizes with different helium densities. In order to understand the variation of positron lifetime with vacancy cluster size and helium density in the defect, we have performed over 60 positron lifetime calculations with vacancy cluster sizes ranging from 1 to 55 vacancies and helium densities ranging fi-om zero to five helium atoms per vacancy. The results indicate that the experimental lifetime of 182 ps is consistent with the theoretical value of 190 ps for a mono-vacancy with a single helium atom, but that slightly better agreement is obtained for larger clusters of 6 or more vacancies containing 2-3 helium atoms per vacancy. For larger vacancy clusters with diameters of about 3-5 nm or more, the annihilation with helium electrons dominates the positron annihilation rate; the observed lifetime of 180ps is then consistent with a helium concentration in the range of 3 to 3.5 Hehacancy, setting an upper bound on the helium concentration in the vacancy clusters. In practice, the single lifetime component is most probably associated with a family of helium-filled bubbles rather than with a specific unique defect size. The longer 350-400ps lifetime component is consistent with a relatively narrow range of defect sizes and He concentration. At zero He concentration, the lifetime values are matched by small vacancy clusters containing 6-12 vacancies. With increasing vacancy cluster size, a small amount of He is required to keep the lifetime in the 350-400 ps range, until the value saturates for larger helium bubbles of more than 50 vacancies (bubble diameter > 1.3 nm) at a helium concentration close to 1 He/vacancy. These results, taken together with the experimental data, indicate that the features observed in TEM data by Schwartz et al are not voids, but are in fact helium-filled bubbles with a helium pressure of around 2-3 helium atoms per vacancy, depending on the bubble size. This is consistent with the conclusions of recently developed models of He-bubble growth in aged plutonium.« less

WE-AB-202-07: Ventilation CT: Voxel-Level Comparison with Hyperpolarized Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tahir, B; Marshall, H; Hughes, P

Purpose: To compare the spatial correlation of ventilation surrogates computed from inspiratory and expiratory breath-hold CT with hyperpolarized Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI in a cohort of lung cancer patients. Methods: 5 patients underwent expiration & inspiration breath-hold CT. Xenon-129 & {sup 1}H MRI were also acquired at the same inflation state as inspiratory CT. This was followed immediately by acquisition of Helium-3 & {sup 1}H MRI in the same breath and at the same inflation state as inspiratory CT. Expiration CT was deformably registered to inspiration CT for calculation of ventilation CT from voxel-wise differences in Hounsfield units. Inspiration CTmore » and the Xenon-129’s corresponding anatomical {sup 1}H MRI were registered to Helium-3 MRI via the same-breath anatomical {sup 1}H MRI. This enabled direct comparison of CT ventilation with Helium-3 MRI & Xenon-129 MRI for the median values in corresponding regions of interest, ranging from finer to coarser in-plane dimensions of 10 by 10, 20 by 20, 30 by 30 and 40 by 40, located within the lungs as defined by the same-breath {sup 1}H MRI lung mask. Spearman coefficients were used to assess voxel-level correlation. Results: The median Spearman’s coefficients of ventilation CT with Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI for ROIs of 10 by 10, 20 by 20, 30 by 30 and 40 by 40 were 0.52, 0.56, 0.60 and 0.68 and 0.40, 0.42, 0.52 and 0.70, respectively. Conclusion: This work demonstrates a method of acquiring CT & hyperpolarized gas MRI (Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI) in similar breath-holds to enable direct spatial comparison of ventilation maps. Initial results show moderate correlation between ventilation CT & hyperpolarized gas MRI, improving for coarser regions which could be attributable to the inherent noise in CT intensity, non-ventilatory effects and registration errors at the voxel-level. Thus, it may be more beneficial to quantify ventilation at a more regional level.« less

Study of Injection of Helium into Supersonic Air Flow Using Rayleigh Scattering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seaholtz, Richard G.; Buggele, Alvin E.

1997-01-01

A study of the transverse injection of helium into a Mach 3 crossflow is presented. Filtered Rayleigh scattering is used to measure penetration and helium mole fraction in the mixing region. The method is based on planar molecular Rayleigh scattering using an injection-seeded, frequency-doubled ND:YAG pulsed laser and a cooled CCD camera. The scattered light is filtered with an iodine absorption cell to suppress stray laser light. Preliminary data are presented for helium mole fraction and penetration. Flow visualization images obtained with a shadowgraph and wall static pressure data in the vicinity of the injection are also presented.

The Hyperfine Structure of the Ground State in the Muonic Helium Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aznabayev, D. T.; Bekbaev, A. K.; Korobov, V. I.

2018-05-01

Non-relativistic ionization energies 3He2+μ-e- and 4He2+μ-e- of helium-muonic atoms are calculated for ground states. The calculations are based on the variational method of the exponential expansion. Convergence of the variational energies is studied by an increasing of a number of the basis functions N. This allows to claim that the obtained energy values have 26 significant digits for ground states. With the obtained results we calculate hyperfine splitting of the muonic helium atoms.

Structure of Hybrid Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Polymethacrylate Oligomers Using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Mechanics

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

Jones interaction potential is included45 better results are obtained but this method at times overestimates cross-sections in the intermediate 1500 to...utilized to generate sodiated [(PMA)Cp7T8]xNa+ ions, and their collision cross-sections were measured in helium using ion mobility based methods...were measured in helium using ion mobility based methods. Results for x = 1, 2, and 3 were consistent with only one conformer occurring for the Na+1

On the 3He anomaly in hot subdwarf B stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, David; Irrgang, Andreas; Heber, Ulrich; Nieva, Maria F.; Przybilla, Norbert

2017-12-01

Decades ago, 3He isotope enrichment in helium-weak B-type main-sequence, in blue horizontal branch and in hot subdwarf B (sdB) stars, i.e., helium-core burning stars of the extreme horizontal branch, were discovered. Diffusion processes in the atmosphere of these stars lead to the observed abundance anomalies. Quantitative spectral analyses of high-resolution spectra to derive photospheric isotopic helium abundance ratios for known 3He sdBs have not been performed yet. We present preliminary results of high-resolution and high S/N spectra to determine the 3He and 4He abundances of nine known 3He sdBs. We used a hybrid local/non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE/NLTE) approach for B-type stars investigating multiple He i lines, including λ4922 Å and λ6678 Å, which show the strongest isotopic shifts in the optical spectral range.We also report the discovery of four new 3He sdBs from the ESO Supernova Progenitor survey. Most of the 3He sdBs cluster in a narrow temperature strip between ˜ 26000 K and ˜ 30000 K and have almost no atmospheric 4He at all. Interestingly, three 3He sdBs show evidence for vertical helium stratification.

Helium isotopes in matrix pore fluids from SAFOD drill core samples suggest mantle fluids cannot be responsible for fault weakening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, S.; Stute, M.; Torgersen, T.; Winckler, G.

2008-12-01

To quantify fluid flow in the San Andreas Fault (SAF) (and since direct fracture fluid sampling of the fault zone was not available), we have adapted a method to extract rare gases from matrix fluids of whole rocks by diffusion. Helium was measured on drill core samples obtained from 3054 m (Pacific Plate) to 3990 m (North American Plate) through the San Andreas Fault Zone (SAFZ) ~3300 m during SAFOD Phases I (2004), II (2005), III (2007). Samples were typically collected as 2.54 cm diameter subcores drilled into the ends of the cores, or from the core catcher and drillcore fragments within <2hr after core recovery. The samples were placed into ultra high vacuum stainless steel containers, flushed with ultra high purity nitrogen and immediately evacuated. Helium isotopes of the extracted matrix pore fluids and the solid matrix were determined by mass spectrometery at LDEO. Matrix porefluid 3He/4He ratios are ~0.4 - 0.5xRa (Ra: atmospheric 3He/4He = 1.384 x 10-6) in the Pacific Plate, increasing toward the SAFZ, while pore fluids in the North American Plate have a 3He/4He range of 0.7-0.9Ra, increasing away from the SAFZ (consistent with results from mud gas samples (Wiersberg and Erzinger, 2007) and direct fluid samples (Kennedy et al., 2007)). Helium isotope ratios of the solid matrix are less than 0.06Ra across the SAF in samples from both the North American and the Pacific plates, thereby excluding the host matrix as source for the enhanced isotopic signature. If the system is assumed to be in steady state, then the flux of mantle helium must be from the North American Plate to the Pacific plate. The steeper gradient in the Pacific Plate relative to the North American plate is consistent with a porosity corrected effective diffusivity. The source for this mantle helium in the North American Plate is likely related to a low crustal conductivity zone identified by magnetotelluric signals (Becken et al., 2008) that provides a channel for transport of mantle helium within brittle crust under high strain rates (Kennedy et al., 2007). The helium isotope gradients suggest that fault weakening by mantle-derived fluid pressure is unlikely. More likely, mantle fluids "bleed" into the North American plate below seismogenic depths and are transported across the fault by nonseismic, diffusive processes.

Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of the Ca dimer deposited on helium and mixed helium/xenon clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gaveau, Marc-André; Pothier, Christophe; Briant, Marc

2014-12-09

We study how the laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of the calcium dimer deposited on pure helium clusters is modified by the addition of xenon atoms. In the wavelength range between 365 and 385 nm, the Ca dimer is excited from its ground state up to two excited electronic states leading to its photodissociation in Ca({sup 1}P)+Ca({sup 1}S): this process is monitored by recording the Ca({sup 1}P) fluorescence at 422.7nm. One of these electronic states of Ca{sub 2} is a diexcited one correlating to the Ca(4s4p{sup 3}P(+Ca(4s3d{sup 3}D), the other one is a repulsive state correlating to the Ca(4s4p1P)+Ca(4s21S) asymptote, accountingmore » for the dissociation of Ca{sub 2} and the observation of the subsequent Ca({sup 1}P) emission. On pure helium clusters, the fluorescence exhibits the calcium atomic resonance line Ca({sup 1}S←{sup 1}P) at 422.7 nm (23652 cm{sup −1}) assigned to ejected calcium, and a narrow red sided band corresponding to calcium that remains solvated on the helium cluster. When adding xenon atoms to the helium clusters, the intensity of these two features decreases and a new spectral band appears on the red side of calcium resonance line; the intensity and the red shift of this component increase along with the xenon quantity deposited on the helium cluster: it is assigned to the emission of Ca({sup 1}P) associated with the small xenon aggregate embedded inside the helium cluster.« less

Dynamic Simulation of a Helium Liquefier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maekawa, R.; Ooba, K.; Nobutoki, M.; Mito, T.

2004-06-01

Dynamic behavior of a helium liquefier has been studied in detail with a Cryogenic Process REal-time SimulaTor (C-PREST) at the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). The C-PREST is being developed to integrate large-scale helium cryogenic plant design, operation and maintenance for optimum process establishment. As a first step of simulations of cooldown to 4.5 K with the helium liquefier model is conducted, which provides a plant-process validation platform. The helium liquefier consists of seven heat exchangers, a liquid-nitrogen (LN2) precooler, two expansion turbines and a liquid-helium (LHe) reservoir. Process simulations are fulfilled with sequence programs, which were implemented with C-PREST based on an existing liquefier operation. The interactions of a JT valve, a JT-bypass valve and a reservoir-return valve have been dynamically simulated. The paper discusses various aspects of refrigeration process simulation, including its difficulties such as a balance between complexity of the adopted models and CPU time.

Elastic Electron Scattering from Tritium and Helium-3

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Collard, H.; Hofstadter, R.; Hughes, E. B.; Johansson, A.; Yearian, M. R.; Day, R. B.; Wagner, R. T.

1964-10-01

The mirror nuclei of tritium and helium-3 have been studied by the method of elastic electron scattering. Absolute cross sections have been measured for incident electron energies in the range 110 - 690 MeV at scattering angles lying between 40 degrees and 135 degrees in this energy range. The data have been interpreted in a straightforward manner and form factors are given for the distributions of charge and magnetic moment in the two nuclei over a range of four-momentum transfer squared 1.0 - 8.0 F{sup -2}. Model-independent radii of the charge and magnetic moment distributions are given and an attempt is made to deduce form factors describing the spatial distribution of the protons in tritium and helium-3.

Lattice Boltzmann method for weakly ionized isothermal plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li Huayu; Ki, Hyungson

2007-12-15

In this paper, a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for weakly ionized isothermal plasmas is presented by introducing a rescaling scheme for the Boltzmann transport equation. Without using this rescaling, we found that the nondimensional relaxation time used in the LBM is too large and the LBM does not produce physically realistic results. The developed model was applied to the electrostatic wave problem and the diffusion process of singly ionized helium plasmas with a 1-3% degree of ionization under an electric field. The obtained results agree well with theoretical values.

Using Resin-Based 3D Printing to Build Geometrically Accurate Proxies of Porous Sedimentary Rocks.

PubMed

Ishutov, Sergey; Hasiuk, Franciszek J; Jobe, Dawn; Agar, Susan

2018-05-01

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is capable of transforming intricate digital models into tangible objects, allowing geoscientists to replicate the geometry of 3D pore networks of sedimentary rocks. We provide a refined method for building scalable pore-network models ("proxies") using stereolithography 3D printing that can be used in repeated flow experiments (e.g., core flooding, permeametry, porosimetry). Typically, this workflow involves two steps, model design and 3D printing. In this study, we explore how the addition of post-processing and validation can reduce uncertainty in the 3D-printed proxy accuracy (difference of proxy geometry from the digital model). Post-processing is a multi-step cleaning of porous proxies involving pressurized ethanol flushing and oven drying. Proxies are validated by: (1) helium porosimetry and (2) digital measurements of porosity from thin-section images of 3D-printed proxies. 3D printer resolution was determined by measuring the smallest open channel in 3D-printed "gap test" wafers. This resolution (400 µm) was insufficient to build porosity of Fontainebleau sandstone (∼13%) from computed tomography data at the sample's natural scale, so proxies were printed at 15-, 23-, and 30-fold magnifications to validate the workflow. Helium porosities of the 3D-printed proxies differed from digital calculations by up to 7% points. Results improved after pressurized flushing with ethanol (e.g., porosity difference reduced to ∼1% point), though uncertainties remain regarding the nature of sub-micron "artifact" pores imparted by the 3D printing process. This study shows the benefits of including post-processing and validation in any workflow to produce porous rock proxies. © 2017, National Ground Water Association.

Thermal desorption behavior of helium in aged titanium tritide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, G. J.; Shi, L. Q.; Zhou, X. S.; Liang, J. H.; Wang, W. D.; Long, X. G.; Yang, B. F.; Peng, S. M.

2015-11-01

The desorption behavior of helium in TiT(1.5∼1.8)-x3Hex film samples (x = 0.0022-0.22) was investigated by thermal desorption technique in vacuum condition in this paper. The thermal helium desorption spectrometry (THDS) of aging titanium tritide films prepared by electron beam evaporation revealed that, depending on the decayed 3He concentration in the samples, there are more than four states of helium existing in the films. The divided four zones in THDS based on helium states represent respectively: (1) the mobile single helium atoms with low activation energy in all aging samples resulted from the interstitial sites or dissociated from interstitial clusters, loops and dislocations, (2) helium bubbles inside the grain lattices, (3) helium bubbles in the grain boundaries and interconnected networks of dislocations in the helium concentration of 3Hegen/Ti > 0.0094, and (4) helium bubbles near or linked to the film surface by interconnected channel for later aging stage with 3Hegen/Ti > 0.18. The proportion of helium desorption in each zone was estimated, and dissociated energies of helium for different trapping states were given.

Determination of electron temperature in a penning discharge by the helium line ratio method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richardson, R. W.

1975-01-01

The helium line ratio technique was used to determine electron temperatures in a toroidal steady-state Penning discharge operating in helium. Due to the low background pressure, less than .0001 torr, and the low electron density, the corona model is expected to provide a good description of the excitation processes in this discharge. In addition, by varying the Penning discharge anode voltage and background pressure, it is possible to vary the electron temperature as measured by the line ratio technique over a wide range (10 to 100+ eV). These discharge characteristics allow a detailed comparison of electron temperatures measured from different possible line ratios over a wide range of temperatures and under reproducible steady-state conditions. Good agreement is found between temperatures determined from different neutral line ratios, but use of the helium ion line results in a temperature systematically 10 eV high compared to that from the neutral lines.

Electron impact ionization-excitation of Helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ancarani, Lorenzo Ugo; Gomez, A. I.; Gasaneo, G.; Mitnik, D. M.; Ambrosio, M. J.

2016-09-01

We calculate triple differential cross sections (TDCS) for the process of ionization-excitation of Helium by fast electron impact in which the residual ion is left in the n =2 excited state. We chose the strongly asymmetric kinematics used in the experiment performed by Dupré et al.. In a perturbative scheme, for high projectile energies the four-body problem reduces to a three-body one and, within that framework, we solve the time- independent Schrödinger equation with a Sturmian approach. The method, based on Generalized Sturmian Functions (GSF), is employed to obtain the initial ground state of Helium, the single-continuum state and the scattering wave function; for each of them, the GSF basis is constructed with the corresponding adequate asymptotic conditions. Besides, the method presents the following advantage: the scattering amplitudes can be extracted directly in the asymptotic region of the scattering solution, and thus the TDCS can be obtained without requiring a matrix element evaluation.

Hydrogen and helium under high pressure - A case for a classical theory of dense matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Celebonovic, Vladan

1989-06-01

When subject to high pressure, H2 and He-3 are expected to undergo phase transitions, and to become metallic at a sufficiently high pressure. Using a semiclassical theory of dense matter proposed by Savic and Kasanin, calculations of phase transition and metallization pressure have been performed for these two materials. In hydrogen, metallization occurs at p(M) = (3.0 + or - 0.2) Mbar, while for helium the corresponding value is (106 + or - 1) Mbar. A phase transition occurs in helium at p(tr) = (10.0 + or - 0.4) Mbar. These values are close to the results obtainable by more rigorous methods. Possibilities of experimental verification of the calculations are briefly discussed.

Helium extraction and nitrogen removal from LNG boil-off gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, L.; Peng, N.; Liu, L.; Gong, L.

2017-02-01

The helium bearing boil off gas (BOG) from liquid natural gas (LNG) storage tank in LNG plant, which has a helium concentration of about 1%, has attracted the attention in China as a new helium source. As the BOG is usually reused by re-condensing to recover methane, it is likely to cause continuous accumulation of nitrogen in the unit, thus a nitrogen removal process must be integrated. This paper describes a conceptional cryogenic separation system aiming at recovering methane, helium and nitrogen from BOG based on cryogenic distillation and condensation process.

Estimations of electron densities and temperatures in He-3 dominated plasmas. [in nuclear pumped lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Depaola, B. D.; Marcum, S. D.; Wrench, H. K.; Whitten, B. L.; Wells, W. E.

1979-01-01

It is very useful to have a method of estimation for electron temperature and electron densities in nuclear pumped plasmas because measurements of such quantities are very difficult. This paper describes a method, based on rate equation analysis of the ionized species in the plasma and the electron energy balance. In addition to the ionized species, certain neutral species must also be calculated. Examples are given for pure helium and a mixture of helium and argon. In the HeAr case, He(+), He2(+), He/2 3S/, Ar(+), Ar2(+), and excited Ar are evaluated.

Irreversible adsorption of atmospheric helium on olivine: A lobster pot analogy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Protin, Marie; Blard, Pierre-Henri; Marrocchi, Yves; Mathon, François

2016-04-01

This study reports new experimental results that demonstrate that large amounts of atmospheric helium may be adsorbed onto the surfaces of olivine grains. This behavior is surface-area-related in that this contamination preferentially affects grains that are smaller than 125 μm in size. One of the most striking results of our study is that in vacuo heating at 900 °C for 15 min is not sufficient to completely remove the atmospheric contamination. This suggests that the adsorption of helium may involve high-energy trapping of helium through irreversible anomalous adsorption. This trapping process of helium can thus be compared to a ;lobster pot; adsorption: atmospheric helium easily gets in, but hardly gets out. While this type of behavior has previously been reported for heavy noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe), this is the first time that it has been observed for helium. Adsorption of helium has, until now, generally been considered to be negligible on silicate surfaces. Our findings have significant implications for helium and noble gas analysis of natural silicate samples, such as for cosmic-ray exposure dating or noble gas characterization of extraterrestrial material. Analytical procedures in future studies should be adapted in order to avoid this contamination. The results of this study also allow us to propose an alternative explanation for previously described matrix loss of cosmogenic 3He.

CALCULATED REGENERATOR PERFORMANCE AT 4 K WITH HELIUM-4 AND HELIUM-3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radebaugh, Ray; Huang Yonghua; O'Gallagher, Agnes

2008-03-16

The helium-4 working fluid in regenerative cryocoolers operating with the cold end near 4 K deviates considerably from an ideal gas. As a result, losses in the regenerator, given by the time-averaged enthalpy flux, are increased and are strong functions of the operating pressure and temperature. Helium-3, with its lower boiling point, behaves somewhat closer to an ideal gas in this low temperature range and can reduce the losses in 4 K regenerators. An analytical model is used to find the fluid properties that strongly influence the regenerator losses as well as the gross refrigeration power. The thermodynamic and transportmore » properties of helium-3 were incorporated into the latest NIST regenerator numerical model, known as REGEN3.3, which was used to model regenerator performance with either helium-4 or helium-3. With this model we show how the use of helium-3 in place of helium-4 can improve the performance of 4 K regenerative cryocoolers. The effects of operating pressure, warm-end temperature, and frequency on regenerators with helium-4 and helium-3 are investigated and compared. The results are used to find optimum operating conditions. The frequency range investigated varies from 1 Hz to 30 Hz, with particular emphasis on higher frequencies.« less

Stellar Parameters in an Instant with Machine Learning. Application to Kepler LEGACY Targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellinger, Earl P.; Angelou, George C.; Hekker, Saskia; Basu, Sarbani; Ball, Warrick H.; Guggenberger, Elisabet

2017-10-01

With the advent of dedicated photometric space missions, the ability to rapidly process huge catalogues of stars has become paramount. Bellinger and Angelou et al. [1] recently introduced a new method based on machine learning for inferring the stellar parameters of main-sequence stars exhibiting solar-like oscillations. The method makes precise predictions that are consistent with other methods, but with the advantages of being able to explore many more parameters while costing practically no time. Here we apply the method to 52 so-called "LEGACY" main-sequence stars observed by the Kepler space mission. For each star, we present estimates and uncertainties of mass, age, radius, luminosity, core hydrogen abundance, surface helium abundance, surface gravity, initial helium abundance, and initial metallicity as well as estimates of their evolutionary model parameters of mixing length, overshooting coeffcient, and diffusion multiplication factor. We obtain median uncertainties in stellar age, mass, and radius of 14.8%, 3.6%, and 1.7%, respectively. The source code for all analyses and for all figures appearing in this manuscript can be found electronically at https://github.com/earlbellinger/asteroseismology

The Mechanism of Helium-Induced Preconditioning: A Direct Role for Nitric Oxide in Rabbits

PubMed Central

Pagel, Paul S.; Krolikowski, John G.; Pratt, Phillip F.; Shim, Yon Hee; Amour, Julien; Warltier, David C.; Weihrauch, Dorothee

2008-01-01

BACKGROUND Helium produces preconditioning against myocardial infarction by activating prosurvival signaling, but whether nitric oxide (NO) generated by endothelial NO synthase plays a role in this phenomenon is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that NO mediates helium-induced cardioprotection in vivo. METHODS Rabbits (n = 62) instrumented for hemodynamic measurement were subjected to a 30-min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 3 h reperfusion, and received 0.9% saline (control) or three cycles of 70% helium–30% oxygen administered for 5 min interspersed with 5 min of an air–oxygen mixture before left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion in the absence or presence of pretreatment with the nonselective NOS inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 mg/kg), the selective inducible NOS inhibitor aminoguanidine hydrochloride (AG; 300 mg/kg), or selective neuronal NOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI; 50 mg/kg). In additional rabbits, the fluorescent probe 4,5-diaminofluroscein diacetate (DAF-2DA) and confocal laser microscopy were used to detect NO production in the absence or presence of helium with or without L-NAME pretreatment. RESULTS Helium reduced (P < 0.05) infarct size (24% ± 4% of the left ventricular area at risk; mean ± sd) compared with control (46% ± 3%). L-NAME, AG, and 7-NI did not alter myocardial infarct size when administered alone. L-NAME, but not 7-NI or AG, abolished helium-induced cardioprotection. Helium enhanced DAF-2DA fluorescence compared with control (26 ± 8 vs 15 ± 5 U, respectively). Pretreatment with L-NAME abolished these helium-induced increases in DAF-2DA fluorescence. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that cardioprotection by helium is mediated by NO that is probably generated by endothelial NOS in vivo. PMID:18713880

One- and Two-Color Resonant Photoionization Spectroscopy of Chromium-Doped Helium Nanodroplets

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

We investigate the photoinduced relaxation dynamics of Cr atoms embedded into superfluid helium nanodroplets. One- and two-color resonant two-photon ionization (1CR2PI and 2CR2PI, respectively) are applied to study the two strong ground state transitions z7P2,3,4° ← a7S3 and y7P2,3,4° ← a7S3. Upon photoexcitation, Cr* atoms are ejected from the droplet in various excited states, as well as paired with helium atoms as Cr*–Hen exciplexes. For the y7P2,3,4° intermediate state, comparison of the two methods reveals that energetically lower states than previously identified are also populated. With 1CR2PI we find that the population of ejected z5P3° states is reduced for increasing droplet size, indicating that population is transferred preferentially to lower states during longer interaction with the droplet. In the 2CR2PI spectra we find evidence for generation of bare Cr atoms in their septet ground state (a7S3) and metastable quintet state (a5S2), which we attribute to a photoinduced fast excitation–relaxation cycle mediated by the droplet. A fraction of Cr atoms in these ground and metastable states is attached to helium atoms, as indicated by blue wings next to bare atom spectral lines. These relaxation channels provide new insight into the interaction of excited transition metal atoms with helium nanodroplets. PMID:24708058

Calculations of resonances parameters for the ((2s2) 1Se, (2s2p) 1,3P0) and ((3s2) 1Se, (3s3p) 1,3P0) doubly excited states of helium-like ions with Z≤10 using a complex rotation method implemented in Scilab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gning, Youssou; Sow, Malick; Traoré, Alassane; Dieng, Matabara; Diakhate, Babacar; Biaye, Mamadi; Wagué, Ahmadou

2015-01-01

In the present work a special computational program Scilab (Scientific Laboratory) in the complex rotation method has been used to calculate resonance parameters of ((2s2) 1Se, (2s2p) 1,3P0) and ((3s2) 1Se, (3s3p) 1,3P0) states of helium-like ions with Z≤10. The purpose of this study required a mathematical development of the Hamiltonian applied to Hylleraas wave function for intrashell states, leading to analytical expressions which are carried out under Scilab computational program. Results are in compliance with recent theoretical calculations.

Performance of Upgraded Cooling System for Lhd Helical Coils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamaguchi, S.; Imagawa, S.; Obana, T.; Yanagi, N.; Moriuchi, S.; Sekiguchi, H.; Oba, K.; Mito, T.; Motojima, O.; Okamura, T.; Semba, T.; Yoshinaga, S.; Wakisaka, H.

2008-03-01

Helical coils of the Large Helical Device (LHD) are large scale superconducting magnets for heliotron plasma experiments. The helical coils had been cooled by saturated helium at 4.4 K, 120 kPa until 2005. An upgrade of the cooling system was carried out in 2006 in order to improve the cryogenic stability of the helical coils and then it has been possible to supply the coils with subcooled helium at 3.2 K, 120 kPa. A designed mass flow of the supplied subcooled helium is 50 g/s. The subcooled helium is generated at a heat exchanger in a saturated helium bath. A series of two centrifugal cold compressors with gas foil bearing is utilized to lower the helium pressure in the bath. The supplied helium temperature is regulated by rotational speed of the cold compressors and power of a heater in the bath. The mass flow of the supplied helium is also controlled manually by a supply valve and its surplus is evaporated by ten heaters at the outlet above the coils. In the present study, the performance of the cooling system has been investigated and a stable operating method has also developed. As the result, it was confirmed that the performance of the upgraded cooling system satisfies the requirements.

Combined sample collection and gas extraction for the measurement of helium isotopes and neon in natural waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roether, Wolfgang; Vogt, Martin; Vogel, Sandra; Sültenfuß, Jürgen

2013-06-01

We present a new method to obtain samples for the measurement of helium isotopes and neon in water, to replace the classical sampling procedure using clamped-off Cu tubing containers that we have been using so far. The new method saves the gas extraction step prior to admission to the mass spectrometer, which the classical method requires. Water is drawn into evacuated glass ampoules with subsequent flame sealing. Approximately 50% headspace is left, from which admission into the mass spectrometer occurs without further treatment. Extensive testing has shown that, with due care and with small corrections applied, the samples represent the gas concentrations in the water within ±0.07% (95% confidence level; ±0.05% with special handling). Fast evacuation is achieved by pumping on a small charge of water placed in the ampoule. The new method was successfully tested at sea in comparison with Cu-tubing sampling. We found that the ampoule samples were superior in data precision and that a lower percentage of samples were lost prior to measurement. Further measurements revealed agreement between the two methods in helium, 3He and neon within ±0.1%. The new method facilitates the dealing with large sample sets and minimizes the delay between sampling and measurement. The method is applicable also for gases other than helium and neon.

Helium Mass Spectrometer Leak Detection: A Method to Quantify Total Measurement Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mather, Janice L.; Taylor, Shawn C.

2015-01-01

In applications where leak rates of components or systems are evaluated against a leak rate requirement, the uncertainty of the measured leak rate must be included in the reported result. However, in the helium mass spectrometer leak detection method, the sensitivity, or resolution, of the instrument is often the only component of the total measurement uncertainty noted when reporting results. To address this shortfall, a measurement uncertainty analysis method was developed that includes the leak detector unit's resolution, repeatability, hysteresis, and drift, along with the uncertainty associated with the calibration standard. In a step-wise process, the method identifies the bias and precision components of the calibration standard, the measurement correction factor (K-factor), and the leak detector unit. Together these individual contributions to error are combined and the total measurement uncertainty is determined using the root-sum-square method. It was found that the precision component contributes more to the total uncertainty than the bias component, but the bias component is not insignificant. For helium mass spectrometer leak rate tests where unit sensitivity alone is not enough, a thorough evaluation of the measurement uncertainty such as the one presented herein should be performed and reported along with the leak rate value.

Motion of W and He atoms during formation of W fuzz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doerner, R. P.; Nishijima, D.; Krasheninnikov, S. I.; Schwarz-Selinger, T.; Zach, M.

2018-06-01

Measurements are conducted to identify the motion of tungsten and helium atoms during the formation of tungsten fuzz. In a first series of experiments the mobility of helium within the growing fuzz was measured by adding 3He to the different stages of plasma exposure under conditions that promoted tungsten fuzz growth. Ion beam analysis was used to quantify the amount of 3He remaining in the samples following the plasma exposure. The results indicate that the retention of helium in bubbles within tungsten is a dynamic process with direct implantation rather than diffusion into the bubbles, best describing the motion of the helium atoms. In the second experiment, an isotopically enriched layer of tungsten (~92.99% 182W) is deposited on the surface of a bulk tungsten sample with the natural abundance of the isotopes. This sample is then exposed to helium plasma at the conditions necessary to support the formation of tungsten ‘fuzz’. Depth profiles of the concentration of each of the tungsten isotopes are obtained using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) before and after the plasma exposure. The depth profiles clearly show mixing of tungsten atoms from the bulk sample toward the surface of the fuzz. This supports a physical picture of the dynamic behavior of helium bubbles which, also, causes an enhanced mixing of tungsten atoms.

Motion of W and He atoms during formation of W fuzz

DOE PAGES

Doerner, R. P.; Nishijima, D.; Krasheninnikov, S. I.; ...

2018-04-11

Measurements are conducted to identify the motion of tungsten and helium atoms during the formation of tungsten fuzz. In a first series of experiments the mobility of helium within the growing fuzz was measured by adding 3He to the different stages of plasma exposure under conditions that promoted tungsten fuzz growth. Ion beam analysis was used to quantify the amount of 3He remaining in the samples following the plasma exposure. The results indicate that the retention of helium in bubbles within tungsten is a dynamic process with direct implantation rather than diffusion into the bubbles, best describing the motion ofmore » the helium atoms. In the second experiment, an isotopically enriched layer of tungsten (~92.99% 182W) is deposited on the surface of a bulk tungsten sample with the natural abundance of the isotopes. This sample is then exposed to helium plasma at the conditions necessary to support the formation of tungsten 'fuzz'. Depth profiles of the concentration of each of the tungsten isotopes are obtained using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) before and after the plasma exposure. The depth profiles clearly show mixing of tungsten atoms from the bulk sample toward the surface of the fuzz. Lastly, this supports a physical picture of the dynamic behavior of helium bubbles which, also, causes an enhanced mixing of tungsten atoms.« less

PIV Validation of 3D Multicomponent Model for Cold Spray Within Nitrogen and Helium Supersonic Flow Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faizan-Ur-Rab, M.; Zahiri, S. H.; Masood, S. H.; Jahedi, M.; Nagarajah, R.

2017-06-01

This study presents the validation of a developed three-dimensional multicomponent model for cold spray process using two particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments. The k- ɛ type 3D model developed for spherical titanium particles was validated with the measured titanium particle velocity within a nitrogen and helium supersonic jet. The 3D model predicted lower values of particle velocity than the PIV experimental study that used irregularly shaped titanium particles. The results of the 3D model were consistent with the PIV experiment that used spherical titanium powder. The 3D model simulation of particle velocity within the helium and nitrogen jet was coupled with an estimation of titanium particle temperature. This was achieved with the consideration of the fact that cold spray particle temperature is difficult and expensive to measure due to considerably lower temperature of particles than thermal spray. The model predicted an interesting pattern of particle size distribution with respect to the location of impact with a concentration of finer particles close to the jet center. It is believed that the 3D model outcomes for particle velocity, temperature and location could be a useful tool to optimize system design, deposition process and mechanical properties of the additively manufactured cold spray structures.

Low-energy electron-impact ionization of helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schow, E.; Hazlett, K.; Childers, J. G.

2005-12-15

Normalized doubly differential cross sections for the electron-impact ionization of helium at low energies are presented. The data are taken at the incident electron energies of 26.3, 28.3, 30.3, 32.5, 34.3, 36.5, and 40.7 eV and for scattering angles of 10 deg. -130 deg. The measurements involve the use of the moveable target method developed at California State University Fullerton to accurately determine the continuum background in the energy-loss spectra. Normalization of experimental data is made on a relative scale to well-established experimental differential cross sections for excitation of the n=2 manifold of helium and then on an absolute scalemore » to the well-established total ionization cross sections of Shah et al. [J. Phys. B 21, 2751 (1988)]. Comparisons are made with available experimental data and the results of the convergent close-coupling theory.« less

Thermodynamic efficiency analysis and cycle optimization of deeply precooled combined cycle engine in the air-breathing mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jianqiang; Wang, Zhenguo; Li, Qinglian

2017-09-01

The efficiency calculation and cycle optimization were carried out for the Synergistic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) with deeply precooled combined cycle. A component-level model was developed for the engine, and exergy efficiency analysis based on the model was carried out. The methods to improve cycle efficiency have been proposed. The results indicate cycle efficiency of SABRE is between 29.7% and 41.7% along the flight trajectory, and most of the wasted exergy is occupied by the unburned hydrogen in exit gas. Exergy loss exists in each engine component, and the sum losses of main combustion chamber(CC), pre-burner(PB), precooler(PC) and 3# heat exchanger(HX3) are greater than 71.3% of the total loss. Equivalence ratio is the main influencing factor of cycle, and it can be regulated by adjusting parameters of helium loop. Increase the maximum helium outlet temperature of PC by 50 K, the total assumption of hydrogen will be saved by 4.8%, and the cycle efficiency is advanced by 3% averagely in the trajectory. Helium recirculation scheme introduces a helium recirculation loop to increase local helium flow rate of PC. It turns out the total assumption of hydrogen will be saved by 9%, that's about 1740 kg, and the cycle efficiency is advanced by 5.6% averagely.

Measurement of ion beam angular distribution at different helium gas pressures in a plasma focus device by large-area polycarbonate detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohrabi, M.; Habibi, M.; Ramezani, V.

2017-02-01

The paper presents an experimental study and analysis of full helium ion density angular distributions in a 4-kJ plasma focus device (PFD) at pressures of 10, 15, 25, and 30 mbar using large-area polycarbonate track detectors (PCTDs) (15-cm etchable diameter) processed by 50-Hz-HV electrochemical etching (ECE). Helium ion track distributions at different pressures, in particular, at the main axis of the PFD are presented. Maximum ion track density of 4.4 × 104 tracks/cm2 was obtained in the PCTD placed 6 cm from the anode. The ion distributions for all pressures applied are ring-shaped, which is possibly due to the hollow cylindrical copper anode used. The large-area PCTD processed by ECE proves, at the present state-of-theart, a superior method for direct observation and analysis of ion distributions at a glance with minimum efforts and time. Some observations of the ion density distributions at different pressures are reported and discussed.

Study of evaporating the irradiated graphite in equilibrium low-temperature plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bespala, E. V.; Novoselov, I. Yu.; Pavlyuk, A. O.; Kotlyarevskiy, S. G.

2018-01-01

The paper describes a problem of accumulation of irradiated graphite due to operation of uranium-graphite nuclear reactors. The main noncarbon contaminants that contribute to the overall activity of graphite elements are iso-topes 137Cs, 60Co, 90Sr, 36Cl, and 3H. A method was developed for processing of irradiated graphite ensuring the volu-metric decontamination of samples. The calculation results are presented for equilibrium composition of plasma-chemical reactions in systems "irradiated graphite-argon" and "irradiated graphite-helium" for a wide range of tem-peratures. The paper describes a developed mathematical model for the process of purification of a porous graphite surface treated by equilibrium low-temperature plasma. The simulation results are presented for the rate of sublimation of radioactive contaminants as a function of plasma temperature and plasma flow velocity when different plasma-forming gases are used. The extraction coefficient for the contaminant 137Cs from the outer side of graphite pores was calculated. The calculations demonstrated the advantages of using a lighter plasma forming gas, i.e., helium.

Atmospheric Mining in the Outer Solar System: Outer Planet In-Space Bases and Moon Bases for Resource Processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan

2017-01-01

Atmospheric mining in the outer solar system has been investigated as a means of fuel production for high energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as Helium 3 (3He) and deuterium can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. Helium 3 and deuterium were the primary gases of interest with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses were undertaken to investigate resource capturing aspects of atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. This included the gas capturing rate, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. While capturing 3He, large amounts of hydrogen and 4He are produced. The propulsion and transportation requirements for all of the major moons of Uranus and Neptune are presented. Analyses of orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), landers, factories, and the issues with in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) low gravity processing factories are included. Preliminary observations are presented on near-optimal selections of moon base orbital locations, OTV power levels, and OTV and lander rendezvous points. Several artificial gravity in-space base designs and orbital sites at Uranus and Neptune and the OTV requirements to support them are also addressed.

Electron-helium S-wave model benchmark calculations. I. Single ionization and single excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlett, Philip L.; Stelbovics, Andris T.

2010-02-01

A full four-body implementation of the propagating exterior complex scaling (PECS) method [J. Phys. B 37, L69 (2004)] is developed and applied to the electron-impact of helium in an S-wave model. Time-independent solutions to the Schrödinger equation are found numerically in coordinate space over a wide range of energies and used to evaluate total and differential cross sections for a complete set of three- and four-body processes with benchmark precision. With this model we demonstrate the suitability of the PECS method for the complete solution of the full electron-helium system. Here we detail the theoretical and computational development of the four-body PECS method and present results for three-body channels: single excitation and single ionization. Four-body cross sections are presented in the sequel to this article [Phys. Rev. A 81, 022716 (2010)]. The calculations reveal structure in the total and energy-differential single-ionization cross sections for excited-state targets that is due to interference from autoionization channels and is evident over a wide range of incident electron energies.

Observations of Ellerman bomb emission features in He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Libbrecht, Tine; Joshi, Jayant; Rodríguez, Jaime de la Cruz; Leenaarts, Jorrit; Ramos, Andrés Asensio

2017-02-01

Context. Ellerman bombs (EBs) are short-lived emission features, characterised by extended wing emission in hydrogen Balmer lines. Until now, no distinct signature of EBs has been found in the He I 10 830 Å line, and conclusive observations of EBs in He I D3 have never been reported. Aims: We aim to study the signature of EBs in neutral helium triplet lines. Methods: The observations consisted of ten consecutive SST/TRIPPEL raster scans close to the limb, featuring the Hβ, He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å spectral regions. We also obtained raster scans with IRIS and made use of the SDO/AIA 1700 Å channel. We used Hazel to invert the neutral helium triplet lines. Results: Three EBs in our data show distinct emission signatures in neutral helium triplet lines, most prominently visible in the He I D3 line. The helium lines have two components: a broad and blueshifted emission component associated with the EB, and a narrower absorption component formed in the overlying chromosphere. One of the EBs in our data shows evidence of strong velocity gradients in its emission component. The emission component of the other two EBs could be fitted using a constant slab. Our analysis hints towards thermal Doppler motions having a large contribution to the broadening for helium and IRIS lines. We conclude that the EBs must have high temperatures to exhibit emission signals in neutral helium triplet lines. An order of magnitude estimate places our observed EBs in the range of T 2 × 104-105 K. Movies associated to Figs. 3-5 are available at http://www.aanda.org

Automatic PID Control Loops Design for Performance Improvement of Cryogenic Turboexpander

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, D. M.; Patel, H. K.; Shah, D. K.

2015-04-01

Cryogenics field involves temperature below 123 K which is much less than ambient temperature. In addition, many industrially important physical processes—from fulfilling the needs of National Thermonuclear Fusion programs, superconducting magnets to treatment of cutting tools and preservation of blood cells, require extreme low temperature. The low temperature required for liquefaction of common gases can be obtained by several processes. Liquefaction is the process of cooling or refrigerating a gas to a temperature below its critical temperature so that liquid can be formed at some suitable pressure which is below the critical pressure. Helium liquefier is used for the liquefaction process of helium gas. In general, the Helium Refrigerator/Liquefier (HRL) needs turboexpander as expansion machine to produce cooling effect which is further used for the production of liquid helium. Turboexpanders, a high speed device that is supported on gas bearings, are the most critical component in many helium refrigeration systems. A very minor fault in the operation and manufacturing or impurities in the helium gas can destroy the turboexpander. However, since the performance of expanders is dependent on a number of operating parameters and the relations between them are quite complex, the instrumentation and control system design for turboexpander needs special attention. The inefficiency of manual control leads to the need of designing automatic control loops for turboexpander. Proper design and implementation of the control loops plays an important role in the successful operation of the cryogenic turboexpander. The PID control loops has to be implemented with accurate interlocks and logic to enhance the performance of the cryogenic turboexpander. For different normal and off-normal operations, speeds will be different and hence a proper control method for critical rotational speed avoidance is must. This paper presents the design of PID control loops needed for the efficient performance of cryogenic turboexpander (Radial Inflow type) to ensure that the control systems meet the technical conditions and constraints more accurately and ensure the equipment safety.

Pressures, forces, moments and shock shapes for a geometrically matched sphere-cone and hyperboloid at Mach 20.3 in helium. [22-inch aerodynamics leg of the Langley hypersonic helium tunnel facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calloway, R. L.

1983-01-01

An investigation was conducted to compare measured and predicted pressure distributions, forces and moments, and shock shapes on a geometrically matched sphere-cone and hyperboloid. A hyperboloid with a nose radius of 0.5276 in. and an asymptotic angle of 39.9871 deg was matched to a sphere-cone with a nose radius of 0.750 in. and a cone half-angle of 45 deg. Experimental results in helium at a free-stream Mach number of 20.3 and a free-stream unit Reynolds number of 6.83 x 10 to the 6th power per foot were combined with predicted results from a theoretical method to compare the two shapes. Comparisons of experimental results showed small differences in the two shapes, but the prediction method provided better results for the hyperboloid than for the sphere-cone.

r-process nucleosynthesis in dynamic helium-burning environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cowan, J. J.; Cameron, A. G. W.; Truran, J. W.

1985-01-01

The results of an extended examination of r-process nucleosynthesis in helium-burning enviroments are presented. Using newly calculated nuclear rates, dynamical r-process calculations have been made of thermal runaways in helium cores typical of low-mass stars and in the helium zones of stars undergoing supernova explosions. These calculations show that, for a sufficient flux of neutrons produced by the C-13 neutron source, r-process nuclei in solar proportions can be produced. The conditions required for r-process production are found to be 10 to the 20th-10 to the 21st neutrons per cubic centimeter for times of 0.01-0.1 s and neutron number densities in excess of 10 to the 19th per cubic centimeter for times of about 1 s. The amount of C-13 required is found to be exceedingly high - larger than is found to occur in any current stellar evolutionary model. It is thus unlikely that these helium-burning environments are responsible for producing the bulk of the r-process elements seen in the solar system.

Electron- and positron-impact atomic scattering calculations using propagating exterior complex scaling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlett, P. L.; Stelbovics, A. T.; Rescigno, T. N.; McCurdy, C. W.

2007-11-01

Calculations are reported for four-body electron-helium collisions and positron-hydrogen collisions, in the S-wave model, using the time-independent propagating exterior complex scaling (PECS) method. The PECS S-wave calculations for three-body processes in electron-helium collisions compare favourably with previous convergent close-coupling (CCC) and time-dependent exterior complex scaling (ECS) calculations, and exhibit smooth cross section profiles. The PECS four-body double-excitation cross sections are significantly different from CCC calculations and highlight the need for an accurate representation of the resonant helium final-state wave functions when undertaking these calculations. Results are also presented for positron-hydrogen collisions in an S-wave model using an electron-positron potential of V12 = - (8 + (r1 - r2)2)-1/2. This model is representative of the full problem, and the results demonstrate that ECS-based methods can accurately calculate scattering, ionization and positronium formation cross sections in this three-body rearrangement collision.

Effect of nuclear shielding in collision of positive charged helium ions with helium atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghavaminia, Hoda; Ghavaminia, Shirin

2018-03-01

Differential in angle and absolute cross sections in energy of the scattered particles are obtained for single charge exchange in ^3He^+-^4He collisions by means of the four body boundary-corrected first Born approximation (CB1-4B). The quantum-mechanical post and prior transition amplitudes are derived in terms of two-dimensional real integrals in the case of the prior form and five-dimensional quadratures for the post form. The effect of the dynamic electron correlation through the complete perturbation potential and the nuclear-screening influence of the passive electrons on the electron capture process is investigated. The results obtained in the CB1-4B method are compared with the available experimental data. For differential cross sections, the present results are in better agreement with experimental data than other theoretical data at extreme forward scattering angles. The integral cross sections are in excellent agreement with the experiment. Also, total cross sections for single electron capture, has been investigated using the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method. The present calculated results are found to be in an excellent agreement with the experimental data.

Assisted suicide by oxygen deprivation with helium at a Swiss right-to-die organisation.

PubMed

Ogden, Russel D; Hamilton, William K; Whitcher, Charles

2010-03-01

In Switzerland, right-to-die organisations assist their members with suicide by lethal drugs, usually barbiturates. One organisation, Dignitas, has experimented with oxygen deprivation as an alternative to sodium pentobarbital. To analyse the process of assisted suicide by oxygen deprivation with helium and a common face mask and reservoir bag. This study examined four cases of assisted suicide by oxygen deprivation using helium delivered via a face mask. Videos of the deaths were provided by the Zurich police. Dignitas provided protocol and consent information. One man and three women were assisted to death by oxygen deprivation. There was wide variation in the time to unconsciousness and the time to death, probably due to the poor mask fit. Swiss law prevented attendants from effectively managing the face mask apparatus. Purposeless movements of the extremities were disconcerting for Dignitas attendants, who are accustomed to assisting suicide with barbiturates. None of the dying individuals attempted self-rescue. The dying process of oxygen deprivation with helium is potentially quick and appears painless. It also bypasses the prescribing role of physicians, effectively demedicalising assisted suicide. Oxygen deprivation with a face mask is not acceptable because leaks are difficult to control and it may not eliminate rebreathing. These factors will extend time to unconsciousness and time to death. A hood method could reduce the problem of mask fit. With a hood, a flow rate of helium sufficient to provide continuous washout of expired gases would remedy problems observed with the mask.

Double Electron Processes in Collisions of Partially Stripped Ions Cq+(q = 1-4) with Helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Bao-Wei; Chen, Xi-Meng; Yu, De-Yang; Fu, Hong-Bin; Liu, Zhao-Yuan; Sun, Guang-Zhi; Liu, Yu-Wen; Lu, Yan-Xia; Xie, Jiang-Shan; Du, Juan; Gao, Zhi-Min; Chen, Lin; Cui, Ying; Shao, Jian-Xiong; He, Zi-Feng; Cai, Xiao-Hong

2007-01-01

The multi-electron processes are investigated for 17.9-120 keV/u C1+, 30-323 keV/u C2+, 120-438 keV/u C3+, 287-480 keV/u C4+ incident on a helium target. The cross-section ratios of double electron (DE) process to the total of the single electron (SE) and the double electron process (i.e. SE+DE), the direct double electron (DDI) to the direct single ionization (DSI) as well as the contributions of DDI to DE and of TI to DE are measured using coincidence techniques. The energy and charge state dependences of the measured cross-section ratios are studied and discussed.

Hydrogen and oxygen sensor development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farber, E. A.; Mahig, J.; Schaeper, H. R. A.

1972-01-01

A reliable and low cost gas sensor was investigated for instantaneously detecting H2 in N2, H2 in air, and O2 in N2. The major portion of the research was spent in developing a sensor which would instantaneously detect H2 to + or - 50 ppm even in the presence of trace amounts of other gases. The experimental procedures used to provide the performance characteristics for the various oscillators are discussed describing the equipment with help of schematics and photographs where applicable. The resulting performance is given in graphical form. In some cases both hydrogen and helium may be present and since both of them effect gas sensors similarly, a method was found to determine the concentration of each. The methods developed are grouped into the following four broad categories: pure metal response, variation in heat conductivity, reduction methods, and exotic processes. From the above it was decided for the present to use a copper oxide reduction process as this process was demonstrated to be capable of determining the concentrations of hydrogen and helium respectively in a gas mixture with air or nitrogen.

Numerical Simulation of Laser Ablative Shock Waves From Aluminum in Presence of Helium Gas At Different Ambient Pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paturi, Prem Kiran; Durvasula, P. S. L. Kameswari; S, Sai Shiva; Acrhem, University Of Hyderabad Team

2017-06-01

A two dimensional comparative study of Laser Ablative Shock Wave into the Aluminum target in the presence of Helium gas at different ambient pressures over a range of 690 - 105 Pa performed using FLASH hydrodynamic codes will be presented. The irradiation of Aluminum target (thickness 2 mm and radius 3 mm) with a 7 ns laser pulse of energy 175 mJ, spot size of 150 µm on the target surface at a wavelength of 532 nm at normal incidence is simulated. Helium gas enclosed in a chamber of height 3 mm and width 3 mm. The electron-ion inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient is considered in the laser energy deposition process. The simulation was performed over a duration of 1 μs. It was observed that an ablative shock is launched into the Helium gas for the pressures of 0.5 atm and above. However, for pressure less than the 0.5 atm the plasma expanded into the He gas upto 12ns and after which due to pressure equilibration with the surroundings and plume splitting shock wave is launched in to Al. Authors acknowledge funding from DRDO, India.

Helium Transfer System for the Superconducting Devices at NSRRC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, H. C.; Hsiao, F. Z.; Chang, S. H.; Chiou, W. S.

2006-04-01

A helium cryogenic plant with a maximum cooling power of 450 W at 4.5K was installed at the end of the year 2003. This plant has provide the cooling power for the test of one superconducting cavity and the commission of one superconducting magnet for nine months. In November 2004, we installed one helium transfer system in NSRRC's storage ring to fulfill the cooling requirement for the operation of one superconducting cavity and two superconducting magnets. This helium transfer system consists of a switch valve box and the nitrogen-shielding multi-channel transfer lines. The averaged heat leak to the helium process line (including the straight section, the joint, the elbow, the coupling) at liquid helium temperature is specified to be less than 0.1 W/m at 4.2K; the total heat leak of the switching valve box to helium process lines is less than 16 W at 4.2K. In this paper we present the function, design parameters and test result of the helium transfer system. Commissioning results of both the cavity and the magnets using this helium transfer system will be shown as well.

A molecular dynamics study of helium bombardments on tungsten nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Min; Hou, Qing; Cui, Jiechao; Wang, Jun

2018-06-01

Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to study the bombardment process of a single helium atom on a tungsten nanoparticle. Helium atoms ranging from 50 eV to 50 keV were injected into tungsten nanoparticles with a diameter in the range of 2-12 nm. The retention and reflection of projectiles and sputtering of nanoparticles were calculated at various times. The results were found to be relative to the nanoparticle size and projectile energy. The projectile energy of 100 eV contributes to the largest retention of helium atoms in tungsten nanoparticles. The most obvious difference in reflection exists in the range of 3-10 keV. Around 66% of sputtering atoms is in forward direction for projectiles with incident energy higher than 10 keV. Moreover, the axial direction of the nanoparticles was demonstrated to influence the bombardment to some degree.

Diagnosis of a short-pulse dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure in helium with hydrogen-methane admixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nastuta, A. V.; Pohoata, V.; Mihaila, I.; Topala, I.

2018-04-01

In this study, we present results from electrical, optical, and spectroscopic diagnosis of a short-pulse (250 ns) high-power impulse (up to 11 kW) dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure running in a helium/helium-hydrogen/helium-hydrogen-methane gas mixture. This plasma source is able to generate up to 20 cm3 of plasma volume, pulsed in kilohertz range. The plasma spatio-temporal dynamics are found to be developed in three distinct phases. All the experimental observations reveal a similar dynamic to medium power microsecond barrier discharges, although the power per pulse and current density are up to two orders of magnitude higher than the case of microsecond barrier discharges. This might open the possibility for new applications in the field of gas or surface processing, and even life science. These devices can be used in laboratory experiments relevant for molecular astrophysics.

How to make Raman-inactive helium visible in Raman spectra of tritium-helium gas mixtures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schloesser, M.; Pakari, O.; Rupp, S.

2015-03-15

Raman spectroscopy, a powerful method for the quantitative compositional analysis of molecular gases, e.g. mixtures of hydrogen isotopologues, is not able to detect monoatomic species like helium. This deficit can be overcome by using radioluminescence emission from helium atoms induced by β-electrons from tritium decay. We present theoretical considerations and combined Raman/radioluminescence spectra. Furthermore, we discuss the linearity of the method together with validation measurements for determining the pressure dependence. Finally, we conclude how this technique can be used for samples of helium with traces of tritium, and vice versa. (authors)

Performance Testing of Jefferson Lab 12 GeV Helium Screw Compressors

DOE PAGES

Knudsen, P.; Ganni, V.; Dixon, K.; ...

2015-08-10

Oil injected screw compressors have essentially superseded all other types of compressors in modern helium refrigeration systems due to their large displacement capacity, reliability, minimal vibration, and capability of handling helium's high heat of compression. At the present state of compressor system designs for helium refrigeration systems, typically two-thirds of the lost input power is due to the compression system. It is important to understand the isothermal and volumetric efficiencies of these machines to help properly design the compression system to match the refrigeration process. It is also important to identify those primary compressor skid exergetic loss mechanisms which maymore » be reduced, thereby offering the possibility of significantly reducing the input power to helium refrigeration processes which are extremely energy intensive. This paper summarizes the results collected during the commissioning of the new compressor system for Jefferson Lab's (JLab's) 12 GeV upgrade. The compressor skid packages were designed by JLab and built to print by industry. They incorporate a number of modifications not typical of helium screw compressor packages and most importantly allow a very wide range of operation so that JLab's patented Floating Pressure Process can be fully utilized. This paper also summarizes key features of the skid design that allow this process and facilitate the maintenance and reliability of these helium compressor systems.« less

Performance Testing of Jefferson Lab 12 GeV Helium Screw Compressors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Knudsen, P.; Ganni, V.; Dixon, K.

Oil injected screw compressors have essentially superseded all other types of compressors in modern helium refrigeration systems due to their large displacement capacity, reliability, minimal vibration, and capability of handling helium's high heat of compression. At the present state of compressor system designs for helium refrigeration systems, typically two-thirds of the lost input power is due to the compression system. It is important to understand the isothermal and volumetric efficiencies of these machines to help properly design the compression system to match the refrigeration process. It is also important to identify those primary compressor skid exergetic loss mechanisms which maymore » be reduced, thereby offering the possibility of significantly reducing the input power to helium refrigeration processes which are extremely energy intensive. This paper summarizes the results collected during the commissioning of the new compressor system for Jefferson Lab's (JLab's) 12 GeV upgrade. The compressor skid packages were designed by JLab and built to print by industry. They incorporate a number of modifications not typical of helium screw compressor packages and most importantly allow a very wide range of operation so that JLab's patented Floating Pressure Process can be fully utilized. This paper also summarizes key features of the skid design that allow this process and facilitate the maintenance and reliability of these helium compressor systems.« less

Effects of displacement damage and helium production rates on the nucleation and growth of helium bubbles - Positron annihilation spectroscopy aspects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krsjak, Vladimir; Degmova, Jarmila; Sojak, Stanislav; Slugen, Vladimir

2018-02-01

Fe-12 wt% Cr model alloy samples were implanted by 250 keV He2+ ions to three different fluencies (3 × 1017, 9 × 1017 and 1.5 × 1018 cm-2) at T < 100 °C. In a depth profile manner, the implantation impact according to defined peak profile was investigated using variable energy slow positrons, with the primary focus on the 2-13 dpa region. The obtained data were compared to published data on Optifer IX steel samples [1] irradiated in the frame of a two-years irradiation program of the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source. Bi-modal defect distribution represented by two defect components in positron lifetime spectrum reveals two distinct helium bubbles growth mechanisms. While at the lower helium production rate of the spallation environment, the bubbles grow primarily by migration and coalescence, at the high production rates of helium in the implanted samples, the results indicate this growth is driven by Ostwald ripening mechanism. A competitive growth process via emission of interstitial atoms (clusters) is discussed in terms of low-temperature He implantations.

Electron-Beam Recombination Lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhoades, Robert Lewis

1992-01-01

The first known instance of electron-beam pumping of the 546.1 nm mercury laser is reported. This has been achieved using high-energy electrons to create intense ionization in a coaxial diode chamber containing a mixture of noble gases with a small amount of mercury vapor. Also reported are the results of a study of the 585.3 nm neon laser in He:Ne:Ar mixtures under similar experimental conditions. Both of these lasers are believed to be predominantly pumped by recombination. For the mercury laser, kinetic processes in the partially ionized plasma following the excitation pulse of high-energy electrons should favor the production of atomic mercury ions and molecular ions containing mercury. Subsequent recombination with electrons heavily favors the production of the 7^3S and 6^3 D states of Hg, of which 7^3S is the upper level of the reported laser. For the neon laser, the dominant recombining ion has been previously shown to be Ne_2^{+}. One of the dominant roles of helium in recombination lasers is inferred from the data for the neon laser at low helium concentrations. Helium appears to be necessary for the rapid relaxation of the electron energy which then increases the reaction rates for all known recombination processes thus increasing the pump rate into the upper state.

Helium dilution refrigeration system

DOEpatents

Roach, Patrick R.; Gray, Kenneth E.

1988-01-01

A helium dilution refrigeration system operable over a limited time period, and recyclable for a next period of operation. The refrigeration system is compact with a self-contained pumping system and heaters for operation of the system. A mixing chamber contains .sup.3 He and .sup.4 He liquids which are precooled by a coupled container containing .sup.3 He liquid, enabling the phase separation of a .sup.3 He rich liquid phase from a dilute .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He liquid phase which leads to the final stage of a dilution cooling process for obtaining low temperatures. The mixing chamber and a still are coupled by a fluid line and are maintained at substantially the same level with the still cross sectional area being smaller than that of the mixing chamber. This configuration provides maximum cooling power and efficiency by the cooling period ending when the .sup.3 He liquid is depleted from the mixing chamber with the mixing chamber nearly empty of liquid helium, thus avoiding unnecessary and inefficient cooling of a large amount of the dilute .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He liquid phase.

Helium dilution refrigeration system

DOEpatents

Roach, P.R.; Gray, K.E.

1988-09-13

A helium dilution refrigeration system operable over a limited time period, and recyclable for a next period of operation is disclosed. The refrigeration system is compact with a self-contained pumping system and heaters for operation of the system. A mixing chamber contains [sup 3]He and [sup 4]He liquids which are precooled by a coupled container containing [sup 3]He liquid, enabling the phase separation of a [sup 3]He rich liquid phase from a dilute [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He liquid phase which leads to the final stage of a dilution cooling process for obtaining low temperatures. The mixing chamber and a still are coupled by a fluid line and are maintained at substantially the same level with the still cross sectional area being smaller than that of the mixing chamber. This configuration provides maximum cooling power and efficiency by the cooling period ending when the [sup 3]He liquid is depleted from the mixing chamber with the mixing chamber nearly empty of liquid helium, thus avoiding unnecessary and inefficient cooling of a large amount of the dilute [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He liquid phase. 2 figs.

Strain doping: Reversible single-axis control of a complex oxide lattice via helium implantation

DOE PAGES

Guo, Hangwen; Dong, Shuai; Rack, Philip D.; ...

2015-06-25

We report on the use of helium ion implantation to independently control the out-of-plane lattice constant in epitaxial La 0.7Sr 0.3MnO 3 thin films without changing the in-plane lattice constants. The process is reversible by a vacuum anneal. Resistance and magnetization measurements show that even a small increase in the out-of-plane lattice constant of less than 1% can shift the metal-insulator transition and Curie temperatures by more than 100 °C. Unlike conventional epitaxy-based strain tuning methods which are constrained not only by the Poisson effect but by the limited set of available substrates, the present study shows that strain canmore » be independently and continuously controlled along a single axis. This permits novel control over orbital populations through Jahn-Teller effects, as shown by Monte Carlo simulations on a double-exchange model. As a result, the ability to reversibly control a single lattice parameter substantially broadens the phase space for experimental exploration of predictive models and leads to new possibilities for control over materials’ functional properties.« less

Hydrogen and helium shell burning during white dwarf accretion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Xiao; Meng, Xiang-Cun; Han, Zhan-Wen

2018-05-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are believed to be thermonuclear explosions of carbon oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) with masses close to the Chandrasekhar mass limit. How a CO WD accretes matter and grows in mass to this limit is not well understood, hindering our understanding of SN Ia explosions and the reliability of using SNe Ia as a cosmological distance indicator. In this work, we employed the stellar evolution code MESA to simulate the accretion process of hydrogen-rich material onto a 1.0 M ⊙ CO WD at a high rate (over the Eddington limit) of 4.3 × 10‑7 M ⊙ yr‑1. The simulation demonstrates the characteristics of the double shell burning on top of the WD, with a hydrogen shell burning on top of a helium burning shell. The results show that helium shell burning is not steady (i.e. it flashes). Flashes from the helium shell are weaker than those in the case of accretion of helium-rich material onto a CO WD. The carbon to oxygen mass ratio resulting from the helium shell burning is higher than what was previously thought. Interestingly, the CO WD growing due to accretion has an outer part containing a small fraction of helium in addition to carbon and oxygen. The flashes become weaker and weaker as the accretion continues.

Helium-3 in Milky Way Reveals Abundance of Matter in Early Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2002-01-01

Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's 140 Foot Radio Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia, were able to infer the amount of matter created by the Big Bang, and confirmed that it accounts for only a small portion of the effects of gravity observed in the Universe. The scientists were able to make these conclusions by determining the abundance of the rare element helium-3 (helium with only one neutron and two protons in its nucleus) in the Milky Way Galaxy. The NRAO 140 Foot Radio Telescope The NRAO 140-Foot Radio Telescope "Moments after the Big Bang, protons and neutrons began to combine to form helium-3 and other basic elements," said Robert Rood of the University of Virginia. "By accurately measuring the abundance of this primordial element in our Galaxy today, we were able infer just how much matter was created when the Universe was only a few minutes old." Rood and his colleagues, Thomas Bania from Boston University and Dana Balser from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), report their findings in the January 3 edition of the scientific journal Nature. Rood began searching for helium-3 in the Milky Way Galaxy in 1978. At that time, scientists believed that stars like our Sun synthesized helium-3 in their nuclear furnaces. Surprisingly, Rood's observations indicated that there was far less of this element in the Galaxy than the current models predicted. "If stars were indeed producing helium-3, as scientists believed, then we should have detected this element in much greater concentrations," he said. This unexpected discovery prompted Rood and his colleagues to broaden their search, and to look throughout the Milky Way for signs of stellar production of helium-3. Over the course of two decades, the researchers discovered that regardless of where they looked -- whether in the areas of sparse star formation like the outer edges of the Galaxy, or in areas of intense star formation near center of the Galaxy -- the relative abundance of helium-3 remained constant. By concurrently measuring the amount of hydrogen (also created by the Big Bang) in the same areas, the scientists were able to determine the relative abundance of helium-3. "Since stellar processes appear to have little or no impact on the amount of helium-3 in the Galaxy, we were able to deduce two very important things," said Bania. "First, since our current models predict stellar production of helium-3, then we will need to rethink our understanding of the internal workings of stars like our Sun. Second, since helium-3 has not been created or destroyed in our Galaxy in any appreciable amounts, then what we detected is most likely equal to the abundance of primordial helium-3 created by the Big Bang." The scientists were able to use this discovery to calculate how much "normal" matter was created during the Big Bang. (Normal matter is anything made of baryons, subatomic particles that include neutrons and protons.) The researchers made these calculations by taking what they know of the composition of the Universe today, and essentially running time in reverse. In this case, the ratio of helium-3 to hydrogen gives the ratio of baryons to photons (the density of radiation) just after the Big Bang. By using the rate of expansion of the Universe, given by the Hubble Constant, the scientists could then infer just how much normal matter was produced during the Big Bang. "Our findings for helium-3 in fact support other studies that also constrain the amount of matter in the Universe," said Balser. "Taken together, these studies show that the matter that makes up stars, planets, and the visible Universe can only account for a small fraction of what we observe as the effects of gravity in the Universe." Dark matter, which can be both baryonic (dead stars, rocks, etc.) and non-baryonic, and other as-yet-unidentified forces appear to be the primary sources of the gravity that holds galaxies, and the larger structures of the Universe, together. "The fact that most of the matter in the Universe is non-baryonic, that is to say not made of any particle we've ever seen on Earth, is a very exciting concept," commented Rood. The astronomers conducted their research using measurements at a frequency of 8.665 GHz (3.46 cm), which is emitted naturally by ionized helium-3. The 140 Foot Radio Telescope at the NRAO in Green Bank now is decommissioned after a long and highly productive career. "Though the 140 Foot Telescope enabled us to make remarkable observations," commented Rood, "we anticipate that the new Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope will greatly increase our ability to continue this research." The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Ion-ion charge exchange processes. Final technical report, June 1, 1977-May 31, 1978

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Poe, R.T.; Choi, B.H.

Under the auspices of ERDA, we have undertaken a vigorous study of ion-ion charge exchange process pertinent to the storage-ring configurations in the heavy-ion fusion program. One particular reaction, singly charged helium charge exchange, was investigated in detail. General trend of the singly charged heavy-ion charge exchange reaction can be inferred from the present study. Some of our results were presented at Proceedings of the Heavy-Ion Fusion Workshop, Argonne National Laboratory (September 1978) as a paper entitled Charge Exchange Between Singly Ionized Helium Ions, by B.H. Choi, R.T. Poe and K.T. Tang. Here, we briefly describe our method and reportmore » the results.« less

The measurement of lung volumes using body plethysmography and helium dilution methods in COPD patients: a correlation and diagnosis analysis.

PubMed

Tang, Yongjiang; Zhang, Mingke; Feng, Yulin; Liang, Binmiao

2016-11-23

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic airway disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation. Moreover, lung hyperinflation evaluated by lung volumes is also the key pathophysiologic process during COPD progression. Nevertheless, there is still no preferred method to evaluate lung volumes. For this study, we recruited 170 patients with stable COPD to assess lung volumes stratified by airflow limitation severity. Lung volumes including residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC) were determined by both body plethysmography and helium dilution methods. The discrepancies between these two methods were recorded as ΔRV%pred, ΔTLC%pred, and ΔRV/TLC. We found that ΔRV%pred, ΔTLC%pred, and ΔRV/TLC increased significantly with the severity of COPD. The differences of lung capacity between these two methods were negatively correlated with FEV 1 %pred, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (D L CO%pred). Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for ΔTLC%pred to distinguish severe COPD from non-severe COPD had an area under curve (AUC) of 0.886. The differences of lung volume parameters measured by body plethysmography and helium dilution methods were associated with airflow limitation and can effectively differentiate COPD severity, which may be a supportive method to assess the lung function of stable COPD patients.

Helium refrigeration considerations for cryomodule design

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganni, V.; Knudsen, P.

Many of the present day accelerators are based on superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities, packaged in cryo-modules (CM), which depend on helium refrigeration at sub-atmospheric pressures, nominally 2 K. These specialized helium refrigeration systems are quite cost intensive to produce and operate. Particularly as there is typically no work extraction below the 4.5-K supply, it is important that the exergy loss between this temperature level and the CM load temperature(s) be minimized by the process configuration choices. This paper will present, compare and discuss several possible helium distribution process arrangements to support the CM loads.

The Hot Horizontal-Branch Stars in omega Centauri

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moehler, S.; Dreizler, S.; Lanz, T.; Bono, G.; Sweigart, A. V.; Calamida, A.; Nonino, M.

2010-01-01

Context. UV observations of some massive globular clusters have revealed a significant population of stars hotter and fainter than the hot end of the horizontal branch (HB), the so-called blue hook stars. This feature might be explained either by the late hot flasher scenario where stars experience the helium flash while on the white dwarf cooling curve or by the progeny of the helium-enriched sub-population recently postulated to exist in some clusters. Previous spectroscopic analyses of blue hook stars in co Cen and NGC 2808 support the late hot flasher scenario, but the stars contain much less helium than expected and the predicted C, N enrichment could not be verified. Aims. We compare observed effective temperatures, surface gravities, helium abundances, and carbon line strengths (where detectable) of our targets stars to the predictions of the two scenarios. Methods. Moderately high resolution spectra of hot HB stars in the globular cluster omega-Cen were analysed for radial velocity variations, atmospheric parameters and abundances using LTE and non-LTE model atmospheres. Results. We find no evidence for close binaries among our target stars. All stars below 30 000 K are helium-poor and very similar to HB stars observed in that temperature range in other globular clusters. In the temperature range 30000 K to 50000 K we find that 28% of our stars are helium-poor (log ((sup n)He/(sup n )H)< - 1.6), while 72% have roughly solar or super-solar helium abundance (log ((sup n)He/(sup n )H) >/= -1.5). We also find carbon enrichment strongly correlated with helium enrichment, with a maximum carbon enrichment of 3% by mass. Conclusions. The strong carbon enrichment in tandem with helium enrichment is predicted by the late hot flasher scenario, but not by the helium-enrichment scenario. We conclude that the helium-rich HB stars in omega-Cen cannot be explained solely by the helium-enrichment scenario invoked to explain the blue main sequence.

Recovery of Background Structures in Nanoscale Helium Ion Microscope Imaging.

PubMed

Carasso, Alfred S; Vladár, András E

2014-01-01

This paper discusses a two step enhancement technique applicable to noisy Helium Ion Microscope images in which background structures are not easily discernible due to a weak signal. The method is based on a preliminary adaptive histogram equalization, followed by 'slow motion' low-exponent Lévy fractional diffusion smoothing. This combined approach is unexpectedly effective, resulting in a companion enhanced image in which background structures are rendered much more visible, and noise is significantly reduced, all with minimal loss of image sharpness. The method also provides useful enhancements of scanning charged-particle microscopy images obtained by composing multiple drift-corrected 'fast scan' frames. The paper includes software routines, written in Interactive Data Language (IDL),(1) that can perform the above image processing tasks.

The influence of negative ions in helium-oxygen barrier discharges: III. Simulation of laser photodetachment and comparison with experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nemschokmichal, Sebastian; Tschiersch, Robert; Meichsner, Jürgen

2017-11-01

The laser photodetachment experiment in a diffuse helium-oxygen barrier discharge is evaluated by a 1D fluid simulation. As in the experiment, the simulated discharge operates in helium with 400 {ppm} oxygen admixture at 500 {mbar} inside a discharge gap of 3 {mm}. The laser photodetachment is included by the interaction of negative ions with a temporally and spatially dependent photon flux. The simulation with the usually applied set of reactions and rate coefficients provides a much lower negative ion density than needed to explain the impact on the discharge characteristics in the experiment. Further processes for an enhanced negative ion formation and their capabilities of reproducing the experimental results are discussed. These further processes are additional attachment processes in the volume and the negative ion formation at the negatively charged dielectric. Both approaches are able to reproduce the measured laser photodetachment effect partially, but the best agreement with the experimental results is achieved with the formation of negative ions at the negatively charged dielectric.

Dose dependence of helium bubble formation in nano-engineered SiC at 700 °C

DOE PAGES

Chen, Chien -Hung; Zhang, Yanwen; Wang, Yongqiang; ...

2016-02-03

Knowledge of radiation-induced helium bubble nucleation and growth in SiC is essential for applications in fusion and fission environments. Here we report the evolution of microstructure in nano-engineered (NE) 3C SiC, pre-implanted with helium, under heavy ion irradiation at 700 °C up to doses of 30 displacements per atom (dpa). Elastic recoil detection analysis confirms that the as-implanted helium depth profile does not change under irradiation to 30 dpa at 700 °C. While the helium bubble size distribution becomes narrower with increasing dose, the average size of bubbles remains unchanged and the density of bubbles increases somewhat with dose. Thesemore » results are consistent with a long helium bubble incubation process under continued irradiation at 700 °C up to 30 dpa, similar to that reported under dual and triple beam irradiation at much higher temperatures. The formation of bubbles at this low temperature is enhanced by the nano-layered stacking fault structure in the NE SiC, which enhances point defect mobility parallel to the stacking faults. Here, this stacking fault structure is stable at 700 °C up to 30 dpa and suppresses the formation of dislocation loops normally observed under these irradiation conditions.« less

Simplified Helium Refrigerator Cycle Analysis Using the `Carnot Step'

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

P. Knudsen; V. Ganni

2006-05-01

An analysis of the Claude form of an idealized helium liquefier for the minimum input work reveals the ''Carnot Step'' for helium refrigerator cycles. As the ''Carnot Step'' for a multi-stage polytropic compression process consists of equal pressure ratio stages; similarly for an idealized helium liquefier the ''Carnot Step'' consists of equal temperature ratio stages for a given number of expansion stages. This paper presents the analytical basis and some useful equations for the preliminary examination of existing and new Claude helium refrigeration cycles.

Production of carbon monoxide-free hydrogen and helium from a high-purity source

DOEpatents

Golden, Timothy Christopher [Allentown, PA; Farris, Thomas Stephen [Bethlehem, PA

2008-11-18

The invention provides vacuum swing adsorption processes that produce an essentially carbon monoxide-free hydrogen or helium gas stream from, respectively, a high-purity (e.g., pipeline grade) hydrogen or helium gas stream using one or two adsorber beds. By using physical adsorbents with high heats of nitrogen adsorption, intermediate heats of carbon monoxide adsorption, and low heats of hydrogen and helium adsorption, and by using vacuum purging and high feed stream pressures (e.g., pressures of as high as around 1,000 bar), pipeline grade hydrogen or helium can purified to produce essentially carbon monoxide -free hydrogen and helium, or carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and methane-free hydrogen and helium.

Decontamination of foods by cold plasma

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cold plasma is a novel nonthermal food processing technology for meats, poultry, fruits, and vegetables. This flexible sanitizing method uses electricity and a carrier gas, such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, or helium to inactivate microbes without the use of conventional antimicrobial chemical agents. ...

Cold plasma decontamination of foods

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cold plasma is a novel nonthermal food processing technology which uses energetic, reactive gases to inactivate contaminating microbes on meats, poultry and fruits and vegetables. This flexible sanitizing method uses electricity and a carrier gas such as air, oxygen, nitrogen or helium; antimicrobi...

Numerical Analysis of Flow Evolution in a Helium Jet Injected into Ambient Air

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Satti, Rajani P.; Agrawal, Ajay K.

2005-01-01

A computational model to study the stability characteristics of an evolving buoyant helium gas jet in ambient air environment is presented. Numerical formulation incorporates a segregated approach to solve for the transport equations of helium mass fraction coupled with the conservation equations of mixture mass and momentum using a staggered grid method. The operating parameters correspond to the Reynolds number varying from 30 to 300 to demarcate the flow dynamics in oscillating and non-oscillating regimes. Computed velocity and concentration fields were used to analyze the flow structure in the evolving jet. For Re=300 case, results showed that an instability mode that sets in during the evolution process in Earth gravity is absent in zero gravity, signifying the importance of buoyancy. Though buoyancy initiates the instability, below a certain jet exit velocity, diffusion dominates the entrainment process to make the jet non-oscillatory as observed for the Re=30 case. Initiation of the instability was found to be dependent on the interaction of buoyancy and momentum forces along the jet shear layer.

Measurement of ion beam angular distribution at different helium gas pressures in a plasma focus device by large-area polycarbonate detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sohrabi, M.; Habibi, M., E-mail: mortezahabibi@gmail.com; Ramezani, V.

2017-02-15

The paper presents an experimental study and analysis of full helium ion density angular distributions in a 4-kJ plasma focus device (PFD) at pressures of 10, 15, 25, and 30 mbar using large-area polycarbonate track detectors (PCTDs) (15-cm etchable diameter) processed by 50-Hz-HV electrochemical etching (ECE). Helium ion track distributions at different pressures, in particular, at the main axis of the PFD are presented. Maximum ion track density of ~4.4 × 10{sup 4} tracks/cm{sup 2} was obtained in the PCTD placed 6 cm from the anode. The ion distributions for all pressures applied are ring-shaped, which is possibly due tomore » the hollow cylindrical copper anode used. The large-area PCTD processed by ECE proves, at the present state-of-theart, a superior method for direct observation and analysis of ion distributions at a glance with minimum efforts and time. Some observations of the ion density distributions at different pressures are reported and discussed.« less

Direct Measurement of Lung Motion Using Hyperpolarized Helium-3 MR Tagging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cai Jing; Miller, G. Wilson; Altes, Talissa A.

2007-07-01

Purpose: To measure lung motion between end-inhalation and end-exhalation using a hyperpolarized helium-3 (HP {sup 3}He) magnetic resonance (MR) tagging technique. Methods and Materials: Three healthy volunteers underwent MR tagging studies after inhalation of 1 L HP {sup 3}He gas diluted with nitrogen. Multiple-slice two-dimensional and volumetric three-dimensional MR tagged images of the lungs were obtained at end-inhalation and end-exhalation, and displacement vector maps were computed. Results: The grids of tag lines in the HP {sup 3}He MR images were well defined at end-inhalation and remained evident at end-exhalation. Displacement vector maps clearly demonstrated the regional lung motion and deformationmore » that occurred during exhalation. Discontinuity and differences in motion pattern between two adjacent lung lobes were readily resolved. Conclusions: Hyperpolarized helium-3 MR tagging technique can be used for direct in vivo measurement of respiratory lung motion on a regional basis. This technique may lend new insights into the regional pulmonary biomechanics and thus provide valuable information for the deformable registration of lung.« less

Simulation of Helium-3 Extraction from Lunar Ilmenite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhlman, K. R.; Kulcinski, G. L.; Schmitt, H. H.

2004-01-01

Knowledge of the trapping mechanisms and diffusion characteristics of solar-wind implanted isotopes in the minerals of the lunar regolith will enable the optimization of the processes to extract solar wind gases from regolith particles. Extraction parameters include the temperature and duration of extraction, particle size, and gas yield. Diffusion data will increase the efficiency and profitability of future mining ventures. This data will also assist in optimizing the evaluations of various potential mining sites based on remote sensing data. For instance, if magnesian ilmenite (Mg,Fel.,Ti03) is found to retain He better than stoichiometric ilmenite (FeTi03), remote sensing data for Mg could be considered in addition to Ti and maturity data. The context of the currently discussed work is the mining of helium-3 for potential use as a fuel for fusion energy generation. However, the potential resources deposited by the solar wind include hydrogen (and derived water), helium-4, nitrogen and carbon. Implantation experiments such as those performed for helium isotopes in ilmenite are important for the optimized extraction of these additional resources. These experiments can easily be reproduced for most elements or isotopes of interest.

Formation of Exotic Networks of Water Clusters in Helium Droplets Facilitated by the Presence of Neon Atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Douberly, Gary E.; Miller, Roger E.; Xantheas, Sotiris S.

Water clusters are formed in helium droplets via the sequential capture of monomers. One or two neon atoms are added to each droplet prior to the addition of water. The infrared spectrum of the droplet ensemble reveals several signatures of polar, water tetramer clusters having dipole moments between 2D and 3D. Comparison with ab initio computations supports the assignment of the cluster networks to noncyclic “3+1” clusters, which are ~5.3 kcal/mol less stable than the global minimum nonpolar cyclic tetramer. The (H2O)3Ne + H2O ring insertion barrier is sufficiently large, such that evaporative helium cooling is capable of kinetically quenchingmore » the nonequilibrium tetramer system prior to its rearrangement to the lower energy cyclic species. To this end, the reported process results in the formation of exotic water cluster networks that are either higher in energy than the most stable gas-phase analogs or not even stable in the gas phase.« less

Sub-nanometer milling of layered materials by a focused Helium Ion Beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongzhou; Fox, Daniel; Zhou, Yangbo; O'Connell, Robert

2014-03-01

The modification of the structure and geometry of materials at the nanoscale can be used to tailor their properties. A controllable process which can achieve this is required for the development of next generation nano-devices. We used the highly focused beam of helium ions in a helium ion microscope (HIM) to fabricate nanostructures within various layered materials such as graphene, MoS2, TiO2 and Mn2O3. Arbitrary patterns can be defined in order to produce structures such as nanoribbons. The edge configuration of atoms in such structures plays a large role in defining their properties. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning-TEM (STEM) were used to analyse the structure of the materials after milling. The direct milling of the materials by the helium ions means this approach is suitable for a wide range of nanomaterials. Complex structures can be realized via sophisticated beam control. This also results in the ability to mill along different directions in a crystal, producing edges with different configurations.

Fabrication and ab initio study of downscaled graphene nanoelectronic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizuta, Hiroshi; Moktadir, Zakaria; Boden, Stuart A.; Kalhor, Nima; Hang, Shuojin; Schmidt, Marek E.; Cuong, Nguyen Tien; Chi, Dam Hieu; Otsuka, Nobuo; Muruganathan, Manoharan; Tsuchiya, Yoshishige; Chong, Harold; Rutt, Harvey N.; Bagnall, Darren M.

2012-09-01

In this paper we first present a new fabrication process of downscaled graphene nanodevices based on direct milling of graphene using an atomic-size helium ion beam. We address the issue of contamination caused by the electron-beam lithography process to pattern the contact metals prior to the ultrafine milling process in the helium ion microscope (HIM). We then present our recent experimental study of the effects of the helium ion exposure on the carrier transport properties. By varying the time of helium ion bombardment onto a bilayer graphene nanoribbon transistor, the change in the transfer characteristics is investigated along with underlying carrier scattering mechanisms. Finally we study the effects of various single defects introduced into extremely-scaled armchair graphene nanoribbons on the carrier transport properties using ab initio simulation.

Qualification and cryogenic performance of cryomodule components at CEBAF

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Heckman, J.; Macha, K.; Fischer, J.

1996-12-31

At CEBAF an electron beam is accelerated by superconducting resonant niobium cavities which are operated submerged in superfluid helium. The accelerator has 42 1/4 cryomodules, each containing eight cavities. The qualification and design of components for the cryomodules under went stringent testing and evaluation for acceptance. Indium wire seals are used between the cavity and helium vessel interface to make a superfluid helium leak tight seal. Each cavity is equipped with a mechanical tuner assembly designed to stretch and compress the cavities. Two rotary feedthroughs are used to operate each mechanical tuner assembly. Ceramic feedthroughs not designed for super-fluid weremore » qualified for tuner and cryogenic instrumentation. To ensure long term integrity of the machine special attention is required for material specifications and machine processes. The following is to share the qualification methods, design and performance of the cryogenic cryomodule components.« less

Facile time-of-flight methods for characterizing pulsed superfluid helium droplet beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

He, Yunteng; Zhang, Jie; Li, Yang

2015-08-15

We present two facile time-of-flight (TOF) methods of detecting superfluid helium droplets and droplets with neutral dopants. Without an electron gun and with only a heated filament and pulsed electrodes, the electron impact ionization TOF mass spectrometer can resolve ionized helium clusters such as He{sub 2}{sup +} and He{sub 4}{sup +}, which are signatures of superfluid helium droplets. Without ionizing any helium atoms, multiphoton non-resonant laser ionization of CCl{sub 4} doped in superfluid helium droplets at 266 nm generates complex cluster ions of dopant fragments with helium atoms, including (He){sub n}C{sup +}, (He){sub n}Cl{sup +}, and (He){sub n}CCl{sup +}. Usingmore » both methods, we have characterized our cryogenic pulsed valve—the Even-Lavie valve. We have observed a primary pulse with larger helium droplets traveling at a slower speed and a rebound pulse with smaller droplets at a faster speed. In addition, the pickup efficiency of dopant is higher for the primary pulse when the nozzle temperature is higher than 13 K, and the total time duration of the doped droplet pulse is only on the order of 20 μs. These results stress the importance of fast and easy characterization of the droplet beam for sensitive measurements such as electron diffraction of doped droplets.« less

Experimental investigation of gas flow rate and electric field effect on refractive index and electron density distribution of cold atmospheric pressure-plasma by optical method, Moiré deflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanzadeh, Mohammad; Jamal, Fatemeh; Shariat, Mahdi

2018-04-01

Nowadays, cold atmospheric-pressure (CAP) helium plasma jets are widely used in material processing devices in various industries. Researchers often use indirect and spectrometric methods for measuring the plasma parameters which are very expensive. In this paper, for the first time, characterization of CAP, i.e., finding its parameters such as refractive index and electron density distribution, was carried out using an optical method, Moiré deflectometry. This method is a wave front analysis technique based on geometric optics. The advantages of this method are simplicity, high accuracy, and low cost along with the non-contact, non-destructive, and direct measurement of CAP parameters. This method demonstrates that as the helium gas flow rate decreases, the refractive index increases. Also, we must note that the refractive index is larger in the gas flow consisting of different flow rates of plasma comparing with the gas flow without the plasma.

The A-B transition in superfluid helium-3 under confinement in a thin slab geometry

PubMed Central

Zhelev, N.; Abhilash, T. S.; Smith, E. N.; Bennett, R. G.; Rojas, X.; Levitin, L.; Saunders, J.; Parpia, J. M.

2017-01-01

The influence of confinement on the phases of superfluid helium-3 is studied using the torsional pendulum method. We focus on the transition between the A and B phases, where the A phase is stabilized by confinement and a spatially modulated stripe phase is predicted at the A–B phase boundary. Here we discuss results from superfluid helium-3 contained in a single 1.08-μm-thick nanofluidic cavity incorporated into a high-precision torsion pendulum, and map the phase diagram between 0.1 and 5.6 bar. We observe only small supercooling of the A phase, in comparison to bulk or when confined in aerogel, with evidence for a non-monotonic pressure dependence. This suggests that an intrinsic B-phase nucleation mechanism operates under confinement. Both the phase diagram and the relative superfluid fraction of the A and B phases, show that strong coupling is present at all pressures, with implications for the stability of the stripe phase. PMID:28671184

The Effect of Quantum-Mechanical Interference on Precise Measurements of the n = 2 Triplet P Fine Structure of Helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marsman, A.; Horbatsch, M.; Hessels, E. A., E-mail: hessels@yorku.ca

2015-09-15

For many decades, improvements in both theory and experiment of the fine structure of the n = 2 triplet P levels of helium have allowed for an increasingly precise determination of the fine-structure constant. Recently, it has been observed that quantum-mechanical interference between neighboring resonances can cause significant shifts, even if such neighboring resonances are separated by thousands of natural widths. The shifts depend in detail on the experimental method used for the measurement, as well as the specific experimental parameters employed. Here, we review how these shifts apply for the most precise measurements of the helium 2{sup 3}P fine-structuremore » intervals.« less

RESULTS OF THE 2015 HELIUM PROCESSING OF CEBAF CRYOMODULES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Drury, Michael A.; Humphry, Jr., Frank J.; King, Larry

2016-10-01

Many conference series have adopted the same The CEBAF accelerator at Jefferson Lab consists of an injec-tor and two linacs connected by arcs. Each linac contains 25 cryomodules that are designed to deliver an integrated energy of 2.2 GeV per pass to an electron beam in order to meet 12 GeV energy requirements. Helium processing is a processing technique that is used to reduce field emis-sion (FE) in SRF cavities. Helium processing of the 50 installed linac cryomodules was seen as necessary to support 12 GeV energy requirements. This paper will describe the processing procedure and summarize the results ofmore » this effort.« less

Process Options for Nominal 2-K Helium Refrigeration System Designs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peter Knudsen, Venkatarao Ganni

Nominal 2-K helium refrigeration systems are frequently used for superconducting radio frequency and magnet string technologies used in accelerators. This paper examines the trade-offs and approximate performance of four basic types of processes used for the refrigeration of these technologies; direct vacuum pumping on a helium bath, direct vacuum pumping using full or partial refrigeration recovery, cold compression, and hybrid compression (i.e., a blend of cold and warm sub-atmospheric compression).

Synthesis and mechanical/magnetic properties of nano-grained iron-oxides prepared with an inert gas condensation and pulse electric current sintering process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choa, Yong-Ho; Nakayama, Tatachika; Sekino, Tohru; Niihara, Koichi

1999-04-01

Nanocrystalline iron-oxide powder was fabricated with an inert gas condensation (IGC) method combined with evaporation, and in-situ oxidation techniques. The particle size of iron-oxide powder was controlled by varying the helium gas pressure between 0.1 and 10 Torr, with the smallest one =10 nm at 0.1 Torr. The nanostructure was characterized by TEM. Nanocrystalline iron-oxide powder was sintered with the pulse electric current sintering (PECS) method to obtain densified γ-Fe2O3 materials, and suitably densified nano-grained γ-Fe2O3 materials (≈ 40 nm) of great hardness were obtained. The correlation between the nanostructure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline powder and densified γ-Fe2O3 materials was also investigated.

Helium refrigeration system for hydrogen liquefaction applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nair, J. Kumar, Sr.; Menon, RS; Goyal, M.; Ansari, NA; Chakravarty, A.; Joemon, V.

2017-02-01

Liquid hydrogen around 20 K is used as cold moderator for generating “cold neutron beam” in nuclear research reactors. A cryogenic helium refrigeration system is the core upon which such hydrogen liquefaction applications are built. A thermodynamic process based on reversed Brayton cycle with two stage expansion using high speed cryogenic turboexpanders (TEX) along with a pair of compact high effectiveness process heat exchangers (HX), is well suited for such applications. An existing helium refrigeration system, which had earlier demonstrated a refrigeration capacity of 470 W at around 20 K, is modified based on past operational experiences and newer application requirements. Modifications include addition of a new heat exchanger to simulate cryogenic process load and two other heat exchangers for controlling the temperatures of helium streams leading out to the application system. To incorporate these changes, cryogenic piping inside the cold box is suitably modified. This paper presents process simulation, sizing of new heat exchangers as well as fabrication aspects of the modified cryogenic process piping.

Re-weldability tests of irradiated 316L(N) stainless steel using laser welding technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Hirokazu; Kawamura, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Kalinin, George; Kohno, Wataru; Morishima, Yasuo

2002-12-01

SS316L(N)-IG is the candidate material for the in-vessel and ex-vessel components of fusion reactors such as ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). This paper describes a study on re-weldability of un-irradiated and/or irradiated SS316L(N)-IG and the effect of helium generation on the mechanical properties of the weld joint. The laser welding process is used for re-welding of the water cooling branch pipeline repairs. It is clarified that re-welding of SS316L(N)-IG irradiated up to about 0.2 dpa (3.3 appm He) can be carried out without a serious deterioration of tensile properties due to helium accumulation. Therefore, repair of the ITER blanket cooling pipes can be performed by the laser welding process.

Recovery of Background Structures in Nanoscale Helium Ion Microscope Imaging

PubMed Central

Carasso, Alfred S; Vladár, András E

2014-01-01

This paper discusses a two step enhancement technique applicable to noisy Helium Ion Microscope images in which background structures are not easily discernible due to a weak signal. The method is based on a preliminary adaptive histogram equalization, followed by ‘slow motion’ low-exponent Lévy fractional diffusion smoothing. This combined approach is unexpectedly effective, resulting in a companion enhanced image in which background structures are rendered much more visible, and noise is significantly reduced, all with minimal loss of image sharpness. The method also provides useful enhancements of scanning charged-particle microscopy images obtained by composing multiple drift-corrected ‘fast scan’ frames. The paper includes software routines, written in Interactive Data Language (IDL),1 that can perform the above image processing tasks. PMID:26601050

Optimization of Helium Vessel Design for ILC Cavities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fratangelo, Enrico

2009-01-01

The ILC (International Linear Collider) is a proposed new major particle accelerator. It consists of two 20 km long linear accelerators colliding electrons and positrons at an energy exceeding 500 GeV, Achieving this collision energy while keeping reasonable accelerator dimensions requires the use of high electric field superconducting cavities as the main acceleration element. These cavities are operated at l.3 GHz inside an appropriate container (He vessel) at temperatures as low as 1.4 K using superfluid Helium as the refrigerating medium. The purpose of this thesis, in the context of the ILC R&D activities currently in progress at Fermilab (Fermimore » National Accelerator Laboratory), is the mechanical study of an ILC superconducting cavity and Helium vessel prototype. The main goals of these studies are the determination of the limiting working conditions of the whole He vessel assembly, the simulation of the manufacturing process of the cavity end-caps and the assessment of the Helium vessel's efficiency. In addition this thesis studies the requirements to certify the compliance with the ASME Code of the whole cavity/vessel assembly. Several Finite Elements Analyses were performed by the candidate himself in order to perform the studies listed above and described in detail in Chapters 4 through 8. ln particular the candidate has developed an improved procedure to obtain more accurate results with lower computational times. These procedures will be accurately described in the following chapters. After an introduction that briefly describes the Fennilab and in particular the Technical Division (where all the activities concerning with this thesis were developed), the first part of this thesis (Chapters 2 and 3) explains some of the main aspects of modem particle accelerators. Moreover it describes the most important particle accelerators working at the moment and the basic features of the ILC project. Chapter 4 describes all the activities that were done to certify the compliance of the Helium vessel and the cavity to the ASME code standard. After briefly recalling to the main contents of the the ASME Code (Sections II and Vlll - Division ll), the procedure used for finding all relevant stresses and comparing the obtained results with the maximum values allowed are explained. This part also includes the buckling verification of the cavity. In Chapter 5 the manufacturing process of the cavity end-caps, whose function is to link the Helium vessel with the cavity, is studied. The present configuration of the dies is described and the manufacturing process is simulated in order to explain the origin of some defects fol.llld on real parts. Finally a new design of the dies is proposed and the resulting deformed piece is compared with the design requirements. Chapter 6 describes a finite elements analysis to assess the efficiency and the stiffness of the Helium vessel. Furthermore the results of the optimization of the Helium vessel (in order to increase the value of the efficiency) are reported. The same stiffness analysis is used in Chapter 7 for the Blade-Tuner study. After a description of this tuner and of its function, the preliminary analyses done to confirm the results provided by the vendor are described and then its limiting load conditions are found. Chapter 8 shows a study of the resistance of all the welds present in between the cavity and the end-cap and between the end-caps and the He vessel for a smaller superconducting cavity operating at 3.9 GHz. Finally Chapter 9 briefly describes some R&D activities in progress at INFN (Section of Pisa) and Fermilab that could produce significant cost reductions of the Helium vessel design. All the finite elements analyses contained and described in this thesis made possible the certification of the whole superconducting cavity-Helium vessel assembly at Fermilab. Furthermore they gave several useful indications to the Fermilab staff to improve the performance of the Helium vessel by modifying some design parameters or refining the manufacturing processes.« less

Shock-adiabatic to quasi-isentropic compression of warm dense helium up to 150 GPa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, J.; Chen, Q. F.; Gu, Y. J.; Li, J. T.; Li, Z. G.; Li, C. J.; Chen, Z. Y.

2017-06-01

Multiple reverberation compression can achieve higher pressure, higher temperature, but lower entropy. It is available to provide an important validation for the elaborate and wider planetary models and simulate the inertial confinement fusion capsule implosion process. In the work, we have developed the thermodynamic and optical properties of helium from shock-adiabatic to quasi-isentropic compression by means of a multiple reverberation technique. By this technique, the initial dense gaseous helium was compressed to high pressure and high temperature and entered the warm dense matter (WDM) region. The experimental equation of state (EOS) of WDM helium in the pressure-density-temperature (P-ρ -T) range of 1 -150 GPa , 0.1 -1.1 g c m-3 , and 4600-24 000 K were measured. The optical radiations emanating from the WDM helium were recorded, and the particle velocity profiles detecting from the sample/window interface were obtained successfully up to 10 times compression. The optical radiation results imply that dense He has become rather opaque after the 2nd compression with a density of about 0.3 g c m-3 and a temperature of about 1 eV. The opaque states of helium under multiple compression were analyzed by the particle velocity measurements. The multiple compression technique could efficiently enhanced the density and the compressibility, and our multiple compression ratios (ηi=ρi/ρ0,i =1 -10 ) of helium are greatly improved from 3.5 to 43 based on initial precompressed density (ρ0) . For the relative compression ratio (ηi'=ρi/ρi -1) , it increases with pressure in the lower density regime and reversely decreases in the higher density regime, and a turning point occurs at the 3rd and 4th compression states under the different loading conditions. This nonmonotonic evolution of the compression is controlled by two factors, where the excitation of internal degrees of freedom results in the increasing compressibility and the repulsive interactions between the particles results in the decreasing compressibility at the onset of electron excitation and ionization. In the P-ρ -T contour with the experiments and the calculations, our multiple compression states from insulating to semiconducting fluid (from transparent to opaque fluid) are illustrated. Our results give an elaborate validation of EOS models and have applications for planetary and stellar opaque atmospheres.

Characterisation and reduction of the EEG artefact caused by the helium cooling pump in the MR environment: validation in epilepsy patient data.

PubMed

Rothlübbers, Sven; Relvas, Vânia; Leal, Alberto; Murta, Teresa; Lemieux, Louis; Figueiredo, Patrícia

2015-03-01

The EEG acquired simultaneously with fMRI is distorted by a number of artefacts related to the presence of strong magnetic fields, which must be reduced in order to allow for a useful interpretation and quantification of the EEG data. For the two most prominent artefacts, associated with magnetic field gradient switching and the heart beat, reduction methods have been developed and applied successfully. However, a number of artefacts related to the MR-environment can be found to distort the EEG data acquired even without ongoing fMRI acquisition. In this paper, we investigate the most prominent of those artefacts, caused by the Helium cooling pump, and propose a method for its reduction and respective validation in data collected from epilepsy patients. Since the Helium cooling pump artefact was found to be repetitive, an average template subtraction method was developed for its reduction with appropriate adjustments for minimizing the degradation of the physiological part of the signal. The new methodology was validated in a group of 15 EEG-fMRI datasets collected from six consecutive epilepsy patients, where it successfully reduced the amplitude of the artefact spectral peaks by 95 ± 2 % while the background spectral amplitude within those peaks was reduced by only -5 ± 4 %. Although the Helium cooling pump should ideally be switched off during simultaneous EEG-fMRI acquisitions, we have shown here that in cases where this is not possible the associated artefact can be effectively reduced in post processing.

Helium-induced hardening effect in polycrystalline tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Fanhang; Qu, Miao; Yan, Sha; Zhang, Ailin; Peng, Shixiang; Xue, Jianming; Wang, Yugang

2017-09-01

In this paper, helium induced hardening effect of tungsten was investigated. 50 keV He2+ ions at fluences vary from 5 × 1015 cm-2 to 5 × 1017 cm-2 were implanted into polycrystalline tungsten at RT to create helium bubble-rich layers near the surface. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the irradiated specimens were studied by TEM and nano-indentor. Helium bubble rich layers are formed in near surface region, and the layers become thicker with the rise of fluences. Helium bubbles in the area of helium concentration peak are found to grow up, while the bubble density is almost unchanged. Obvious hardening effect is induced by helium implantation in tungsten. Micro hardness increases rapidly with the fluence firstly, and more slowly when the fluence is above 5 × 1016 cm-2. The hardening effect of tungsten can be attributed to helium bubbles, which is found to be in agreement with the Bacon-Orowan stress formula. The growing diameter is the major factor rather than helium bubbles density (voids distance) in the process of helium implantation at fluences below 5 × 1017 cm-2.

Abilities of helium immobilization by the UO2 surface using the “ab initio” method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dąbrowski, Ludwik; Szuta, Marcin

2016-09-01

We present density functional theory calculation results concerning the uranium dioxide crystals with a helium atom incorporated in the octahedral sites on a nano superficial layer of UO2 fuel element. In order to quantify the capability of helium immobilization we propose a quantum model of adsorption and desorption which we compare with the classical model of Langmuir. Significant differences between the models are maintained in a wide temperature range including high temperatures of the order of 1000 K. By the proposed method of quantum isotherms it was established that the octahedral positions near the metal surface are good traps for helium atoms. While in a temperature close to 1089 K it predicts an intensive release of helium, which is consistent with the experimental results.

[The laser therapy of rheumatoid arthritis].

PubMed

Soroka, N F

1989-01-01

About 300 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) underwent multimodality treatment including laser radiation of varying wavelengths. Use was made of helium-neon, infrared, argon and helium-cadmium lasers. A new method of combined laser therapy by radiation of helium-cadmium and helium-neon lasers is described. A scheme of optimal parameters and types of laser radiation recommended for the treatment of different clinical varieties of RA is provided.

Suicide by gassing in Hong Kong 2005-2013: Emerging trends and characteristics of suicide by helium inhalation.

PubMed

Chang, Shu-Sen; Cheng, Qijin; Lee, Esther S T; Yip, Paul S F

2016-03-01

Increased use of lethal suicide methods can have a profound impact on overall suicide incidence; the epidemic of suicide by barbecue charcoal gas poisoning in some East Asian countries is a recent example. There have been concerns about recent rises in suicide using gases in some Western countries. We investigated suicide by gassing in Hong Kong (2005-2013) using Coroner's files data. The characteristics were compared between suicide by helium inhalation, charcoal gas poisoning, and other methods. About one sixth (1407/8445, 16.7%) of all suicides used gases. Charcoal-burning suicides constituted the majority (97.5%) of them but showed a reduction over the 9-year period (-33%). Helium suicide was not recorded in 2005-2010 but increased from one in 2011 to three in 2012 and 11 in 2013, accounting for 1.2% of all suicides in 2013. Similar to the profile of charcoal-burning suicides, helium suicides were younger and more likely to have debt problem and less likely to receive psychiatric treatment than other suicides. Internet involvement related to the method was found in one third of cases of helium suicide. The small number of helium suicides (n=15) limits the power to examine their characteristics. Suicide by charcoal burning showed a downward trend whilst there was an alarming increase in helium suicide in Hong Kong. Public health measures to prevent an epidemic of helium suicide similar to that of charcoal-burning suicide may include close monitoring of trend, responsible media reporting, and restricting online information about and access to this method. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Proof of principle of helium-beam radiography using silicon pixel detectors for energy deposition measurement, identification, and tracking of single ions.

PubMed

Gehrke, Tim; Gallas, Raya; Jäkel, Oliver; Martišíková, Maria

2018-02-01

Hadron therapy has the capability to provide a high dose conformation to tumor regions. However, it requires an accurate target positioning. Thus, the precise monitoring of the patient's anatomical positioning during treatment is desirable. For this purpose, hadron-beam radiography with protons (pRad) and ions (iRad) could be an attractive tool complementing the conventional imaging technologies. On the pathway to an envisaged clinical application, several challenges have to be addressed. Among them are achieving the desired spatial resolution in the presence of multiple Coulomb scattering (MCS), performing radiographs with a sufficient thickness resolution at clinically applicable dose levels, and the search for combinations of particularly suitable hadrons and detectors. These topics are investigated in this work for a detection system based on silicon pixel detectors. A method of iRad based on energy deposition measurements in thin layers is introduced. It exploits a detection system consisting of three parallel silicon pixel detectors, which also enables particle tracking and identification. Helium ions, which exhibit less pronounced MCS than protons, were chosen as imaging radiation. A PMMA phantom with a mean water-equivalent thickness (WET) of 192 mm, containing maximal WET-variations of ±6 mm, was imaged with a 173 MeV/u helium ion beam at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center. WET-differences in form of 2.3 mm × 2.3 mm steps were aimed to be visualized and resolved in images of the energy deposition measured behind the phantom. The detection system was placed downstream of the imaged object in order to detect single ions leaving it. The combination of the measured information on energy deposition, ion type, and the track behind the phantom was used for the image formation, employing a self-developed data-processing procedure. It was shown that helium-beam radiography is feasible with the reported detection system. The introduced data preprocessing purified the detector signal from detector artifacts and improved the image quality. Additionally, the rejection of hydrogen ions originating from nuclear interactions was shown to increase the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) by at least a factor of 2.5. This enabled the resolution of relative thickness differences of 1.2% at a dose level typical for diagnostic x-ray images. The spatial resolution was improved by taking into account the direction of single helium ions leaving the phantom. A spatial resolution (MTF 10% ) of at least 1.15p mm -1 for the presented experimental set-up was achieved. A successful feasibility study of helium-beam radiography with the introduced detection system was conducted. The methodology of iRad was based on energy deposition measurements in thin silicon layers. The tracking of single ions and the method of the ion identification was shown to be important for helium-beam radiography in terms of spatial resolution and CNR. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Some properties of solid helium and helium nanoclusters using the effective HFD-like interaction potential: Adsorption and desorption inside carbon nanotube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbaspour, M.; Akbarzadeh, H.; Banihashemi, S. Z.; Sotoudeh, A.

2018-02-01

We have calculated the zero equation of state of solid helium using a two-body Hartree-Fock dispersion (HFD)-like potential from molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. To take many-body forces into account, our simple and accurate empirical expression is used with the HFD-like potential without requiring an expensive three-body calculation. This potential model also includes the quantum effects for helium at low temperatures. The results indicate that our effective HFD-like potential improves the prediction of the classical two-body results to get better agreement with experiment than many other two-body and three-body potentials of helium reported in the literature. We have also simulated the adsorption and desorption processes of the (He)55, (He)147, (He)309, (He)561, and (He)923 icosahedral nanoclusters confined into the different armchair and zigzag CNTs from 0 to 50 K using our effective model. We have observed an interesting phenomenon at 0 K for helium. The nanoclusters adsorb to the inner CNT wall as a melting process. But, the heavier noble gas clusters (such as Ne and Xe) show the different behavior than the He clusters. They form a multilayered solid structure into the CNT at zero temperature and adsorb into the inner wall of the CNT at higher temperatures. Our results for He clusters show that the absolute value of the adsorption energy increases as the size of the nanocluster increases. The desorption process begins at a certain temperature and represents itself by a jump in the configurational energy values. We have also investigated the structural and dynamical properties of the confined helium nanoclusters during the adsorption and desorption processes at different temperatures.

Optical diagnostics with radiation trapping effect in low density and low temperature helium plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Wonwook, E-mail: wwlee@kaeri.re.kr; Kwon, Duck-Hee; Park, Kyungdeuk

2016-06-15

Low density (n{sub e} < 10{sup 11 }cm{sup −3}) and low temperature (T{sub e} < 10 eV) helium plasma was generated by hot filament discharge. Electron temperature and density of neutral helium plasma were measured by Langmuir probe and were determined by line intensity ratio method using optical emission spectroscopy with population modelings. Simple corona model and collisional-radiative (CR) model without consideration for radiation trapping effect are applied. In addition, CR model taking into account the radiation trapping effect (RTE) is adopted. The change of single line intensity ratio as a function of electron temperature and density were investigated when the RTE is included and excluded.more » The changes of multi line intensity ratios as a function of electron temperature were scanned for various radiative-excitation rate coefficients from the ground state and the helium gas pressures related with the RTE. Our CR modeling with RTE results in fairly better agreement of the spectroscopic diagnostics for the plasma temperature or density with the Langmuir probe measurements for various helium gas pressures than corona modeling and CR modeling without RTE.« less

5. INTERIOR, LOOKING PAST HELIUM COMPRESSORS NO. 3 AND NO. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

5. INTERIOR, LOOKING PAST HELIUM COMPRESSORS NO. 3 AND NO. 2, TO NORTHEAST FRONT. - Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Helium Compression Plant, Test Area 1-115, intersection of Altair & Saturn Boulevards, Boron, Kern County, CA

A novel method for assessment of fragmentation and beam-material interactions in helium ion radiotherapy with a miniaturized setup.

PubMed

Gallas, Raya R; Arico, Giulia; Burigo, Lucas N; Gehrke, Tim; Jakůbek, Jan; Granja, Carlos; Tureček, Daniel; Martišíková, Maria

2017-10-01

Radiotherapy with protons and carbon ions enables to deliver dose distributions of high conformation to the target. Treatment with helium ions has been suggested due to their physical and biological advantages. A reliable benchmarking of the employed physics models with experimental data is required for treatment planning. However, experimental data for helium interactions is limited, in part due to the complexity and large size of conventional experimental setups. We present a novel method for the investigation of helium interactions with matter using miniaturized instrumentation based on highly integrated pixel detectors. The versatile setup consisted of a monitoring detector in front of the PMMA phantom of varying thickness and a detector stack for investigation of outgoing particles. The ion type downstream from the phantom was determined by high-resolution pattern recognition analysis of the single particle signals in the pixelated detectors. The fractions of helium and hydrogen ions behind the used targets were determined. As expected for the stable helium nucleus, only a minor decrease of the primary ion fluence along the target depth was found. E.g. the detected fraction of hydrogen ions on axis of a 220MeV/u 4 He beam was below 6% behind 24.5cm of PMMA. Monte-Carlo simulations using Geant4 reproduce the experimental data on helium attenuation and yield of helium fragments qualitatively, but significant deviations were found for some combinations of target thickness and beam energy. The presented method is promising to contribute to the reduction of the uncertainty of treatment planning for helium ion radiotherapy. Copyright © 2017 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Groundwater-quality and quality-control data for two monitoring wells near Pavillion, Wyoming, April and May 2012

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wright, Peter R.; McMahon, Peter B.; Mueller, David K.; Clark, Melanie L.

2012-01-01

In June 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency installed two deep monitoring wells (MW01 and MW02) near Pavillion, Wyoming, to study groundwater quality. During April and May 2012, the U.S Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, collected groundwater-quality data and quality-control data from monitoring well MW01 and, following well redevelopment, quality-control data for monitoring well MW02. Two groundwater-quality samples were collected from well MW01—one sample was collected after purging about 1.5 borehole volumes, and a second sample was collected after purging 3 borehole volumes. Both samples were collected and processed using methods designed to minimize atmospheric contamination or changes to water chemistry. Groundwater-quality samples were analyzed for field water-quality properties (water temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, oxidation potential); inorganic constituents including naturally occurring radioactive compounds (radon, radium-226 and radium-228); organic constituents; dissolved gasses; stable isotopes of methane, water, and dissolved inorganic carbon; and environmental tracers (carbon-14, chlorofluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, tritium, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and the ratio of helium-3 to helium-4). Quality-control sample results associated with well MW01 were evaluated to determine the extent to which environmental sample analytical results were affected by bias and to evaluate the variability inherent to sample collection and laboratory analyses. Field documentation, environmental data, and quality-control data for activities that occurred at the two monitoring wells during April and May 2012 are presented.

Methods of Helium Injection and Removal for Heat Transfer Augmentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haight, Harlan; Kegley, Jeff; Bourdreaux, Meghan

2008-01-01

While augmentation of heat transfer from a test article by helium gas at low pressures is well known, the method is rarely employed during space simulation testing because the test objectives usually involve simulation of an orbital thermal environment. Test objectives of cryogenic optical testing at Marshall Space Flight Center's X-ray Cryogenic Facility (XRCF) have typically not been constrained by orbital environment parameters. As a result, several methods of helium injection have been utilized at the XRCF since 1999 to decrease thermal transition times. A brief synopsis of these injection (and removal) methods including will be presented.

Methods of Helium Injection and Removal for Heat Transfer Augmentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kegley, Jeffrey

2008-01-01

While augmentation of heat transfer from a test article by helium gas at low pressures is well known, the method is rarely employed during space simulation testing because the test objectives are to simulate an orbital thermal environment. Test objectives of cryogenic optical testing at Marshall Space Flight Center's X-ray Calibration Facility (XRCF) have typically not been constrained by orbital environment parameters. As a result, several methods of helium injection have been utilized at the XRCF since 1999 to decrease thermal transition times. A brief synopsis of these injection (and removal) methods including will be presented.

Mathematical modeling of a Fermilab helium liquefier coldbox

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Geynisman, M.G.; Walker, R.J.

1995-12-01

Fermilab Central Helium Liquefier (CHL) facility is operated 24 hours-a-day to supply 4.6{degrees}K for the Fermilab Tevatron superconducting proton-antiproton collider Ring and to recover warm return gases. The centerpieces of the CHL are two independent cold boxes rated at 4000 and 5400 liters/hour with LN{sub 2} precool. These coldboxes are Claude cycle and have identical heat exchangers trains, but different turbo-expanders. The Tevatron cryogenics demand for higher helium supply from CHL was the driving force to investigate an installation of an expansion engine in place of the Joule-Thompson valve. A mathematical model was developed to describe the thermo- and gas-dynamicmore » processes for the equipment included in the helium coldbox. The model is based on a finite element approach, opposite to a global variables approach, thus providing for higher accuracy and conversion stability. Though the coefficients used in thermo- and gas-dynamic equations are unique for a given coldbox, the general approach, the equations, the methods of computations, and most of the subroutines written in FORTRAN can be readily applied to different coldboxes. The simulation results are compared against actual operating data to demonstrate applicability of the model.« less

Determination of the proton-to-helium ratio in cosmic rays at ultra-high energies from the tail of the Xmax distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yushkov, A.; Risse, M.; Werner, M.; Krieg, J.

2016-12-01

We present a method to determine the proton-to-helium ratio in cosmic rays at ultra-high energies. It makes use of the exponential slope, Λ, of the tail of the Xmax distribution measured by an air shower experiment. The method is quite robust with respect to uncertainties from modeling hadronic interactions and to systematic errors on Xmax and energy, and to the possible presence of primary nuclei heavier than helium. Obtaining the proton-to-helium ratio with air shower experiments would be a remarkable achievement. To quantify the applicability of a particular mass-sensitive variable for mass composition analysis despite hadronic uncertainties we introduce as a metric the 'analysis indicator' and find an improved performance of the Λ method compared to other variables currently used in the literature. The fraction of events in the tail of the Xmax distribution can provide additional information on the presence of nuclei heavier than helium in the primary beam.

43 CFR 3195.30 - How do I apply to become a Federal helium supplier?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Federal helium buyers; and (3) A satisfactory record of performance in the distribution of helium or other compressed gases. (b) You must fill out and execute BLM's In-Kind Crude Helium Sales Contract and submit it...

The stability of vacancy clusters and their effect on helium behaviors in 3C-SiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jingjing; Li, B. S.; You, Yu-Wei; Hou, Jie; Xu, Yichun; Liu, C. S.; Fang, Q. F.; Wang, Z. G.

2018-05-01

We have carried out systematical ab initio calculations to study the stability of vacancy clusters and their effect on helium behaviors in 3C-SiC. It is found that the formation energies of vacancy clusters containing only carbon vacancies are the lowest although the vacancies are not closest to each other, while the binding energies of vacancy clusters composed of both silicon and carbon vacancies in the closest neighbors to each other are the highest. Vacancy clusters can provide with free space for helium atoms to aggregate, while interstitial sites are not favorable for helium atoms to accumulate. The binding energies of vacancy clusters with helium atoms increase almost linearly with the ratio of helium to vacancy, n/m. The binding strength of vacancy cluster having the participation of the silicon vacancy with helium is relatively stronger than that without silicon vacancy. The vacancy clusters with more vacancies can trap helium atoms more tightly. With the presence of vacancy clusters in the material, the diffusivity of helium will be significantly reduced. Moreover, the three-dimension electron density is calculated to analyze the interplay of vacancy clusters with helium.

Rydberg States of Alkali Metal Atoms on Superfluid Helium Droplets - Theoretical Considerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pototschnig, Johann V.; Lackner, Florian; Hauser, Andreas W.; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2017-06-01

The bound states of electrons on the surface of superfluid helium have been a research topic for several decades. One of the first systems treated was an electron bound to an ionized helium cluster. Here, a similar system is considered, which consists of a helium droplet with an ionized dopant inside and an orbiting electron on the outside. In our theoretical investigation we select alkali metal atoms (AK) as central ions, stimulated by recent experimental studies of Rydberg states for Na, Rb, and Cs attached to superfluid helium nanodroplets. Experimental spectra , obtained by electronic excitation and subsequent ionization, showed blueshifts for low lying electronic states and redshifts for Rydberg states. In our theoretical treatment the diatomic AK^+-He potential energy curves are first computed with ab initio methods. These potentials are then used to calculate the solvation energy of the ion in a helium droplet as a function of the number of atoms. Additional potential terms, derived from the obtained helium density distribution, are added to the undisturbed atomic pseudopotential in order to simulate a 'modified' potential felt by the outermost electron. This allows us to compute a new set of eigenstates and eigenenergies, which we compare to the experimentally observed energy shifts for highly excited alkali metal atoms on helium nanodroplets. A. Golov and S. Sekatskii, Physica B, 1994, 194, 555-556 E. Loginov, C. Callegari, F. Ancilotto, and M. Drabbels, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2011, 115, 6779-6788 F. Lackner, G. Krois, M. Koch, and W. E. Ernst, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2012, 3, 1404-1408 F. Lackner, G. Krois, M. Theisen, M. Koch, and W. E. Ernst, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 18781-18788

Thermal helium clusters at 3.2 Kelvin in classical and semiclassical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulte, J.

1993-03-01

The thermodynamic stability of4He4-13 at 3.2 K is investigated with the classical Monte Carlo method, with the semiclassical path-integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) method, and with the semiclassical all-order many-body method. In the all-order many-body simulation the dipole-dipole approximation including short-range correction is used. The resulting stability plots are discussed and related to recent TOF experiments by Stephens and King. It is found that with classical Monte Carlo of course the characteristics of the measured mass spectrum cannot be resolved. With PIMC, switching on more and more quantum mechanics. by raising the number of virtual time steps results in more structure in the stability plot, but this did not lead to sufficient agreement with the TOF experiment. Only the all-order many-body method resolved the characteristic structures of the measured mass spectrum, including magic numbers. The result shows the influence of quantum statistics and quantum mechanics on the stability of small neutral helium clusters.

Effect of atmospheric pressure plasma on inactivation of pathogens inoculated onto bacon using two different gas compositions.

PubMed

Kim, Binna; Yun, Hyejeong; Jung, Samooel; Jung, Yeonkook; Jung, Heesoo; Choe, Wonho; Jo, Cheorun

2011-02-01

Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) is an emerging non-thermal pasteurization method for the enhancement of food safety. In this study, the effect of APP on the inactivation of pathogens inoculated onto bacon was observed. Sliced bacon was inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes (KCTC 3596), Escherichia coli (KCTC 1682), and Salmonella Typhimurium (KCTC 1925). The samples were treated with APP at 75, 100, and 125 W of input power for 60 and 90 s. Two gases, helium (10 lpm) or a mixture of helium and oxygen, (10 lpm and 10 sccm, respectively) were used for the plasma generation. Plasma with helium could only reduce the number of inoculated pathogens by about 1-2 Log cycles. On the other hand, the helium/oxygen gas mixture was able to achieve microbial reduction of about 2-3 Log cycles. The number of total aerobic bacteria showed 1.89 and 4.58 decimal reductions after plasma treatment with helium and the helium/oxygen mixture, respectively. Microscopic observation of the bacon after plasma treatment did not find any significant changes, except that the L∗-value of the bacon surface was increased. These results clearly indicate that APP treatment is effective for the inactivation of the three pathogens used in this study, although further investigation is needed for elucidating quality changes after treatment. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Noble gases in the Murchison meteorite - Possible relics of s-process nucleosynthesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srinivasan, B.; Anders, E.

1978-01-01

The Murchison carbonaceous chondrite contains a new type of xenon component, enriched by up to 50 percent in five of the nine stable xenon isotopes, mass numbers 128 to 132. This component is released at 1200 to 1600 C from a severely etched mineral fraction. Krypton shows a similar but smaller enrichment in the isotopes 80 and 82. Neon and helium released in the same interval also are quite anomalous, being highly enriched in the isotopes 22 and 3. These patterns are strongly suggestive of three nuclear processes believed to take place in red giants: the s process (neutron capture on a slow time scale), helium burning, and hydrogen shell burning. If this interpretation is correct, then primitive meteorites contain yet another kind of alien, presolar material: dust grains ejected from red giants.

Ultrastructural Characterization of the Glomerulopathy in Alport Mice by Helium Ion Scanning Microscopy (HIM).

PubMed

Tsuji, Kenji; Suleiman, Hani; Miner, Jeffrey H; Daley, James M; Capen, Diane E; Păunescu, Teodor G; Lu, Hua A Jenny

2017-09-15

The glomerulus exercises its filtration barrier function by establishing a complex filtration apparatus consisting of podocyte foot processes, glomerular basement membrane and endothelial cells. Disruption of any component of the glomerular filtration barrier leads to glomerular dysfunction, frequently manifested as proteinuria. Ultrastructural studies of the glomerulus by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been routinely used to identify and classify various glomerular diseases. Here we report the application of newly developed helium ion scanning microscopy (HIM) to examine the glomerulopathy in a Col4a3 mutant/Alport syndrome mouse model. Our study revealed unprecedented details of glomerular abnormalities in Col4a3 mutants including distorted podocyte cell bodies and disorganized primary processes. Strikingly, we observed abundant filamentous microprojections arising from podocyte cell bodies and processes, and presence of unique bridging processes that connect the primary processes and foot processes in Alport mice. Furthermore, we detected an altered glomerular endothelium with disrupted sub-endothelial integrity. More importantly, we were able to clearly visualize the complex, three-dimensional podocyte and endothelial interface by HIM. Our study demonstrates that HIM provides nanometer resolution to uncover and rediscover critical ultrastructural characteristics of the glomerulopathy in Col4a3 mutant mice.

LARGE SCALE REFRIGERATION PLANT FOR GROUND TESTING THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE AT NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

P. Arnold, Lutz Decker, D. Howe, J. Urbin, Jonathan Homan, Carl Reis, J. Creel, V. Ganni, P. Knudsen, A. Sidi-Yekhlef

The James Webb Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Telescope and will be placed in an orbit of 1.5 million km from earth. Before launch in 2014, the telescope will be tested in NASA Johnson Space Center's (JSC) space simulation chamber, Chamber A. The tests will be conducted at deep space conditions. Chamber A's helium cryo-panels are currently cooled down to 20 K by two Linde 3.5 kW helium refrigerators. The new 12.5 kW, 20-K helium coldbox described in this paper is part of the upgrade to the chamber systems for this large test program. The Linde coldbox willmore » provide refrigeration in several operating modes where the temperature of the chamber is being controlled with a high accuracy due to the demanding NASA test requirements. The implementation of two parallel expansion turbine strings and the Ganni cycle—Floating Pressure process results in a highly efficient and flexible process that minimizes the electrical input power. This paper will describe the collaboration and execution of the coldbox project.« less

Impact of Sommerfeld enhancement on helium reionization via WIMP dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandyopadhyay, Bidisha; Schleicher, Dominik R. G.

2018-03-01

Dark matter annihilation can have a strong impact on many astrophysical processes in the Universe. In the case of Sommerfeld-enhanced annihilation cross sections, the annihilation rates are enhanced at late times, thus enhancing the potential annihilation signatures. We here calculate the Sommerfeld-enhanced annihilation signatures during the epoch of helium reionization, the epoch where helium becomes fully ionized due to energetic photons. When considering the upper limits on the energy injection from the CMB, we find that the resulting abundance of He++ becomes independent of the dark matter particle mass. The resulting enhancement compared to a standard scenario is thus 1-2 orders of magnitude higher. For realistic scenarios compatible with CMB constraints, there is no significant shift in the epoch of helium reionization, which is completed between redshifts 3 and 4. While it is thus difficult to disentangle dark matter annihilation from astrophysical contributions (active galactic nuclei), a potential detection of dark matter particles and its interactions using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) would allow one to quantify the dark matter contribution.

Spectral representation of the three-body Coulomb problem. II. Autoionizing doubly excited states of unnatural parity in helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eiglsperger, Johannes; Piraux, Bernard; Madronero, Javier

2010-04-15

A spectral approach of configuration interaction type is used to evaluate energies and widths for a wide range of singlet and triplet P{sup e} resonance states of helium up to the eighth single ionization threshold. While the present data are in excellent agreement with existing theoretical results (below the N=3-5 ionization threshold) obtained within an explicitly correlated approach, there are substantial differences with the energies, the widths, and the number of resonances obtained with the stabilization method.

Polarized Helium to Image the Lung

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leduc, Michèle; Nacher, Pierre Jean

2005-05-01

The main findings of the european PHIL project (Polarised Helium to Image the Lung) are reported. State of the art optical pumping techniques for polarising 3He gas are described. MRI methodological improvements allow dynamical ventilation images with a good resolution, ultimately limited by gas diffusion. Diffusion imaging appears as a robust method of lung diagnosis. A discussion of the potential advantage of low field MRI is presented. Selected PHIL results for emphysema are given, with the perspectives that this joint work opens up for the future of respiratory medicine.

Analytical modeling of helium turbomachinery using FORTRAN 77

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balaji, Purushotham

Advanced Generation IV modular reactors, including Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTRs), utilize helium as the working fluid, with a potential for high efficiency power production utilizing helium turbomachinery. Helium is chemically inert and nonradioactive which makes the gas ideal for a nuclear power-plant environment where radioactive leaks are a high concern. These properties of helium gas helps to increase the safety features as well as to decrease the aging process of plant components. The lack of sufficient helium turbomachinery data has made it difficult to study the vital role played by the gas turbine components of these VHTR powered cycles. Therefore, this research work focuses on predicting the performance of helium compressors. A FORTRAN77 program is developed to simulate helium compressor operation, including surge line prediction. The resulting design point and off design performance data can be used to develop compressor map files readable by Numerical Propulsion Simulation Software (NPSS). This multi-physics simulation software that was developed for propulsion system analysis has found applications in simulating power-plant cycles.

Electronic Spectroscopy of Phthalocyanine and Porphyrin Derivatives in Superfluid Helium Nanodroplets.

PubMed

Slenczka, Alkwin

2017-07-25

Phthalocyanine and porphyrin were among the first organic compounds investigated by means of electronic spectroscopy in superfluid helium nanodroplets. Superfluid helium nanodroplets serve as a very gentle host system for preparing cold and isolated molecules. The uniqueness of helium nanodroplets is with respect to the superfluid phase which warrants the vanishing viscosity and, thus, minimal perturbation of the dopant species at a temperature as low as 0.37 K. These are ideal conditions for the study of molecular spectra in order to analyze structures as well as dynamic processes. Besides the investigation of the dopant species itself, molecular spectroscopy in helium droplets provides information on the helium droplet and in particular on microsolvation. This article, as part of a special issue on phthalocyanines and porphyrins, reviews electronic spectroscopy of phthalocyanine and porphyrin compounds in superfluid helium nanodroplets. In addition to the wide variety of medical as well as technical and synthetical aspects, this article discusses electronic spectroscopy of phthalocyanines and porphyrins in helium droplets in order to learn about both the dopant and the helium environment.

Compression of helium to high pressures and temperatures using a ballistic piston apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roman, B. P.; Rovel, G. P.; Lewis, M. J.

1971-01-01

Some preliminary experiments are described which were carried out in a high enthalpy laboratory to investigate the compression of helium, a typical shock-tube driver gas, to very high pressures and temperatures by means of a ballistic piston. The purpose of these measurements was to identify any problem areas in the compression process, to determine the importance of real gas effects duDC 47355s process, and to establish the feasibility of using a ballistic piston apparatus to achieve temperatures in helium in excess of 10,000 K.

Microplasma effect on skin scaffold for melanoma cancer treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, Zulaika; Zaaba, S. K.; Mustaffa, M. T.; Mohamad, C. W. S. R.; Zakaria, A.

2017-03-01

An atmospheric plasma system using Helium gas was developed. The effect of helium plasma treatment on skin scaffold surface was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The changes of skin scaffold surfaces before and after helium plasma treatment was recorded. The surface of skin scaffold changed with the prolonged of helium plasma treatment time. The depth of helium plasma penetration was studied using methylene blue dye staining method. The methylene blue will detect the presence or absence of an oxygen that was induced from plasma excitation. The presence of the oxygen indicated on the depth of helium plasma penetration. Results showed plasma are able to penetrate 4mm of skin scaffold after 1200 seconds of exposure.

The scattering of low energy positrons by helium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Humberston, J. W.

1973-01-01

Kohn's variational method is used to calculate the positron-helium scattering length and low energy S-wave phase shifts for a quite realistic Hylleraas type of helium function containing an electron-electron correlation term. The zero energy wavefunction is used to calculate the value of the annihilation rate parameter Z sub eff. All the results are significantly different from those for Drachman's helium model B, but are in better agreement with the available experimental data.

Precision microwave measurement of the 2(3)P(1)-2(3)P(0) interval in atomic helium: a determination of the fine-structure constant.

PubMed

George, M C; Lombardi, L D; Hessels, E A

2001-10-22

The 2(3)P(1)-to- 2(3)P(0) interval in atomic helium is measured using a thermal beam of metastable helium atoms excited to the 2(3)P state using a 1.08-microm diode laser. The 2(3)P(1)-to- 2(3)P(0) transition is driven by 29.6-GHz microwaves in a rectangular waveguide cavity. Our result of 29,616,950.9+/-0.9 kHz is the most precise measurement of helium 2(3)P fine structure. When compared to precise theory for this interval, this measurement leads to a determination of the fine-structure constant of 1/137.0359864(31).

Ab Initio Predictions of K, He and Ar Partitioning Between Silicate Melt and Liquid Iron Under High Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Z.; Tsuchiya, T.

2017-12-01

Element partitioning is an important property in recording geochemical processes during the core-mantle differentiation. However, experimental measurements of element partitioning coefficients under extreme temperature and pressure condition are still challenging. Theoretical modeling is also not easy, because it requires estimation of high temperature Gibbs free energy, which is not directly accessible by the standard molecular dynamics method. We recently developed an original technique to simulate Gibbs free energy based on the thermodynamics integration method[1]. We apply it to element partitioning of geochemical intriguing trace elements between molten silicate and liquid iron such as potassium, helium and argon as starting examples. Radiogenic potassium in the core can provide energy for Earth's magnetic field, convection in the mantle and outer core[2]. However, its partitioning behavior between silicate and iron remains unclear under high pressure[3,4]. Our calculations suggest that a clear positive temperature dependence of the partitioning coefficient but an insignificant pressure effect. Unlike sulfur and silicon, oxygen dissolved in the metals considerably enhances potassium solubility. Calculated electronic structures reveal alkali-metallic feature of potassium in liquid iron, favoring oxygen with strong electron affinity. Our results suggest that 40K could serve as a potential radiogenic heat source in the outer core if oxygen is the major light element therein.­­ We now further extend our technique to partitioning behaviors of other elements, helium and argon, to get insides into the `helium paradox' and `missing argon' problems. References [1] T. Taniuchi, and T. Tsuchiya, Phys.Rev.B. In press [2] B.A. Buffett, H.E. Huppert, J.R. Lister, and A.W. Woods, Geophys.Res.Lett. 29 (1996) 7989-8006. [3] V.R. Murthy, W. Westrenen, and Y. Fei, Nature. 426 (2003) 163-165. [4] A. Corgne, S.Keshav, Y. Fei, and W.F. McDonough, Earth.Planet.Sci.Lett. 256 (2007) 567-576

Helium isotope enrichment by resonant tunneling through nanoporous graphene bilayers.

PubMed

Mandrà, Salvatore; Schrier, Joshua; Ceotto, Michele

2014-08-21

Graphene is impermeable to gases, but introducing subnanometer pores can allow for selective gas separation. Because graphene is only one atom thick, tunneling can play an important role, especially for low-mass gases such as helium, and this has been proposed as a means of separating (3)He from (4)He. In this paper, we consider the possibility of utilizing resonant tunneling of helium isotopes through nanoporous graphene bilayers. Using a model potential fit to previously reported DFT potential energy surfaces, we calculate the thermal rate constant as a function of interlayer separation using a recently described time-independent method for arbitrary multibarrier potentials. Resonant transmission allows for the total flux rate of (3)He to remain the same as the best-known single-barrier pores but doubles the selectivity with respect to (4)He when the optimal interlayer spacing of 4.6 Å is used. The high flux rate and selectivity are robust against variations of the interlayer spacing and asymmetries in the potential that may occur in experiment.

Effect of carbon and alloying solute atoms on helium behaviors in α-Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yange; You, Yu-Wei; Xu, Yichun; Liu, C. S.; Chen, J. L.; Luo, G.-N.

2017-02-01

Helium bubbles could strongly degrade the mechanical properties of ferritic steels in fission and fusion systems. The formation of helium bubble is directly affected by the interactions between helium and the compositions in steels, such as solute atoms, carbon and irradiation defects. We thereby performed systematical first-principles calculations to investigate the interactions of solute-helium and carbon-solute-helium. It is found that substitutional helium is more attractive than interstitial helium to all the considered 3p, 4p, 5p and 6p solutes. The attraction between carbon and substitutional helium suggests the carbon-solute-helium complex can be formed stably. By examining the charge density difference and thermal stability, it is found that the ternary complex shows stronger attraction with He than that of solute-helium pair for some solutes (S, Se, In, Te, Pb and Bi) and the complex could existed in iron stably at 700 K. The present theoretical results may be helpful for exploring alloy additions to mitigate the formation of large helium bubbles.

Estimation of transit times in a Karst Aquifer system using environmental tracers: Application on the Jeita Aquifer system-Lebanon.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doummar, Joanna; Hamdan, Ahmad

2016-04-01

Estimating transit times is essential for the assessment of aquifer vulnerability to contaminants. Groundwater in karst aquifer is assumed to be relatively young due to fast preferential pathways; slow flow components are present in water stored in the fissured matrix. Furthermore, transit times are site specific as they depend on recharge rates, temperatures, elevation, and flow media; saturated and unsaturated zones. These differences create significant variation in the groundwater age in karst systems as the water sampled will be a mix of different water that has been transported through different flow pathways (fissured matrix and conduits). Several methods can be applied to estimate water transit time of an aquifer such as artificial tracers, which provide an estimate for fast flow velocities. In this study, groundwater residence times in the Jeita spring aquifer (Lebanon) were estimated using several environmental tracers such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6), Helium-Tritium (3H, 3H- 3He). Additional stable isotope and major ion analysis was performed to characterize water types. Groundwater samples were collected from six different wells in the Jeita catchment area (Jurassic Kesrouane aquifer) as well as from the spring and cave itself. The results are reproducible for the Tritium-Helium method, unlike for the CFC/SF6 methods that yielded poor results due to sampling problems. Tritium concentrations in all groundwater samples show nearly the same concentration (~2.73 TU) except for one sample with relatively lower tritium concentration (~2.26 TU). Ages ranging from 0.07 ± 0.07 years to 23.59 ± 0.00 years were obtained. The youngest age is attributed to the spring/ cave while the oldest ages were obtained in wells tapping the fissured matrix. Neon in these samples showed considerable variations and high delta Ne in some samples indicating high excess air. Four (4) samples showed extreme excess air (Delta-Ne is greater than 70 %) and the remaining 3 samples have Delta-Ne in the expected range between (10-35%). Moreover Tritium-Helium analysis has showed some radiogenic Helium (4He) in one sample along with lower tritium concentrations signifying a mixture of new groundwater with old groundwater (older than 50 yrs). Furthermore, this study is complemented with published analysis of a series of 26 artificial tracer experiments performed in the Jeita karst system (Doummar, 2012). Transit times calculated from tracer experiments ranged between 3 and 300 hours (12 days). The shortest ones were recorded in the Jeita subsurface conduit. While injections in sinkholes yielded moderate transit times, fissured matrix and unsaturated zone resulted in relatively long ones. In Lebanon this type of spatial groundwater age dating using environmental tracers was not applied to date, to the exception of grab sample analysis. A second round of sampling for Tritium-Helium, CFCs and SF6 analysis will be undertaken under different flow periods in February 2016 to validate the obtained results. References Geyer, T. 2008: Process-based characterization of flow and transport in karst aquifers at catchment scale. Dissertation, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 103 S. Geyer, T., and Doummar, J. 2013. Protection of the Jeita Spring: Bestimmung der mittleren Verweilzeit des Grundwassers im Einzugsgebiet der Jeita Quelle-Libanon. Special report. Protection of the Jeita Spring. Applied Geosciences. Georg August University, Göttingen.

Tritium Decay Helium-3 Effects in Tungsten

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shimada, M.; Merrill, B. J.

2016-06-01

A critical challenge for long-term operation of ITER and beyond to a Demonstration reactor (DEMO) and future fusion reactor will be the development of plasma-facing components (PFCs) that demonstrate erosion resistance to steady-state/transient heat fluxes and intense neutral/ion particle fluxes under the extreme fusion nuclear environment, while at the same time minimizing in-vessel tritium inventories and permeation fluxes into the PFC’s coolant. Tritium will diffuse in bulk tungsten at elevated temperatures, and can be trapped in radiation-induced trap site (up to 1 at. % T/W) in tungsten [1,2]. Tritium decay into helium-3 may also play a major role in microstructuralmore » evolution (e.g. helium embrittlement) in tungsten due to relatively low helium-4 production (e.g. He/dpa ratio of 0.4-0.7 appm [3]) in tungsten. Tritium-decay helium-3 effect on tungsten is hardly understood, and its database is very limited. Two tungsten samples (99.99 at. % purity from A.L.M.T. Co., Japan) were exposed to high flux (ion flux of 1.0x1022 m-2s-1 and ion fluence of 1.0x1026 m-2) 0.5%T2/D2 plasma at two different temperatures (200, and 500°C) in Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) at Idaho National Laboratory. Tritium implanted samples were stored at ambient temperature in air for more than 3 years to investigate tritium decay helium-3 effect in tungsten. The tritium distributions on plasma-exposed was monitored by a tritium imaging plate technique during storage period [4]. Thermal desorption spectroscopy was performed with a ramp rate of 10°C/min up to 900°C to outgas residual deuterium and tritium but keep helium-3 in tungsten. These helium-3 implanted samples were exposed to deuterium plasma in TPE to investigate helium-3 effect on deuterium behavior in tungsten. The results show that tritium surface concentration in 200°C sample decreased to 30 %, but tritium surface concentration in 500°C sample did not alter over the 3 years storage period, indicating possible tritium retention in helium-3 bubble. This paper reports the initial experimental observation of tritium-decay helium-3 in tungsten exposed to deuterium/tritium plasma along with electron microscope analysis and also discusses a Tritium Migration Analysis Program (TMAP) analysis of tritium-decay helium-3 effects on tritium retention in tungsten for DEMO and future fusion reactor. [1] Y. Hatano, et.al., Nucl. Fusion 53 (2013) 073006 [2] M. Shimada, et.al., Nucl. Fusion 55 (2015) 013008 [3] M. Sawan, Fus. Sci. Technol. 66 (2014) 272 [4] T. Otsuka, Fus. Sci. Technol. 60 (2011) 1539 This work was prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, under the DOE Idaho Field Office contract number DE-AC07-05ID14517.« less

Infrared absorptivities of transition metals at room and liquid-helium temperatures.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, M. C.; Palmer, D. C.; Tien, C. L.

1972-01-01

Evaluation of experimental data concerning the normal spectral absorptivities of the transition metals, nickel, iron, platinum, and chromium, at both room and liquid-helium temperatures in the wavelength range from 2.5 to 50 microns. The absorptivities were derived from reflectivity measurements made relative to a room-temperature vapor-deposited gold reference mirror. The absorptivity of the gold reference mirror was measured calorimetrically, by use of infrared laser sources. Investigation of various methods of sample-surface preparation resulted in the choice of a vacuum-annealing process as the final stage. The experimental results are discussed on the basis of the anomalous-skin-effect theory modified for multiple conduction bands. As predicted, the results approach a single-band model toward the longer wavelengths. Agreement between theory and experiment is considerably improved by taking into account the modification of the relaxation time due to the photon-electron-phonon interaction proposed by Holstein (1954) and Gurzhi (1958); but, particularly at helium temperatures, the calculated curve is consistently below the experimental results.

Recycling of volatiles at subduction zones: Noble gas evidence from the Tabar-Lihir-Tanga-Feni arc of papua New Guinea

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farley, Kenneth; Mcinnes, Brent; Patterson, Desmond

1994-01-01

Convergent margin processes play an important but poorly understood role in the distribution of terrestrial volatile species. For example, subduction processes filter volatiles from the subducting package, thereby restricting their return to the mantle. In addition, once extracted from the downgoing slab, volatiles become an essential component in the petrogenesis of island arc magmas. The noble gases, with their systematic variation in physical properties and diversity of radiogenic isotopes, should carry a uniquely valuable record of these processes. However, thus far studies of noble gases in arc volcanics have achieved only limited success in this regard. Subduction-related lavas and geothermal fluids carry (3)He/(4)He ratios equal to or slightly lower than those found in the depleted upper mantle source of mid-ocean ridge basalts. Apparently slab-derived helium (which should have (3)He/(4)He much less than MORB) is extensively diluted by MORB-like helium from the mantle wedge, making it difficult to use helium as a tracer of convergent margin processes. Interpretation of the heavier noble gases (Ne-Ar-Kr-Xe) in arc lavas has also proven difficult, because the lavas carry low noble gas concentrations and hence are subject to pervasive atmospheric contamination. The low noble gas concentrations may be a consequence of degassing in the high level magma chambers characteristic of arc stratovolcanos. We have recently initiated a project to better constrain the behavior of volatiles in subduction zones through geochemical studies of the tectonically unusual volcanoes of the Tabar-Lihir-Tanga-Feni (TLTF) arc in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea.

A helium-3/helium-4 dilution cryocooler for operation in zero gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hendricks, John B.

1988-01-01

This research effort covered the development of He-3/He-4 dilution cryocooler cycles for use in zero gravity. The dilution cryocooler is currently the method of choice for producing temperatures below 0.3 Kelvin in the laboratory. However, the current dilution cryocooler depends on gravity for their operation, so some modification is required for zero gravity operation. In this effort, we have demonstrated, by analysis, that the zero gravity dilution cryocooler is feasible. We have developed a cycle that uses He-3 circulation, and an alternate cycle that uses superfluid He-4 circulation. The key elements of both cycles were demonstrated experimentally. The development of a true 'zero-gravity' dilution cryocooler is now possible, and should be undertaken in a follow-on effort.

Exergy analysis of helium liquefaction systems based on modified Claude cycle with two-expanders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Rijo Jacob; Ghosh, Parthasarathi; Chowdhury, Kanchan

2011-06-01

Large-scale helium liquefaction systems, being energy-intensive, demand judicious selection of process parameters. An effective tool for design and analysis of thermodynamic cycles for these systems is exergy analysis, which is used to study the behavior of a helium liquefaction system based on modified Claude cycle. Parametric evaluation using process simulator Aspen HYSYS® helps to identify the effects of cycle pressure ratio and expander flow fraction on the exergetic efficiency of the liquefaction cycle. The study computes the distribution of losses at different refrigeration stages of the cycle and helps in selecting optimum cycle pressures, operating temperature levels of expanders and mass flow rates through them. Results from the analysis may help evolving guidelines for designing appropriate thermodynamic cycles for practical helium liquefaction systems.

More effective wet turboexpander for the nuclotron helium refrigerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agapov, N. N.; Batin, V. I.; Davydov, A. B.; Khodzhibagian, H. G.; Kovalenko, A. D.; Perestoronin, G. A.; Sergeev, I. I.; Stulov, V. L.; Udut, V. N.

2002-05-01

In order to raise the efficiency of cryogenic refrigerators and liquefiers, it is very important to replace the JT process, which involves large losses of exergy, by the improved process of adiabatic expansion. This paper presents test results of the second-generation wet turboexpander for the Nuclotron helium refrigerators. A rotor is fixed vertically by a combination of gas and hydrostatic oil bearings. The turbines are capable to operate at a speed of 300,000 revolutions per minute. The power generated by the turbine goes into friction in the oil bearings. The design of the new wet turboexpander was executed in view of those specific conditions, which arise due to the operation at liquid helium temperature. The application of this new expansion machine increases the efficiency of the Nuclotron helium refrigerators by 25%.

Source and movement of helium in the eastern Morongo groundwater Basin: The influence of regional tectonics on crustal and mantle helium fluxes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kulongoski, J.T.; Hilton, David R.; Izbicki, J.A.

2005-01-01

We assess the role of fracturing and seismicity on fluid-driven mass transport of helium using groundwaters from the eastern Morongo Basin (EMB), California, USA. The EMB, located ???200 km east of Los Angeles, lies within a tectonically active region known as the Eastern California Shear Zone that exhibits both strike-slip and extensional deformation. Helium concentrations from 27 groundwaters range from 0.97 to 253.7 ?? 10-7 cm3 STP g-1 H2O, with corresponding 3He/4He ratios falling between 1.0 and 0.26 RA (where RA is the 3He/4He ratio of air). All groundwaters had helium isotope ratios significantly higher than the crustal production value of ???0.02 RA. Dissolved helium concentrations were resolved into components associated with solubility equilibration, air entrainment, in situ production within the aquifer, and extraneous fluxes (both crustal and mantle derived). All samples contained a mantle helium-3 (3Hem) flux in the range of 4.5 to 1351 ?? 10-14 cm3 STP 3He cm-2 yr-1 and a crustal flux (J0) between 0.03 and 300 ?? 10-7 cm3 STP 4He cm-2 yr-1. Groundwaters from the eastern part of the basin contained significantly higher 3Hem and deep crustal helium-4 (4Hedc) concentrations than other areas, suggesting a localized source for these components. 4Hedc and 3Hem are strongly correlated, and are associated with faults in the basin. A shallow thermal anomaly in a >3,000 m deep graben in the eastern basin suggests upflow of fluids through active faults associated with extensional tectonics. Regional tectonics appears to drive large scale crustal fluid transport, whereas episodic hydrofracturing provides an effective mechanism for mantle-crust volatile transport identified by variability in the magnitude of degassing fluxes (3Hem and J0) across the basin. Copyright ?? 2005 Elsevier Ltd.

Quantitative analysis of deuterium in zircaloy using double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) and helium gas plasma without a sample chamber.

PubMed

Suyanto, H; Lie, Z S; Niki, H; Kagawa, K; Fukumoto, K; Rinda, Hedwig; Abdulmadjid, S N; Marpaung, A M; Pardede, M; Suliyanti, M M; Hidayah, A N; Jobiliong, E; Lie, T J; Tjia, M O; Kurniawan, K H

2012-03-06

A crucial safety measure to be strictly observed in the operation of heavy-water nuclear power plants is the mandatory regular inspection of the concentration of deuterium penetrated into the zircaloy fuel vessels. The existing standard method requires a tedious, destructive, and costly sample preparation process involving the removal of the remaining fuel in the vessel and melting away part of the zircaloy pipe. An alternative method of orthogonal dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) is proposed by employing flowing atmospheric helium gas without the use of a sample chamber. The special setup of ps and ns laser systems, operated for the separate ablation of the sample target and the generation of helium gas plasma, respectively, with properly controlled relative timing, has succeeded in producing the desired sharp D I 656.10 nm emission line with effective suppression of the interfering H I 656.28 nm emission by operating the ps ablation laser at very low output energy of 26 mJ and 1 μs ahead of the helium plasma generation. Under this optimal experimental condition, a linear calibration line is attained with practically zero intercept and a 20 μg/g detection limit for D analysis of zircaloy sample while creating a crater only 10 μm in diameter. Therefore, this method promises its potential application for the practical, in situ, and virtually nondestructive quantitative microarea analysis of D, thereby supporting the more-efficient operation and maintenance of heavy-water nuclear power plants. Furthermore, it will also meet the anticipated needs of future nuclear fusion power plants, as well as other important fields of application in the foreseeable future.

Helium ion beam imaging for image guided ion radiotherapy.

PubMed

Martišíková, M; Gehrke, T; Berke, S; Aricò, G; Jäkel, O

2018-06-14

Ion beam radiotherapy provides potential for increased dose conformation to the target volume. To translate it into a clinical advantage, it is necessary to guarantee a precise alignment of the actual internal patient geometry with the treatment beam. This is in particular challenging for inter- and intrafractional variations, including movement. Ion beams have the potential for a high sensitivity imaging of the patient geometry. However, the research on suitable imaging methods is not conclusive yet. Here we summarize the research activities within the "Clinical research group heavy ion therapy" funded by the DFG (KFO214). Our aim was to develop a method for the visualization of a 1 mm thickness difference with a spatial resolution of about 1 mm at clinically applicable doses. We designed and built a dedicated system prototype for ion radiography using exclusively the pixelated semiconductor technology Timepix developed at CERN. Helium ions were chosen as imaging radiation due to their decreased scattering in comparison to protons, and lower damaging potential compared to carbon ions. The data acquisition procedure and a dedicated information processing algorithm were established. The performance of the method was evaluated at the ion beam therapy facility HIT in Germany with geometrical phantoms. The quality of the images was quantified by contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution (SR) considering the imaging dose. Using the unique method for single ion identification, degradation of the images due to the inherent contamination of the outgoing beam with light secondary fragments (hydrogen) was avoided. We demonstrated experimentally that the developed data processing increases the CNR by 350%. Consideration of the measured ion track directions improved the SR by 150%. Compared to proton radiographs at the same dose, helium radiographs exhibited 50% higher SR (0.56 ± 0.04lp/mm vs. 0.37 ± 0.02lp/mm) at a comparable CNR in the middle of the phantom. The clear visualization of the aimed inhomogeneity at a diagnostic dose level demonstrates a resolution of 0.1 g/cm 2 or 0.6% in terms of water-equivalent thickness. We developed a dedicated method for helium ion radiography, based exclusively on pixelated semiconductor detectors. The achievement of a clinically desired image quality in simple phantoms at diagnostic dose levels was demonstrated experimentally.

Method of fabricating silicon carbide coatings on graphite surfaces

DOEpatents

Varacalle, Jr., Dominic J.; Herman, Herbert; Burchell, Timothy D.

1994-01-01

The vacuum plasma spray process produces well-bonded, dense, stress-free coatings for a variety of materials on a wide range of substrates. The process is used in many industries to provide for the excellent wear, corrosion resistance, and high temperature behavior of the fabricated coatings. In this application, silicon metal is deposited on graphite. This invention discloses the optimum processing parameters for as-sprayed coating qualities. The method also discloses the effect of thermal cycling on silicon samples in an inert helium atmosphere at about 1600.degree.C. which transforms the coating to silicon carbide.

Experimental investigation of the heat transfer characteristics of a helium cryogenic thermosyphon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Z. Q.; Zhang, P.

2013-10-01

The heat transfer performance of a cryogenic thermosyphon filled with helium as the working fluid is investigated experimentally with a G-M cryocooler as the heat sink in this study. The cryogenic thermosyphon acts as a thermal link between the cryocooler and the cooled target (the copper evaporator with a large mass). Helium is charged in different filling ratios, and the cooling down process and the heat transfer characteristics of the cryogenic thermosyphon are investigated. The cooling down process of the cooled target can be significantly accelerated by the presence of helium in the cryogenic thermosyphon and the cooling down period can be further shortened by the increase of filling ratio. The heat transfer mode changes from the liquid-vapor phase change to natural convection as the increase of the heating power applied on the evaporator. The heat transfer limit and thermal resistance are discussed for the liquid-vapor phase change heat transfer, and they can be estimated by empirical correlations. For the natural convection heat transfer, it can be enhanced by increasing the filling ratio, and the natural convection of supercritical helium is much stronger than that of gaseous helium.

Leak testing in parenteral packaging: establishment of direct correlation between helium leak rate measurements and microbial ingress for two different leak types.

PubMed

Morrical, Bradley D; Goverde, Marcel; Grausse, Jean; Gerwig, Tanja; Vorgrimler, Lothar; Morgen, Rachel; Büttiker, Jean-Pierre

2007-01-01

A direct test method using helium leak detection was developed to determine microbial ingress in parenteral vial/rubber closure systems. The purpose of this study was to establish a direct correlation between the helium leak rate and the presence of ingress when vials were submersed under pressure in a broth of bacteria. Results were obtained for two different types of leaks: microholes that have been laser-drilled into thin metal plates, and thin copper wire that was placed between the rubber closure and the glass vial's sealing surface. The results from the microholes showed that the helium leak rate was a function of the square of the hole diameter and fit well with theoretical calculations. The relationship with the wire gave a far more complex dependence and was not modeled theoretically. Comparison with the microbial challenge showed that for microholes a lower size limit was found to be 2 microm with a corresponding leak rate of 1.4 x 10(-3) mbarl/s. For the fine wire experiment the lower limit was 15-microm wire and a corresponding leak rate of 1.3 x 10(-5) mbarl/s. From these tests a safe, lower limit, leak rate was established.

METHOD OF FABRICATING A GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTOR

DOEpatents

Kratz, H.R.

1963-05-01

S>A nuclear reactor formed of spaced bodies of uranium and graphite blocks is improved by diffusing helium through the graphite blocks in order to replace the air in the pores of the graphite with helium. The helium-impregnated graphite conducts heat better, and absorbs neutrons less, than the original air- impregnated graphite. (AEC)

Growth rate effects on the formation of dislocation loops around deep helium bubbles in Tungsten

DOE PAGES

Sandoval, Luis; Perez, Danny; Uberuaga, Blas P.; ...

2016-11-15

Here, the growth process of spherical helium bubbles located 6 nm below a (100) surface is studied using molecular dynamics and parallel replica dynamics simulations, over growth rates from 10 6 to 10 12 helium atoms per second. Slower growth rates lead to a release of pressure and lower helium content as compared with fast growth cases. In addition, at slower growth rates, helium bubbles are not decorated by multiple dislocation loops, as these tend to merge or emit given sufficient time. At faster rates, dislocation loops nucleate faster than they can emit, leading to a more complicated dislocation structuremore » around the bubble.« less

IBA studies of helium mobility in nuclear materials revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trocellier, P.; Agarwal, S.; Miro, S.; Vaubaillon, S.; Leprêtre, F.; Serruys, Y.

2015-12-01

The aim of this paper is to point out and to discuss some features extracted from the study of helium migration in nuclear materials performed during the last fifteen years using ion beam analysis (IBA) measurements. The first part of this paper is devoted to a brief description of the two main IBA methods used, i.e. deuteron induced nuclear reaction for 3He depth profiling and high-energy heavy-ion induced elastic recoil detection analysis for 4He measurement. In the second part, we provide an overview of the different studies carried out on model nuclear waste matrices and model nuclear reactor structure materials in order to illustrate and discuss specific results in terms of key influence parameters in relation with thermal or radiation activated migration of helium. Finally, we show that among the key parameters we have investigated as able to influence the height of the helium migration barrier, the following can be considered as pertinent: the experimental conditions used to introduce helium (implanted ion energy and implantation fluence), the grain size of the matrix, the lattice cell volume, the Young's modulus, the ionicity degree of the chemical bond between the transition metal atom M and the non-metal atom X, and the width of the band gap.

Noble Gases in the Murchison Meteorite: Possible Relics of s-Process Nucleosynthesis.

PubMed

Srinivasan, B; Anders, E

1978-07-07

The Murchison carbonaceous chondrite contains a new type of xenon component, enriched by up to 50 percent in five of the nine stable xenon isotopes, mass numbers 128 to 132. This component, comprising 5 x 10(-5) of the total xenon in the meteorite, is released at 1200 degrees to 1600 degrees C from a severely etched mineral fraction, and probably resides in some refractory mineral. Krypton shows a similar but smaller enrichment in the isotopes 80 and 82. Neon and helium released in the same interval also are quite anomalous, being highly enriched in the isotopes 22 and 3. These patterns are strongly suggestive of three nuclear processes believed to take place in red giants: the s process (neutron capture on a slow time scale), helium burning, and hydrogen shell burning. If this interpretation is correct, then primitive meteorites contain yet another kind of alien, presolar material: dust grains ejected from red giants.

Filling of orbital fluid management systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merino, F.; Blatt, M. H.; Thies, N. C.

1978-01-01

A study was performed with three objectives: (1) analyze fluid management system fill under orbital conditions; (2) determine what experimentation is needed; and (3) develop an experimental program. The fluid management system was a 1.06m (41.7 in) diameter pressure vessel with screen channel device. Analyses were conducted using liquid hydrogen and N2O4. The influence of helium and autogenous pressurization systems was considered. Analyses showed that fluid management system fill will be more difficult with a cryogen than with an earth storable. The key to a successful fill with cryogens is in devising techniques for filling without vent liquid, and removing trapped vapor from the screen device at tank fill completion. This will be accomplished with prechill, fill, and vapor condensation processes. Refill will require a vent and purge process, to dilute the residual helium, prior to introducing liquid. Neither prechill, chill, nor purge processes will be required for earth storables.

Operation of an ADR using helium exchange gas as a substitute for a failed heat switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirron, P.; DiPirro, M.; Kimball, M.; Sneiderman, G.; Porter, F. S.; Kilbourne, C.; Kelley, R.; Fujimoto, R.; Yoshida, S.; Takei, Y.; Mitsuda, K.

2014-11-01

The Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) is one of four instruments on the Japanese Astro-H mission, which is currently planned for launch in late 2015. The SXS will perform imaging spectroscopy in the soft X-ray band (0.3-12 keV) using a 6 × 6 pixel array of microcalorimeters cooled to 50 mK. The detectors are cooled by a 3-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) that rejects heat to either a superfluid helium tank (at 1.2 K) or to a 4.5 K Joule-Thomson (JT) cryocooler. Four gas-gap heat switches are used in the assembly to manage heat flow between the ADR stages and the heat sinks. The engineering model (EM) ADR was assembled and performance tested at NASA/GSFC in November 2011, and subsequently installed in the EM dewar at Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Japan. During the first cooldown in July 2012, a failure of the heat switch that linked the two colder stages of the ADR to the helium tank was observed. Operation of the ADR requires some mechanism for thermally linking the salt pills to the heat sink, and then thermally isolating them. With the failed heat switch unable to perform this function, an alternate plan was devised which used carefully controlled amounts of exchange gas in the dewar's guard vacuum to facilitate heat exchange. The process was successfully demonstrated in November 2012, allowing the ADR to cool the detectors to 50 mK for hold times in excess of 10 h. This paper describes the exchange-gas-assisted recycling process, and the strategies used to avoid helium contamination of the detectors at low temperature.

Operation of an ADR Using Helium Exchange Gas as a Substitute for a Failed Heat Switch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shirron, P.; DiPirro, M.; Kimball, M.; Sneiderman, G.; Porter, F. S.; Kilbourne, C.; Kelley, R.; Fujimoto, R.; Yoshida, S.; Takei, Y.;

Operational and troubleshooting experiences in the SST-1 cryogenic system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahesuria, G.; Panchal, P.; Panchal, R.; Patel, R.; Sonara, D.; Gupta, N. C.; Srikanth, G. L. N.; Christian, D.; Garg, A.; Bairagi, N.; Patel, K.; Shah, P.; Nimavat, H.; Sharma, R.; Patel, J. C.; Tank, J.; Tanna, V. L.; Pradhan, S.

2014-01-01

Recently, the cooldown and current charging campaign have been carried out towards the demonstration of the first successful plasma discharge in the steady state superconducting Tokomak (SST-1). The SST-1 machine consists of cable-in-conduit wound superconducting toroidal as well as poloidal coils, cooled using 1.3 kW at 4.5 K helium refrigerator -cum- liquefier (HRL) system. The cryo system provides the two-phase helium at 0.13 MPa at 4.5 K as well as forced-flow pressurized helium at 0.4 MPa and in addition to 7 g-s-1 liquefaction capacity required for the current leads and other cold mass at 4.5 K. The entire integrated cold masses having different thermo hydraulic resistances cooled with the SST-1 HRL in optimised process parameters. In order to maintain different levels of temperatures and to facilitate smooth and reliable cooldown, warm-up, normal operations as well as to handle abnormal events such as, quench or utilities failures etc., exergy efficient process are adopted for the helium refrigerator-cum-liquefier (HRL) with an installed equivalent capacity of 1.3 kW at 4.5 K. Using the HRL, the cold mass of about 40 tons is being routinely cooled down from ambient temperature to 4.5 K with an average cooldown rate of 0.75 - 1 K-h-1. Long-term cryogenic stable conditions were obtained within 15 days in the superconducting coils and their connecting feeders. Afterwards, all of the cold mass is warmed-up in a controlled manner to ambient temperature. In this paper, we report the recent operational results of the cryogenic system during the first plasma discharge in SST-1 as well as the troubleshooting experiences of the cryogenic plant related hardware.

Surface modification of closed plastic bags for adherent cell cultivation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lachmann, K.; Dohse, A.; Thomas, M.; Pohl, S.; Meyring, W.; Dittmar, K. E. J.; Lindenmeier, W.; Klages, C.-P.

2011-07-01

In modern medicine human mesenchymal stem cells are becoming increasingly important. However, a successful cultivation of this type of cells is only possible under very specific conditions. Of great importance, for instance, are the absence of contaminants such as foreign microbiological organisms, i.e., sterility, and the chemical functionalization of the ground on which the cells are grown. As cultivation of these cells makes high demands, a new procedure for cell cultivation has been developed in which closed plastic bags are used. For adherent cell growth chemical functional groups have to be introduced on the inner surface of the plastic bag. This can be achieved by a new, atmospheric-pressure plasma-based method presented in this paper. The method which was developed jointly by the Fraunhofer IST and the Helmholtz HZI can be implemented in automated equipment as is also shown in this contribution. Plasma process gases used include helium or helium-based gas mixtures (He + N2 + H2) and vapors of suitable film-forming agents or precursors such as APTMS, DACH, and TMOS in helium. The effect of plasma treatment is investigated by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy as well as surface tension determination based on contact angle measurements and XPS. Plasma treatment in nominally pure helium increases the surface tension of the polymer foil due to the presence of oxygen traces in the gas and oxygen diffusing through the gas-permeable foil, respectively, reacting with surface radical centers formed during contact with the discharge. Primary amino groups are obtained on the inner surface by treatment in mixtures with nitrogen and hydrogen albeit their amount is comparably small due to diffusion of oxygen through the gas-permeable bag, interfering with the plasma-amination process. Surface modifications introducing amino groups on the inner surface turned out to be most efficient in the promotion of cell growth.

Validation of Test Methods for Air Leak Rate Verification of Spaceflight Hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oravec, Heather Ann; Daniels, Christopher C.; Mather, Janice L.

2017-01-01

As deep space exploration continues to be the goal of NASAs human spaceflight program, verification of the performance of spaceflight hardware becomes increasingly critical. Suitable test methods for verifying the leak rate of sealing systems are identified in program qualification testing requirements. One acceptable method for verifying the air leak rate of gas pressure seals is the tracer gas leak detector method. In this method, a tracer gas (commonly helium) leaks past the test seal and is transported to the leak detector where the leak rate is quantified. To predict the air leak rate, a conversion factor of helium-to-air is applied depending on the magnitude of the helium flow rate. The conversion factor is based on either the molecular mass ratio or the ratio of the dynamic viscosities. The current work was aimed at validating this approach for permeation-level leak rates using a series of tests with a silicone elastomer O-ring. An established pressure decay method with constant differential pressure was used to evaluate both the air and helium leak rates of the O-ring under similar temperature and pressure conditions. The results from the pressure decay tests showed, for the elastomer O-ring, that neither the molecular flow nor the viscous flow helium-to-air conversion factors were applicable. Leak rate tests were also performed using nitrogen and argon as the test gas. Molecular mass and viscosity based helium-to-test gas conversion factors were applied, but did not correctly predict the measured leak rates of either gas. To further this study, the effect of pressure boundary conditions was investigated. Often, pressure decay leak rate tests are performed at a differential pressure of 101.3 kPa with atmospheric pressure on the downstream side of the test seal. In space applications, the differential pressure is similar, but with vacuum as the downstream pressure. The same O-ring was tested at four unique differential pressures ranging from 34.5 to 137.9 kPa. Up to six combinations of upstream and downstream pressures for each differential pressure were compared. For a given differential pressure, the various combinations of upstream and downstream dry air pressures did not significantly affect the leak rate. As expected, the leak rate of the O-ring increased with increasing differential pressure. The results suggested that the current leak test pressure conditions, used to verify spacecraft sealing systems with elastomer seals, produce accurate values even though the boundary conditions do not model the space application.

Low-energy collisions of helium clusters with size-selected cobalt cluster ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odaka, Hideho; Ichihashi, Masahiko

2017-04-01

Collisions of helium clusters with size-selected cobalt cluster ions, Com+ (m ≤ 5), were studied experimentally by using a merging beam technique. The product ions, Com+Hen (cluster complexes), were mass-analyzed, and this result indicates that more than 20 helium atoms can be attached onto Com+ at the relative velocities of 103 m/s. The measured size distributions of the cluster complexes indicate that there are relatively stable complexes: Co2+Hen (n = 2, 4, 6, and 12), Co3+Hen (n = 3, 6), Co4+He4, and Co5+Hen (n = 3, 6, 8, and 10). These stabilities are explained in terms of their geometric structures. The yields of the cluster complexes were also measured as a function of the relative velocity (1 × 102-4 × 103 m/s), and this result demonstrates that the main interaction in the collision process changes with the increase of the collision energy from the electrostatic interaction, which includes the induced deformation of HeN, to the hard-sphere interaction. Supplementary material in the form of one pdf file available from the Journal web page at http://https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2017-80015-0

Analysis of the financial factors governing the profitability of lunar helium-3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kulcinski, G. L.; Thompson, H.; Ott, S.

1989-01-01

Financial factors influencing the profitability of the mining and utilization of lunar helium-3 are examined. The analysis addressed the following questions: (1) which financial factors have the greatest leverage on the profitability of He-3; (2) over what range can these factors be varied to keep the He-3 option profitable; and (3) what ultimate effect could this energy source have on the price of electricity for U.S. consumers. Two complementary methods of analysis were used in the assessment: rate of return on incremental investment required and reduction revenue requirements (total cost to customers) achieved. Some of the factors addressed include energy demand, power generation costs with and without fusion, profitability for D-He(3) fusion, annual capital and operating costs, launch mass and costs, He-3 price, and government funding. Specific conclusions are made with respect to each of the companies considered: utilities, lunar mining company, and integrated energy company.

Process Modeling and Dynamic Simulation for EAST Helium Refrigerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xiaofei; Fu, Peng; Zhuang, Ming; Qiu, Lilong; Hu, Liangbing

2016-06-01

In this paper, the process modeling and dynamic simulation for the EAST helium refrigerator has been completed. The cryogenic process model is described and the main components are customized in detail. The process model is controlled by the PLC simulator, and the realtime communication between the process model and the controllers is achieved by a customized interface. Validation of the process model has been confirmed based on EAST experimental data during the cool down process of 300-80 K. Simulation results indicate that this process simulator is able to reproduce dynamic behaviors of the EAST helium refrigerator very well for the operation of long pulsed plasma discharge. The cryogenic process simulator based on control architecture is available for operation optimization and control design of EAST cryogenic systems to cope with the long pulsed heat loads in the future. supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51306195) and Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS (No. CRYO201408)

Photo-electron emission directly in superfluid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zavyalov, V. V.; Pyurbeeva, E. B.; Khaldeev, S. I.

2018-03-01

Despite the fact that electron transport in condensed helium has been studied for over half a century [1], observations of new intriguing effects still appear [2]. Alas, the traditional methods of injecting electrons into condensed helium (radioactive-sources, electrical discharge or field emission) lead to generation of helium ions, recombination of which is accompanied by emergence of a large number of excitations. As a result, interpretation of such experiments is not simple and sometimes may be questionable. In this respect, photoelectron emitters, which operate with energies substantially smaller than the ionization energy of helium, are preferable. However, immersion of the photocathode into condensed helium suppresses electron emission. Nevertheless, we managed to achieve electron currents (>20 fA) with the In photocathode immersed directly in liquid superfluid helium. The UV light (λ=254 nm) was guided to the photocathode through a two-meter long Al-covered quartz optical fiber.

Ultra high vacuum pumping system and high sensitivity helium leak detector

DOEpatents

Myneni, Ganapati Rao

1997-01-01

An improved helium leak detection method and apparatus are disclosed which increase the leak detection sensitivity to 10.sup.-13 atm cc s.sup.-1. The leak detection sensitivity is improved over conventional leak detectors by completely eliminating the use of o-rings, equipping the system with oil-free pumping systems, and by introducing measured flows of nitrogen at the entrances of both the turbo pump and backing pump to keep the system free of helium background. The addition of dry nitrogen flows to the system reduces backstreaming of atmospheric helium through the pumping system as a result of the limited compression ratios of the pumps for helium.

Few-Nucleon Charge Radii and a Precision Isotope Shift Measurement in Helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan Rezaeian, Nima; Shiner, David

2015-05-01

Precision atomic theory and experiment provide a valuable method to determine few nucleon charge radii, complementing the more direct scattering approaches, and providing sensitive tests of few-body nuclear theory. Some puzzles with respect to this method exist, particularly in the muonic and electronic measurements of the proton radius, and as well with respect to measurements of nuclear size in helium. We perform precision measurements of the isotope shift of the 23S -23P transitions in 3He and 4He. A tunable laser frequency discriminator and electro-optic modulation technique give precise frequency and intensity control. We select (ts <50 ms) and stabilize the intensity of the required sideband and eliminate the unused sidebands (<= 10¬5) . The technique uses a MEMS fiber switch (ts = 10 ms) and several temperature stabilized narrow band (3 GHz) fiber gratings. A fiber based optical circulator and amplifier provide the desired isolation and net gain for the selected frequency. A beam with both species of helium is achieved using a custom fiber laser for simultaneous optical pumping. A servo-controlled retro-reflected laser beam eliminates Doppler effects. Careful detection design and software control allows for unbiased data collection. Current results will be discussed. This work is supported by NSF PHY-1068868 and PHY-1404498.

Focal depth measurement of scanning helium ion microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, Hongxuan, E-mail: Guo.hongxuan@nims.go.jp; Itoh, Hiroshi; Wang, Chunmei

2014-07-14

When facing the challenges of critical dimension measurement of complicated nanostructures, such as of the three dimension integrated circuit, characterization of the focal depth of microscopes is important. In this Letter, we developed a method for characterizing the focal depth of a scanning helium ion microscope (HIM) by using an atomic force microscope tip characterizer (ATC). The ATC was tilted in a sample chamber at an angle to the scanning plan. Secondary electron images (SEIs) were obtained at different positions of the ATC. The edge resolution of the SEIs shows the nominal diameters of the helium ion beam at differentmore » focal levels. With this method, the nominal shapes of the helium ion beams were obtained with different apertures. Our results show that a small aperture is necessary to get a high spatial resolution and high depth of field images with HIM. This work provides a method for characterizing and improving the performance of HIM.« less

Focal depth measurement of scanning helium ion microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Hongxuan; Itoh, Hiroshi; Wang, Chunmei; Zhang, Han; Fujita, Daisuke

2014-07-01

When facing the challenges of critical dimension measurement of complicated nanostructures, such as of the three dimension integrated circuit, characterization of the focal depth of microscopes is important. In this Letter, we developed a method for characterizing the focal depth of a scanning helium ion microscope (HIM) by using an atomic force microscope tip characterizer (ATC). The ATC was tilted in a sample chamber at an angle to the scanning plan. Secondary electron images (SEIs) were obtained at different positions of the ATC. The edge resolution of the SEIs shows the nominal diameters of the helium ion beam at different focal levels. With this method, the nominal shapes of the helium ion beams were obtained with different apertures. Our results show that a small aperture is necessary to get a high spatial resolution and high depth of field images with HIM. This work provides a method for characterizing and improving the performance of HIM.

Fabrication of thin layer beta alumina

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tennenhouse, G. J.

1977-01-01

Beta alumina tubes having walls 700 microns, 300 microns, and 140 microns were processed by extrusion and sintering utilizing Ford proprietary binder and fabrication systems. Tubes prepared by this method have properties similar to tubes prepared by isostatic pressing and sintering, i.e. density greater than 98% of theoretical and a helium leak rate less than 3 x 10 to the -9th power cc/sq cm/sec. Ford ultrasonic bonding techniques were used for bonding beta alumina end caps to open ended beta -alumina tubes prior to sintering. After sintering, the bond was hermetic, and the integrity of the bonded area was comparable to the body of the tube.

Helium resources of the United States, 1993. Information circular/1995

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hamak, J.E.; Driskill, D.L.

1995-12-31

This report uses several criteria to determine reserves, marginal reserves, and subeconomic resources, including helium content, proximity to major gas transmission lines, and size of field. Refinements in evaluating other occurrences of helium and undiscovered resources also have been made for this report. As of this report, there is 33.7 Bcf of helium stored in Bush Dome at Cliffside Gasfield. The USBM owns 31.7 Bcf, and 2.0 Bcf is owned by private companies. There is also approximately 3.8 Bcf of helium contained in the natural gas in Bush Dome. This reserve of helium and the helium on Federal lands inmore » nondepleting fields will fulfill the USBM`s mission of supplying helium to meet all essential Government needs for several decades.« less

Measurement of Tritium in Gas Phase Soil Moisture and Helium-3 in Soil Gas at the Hanford Townsite and 100 K Area

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KB Olsen; GW Patton; R Poreda

2000-07-05

In 1999, soil gas samples for helium-3 measurements were collected at two locations on the Hanford Site. Eight soil gas sampling points ranging in depth from 1.5 to 9.8 m (4.9 to 32 ft) below ground surface (bgs) in two clusters were installed adjacent to well 699-41-1, south of the Hanford Townsite. Fifteen soil gas sampling points, ranging in depth from 2.1 to 3.2 m (7 to 10.4 ft) bgs, were installed to the north and east of the 100 KE Reactor. Gas phase soil moisture samples were collected using silica gel traps from all eight sampling locations adjacent tomore » well 699-41-1 and eight locations at the 100 K Area. No detectable tritium (<240 pCi/L) was found in the soil moisture samples from either the Hanford Townsite or 100 K Area sampling points. This suggests that tritiated moisture from groundwater is not migrating upward to the sampling points and there are no large vadose zone sources of tritium at either location. Helium-3 analyses of the soil gas samples showed significant enrichments relative to ambient air helium-3 concentrations with a depth dependence consistent with a groundwater source from decay of tritium. Helium-3/helium-4 ratios (normalized to the abundances in ambient air) at the Hanford Townsite ranged from 1.012 at 1.5 m (5 ft) bgs to 2.157 at 9.8 m (32 ft) bgs. Helium-3/helium-4 ratios at the 100 K Area ranged from 0.972 to 1.131. Based on results from the 100 K Area, the authors believe that a major tritium plume does not lie within that study area. The data also suggest there may be a tritium groundwater plume or a source of helium-3 to the southeast of the study area. They recommend that the study be continued by placing additional soil gas sampling points along the perimeter road to the west and to the south of the initial study area.« less

Influence of the initial parameters of the magnetic field and plasma on the spatial structure of the electric current and electron density in current sheets formed in helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ostrovskaya, G. V., E-mail: galya-ostr@mail.ru; Markov, V. S.; Frank, A. G., E-mail: annfrank@fpl.gpi.ru

The influence of the initial parameters of the magnetic field and plasma on the spatial structure of the electric current and electron density in current sheets formed in helium plasma in 2D and 3D magnetic configurations with X-type singular lines is studied by the methods of holographic interferometry and magnetic measurements. Significant differences in the structures of plasma and current sheets formed at close parameters of the initial plasma and similar configurations of the initial magnetic fields are revealed.

Timing Characterization of Helium-4 Fast Neutron Detector with EJ-309 Organic Liquid Scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yinong; Zhu, Ting; Enqvist, Andreas

2018-01-01

Recently, the Helium-4 gas fast neutron scintillation detectors is being used in time-sensitive measurements, such time-of-flight and multiplicity counting. In this paper, a set of time aligned signals was acquired in a coincidence measurement using the Helium-4 gas detectors and EJ-309 liquid scintillators. The high-speed digitizer system is implanted with a trigger moving average window (MAW) unit combing with its constant fraction discriminator (CFD) feature. It can calculate a "time offset" to the timestamp value to get a higher resolution timestamp (up to 50 ps), which is better than the digitizer's time resolution (4 ns) [1]. The digitized waveforms were saved to the computer hard drive and post processed with digital analysis code to determine the difference of their arrival times. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the Gaussian fit was used as to examine the resolution. For the cascade decay of Cobalt-60 (1.17 and 1.33 MeV), the first version of the Helium-4 detector with two Hamamatsu R580 photomultipliers (PMT) installed at either end of the cylindrical gas chamber (20 cm in length and 4.4 cm in diameter) has a time resolution which is about 3.139 ns FWHM. With improved knowledge of the timing performance, the Helium-4 scintillation detectors are excellent for neutron energy spectrometry applications requiring high temporal and energy resolutions.

An Assessment of Helium Evolution from Helium-Saturated Propellant Depressurization in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Bich N.; Best, Frederick; Wong, Tony; Kurwitz, Cable; McConnaughey, H. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Helium evolution from the transfer of helium-saturated propellant in space is quantified to assess its impacts from creating two-phase gas/liquid flow from the supply tank, gas injection into the receiving tank, and liquid discharge from the receiving tank. Propellant transfer takes place between two similar tanks whose maximum storage capacity is approximately 2.55 cubic meters each. The maximum on-orbit propellants transfer capability is 9000 lbm (fuel and oxidizer). The transfer line is approximately 1.27 cm in diameter and 6096 cm in length and comprised of the fluid interconnect system (FICS), the orbiter propellant transfer system (OPTS), and the International Space Station (ISS) propulsion module (ISSPM). The propellant transfer rate begins at approximately 11 liter per minute (lpm) and subsequently drops to approximately 0.5 lpm. The tank nominal operating pressure is approximately 1827 kPa (absolute). The line pressure drops for Monomethy1hydrazine (MMH) and Nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) at 11.3 lpm are approximately 202 kPa and 302 kPa, respectively. The pressure-drop results are based on a single-phase flow. The receiving tank is required to vent from approximately 1827 kPa to a lower pressure to affect propellant transfer. These pressure-drop scenarios cause the helium-saturated propellants to release excess helium. For tank ullage venting, the maximum volumes of helium evolved at tank pressure are approximately 0.5 ft3 for MMH and 2 ft3 for NTO. In microgravity environment, due to lack of body force, the helium evolution from a liquid body acts to propel it, which influences its fluid dynamics. For propellant transfer, the volume fractions of helium evolved at line pressure are 0.1% by volume for MMH and 0.6 % by volume for NTO at 11.3 lpm. The void fraction of helium evolved varies as an approximate second order power function of flow rate.

Characterization of high flux magnetized helium plasma in SCU-PSI linear device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiaochun, MA; Xiaogang, CAO; Lei, HAN; Zhiyan, ZHANG; Jianjun, WEI; Fujun, GOU

2018-02-01

A high-flux linear plasma device in Sichuan University plasma-surface interaction (SCU-PSI) based on a cascaded arc source has been established to simulate the interactions between helium and hydrogen plasma with the plasma-facing components in fusion reactors. In this paper, the helium plasma has been characterized by a double-pin Langmuir probe. The results show that the stable helium plasma beam with a diameter of 26 mm was constrained very well at a magnetic field strength of 0.3 T. The core density and ion flux of helium plasma have a strong dependence on the applied current, magnetic field strength and gas flow rate. It could reach an electron density of 1.2 × 1019 m-3 and helium ion flux of 3.2 × 1022 m-2 s-1, with a gas flow rate of 4 standard liter per minute, magnetic field strength of 0.2 T and input power of 11 kW. With the addition of -80 V applied to the target to increase the helium ion energy and the exposure time of 2 h, the flat top temperature reached about 530 °C. The different sizes of nanostructured fuzz on irradiated tungsten and molybdenum samples surfaces under the bombardment of helium ions were observed by scanning electron microscopy. These results measured in the SCU-PSI linear device provide a reference for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor related PSI research.

Evacuate and backfill apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Oakley, David J.; Groves, Oliver J.

1985-01-01

An apparatus and method for treatment of hollow articles by evacuating existing gas or gases therefrom and purging or backfilling the articles with a second gas such as helium. The apparatus includes a sealed enclosure having an article storage drum mounted therein. A multiplicity of such articles are fed singly into the enclosure and loaded into radial slots formed in the drum. The enclosure is successively evacuated and purged with helium to replace the existing gas in the articles with helium. The purged articles are then discharged singly from the drum and transported out of the enclosure.

Helium in inert matrix dispersion fuels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Veen, A.; Konings, R. J. M.; Fedorov, A. V.

2003-07-01

The behaviour of helium, an important decay product in the transmutation chains of actinides, in dispersion-type inert matrix fuels is discussed. A phenomenological description of its accumulation and release in CERCER and CERMET fuel is given. A summary of recent He-implantation studies with inert matrix metal oxides (ZrO 2, MgAl 2O 4, MgO and Al 2O 3) is presented. A general picture is that for high helium concentrations helium and vacancy defects form helium clusters which convert into over-pressurized bubbles. At elevated temperature helium is released from the bubbles. On some occasions thermal stable nano-cavities or nano-pores remain. On the basis of these results the consequences for helium induced swelling and helium storage in oxide matrices kept at 800-1000 °C will be discussed. In addition, results of He-implantation studies for metal matrices (W, Mo, Nb and V alloys) will be presented. Introduction of helium in metals at elevated temperatures leads to clustering of helium to bubbles. When operational temperatures are higher than 0.5 melting temperature, swelling and helium embrittlement might occur.

The Liquid Nitrogen System for Chamber A: A Change from Original Forced Flow Design to a Natural Flow (Thermo Siphon) System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Homan, Jonathan; Montz, Michael; Sidi-Yekhlef, Ahmed; Ganni, Venkatarao (Rao); Knudsen, Peter; Garcia, Sam; Linza, Robert; Meagher, Daniel; Lauterbauch, John

2008-01-01

NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston is currently supplementing its 20K helium refrigeration system to meet the new requirements for testing the James Web Space Telescope in the environmental control Chamber-A (65 dia x 120 high) in Building 32. The new system is required to meet the various operating modes which include a high 20K heat load, a required temperature stability at the load, rapid (but controlled) cool down and warm up and bake out of the chamber. This paper will present the proposed modifications to the existing helium system(s) to incorporate the new requirements and the integration of the new helium refrigerator with the existing two 3.5KW 20K helium refrigerators. In addition, the floating pressure process control philosophy to achieve high efficiency over the operating range (40% to 100% of the refrigeration system capacity), and the required temperature stability of +/- 0.25 K at the load will be discussed. The refrigeration systems ability to naturally seek the operating conditions under various loads and thus minimizing operator involvement and the over all improvements to the system operability and the reliability will be explained.

ESS Cryogenic System Process Design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnold, P.; Hees, W.; Jurns, J.; Su, X. T.; Wang, X. L.; Weisend, J. G., II

2015-12-01

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a neutron-scattering facility funded and supported in collaboration with 17 European countries in Lund, Sweden. Cryogenic cooling at ESS is vital particularly for the linear accelerator, the hydrogen target moderators, a test stand for cryomodules, the neutron instruments and their sample environments. The paper will focus on specific process design criteria, design decisions and their motivations for the helium cryoplants and auxiliary equipment. Key issues for all plants and their process concepts are energy efficiency, reliability, smooth turn-down behaviour and flexibility. The accelerator cryoplant (ACCP) and the target moderator cryoplant (TMCP) in particular need to be prepared for a range of refrigeration capacities due to the intrinsic uncertainties regarding heat load definitions. Furthermore the paper addresses questions regarding process arrangement, 2 K cooling methodology, LN2 precooling, helium storage, helium purification and heat recovery.

Rotational excitations of N2O in small helium clusters and the role of Bose permutation symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paesani, F.; Whaley, K. B.

2004-09-01

We present a detailed study of the energetics, structures, and Bose properties of small clusters of 4He containing a single nitrous oxide (N2O) molecule, from N=1 4He up to sizes corresponding to completion of the first solvation shell around N2O (N=16 4He). Ground state properties are calculated using the importance-sampled rigid-body diffusion Monte Carlo method, rotational excited state calculations are made with the projection operator imaginary time spectral evolution method, and Bose permutation exchange and associated superfluid properties are calculated with the finite temperature path integral method. For N⩽5 the helium atoms are seen to form an equatorial ring around the molecular axis, at N=6 helium density starts to occupy the second (local) minimum of the N2O-He interaction at the oxygen side of the molecule, and N=9 is the critical size at which there is onset of helium solvation all along the molecular axis. For N⩾8 six 4He atoms are distributed in a symmetric, quasirigid ring around N2O. Path integral calculations show essentially complete superfluid response to rotation about the molecular axis for N⩾5, and a rise of the perpendicular superfluid response from zero to appreciable values for N⩾8. Rotational excited states are computed for three values of the total angular momentum, J=1-3, and the energy levels fitted to obtain effective spectroscopic constants that show excellent agreement with the experimentally observed N dependence of the effective rotational constant Beff. The non-monotonic behavior of the rotational constant is seen to be due to the onset of long 4He permutation exchanges and associated perpendicular superfluid response of the clusters for N⩾8. We provide a detailed analysis of the role of the helium solvation structure and superfluid properties in determining the effective rotational constants.

Constraints on Helium Enhancement in the Globular Cluster M3 (NGC 5272): The Horizontal Branch Test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Catelan, M.; Grundahl, F.; Sweigart, A. V.; Valcarce, A. A. R.; Cortes, C.

2007-01-01

It has recently been suggested that the presence of multiple populations showing various amounts of helium enhancement is a common feature among globular star clusters. In this scenario, such a helium enhancement would be particularly apparent in the enhanced luminosity of thc blue horizontal branch (HB) stars compared to the red HB stars. In this Letter, wc test this scenario in the case of the Galactic globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272), using high-precision Stromgren photometry and spectroscopic gravities for blue HB stars. We find that any helium enhancement among the cluster's blue HB stars must be significantly less than I%, thus ruling out the much higher helium enhancements that have been proposed in the literature.

The effect of helium on ventilator performance: study of five ventilators and a bedside Pitot tube spirometer.

PubMed

Oppenheim-Eden, A; Cohen, Y; Weissman, C; Pizov, R

2001-08-01

To assess in vitro the performance of five mechanical ventilators-Siemens 300 and 900C (Siemens-Elma; Solna, Sweden), Puritan Bennett 7200 (Nellcor Puritan Bennett; Pleasanton, CA), Evita 4 (Dragerwerk; Lubeck, Germany), and Bear 1000 (Bear Medical Systems; Riverside CA)-and a bedside sidestream spirometer (Datex CS3 Respiratory Module; Datex-Ohmeda; Helsinki, Finland) during ventilation with helium-oxygen mixtures. In vitro study. ICUs of two university-affiliated hospitals. Each ventilator was connected to 100% helium through compressed air inlets and then tested at three to six different tidal volume (VT) settings using various helium-oxygen concentrations (fraction of inspired oxygen [FIO(2)] of 0.2 to 1.0). FIO(2) and VT were measured with the Datex CS3 spirometer, and VT was validated with a water-displacement spirometer. The Puritan Bennett 7200 ventilator did not function with helium. With the other four ventilators, delivered FIO(2) was lower than the set FIO(2). For the Siemens 300 and 900C ventilators, this difference could be explained by the lack of 21% oxygen when helium was connected to the air supply port, while for the other two ventilators, a nonlinear relation was found. The VT of the Siemens 300 ventilator was independent of helium concentration, while for the other three ventilators, delivered VT was greater than the set VT and was dependent on helium concentration. During ventilation with 80% helium and 20% oxygen, VT increased to 125% of set VT for the Siemens 900C ventilator, and more than doubled for the Evita 4 and Bear 1000 ventilators. Under the same conditions, the Datex CS3 spirometer underestimated the delivered VT by about 33%. At present, no mechanical ventilator is calibrated for use with helium. This investigation offers correction factors for four ventilators for ventilation with helium.

Crystal orientation effects on helium ion depth distributions and adatom formation processes in plasma-facing tungsten

DOE PAGES

Hammond, Karl D.; Wirth, Brian D.

2014-10-09

Here, we present atomistic simulations that show the effect of surface orientation on helium depth distributions and surface feature formation as a result of low-energy helium plasma exposure. We find a pronounced effect of surface orientation on the initial depth of implanted helium ions, as well as a difference in reflection and helium retention across different surface orientations. Our results indicate that single helium interstitials are sufficient to induce the formation of adatom/substitutional helium pairs under certain highly corrugated tungsten surfaces, such as {1 1 1}-orientations, leading to the formation of a relatively concentrated layer of immobile helium immediately belowmore » the surface. The energies involved for helium-induced adatom formation on {1 1 1} and {2 1 1} surfaces are exoergic for even a single adatom very close to the surface, while {0 0 1} and {0 1 1} surfaces require two or even three helium atoms in a cluster before a substitutional helium cluster and adatom will form with reasonable probability. This phenomenon results in much higher initial helium retention during helium plasma exposure to {1 1 1} and {2 1 1} tungsten surfaces than is observed for {0 0 1} or {0 1 1} surfaces and is much higher than can be attributed to differences in the initial depth distributions alone. Lastly, the layer thus formed may serve as nucleation sites for further bubble formation and growth or as a source of material embrittlement or fatigue, which may have implications for the formation of tungsten “fuzz” in plasma-facing divertors for magnetic-confinement nuclear fusion reactors and/or the lifetime of such divertors.« less

Suicide by Oxygen Deprivation with Helium: A Preliminary Study of British Columbia Coroner Investigations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ogden, Russel D.; Hassan, Shereen

2011-01-01

This article researches a relatively new suicide method advanced by right-to-die organizations: oxygen deprivation by breathing helium inside a plastic hood. The article begins with a review of the role of the coroner and the history of oxygen deprivation with helium; it then examines 20 Judgements of Inquiry (JOI) by British Columbia coroners…

Ultra high vacuum pumping system and high sensitivity helium leak detector

DOEpatents

Myneni, G.R.

1997-12-30

An improved helium leak detection method and apparatus are disclosed which increase the leak detection sensitivity to 10{sup {minus}13} atm cc/s. The leak detection sensitivity is improved over conventional leak detectors by completely eliminating the use of o-rings, equipping the system with oil-free pumping systems, and by introducing measured flows of nitrogen at the entrances of both the turbo pump and backing pump to keep the system free of helium background. The addition of dry nitrogen flows to the system reduces back streaming of atmospheric helium through the pumping system as a result of the limited compression ratios of the pumps for helium. 2 figs.

Additive Manufacturing of Porous Metal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dehoff, Ryan R.; Kirka, Michael M.

2017-06-01

Currently, helium is obtained through separation from natural gas. The current industrial process incurs significant costs and requires large energy resources to successfully achieve separation. Through utilizing Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies it is possible to reduce both of these burdens when refining helium gas. The ability to engineer porosity levels within Inconel 718 discs for controlled separation of helium from natural gas was investigated. Arrays of samples fabricated using the electron beam melting process were analyzed for their relative porosity density. Based upon the measurements, full scale discs were fabricated, and subsequently tested to determine their effectiveness in separating heliummore » from liquefied natural gas.« less

Helium and Neon in the Accreted Ice of the Subglacial Antarctic Lake Vostok

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jean-Baptiste, P.; Fourré, E.; Petit, J. R.; Lipenkov, V.; Bulat, S.; Chetverikov, Y.; Raynaud, D.

2018-05-01

We analyzed helium and neon in 24 samples from between 3,607 and 3,767 m (i.e., down to 2 m above the lake-ice interface) of the accreted ice frozen to the ceiling of Lake Vostok. Within uncertainties, the neon budget of the lake is balanced, the neon supplied to the lake by the melting of glacier ice being compensated by the neon exported by lake ice. The helium concentration in the lake is about 12 times more than in the glacier ice, with a measured 3He/4He ratio of 0.12 ± 0.01 Ra. This shows that Lake Vostok's waters are enriched by a terrigenic helium source. The 3He/4He isotope ratio of this helium source was determined. Its radiogenic value (0.057 × Ra) is typical of an old continental province, ruling out any magmatic activity associated with the tectonic structure of the lake. It corresponds to a low geothermal heat flow estimated at 51 mW/m2.

Fine Structure in Helium-like Fluorine by Fast-Beam Laser Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myers, E. G.; Thompson, J. K.; Silver, J. D.

1998-05-01

With the aim of providing an additional precise test of higher-order corrections to high precision calculations of fine structure in helium and helium-like ions(T. Zhang, Z.-C. Yan and G.W.F. Drake, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77), 1715 (1996)., a measurement of the 2^3P_2,F - 2^3P_1,F' fine structure in ^19F^7+ is in progress. The method involves doppler-tuned laser spectroscopy using a CO2 laser on a foil-stripped fluorine ion beam. We aim to achieve a higher precision, compared to an earlier measurement(E.G. Myers, P. Kuske, H.J. Andrae, I.A. Armour, H.A. Klein, J.D. Silver, and E. Traebert, Phys. Rev. Lett. 47), 87 (1981)., by using laser beams parallel and anti-parallel to the ion beam, to obtain partial cancellation of the doppler shift(J.K. Thompson, D.J.H. Howie and E.G. Myers, Phys. Rev. A 57), 180 (1998).. A calculation of the hyperfine structure, allowing for relativistic, QED and nuclear size effects, will be required to obtain the ``hyperfine-free'' fine structure interval from the measurements.

Diagnostics of pre-breakdown light emission in a helium coplanar barrier discharge: the presence of neutral bremsstrahlung

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navrátil, Zdeněk; Morávek, Tomáš; Ráheľ, Jozef; Čech, Jan; Lalinský, Ondřej; Trunec, David

2017-05-01

Weak light emission (˜10-3 of active discharge signal; average count rate ˜ 1 photon s-1 nm-1) associated with surface charge relaxation during the dark phase of a helium diffuse coplanar barrier discharge was studied by optical emission spectroscopy, using a technique of phase-resolved single photon counting. The optical emission spectra of the dark phase contained luminescent bands of the dielectrics used (Al2O3, AlN) and spectral lines from the gas constituents (OH*, {{{N}}}2* , {{{N}}}2+* , He*, He{}2* , O*). During the charge relaxation event, a broad continuum appeared in the optical emission spectra, consisting of bremsstrahlung radiation and amplified luminescence of the dielectric barrier. The analysis presented suggests that the bremsstrahlung radiation originated from slow electrons colliding with neutral helium atoms. The fitting procedure we developed reproduced well the observed shape of the continuum. Moreover, it provided a method for the determination of electric field strength in the discharge during this particular phase. The electric field reached 1 kV cm-1 during the charge relaxation event.

Cryogenic Feedthrough Test Rig

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Skaff, Antony

2009-01-01

The cryogenic feedthrough test rig (CFTR) allows testing of instrumentation feedthroughs at liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen temperature and pressure extremes (dangerous process fluid) without actually exposing the feedthrough to a combustible or explosive process fluid. In addition, the helium used (inert gas), with cryogenic heat exchangers, exposes the feedthrough to that environment that allows definitive leak rates of feedthrough by typical industry-standard helium mass spectrometers.

Low helium flux from the mantle inferred from simulations of oceanic helium isotope data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianchi, Daniele; Sarmiento, Jorge L.; Gnanadesikan, Anand; Key, Robert M.; Schlosser, Peter; Newton, Robert

2010-09-01

The high 3He/ 4He isotopic ratio of oceanic helium relative to the atmosphere has long been recognized as the signature of mantle 3He outgassing from the Earth's interior. The outgassing flux of helium is frequently used to normalize estimates of chemical fluxes of elements from the solid Earth, and provides a strong constraint to models of mantle degassing. Here we use a suite of ocean general circulation models and helium isotope data obtained by the World Ocean Circulation Experiment to constrain the flux of helium from the mantle to the oceans. Our results suggest that the currently accepted flux is overestimated by a factor of 2. We show that a flux of 527 ± 102 mol year - 1 is required for ocean general circulation models that produce distributions of ocean ventilation tracers such as radiocarbon and chlorofluorocarbons that match observations. This new estimate calls for a reevaluation of the degassing fluxes of elements that are currently tied to the helium fluxes, including noble gases and carbon dioxide.

Recovery of purified helium or hydrogen from gas mixtures

DOEpatents

Merriman, J.R.; Pashley, J.H.; Stephenson, M.J.; Dunthorn, D.I.

1974-01-15

A process is described for the removal of helium or hydrogen from gaseous mixtures also containing contaminants. The gaseous mixture is contacted with a liquid fluorocarbon in an absorption zone maintained at superatomspheric pressure to preferentially absorb the contaminants in the fluorocarbon. Unabsorbed gas enriched in hydrogen or helium is withdrawn from the absorption zone as product. Liquid fluorocarbon enriched in contaminants is withdrawn separately from the absorption zone. (10 claims)

Reproducibility of techniques using Archimedes' principle in measuring cancellous bone volume.

PubMed

Zou, L; Bloebaum, R D; Bachus, K N

1997-01-01

Researchers have been interested in developing techniques to accurately and reproducibly measure the volume fraction of cancellous bone. Historically bone researchers have used Archimedes' principle with water to measure the volume fraction of cancellous bone. Preliminary results in our lab suggested that the calibrated water technique did not provide reproducible results. Because of this difficulty, it was decided to compare the conventional water method to a water with surfactant and a helium method using a micropycnometer. The water/surfactant and the helium methods were attempts to improve the fluid penetration into the small voids present in the cancellous bone structure. In order to compare the reproducibility of the new methods with the conventional water method, 16 cancellous bone specimens were obtained from femoral condyles of human and greyhound dog femora. The volume fraction measurements on each specimen were repeated three times with all three techniques. The results showed that the helium displacement method was more than an order of magnitudes more reproducible than the two other water methods (p < 0.05). Statistical analysis also showed that the conventional water method produced the lowest reproducibility (p < 0.05). The data from this study indicate that the helium displacement technique is a very useful, rapid and reproducible tool for quantitatively characterizing anisotropic porous tissue structures such as cancellous bone.

Dynamics of Electronically Excited Species in Gaseous and Condensed Phase

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-12-01

heatbath models of condensed phase helium, (3) development of models of condensed phase hydrogen and (4) development of simulation procedures for solution... Modelling and Computer Experiments 93 Introduction 93 Monte Carlo Simulations of Helium Bubble States 94 Heatbath Models f6r Helium Bubble States 114...ILLUSTRATIONS 1 He-He* potential energy curves and couplings for two-state model . 40 2 Cross section for He(1P) quenching to He( 3S) 42 3 Opacity

Feasibility of lunar Helium-3 mining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleinschneider, Andreas; Van Overstraeten, Dmitry; Van der Reijnst, Roy; Van Hoorn, Niels; Lamers, Marvin; Hubert, Laurent; Dijk, Bert; Blangé, Joey; Hogeveen, Joel; De Boer, Lennaert; Noomen, Ron

With fossil fuels running out and global energy demand increasing, the need for alternative energy sources is apparent. Nuclear fusion using Helium-3 may be a solution. Helium-3 is a rare isotope on Earth, but it is abundant on the Moon. Throughout the space community lunar Helium-3 is often cited as a major reason to return to the Moon. Despite the potential of lunar Helium-3 mining, little research has been conducted on a full end-to-end mission. This abstract presents the results of a feasibility study conducted by students from Delft University of Technology. The goal of the study was to assess whether a continuous end-to-end mission to mine Helium-3 on the Moon and return it to Earth is a viable option for the future energy market. The set requirements for the representative end-to-end mission were to provide 10% of the global energy demand in the year 2040. The mission elements have been selected with multiple trade-offs among both conservative and novel concepts. A mission architecture with multiple decoupled elements for each transportation segment (LEO, transfer, lunar surface) was found to be the best option. It was found that the most critical element is the lunar mining operation itself. To supply 10% of the global energy demand in 2040, 200 tons of Helium-3 would be required per year. The resulting regolith mining rate would be 630 tons per second, based on an optimistic concentration of 20 ppb Helium-3 in lunar regolith. Between 1,700 to 2,000 Helium-3 mining vehicles would be required, if using University of Wisconsin’s Mark III miner. The required heating power, if mining both day and night, would add up to 39 GW. The resulting power system mass for the lunar operations would be in the order of 60,000 to 200,000 tons. A fleet of three lunar ascent/descent vehicles and 22 continuous-thrust vehicles for orbit transfer would be required. The costs of the mission elements have been spread out over expected lifetimes. The resulting profits from Helium-3 fusion were calculated using a predicted minimum energy price in 2040 of 30.4 Euro/MWh. Annual costs are between 427.7 to 1,347.9 billion Euro, with annual expected profit ranging from -724.0 to 260.0 billion Euro. Due to the large scale of the mission, it has also been evaluated for providing 0.1% and 1% of the global energy demand in 2040. For 1%, the annual costs are 45.6 to 140.3 billion Euro and the expected annual profits are -78.0 to 23.1 billion Euro. For 0.1%, the annual costs are 7.7 to 20.5 billion Euro. The annual expected profits are -14.3 to -0.8 billion Euro. Feasibility has been addressed in three aspects. Technically, the mission is extremely challenging and complex. However, most required technologies exist or could be developed within a reasonable time span. From a political and legal perspective, the current international treaties hardly provide any framework for a lunar mining operation. Financially, the mission only produces a net profit in the best case, and only for medium- to large-scale operations, which require a very large initial investment. To make lunar Helium-3 usage possible, further research should concentrate on the mining operation and costs of fusion plants, as their impact by far outranks all other mission elements. Different transportation concepts may be investigated nevertheless. Many - not only technical - challenges concerning Helium-3 mining are still to be addressed. Although only a starting point for further investigations, this study shows that, despite popular claims, lunar Helium-3 is unsuitable to provide a significant percentage of the global energy demand in 2040.

Evacuate and backfill apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Oakley, D.J.; Groves, O.J.

1984-06-27

An apparatus and method as described for treatment of hollow articles by evacuating existing gas or gases therefrom and purging or backfilling the articles with a second gas such as helium. The apparatus includes a sealed enclosure having an article storage drum mounted therein. A multiplicity of such articles are fed singly into the enclosure and loaded into radial slots formed in the drum. The enclosure is successively evacuated and purged with helium to replace the existing gas in the articles with helium. The purged articles are then discharged singly from the drum and transported out of the enclosure.

An application of gap regenerator/expander precooled by two stage G-M refrigerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matsubara, Y.; Yasukochi, K.

1983-01-01

The degradation of regenerator effectiveness below 10K is due to the imbalance of the heat capacity of the regenerator material and helium gas as a working fluid. One of the attractive methods to increase this efficiency could be realized by a gap regenerator system regarding helium gas property. This paper describes an experiment using pressurized helium gas as a regenerator material. A two stage G-M cycle refrigerator has been used for precooling the gap regenerator system. With this method, minimum temperature below 5K has been obtained when the precooling temperature maintained at 10K.

Optical emission spectroscopic diagnostics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium-oxygen plasma jet for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiyagarajan, Magesh; Sarani, Abdollah; Nicula, Cosmina

2013-06-01

In this work, we have applied optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics to investigate the characteristics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet. The discharge characteristics in the active and afterglow region of the plasma jet, that are critical for biomedical applications, have been investigated. The voltage-current characteristics of the plasma discharge were analyzed and the average plasma power was measured to be around 18 W. The effect of addition of small fractions of oxygen at 0.1%-0.5% on the plasma jet characteristics was studied. The addition of oxygen resulted in a decrease in plasma plume length due to the electronegativity property of oxygen. Atomic and molecular lines of selected reactive plasma species that are considered to be useful to induce biochemical reactions such as OH transitions A2Σ+(ν=0,1)→X2Π(Δν =0) at 308 nm and A2Σ+(ν=0,1)→X2Π(Δν =1) at 287 nm, O I transitions 3p5P→3s5S0 at 777.41 nm, and 3p3P→3s3S0 at 844.6 nm, N2(C-B) second positive system with electronic transition C3Πu→B3Πg in the range of 300-450 nm and N2+(B-X) first negative system with electronic transition B2Σu+→X2Σg+(Δν =0) at 391.4 nm have been studied. The atomic emission lines of helium were identified, including the He I transitions 3p3P0→2s3S at 388.8 nm, 3p1P0→ 2s1S at 501.6 nm, 3d3D→2p3P0 at 587.6 nm, 3d1D→2p1P0 at 667.8 nm, 3s3S1→2p3P0 at 706.5 nm, 3s1S0→2p1P0 at 728.1 nm, and Hα transition 2p-3d at 656.3 nm. Using a spectral fitting method, the OH radicals at 306-312 nm, the rotational and vibrational temperatures equivalent to gas temperatures of the discharge was measured and the effective non-equilibrium nature of the plasma jet was demonstrated. Our results show that, in the entire active plasma region, the gas temperature remains at 310 ± 25 K and 340 ± 25 K and it increases to 320 ± 25 K and 360 ± 25 K in the afterglow region of the plasma jet for pure helium and helium/oxygen (0.1%) mixture, respectively. Additionally, the vibrational temperatures range from 2200 ± 100 K and 2500 ± 100 K for pure helium and helium/oxygen (0.1%) mixture, respectively. The plasma jet was tested on heat sensitive polymer films used in biomedical applications such as polyethylene terephthalate and poly-L-lactide samples continuously for several minutes without causing any physical or thermal damage to the films. The plasma jet produces significant reactive species of interest while the gas temperatures remain very low demonstrating its potential for a range of biomedical applications.

4D Visualization of Experimental Procedures in Rock Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanorio, T.; di Bonito, C.

2010-12-01

Engaging students in laboratory classes in geophysics is becoming more and more difficult. This is primarily because of an ever-widening gap between the less appealing aspects that characterize these courses (e.g., lengthiness of the experimental operations, high student/instrument ratio, limited time associated with lack of previous hands-on experiences, and logistical and safety concerns) and the life style of the 21st century generations (i.e., extensive practice to high-tech tools, high-speed communications and computing, 3D graphics and HD videos). To bridge the gap and enhance the teaching strategy of laboratory courses in geophysics, we have created simulator-training tools for use in preparation for the actual experimental phase. We are using a modeling, animation, and rendering package to create (a) 3D models that accurately reproduce actual scenarios and instruments used for the measurement of rock physics properties and (b) 4D interactive animations that simulate hands-on demonstrations of the experimental procedures. We present here a prototype describing step-by-step the experimental protocol and the principles behind the measurement of rock porosity. The tool reproduces an actual helium porosimeter and makes use of interactive animations, guided text, and a narrative voice guiding the audience through the different phases of the experimental process. Our strategy is to make the most of new technologies while preserving the accuracy of classical laboratory methods and practices. These simulations are not intended to replace traditional lab work; rather they provide students with the opportunity for review and repetition. The primary goal is thus to help students familiarize themselves during their earlier curricula with lab methodologies, thus minimizing apparent hesitation and frustration in later classes. This may also increase the level of interest and involvement of undergraduate students and, in turn, enhance their keenness to pursue their curriculum with graduate studies. The intellectual merit of this project lies in exploring tools that are creative, keep pace with the times, and are potentially transformative of the teaching strategy of laboratory courses in geophysics. 3D reconstruction of the Helium Porosimeter. Top left panel - General overview of the instrument's components: helium cylinder, pressure transducer, core holder, helium reservoirs, and pressure indicator. Top right and bottom panels - Different phases of the experimental procedure for measuring rock porosity.

Design of a 3-Stage ADR for the Soft X-Ray Spectrometer Instrument on the Astro-H Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shirron, Peter J.; Kimball, Mark O.; Wegel, Donald C.; Canavan, Edgar R.; DiPirro, Michael J.

2011-01-01

The Japanese Astro-H mission will include the Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) instrument, whose 36-pixel detector array of ultra-sensitive x-ray microcalorimeters requires cooling to 50 mK. This will be accomplished using a 3-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR). The design is dictated by the need to operate with full redundancy with both a superfluid helium dewar at 1.3 K or below, and with a 4.5 K Joule-Thomson (JT) cooler. The ADR is configured as a 2-stage unit that is located in a well in the helium tank, and a third stage that is mounted to the top of the helium tank. The third stage is directly connected through two heat switches to the JT cooler and the helium tank, and manages heat flow between the two. When liquid helium is present, the 2-stage ADR operates in a single-shot manner using the superfluid helium as a heat sink. The third stage may be used independently to reduce the time-average heat load on the liquid to extend its lifetime. When the liquid is depleted, the 2nd and 3rd stages operate as a continuous ADR to maintain the helium tank at as low a temperature as possible - expected to be 1.2 K - and the 1st stage cools from that temperature as a single-stage, single-shot ADR. The ADR s design and operating modes are discussed, along with test results of the prototype 3-stage ADR.

Detection of Charged Particles in Superfluid Helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandler, Simon Richard

1995-01-01

At the present time the measurement of the flux of neutrinos from the sun remains a challenging experimental problem. The ideal detector would be able to detect neutrinos at high rate, in real time, with good energy resolution and would have a threshold which is low enough for investigation of the entire solar neutrino spectrum. A new detection scheme using superfluid helium as a target has been proposed which has the potential to meet most of the criteria of the ideal detector. In this scheme a neutrino would be detected when it elastically scatters off an atomic electron in superfluid helium. The electron loses energy via a number of processes eventually leading to the generation of phonons and rotons in the liquid. At low temperatures these excitations propagate ballistically through the superfluid helium. When the excitations reach the free surface some of them are able to evaporate helium atoms. These atoms can be detected by an array of calorimeters suspended above the liquid surface. In this thesis, results are presented for a small -scale prototype of this type of detector. Experiments have been performed using various radioactive sources to generate energy depositions in the liquid. The results reveal details about the processes of generation of rotons and phonons, the propagation of these excitations through the superfluid, the evaporation of helium atoms and the adsorption of helium atoms onto the wafer. Results are also presented on the detection of fluorescent photons generated in the liquid. One source of energy depositions was 241{rm Am} which produces monoenergetic 5.5 MeV alpha particles. It was found that the ratio of the energy deposited in a calorimeter to the energy deposited in liquid helium was 0.084 when alpha's are emitted parallel to the liquid surface, and 0.020 for alpha's emitted perpendicular. The difference is due to the anisotropic distribution of helium excitations generated. A 113{rm Sn} source of 360 keV electrons stopped in superfluid helium have also produced signals in a calorimeter and this ratio was similar. Finally, the implications of these results to the design of a full-scale detector of solar neutrinos are discussed.

Theoretical study of the vibrational relaxation of the methyl radical in collisions with helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Qianli; Dagdigian, Paul J.; Alexander, Millard H.

2013-03-01

We report a theoretical investigation of the relaxation of the umbrella vibrational mode (the ν2 mode) of the CH3 molecule in its ground tilde{X}^2A_2^' ' } electronic state in collisions with helium. We have calculated a four-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) for the interaction between CH3 with different umbrella displacements and a helium atom, using a restricted open-shell coupled-cluster method with inclusion of all single, double, and (perturbatively) triple excitations [RCCSD(T)]. With this PES we carried out full close-coupling scattering calculations including all CH3 umbrella-rotational levels with v2 ⩽ 3. To our knowledge, this work represents the first fully quantum calculations of ro-vibrational relaxation of a polyatomic. In more detail, we investigate propensities in the calculated ro-vibrational cross sections and the dependence on initial rotational excitation, as well as determining thermal rate constants. Overall, ro-vibrational relaxation is nearly two orders of magnitude less efficient than pure-rotational relaxation, with a noticeable dependence on the initial rotational level. We predict the room temperature v2 = 1 vibrational relaxation rate constant to be 5.4 × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, compared to the rate constants for pure-rotational relaxation of the lower rotational levels (˜2.0 × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1).

Dark Matter Detection Using Helium Evaporation and Field Ionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maris, Humphrey J.; Seidel, George M.; Stein, Derek

2017-11-01

We describe a method for dark matter detection based on the evaporation of helium atoms from a cold surface and their subsequent detection using field ionization. When a dark matter particle scatters off a nucleus of the target material, elementary excitations (phonons or rotons) are produced. Excitations which have an energy greater than the binding energy of helium to the surface can result in the evaporation of helium atoms. We propose to detect these atoms by ionizing them in a strong electric field. Because the binding energy of helium to surfaces can be below 1 meV, this detection scheme opens up new possibilities for the detection of dark matter particles in a mass range down to 1 MeV /c2 .

Dark Matter Detection Using Helium Evaporation and Field Ionization.

PubMed

Maris, Humphrey J; Seidel, George M; Stein, Derek

2017-11-03

We describe a method for dark matter detection based on the evaporation of helium atoms from a cold surface and their subsequent detection using field ionization. When a dark matter particle scatters off a nucleus of the target material, elementary excitations (phonons or rotons) are produced. Excitations which have an energy greater than the binding energy of helium to the surface can result in the evaporation of helium atoms. We propose to detect these atoms by ionizing them in a strong electric field. Because the binding energy of helium to surfaces can be below 1 meV, this detection scheme opens up new possibilities for the detection of dark matter particles in a mass range down to 1  MeV/c^{2}.

Production of thorium-229 using helium nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mirzadeh, Saed; Garland, Marc Alan

A method for producing .sup.229Th includes the steps of providing .sup.226Ra as a target material, and bombarding the target material with alpha particles, helium-3, or neutrons to form .sup.229Th. When neutrons are used, the neutrons preferably include an epithermal neutron flux of at least 1.times.10.sup.13 n s.sup.-1cm.sup.-2. .sup.228Ra can also be bombarded with thermal and/or energetic neutrons to result in a neutron capture reaction to form .sup.229Th. Using .sup.230Th as a target material, .sup.229Th can be formed using neutron, gamma ray, proton or deuteron bombardment.

Precision Measurement of the Helium Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays of Rigidities 1.9 GV to 3 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station.

PubMed

Aguilar, M; Aisa, D; Alpat, B; Alvino, A; Ambrosi, G; Andeen, K; Arruda, L; Attig, N; Azzarello, P; Bachlechner, A; Barao, F; Barrau, A; Barrin, L; Bartoloni, A; Basara, L; Battarbee, M; Battiston, R; Bazo, J; Becker, U; Behlmann, M; Beischer, B; Berdugo, J; Bertucci, B; Bindi, V; Bizzaglia, S; Bizzarri, M; Boella, G; de Boer, W; Bollweg, K; Bonnivard, V; Borgia, B; Borsini, S; Boschini, M J; Bourquin, M; Burger, J; Cadoux, F; Cai, X D; Capell, M; Caroff, S; Casaus, J; Castellini, G; Cernuda, I; Cerreta, D; Cervelli, F; Chae, M J; Chang, Y H; Chen, A I; Chen, G M; Chen, H; Chen, H S; Cheng, L; Chou, H Y; Choumilov, E; Choutko, V; Chung, C H; Clark, C; Clavero, R; Coignet, G; Consolandi, C; Contin, A; Corti, C; Gil, E Cortina; Coste, B; Creus, W; Crispoltoni, M; Cui, Z; Dai, Y M; Delgado, C; Della Torre, S; Demirköz, M B; Derome, L; Di Falco, S; Di Masso, L; Dimiccoli, F; Díaz, C; von Doetinchem, P; Donnini, F; Duranti, M; D'Urso, D; Egorov, A; Eline, A; Eppling, F J; Eronen, T; Fan, Y Y; Farnesini, L; Feng, J; Fiandrini, E; Fiasson, A; Finch, E; Fisher, P; Formato, V; Galaktionov, Y; Gallucci, G; García, B; García-López, R; Gargiulo, C; Gast, H; Gebauer, I; Gervasi, M; Ghelfi, A; Giovacchini, F; Goglov, P; Gong, J; Goy, C; Grabski, V; Grandi, D; Graziani, M; Guandalini, C; Guerri, I; Guo, K H; Haas, D; Habiby, M; Haino, S; Han, K C; He, Z H; Heil, M; Hoffman, J; Hsieh, T H; Huang, Z C; Huh, C; Incagli, M; Ionica, M; Jang, W Y; Jinchi, H; Kanishev, K; Kim, G N; Kim, K S; Kirn, Th; Korkmaz, M A; Kossakowski, R; Kounina, O; Kounine, A; Koutsenko, V; Krafczyk, M S; La Vacca, G; Laudi, E; Laurenti, G; Lazzizzera, I; Lebedev, A; Lee, H T; Lee, S C; Leluc, C; Li, H L; Li, J Q; Li, J Q; Li, Q; Li, Q; Li, T X; Li, W; Li, Y; Li, Z H; Li, Z Y; Lim, S; Lin, C H; Lipari, P; Lippert, T; Liu, D; Liu, H; Liu, Hu; Lolli, M; Lomtadze, T; Lu, M J; Lu, S Q; Lu, Y S; Luebelsmeyer, K; Luo, F; Luo, J Z; Lv, S S; Majka, R; Mañá, C; Marín, J; Martin, T; Martínez, G; Masi, N; Maurin, D; Menchaca-Rocha, A; Meng, Q; Mo, D C; Morescalchi, L; Mott, P; Müller, M; Nelson, T; Ni, J Q; Nikonov, N; Nozzoli, F; Nunes, P; Obermeier, A; Oliva, A; Orcinha, M; Palmonari, F; Palomares, C; Paniccia, M; Papi, A; Pauluzzi, M; Pedreschi, E; Pensotti, S; Pereira, R; Picot-Clemente, N; Pilo, F; Piluso, A; Pizzolotto, C; Plyaskin, V; Pohl, M; Poireau, V; Putze, A; Quadrani, L; Qi, X M; Qin, X; Qu, Z Y; Räihä, T; Rancoita, P G; Rapin, D; Ricol, J S; Rodríguez, I; Rosier-Lees, S; Rozhkov, A; Rozza, D; Sagdeev, R; Sandweiss, J; Saouter, P; Schael, S; Schmidt, S M; von Dratzig, A Schulz; Schwering, G; Scolieri, G; Seo, E S; Shan, B S; Shan, Y H; Shi, J Y; Shi, X Y; Shi, Y M; Siedenburg, T; Son, D; Song, J W; Spada, F; Spinella, F; Sun, W; Sun, W H; Tacconi, M; Tang, C P; Tang, X W; Tang, Z C; Tao, L; Tescaro, D; Ting, Samuel C C; Ting, S M; Tomassetti, N; Torsti, J; Türkoğlu, C; Urban, T; Vagelli, V; Valente, E; Vannini, C; Valtonen, E; Vaurynovich, S; Vecchi, M; Velasco, M; Vialle, J P; Vitale, V; Vitillo, S; Wang, L Q; Wang, N H; Wang, Q L; Wang, R S; Wang, X; Wang, Z X; Weng, Z L; Whitman, K; Wienkenhöver, J; Willenbrock, M; Wu, H; Wu, X; Xia, X; Xie, M; Xie, S; Xiong, R Q; Xu, N S; Xu, W; Yan, Q; Yang, J; Yang, M; Yang, Y; Ye, Q H; Yi, H; Yu, Y J; Yu, Z Q; Zeissler, S; Zhang, C; Zhang, J H; Zhang, M T; Zhang, S D; Zhang, S W; Zhang, X B; Zhang, Z; Zheng, Z M; Zhuang, H L; Zhukov, V; Zichichi, A; Zimmermann, N; Zuccon, P

2015-11-20

Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the helium flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. A precise measurement of the helium flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1.9 GV to 3 TV based on 50 million events is presented and compared to the proton flux. The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV. The rigidity dependence of the helium flux spectral index is similar to that of the proton spectral index though the magnitudes are different. Remarkably, the spectral index of the proton to helium flux ratio increases with rigidity up to 45 GV and then becomes constant; the flux ratio above 45 GV is well described by a single power law.

Precision Measurement of the Helium Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays of Rigidities 1.9 GV to 3 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilar, M.; Aisa, D.; Alpat, B.; Alvino, A.; Ambrosi, G.; Andeen, K.; Arruda, L.; Attig, N.; Azzarello, P.; Bachlechner, A.; Barao, F.; Barrau, A.; Barrin, L.; Bartoloni, A.; Basara, L.; Battarbee, M.; Battiston, R.; Bazo, J.; Becker, U.; Behlmann, M.; Beischer, B.; Berdugo, J.; Bertucci, B.; Bindi, V.; Bizzaglia, S.; Bizzarri, M.; Boella, G.; de Boer, W.; Bollweg, K.; Bonnivard, V.; Borgia, B.; Borsini, S.; Boschini, M. J.; Bourquin, M.; Burger, J.; Cadoux, F.; Cai, X. D.; Capell, M.; Caroff, S.; Casaus, J.; Castellini, G.; Cernuda, I.; Cerreta, D.; Cervelli, F.; Chae, M. J.; Chang, Y. H.; Chen, A. I.; Chen, G. M.; Chen, H.; Chen, H. S.; Cheng, L.; Chou, H. Y.; Choumilov, E.; Choutko, V.; Chung, C. H.; Clark, C.; Clavero, R.; Coignet, G.; Consolandi, C.; Contin, A.; Corti, C.; Gil, E. Cortina; Coste, B.; Creus, W.; Crispoltoni, M.; Cui, Z.; Dai, Y. M.; Delgado, C.; Della Torre, S.; Demirköz, M. B.; Derome, L.; Di Falco, S.; Di Masso, L.; Dimiccoli, F.; Díaz, C.; von Doetinchem, P.; Donnini, F.; Duranti, M.; D'Urso, D.; Egorov, A.; Eline, A.; Eppling, F. J.; Eronen, T.; Fan, Y. Y.; Farnesini, L.; Feng, J.; Fiandrini, E.; Fiasson, A.; Finch, E.; Fisher, P.; Formato, V.; Galaktionov, Y.; Gallucci, G.; García, B.; García-López, R.; Gargiulo, C.; Gast, H.; Gebauer, I.; Gervasi, M.; Ghelfi, A.; Giovacchini, F.; Goglov, P.; Gong, J.; Goy, C.; Grabski, V.; Grandi, D.; Graziani, M.; Guandalini, C.; Guerri, I.; Guo, K. H.; Haas, D.; Habiby, M.; Haino, S.; Han, K. C.; He, Z. H.; Heil, M.; Hoffman, J.; Hsieh, T. H.; Huang, Z. C.; Huh, C.; Incagli, M.; Ionica, M.; Jang, W. Y.; Jinchi, H.; Kanishev, K.; Kim, G. N.; Kim, K. S.; Kirn, Th.; Korkmaz, M. A.; Kossakowski, R.; Kounina, O.; Kounine, A.; Koutsenko, V.; Krafczyk, M. S.; La Vacca, G.; Laudi, E.; Laurenti, G.; Lazzizzera, I.; Lebedev, A.; Lee, H. T.; Lee, S. C.; Leluc, C.; Li, H. L.; Li, J. Q.; Li, J. Q.; Li, Q.; Li, Q.; Li, T. X.; Li, W.; Li, Y.; Li, Z. H.; Li, Z. Y.; Lim, S.; Lin, C. H.; Lipari, P.; Lippert, T.; Liu, D.; Liu, H.; Liu, Hu; Lolli, M.; Lomtadze, T.; Lu, M. J.; Lu, S. Q.; Lu, Y. S.; Luebelsmeyer, K.; Luo, F.; Luo, J. Z.; Lv, S. S.; Majka, R.; Mañá, C.; Marín, J.; Martin, T.; Martínez, G.; Masi, N.; Maurin, D.; Menchaca-Rocha, A.; Meng, Q.; Mo, D. C.; Morescalchi, L.; Mott, P.; Müller, M.; Nelson, T.; Ni, J. Q.; Nikonov, N.; Nozzoli, F.; Nunes, P.; Obermeier, A.; Oliva, A.; Orcinha, M.; Palmonari, F.; Palomares, C.; Paniccia, M.; Papi, A.; Pauluzzi, M.; Pedreschi, E.; Pensotti, S.; Pereira, R.; Picot-Clemente, N.; Pilo, F.; Piluso, A.; Pizzolotto, C.; Plyaskin, V.; Pohl, M.; Poireau, V.; Putze, A.; Quadrani, L.; Qi, X. M.; Qin, X.; Qu, Z. Y.; Räihä, T.; Rancoita, P. G.; Rapin, D.; Ricol, J. S.; Rodríguez, I.; Rosier-Lees, S.; Rozhkov, A.; Rozza, D.; Sagdeev, R.; Sandweiss, J.; Saouter, P.; Schael, S.; Schmidt, S. M.; von Dratzig, A. Schulz; Schwering, G.; Scolieri, G.; Seo, E. S.; Shan, B. S.; Shan, Y. H.; Shi, J. Y.; Shi, X. Y.; Shi, Y. M.; Siedenburg, T.; Son, D.; Song, J. W.; Spada, F.; Spinella, F.; Sun, W.; Sun, W. H.; Tacconi, M.; Tang, C. P.; Tang, X. W.; Tang, Z. C.; Tao, L.; Tescaro, D.; Ting, Samuel C. C.; Ting, S. M.; Tomassetti, N.; Torsti, J.; Türkoǧlu, C.; Urban, T.; Vagelli, V.; Valente, E.; Vannini, C.; Valtonen, E.; Vaurynovich, S.; Vecchi, M.; Velasco, M.; Vialle, J. P.; Vitale, V.; Vitillo, S.; Wang, L. Q.; Wang, N. H.; Wang, Q. L.; Wang, R. S.; Wang, X.; Wang, Z. X.; Weng, Z. L.; Whitman, K.; Wienkenhöver, J.; Willenbrock, M.; Wu, H.; Wu, X.; Xia, X.; Xie, M.; Xie, S.; Xiong, R. Q.; Xu, N. S.; Xu, W.; Yan, Q.; Yang, J.; Yang, M.; Yang, Y.; Ye, Q. H.; Yi, H.; Yu, Y. J.; Yu, Z. Q.; Zeissler, S.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, J. H.; Zhang, M. T.; Zhang, S. D.; Zhang, S. W.; Zhang, X. B.; Zhang, Z.; Zheng, Z. M.; Zhuang, H. L.; Zhukov, V.; Zichichi, A.; Zimmermann, N.; Zuccon, P.; AMS Collaboration

2015-11-01

Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the helium flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. A precise measurement of the helium flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1.9 GV to 3 TV based on 50 million events is presented and compared to the proton flux. The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV. The rigidity dependence of the helium flux spectral index is similar to that of the proton spectral index though the magnitudes are different. Remarkably, the spectral index of the proton to helium flux ratio increases with rigidity up to 45 GV and then becomes constant; the flux ratio above 45 GV is well described by a single power law.

Simultaneous ionization-excitation of helium to the 3s, 3p, and 3d states of He+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zatsarinny, Oleg; Bartschat, Klaus

2015-05-01

We extended our work on ionization of helium with simultaneous excitation to the n = 2 states to include the n = 3 manifold of the residual ion. This requires the inclusion of pseudo-states constructed on the 3s, 3p, and 3d ionic core. We used a parallelized version of the B-spline R-matrix (BSR) package to perform a calculation with 1,254 target states, resulting in up to 3,027 coupled channels and matrices of rank up to 200,000 to be diagonalized. The triple-differential cross section (TDCS) was extracted by the projection method. We obtain excellent agreement with experiment regarding the angular dependence of the TDCS for all kinematical situations available for comparison. Some discrepancies remain for the absolute magnitude. Results for the n = 2 states are stable and closely agree with previous predictions. Work supported by the United States National Science Foundation under grants No. PHY-1212450, PHY-1430245 and the XSEDE allocation PHY-090031.

Groundwater environmental tracer data collected from the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in Montgomery County and adjacent counties, Texas, 2008

USGS Publications Warehouse

Oden, Timothy D.

2011-01-01

The Gulf Coast aquifer system is the primary water supply for Montgomery County in southeastern Texas, including part of the Houston metropolitan area and the cities of Magnolia, Conroe, and The Woodlands Township, Texas. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, collected environmental tracer data in the Gulf Coast aquifer system, primarily in Montgomery County. Forty existing groundwater wells screened in the Gulf Coast aquifer system were selected for sampling in Montgomery County (38 wells), Waller County (1 well), and Walker County (1 well). Groundwater-quality samples, physicochemical properties, and water-level data were collected once from each of the 40 wells during March-September 2008. Groundwater-quality samples were analyzed for dissolved gases and the environmental tracers sulfur hexafluoride, chlorofluorocarbons, tritium, helium-4, and helium-3/tritium. Water samples were collected and processed onsite using methods designed to minimize changes to the water-sample chemistry or contamination from the atmosphere. Replicate samples for quality assurance and quality control were collected with each environmental sample. Well-construction information and environmental tracer data for March-September 2008 are presented.

Electron capture in collisions of S4+ with helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. G.; Turner, A. R.; Cooper, D. L.; Schultz, D. R.; Rakovic, M. J.; Fritsch, W.; Stancil, P. C.; Zygelman, B.

2002-07-01

Charge transfer due to collisions of ground-state S4+(3s2 1S) ions with helium is investigated for energies between 0.1 meV u-1 and 10 MeV u-1. Total and state-selective single electron capture (SEC) cross sections and rate coefficients are obtained utilizing the quantum mechanical molecular-orbital close-coupling (MOCC), atomic-orbital close-coupling (AOCC), classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) and continuum distorted wave methods. The MOCC calculations utilize ab initio adiabatic potentials and nonadiabatic radial coupling matrix elements obtained with the spin-coupled valence-bond approach. Previous data are limited to a calculation of the total SEC rate coefficient using the Landau-Zener model that is, in comparison to the results presented here, three orders of magnitude smaller. The MOCC SEC cross sections at low energy reveal a multichannel interference effect. True double capture is also investigated with the AOCC and CTMC approaches while autoionizing double capture and transfer ionization (TI) is explored with CTMC. SEC is found to be the dominant process except for E>200 keV u-1 when TI becomes the primary capture channel. Astrophysical implications are briefly discussed.

The analytical methods used in examining resistance of hydrogeological systems to anthropogenic pollution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najman, Joanna; Bielewski, Jarosław; Śliwka, Ireneusz

2013-04-01

key words: gas chromatography (GC) measurement method, groundwater dating, He, SF6, F-11, F-12, Ar, Ne. In this work the method for evaluating resistance hydrogeological systems to anthropogenic pollution using environmental tracers is described. Resistance groundwater systems to anthropogenic pollution is correlated with the age of water, which can be determined by means of environmental tracers SF6, F-11, F-12 [1] and He. To correct measured values of He and SF6 the temperature of recharge and the excess air is needed and can be determined by measuring Ne and Ar concentrations in groundwater. This paper describes three measurement GC systems to determine the concentrations of greenhouse gases: sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and chlorofluorocarbons F-11, F-12 [2], the noble gases neon (Ne), argon (Ar) [3] and helium (He) [4] in groundwater. The first system for measurements of the concentration of SF6, F-11 and F-12 consists of a gas chromatograph, type N504 is supplied with nitrogen carrier gas with a purity of 6.0. It is equipped with two packed columns K1 and K2 running at 60°C with the use of the "back-flush" column switching and electron capture detector (ECD) operating at 300°C. Second system for measuring the concentration of the noble gases argon and neon, is composed of a dual Shimadzu gas chromatograph. It is equipped with two columns K4 and K5 operating at 30°C, thermalconductivity detector (TCD) for analysis of argon and helium detector with pulse discharge (PDHID) for analysis of neon. This chromatograph is powered by helium carrier gas 6.0. The third system measures the concentration of helium, consists of a gas chromatograph equipped with a TCD detector and three packed columns filled with molecular sieve type 5A and activated carbon. The carrier gas in this system is argon 6.0. Detection limit, LOD for each measurement systems for the tested compounds are: 0,06 fmol/L for SF6, 15 fmol/L for F-11, 10 fmol/L for F-12, 1,9•10-8 cm3STP/cm3 for Ne, 3,1•10-6 cm3STP/cm3 for Ar and 1,2•10-8cm3STP/gH2O for He. Work performed within the strategic research project "Technologies supporting the development of safe nuclear power" financed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR). Research Task "Development of methods to assure nuclear safety and radiation protection for current and future needs of nuclear power plants", contract No. SP/J/6/143339/11. This work was also supported by grant No. N N525 3488 38 from the Polish National Science Centre. [1] I. Śliwka, et al., Long-Term Measurements of CFCs and SF6 Concentration in Air, Polish J. of Eviron. Stud. Vol. 19, No. 4, 811-815, 2010. [2] I. Śliwka, et al., Headspace Extraction Method for Simultaneus Determination of SF6, CCl3F2, CCl2F2 and CCl2FCClF2 in Water, Chem. Anal. (Warsaw) 49,535, 2004. [3] P. Mochalski, Chromatographic method for the determination of Ar, Ne and N2 in water, Ph.D. thesis, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, 2003 (in polish). [4] J. Najman, Development of chromatographic measurement method of helium concentration in groundwater for the purpose of dating in the hydrological issues, Ph.D. thesis, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, 2008, http://www.ifj.edu.pl/SD/rozprawy_dr/rozpr_Najman.pdf?lang=pl (in polish).

Restricted Closed Shell Hartree Fock Roothaan Matrix Method Applied to Helium Atom Using Mathematica

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Acosta, César R.; Tapia, J. Alejandro; Cab, César

2014-01-01

Slater type orbitals were used to construct the overlap and the Hamiltonian core matrices; we also found the values of the bi-electron repulsion integrals. The Hartree Fock Roothaan approximation process starts with setting an initial guess value for the elements of the density matrix; with these matrices we constructed the initial Fock matrix.…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miller, Michael K; Parish, Chad M

Helium accumulation negatively impacts structural materials used in neutron-irradiated environments, such as fission and fusion reactors. Next-generation fission and fusion reactors will require structural materials, such as steels, resistant to large neutron doses yet see service temperatures in the range most affected by helium embrittlement. Previous work has indicated the difficulty of experimentally differentiating nanometer-sized helium bubbles from the Ti-Y-O rich nanoclustsers (NCs) in radiation-tolerant nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs). Because the NCs are expected to sequester helium away from grain boundaries and reduce embrittlement, experimental methods to study simultaneously the NC and bubble populations are needed. In this study, aberration-correctedmore » scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) results combining high-collection-efficiency X-ray spectrum images (SIs), multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA), and Fresnel-contrast bright-field STEM imaging have been used for such a purpose. Results indicate that Fresnel-contrast imaging, with careful attention to TEM-STEM reciprocity, differentiates bubbles from NCs, and MVSA of X-ray SIs unambiguously identifies NCs. Therefore, combined Fresnel-contrast STEM and X-ray SI is an effective STEM-based method to characterize helium-bearing NFAs.« less

20 K Helium Refrigeration System for NASA-JSC Chamber-A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Homan, J.; Redman, R.; Ganni, V.; Sidi-Yekhelef, A.; Knudsen, P.; Norton, R.; Lauterbach, J.; Linza, R.; Vargas, G.

2013-01-01

A new 20 K helium refrigerator installed at NASA Johnson Space Center's Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) was successfully commissioned and tested in 2012. The refrigerator is used to create a deep space environment within SESL s Chamber A to perform ground testing of the James Webb Space Telescope. The chamber previously and currently still has helium cryopumping panels (CPP) and LN2 shrouds used to create Low Earth Orbit environments. Now with the new refrigerator and new helium shrouds (45 x 65 ) the chamber can create a deep space environment. The process design, system analysis, specification development, and commissioning oversight were performed by the cryogenics department at Jefferson Labs, while the contracts and system installation was performed by the ESC group at JSC. Commissioning data indicate a inverse coefficient of performance better than 70 W/W for a 18 KW load at 20 K (accounting for liquid nitrogen precooling power) that remains essentially constant down to 1/3 of this load. Even at 10 percent of the maximum capacity, the performance is better than 140 W/W at 20K. The refrigerator exceeded all design goals and demonstrated the ability to support a wide load range from 10kW at 15 K to 100 kW at 100K. The refrigerator is capable of operating at any load temperature from 15K to ambient with tight temperature stability. The new shroud (36 tons of aluminum) can be cooled from room temperature to 20 K in 24 hours. This paper will outline the process design and commissioning results.

Electron interaction with nitromethane embedded in helium droplets: attachment and ionization measurements.

PubMed

Ferreira da Silva, F; Ptasińska, S; Denifl, S; Gschliesser, D; Postler, J; Matias, C; Märk, T D; Limão-Vieira, P; Scheier, P

2011-11-07

Results of a detailed study on electron interactions with nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2)) embedded in helium nanodroplets are reported. Anionic and cationic products formed are analysed by mass spectrometry. When the doped helium droplets are irradiated with low-energy electrons of about 2 eV kinetic energy, exclusively parent cluster anions (CH(3)NO(2))(n)(-) are formed. At 8.5 eV, three anion cluster series are observed, i.e., (CH(3)NO(2))(n)(-), [(CH(3)NO(2))(n)-H](-), and (CH(3)NO(2))(n)NO(2)(-), the latter being the most abundant. The results obtained for anions are compared with previous electron attachment studies with bare nitromethane and nitromethane condensed on a surface. The cation chemistry (induced by electron ionization of the helium matrix at 70 eV and subsequent charge transfer from He(+) to the dopant cluster) is dominated by production of methylated and protonated nitromethane clusters, (CH(3)NO(2))(n)CH(3)(+) and (CH(3)NO(2))(n)H(+).

Helium diffusion in the sun

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bahcall, J. N.; Pinsonneault, M. H.

1992-01-01

We calculate improved standard solar models using the new Livermore (OPAL) opacity tables, an accurate (exportable) nuclear energy generation routine which takes account of recent measurements and analyses, and the recent Anders-Grevesse determination of heavy element abundances. We also evaluate directly the effect of the diffusion of helium with respect to hydrogen on the calculated neutrino fluxes, on the primordial solar helium abundance, and on the depth of the convective zone. Helium diffusion increases the predicted event rates by about 0.8 SNU, or 11 percent of the total rate, in the chlorine solar neutrino experiment, by about 3.5 SNU, or 3 percent, in the gallium solar neutrino experiments, and by about 12 percent in the Kamiokande and SNO solar neutrino experiments. The best standard solar model including helium diffusion and the most accurate nuclear parameters, element abundances, and radiative opacity predicts a value of 8.0 SNU +/- 3.0 SNU for the C1-37 experiment and 132 +21/-17 SNU for the Ga - 71 experiment, where the uncertainties include 3 sigma errors for all measured input parameters.

Measurement of quasi-isentropic compressibility of helium and deuterium at pressures of 1500-2000 GPa

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mochalov, M. A., E-mail: postmaster@ifv.vniief.ru; Il'kaev, R. I.; Fortov, V. E.

2012-10-15

The quasi-isentropic compressibility of helium and deuterium plasmas at pressures of up to 1500-2000 GPa has been measured using devices with spherical geometry and an X-ray diagnostic complex comprising three betatrons and a multichannel imaging system with electro-optic gamma detectors. A deuterium density of 4.5 g/cm{sup 3} and a helium density of 3.8 g/cm{sup 3} have been obtained at pressures of 2210 and 1580 GPa, respectively. The internal energy of a deuterium plasma at the indicated pressure is about 1 MJ/cm{sup 3}, which is about 100 times greater than the specific energy of condensed chemical explosives. Analysis of the obtainedmore » data shows that the degree of helium ionization under the achieved plasma compression parameters is about 0.9.« less

Role of the He I and He II metastables in the resonance 2p 2P°1/2, 3/2 B III level population

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djeniže, S.; Srećković, A.; Bukvić, S.

2007-01-01

Aims:The aim of this work is to present atomic processes which lead to an extra population of the 2p ~^2P°1/2, 3/2 B III resonance levels in helium plasma generating intense radiation in the B III 206.578 nm and 206.723 nm lines. Methods: The line profiles were recorded using a step-by-step (7.3 pm) technique which provides monitoring of the line shapes continually during the plasma decay and gives the possibility to compare line shapes at various times in the same plasma. Results: On the basis of the line intensity decays of the doubly ionized boron resonance spectral lines in laboratory nitrogen and helium plasmas, we have found the existence of a permanent energy transfer from He I and He II metastables to the 2p ^2P°1/2, 3/2 B III resonance levels. The shapes of the mentioned lines are also observed. At electron temperatures of about 18 000 K and electron densities about 1.1× 1023 m-3, the Stark broadening was found as a main B III line broadening mechanism. The measured Stark widths (W) are compared with the Doppler width (W_D) and with the splitting in the hyperfine structure (Δ_hfs). Our measured W data are found to be much higher than results obtained by means of various theoretical approaches. Conclusions: . The He I and He II metastables over populate the B III resonance levels leading to populations higher than predicted by LTE model. Consequently, the emitted B III resonance lines are more intense than expected from LTE model. This fact can be of importance if B III resonance line intensities are used for abundance determination purposes in astrophysics. Similar behavior can be expected for some lines emitted by astrophysical interesting emitters: Al III, Si III, Sc III, Cr III, V III, Ti III, Fe III, Co III, Ni III, Ga III, Zr III, Y III, Nb III, In III, Sn III, Sb III, Au III, Pb III and Bi III in hot and dense helium plasmas.

Development of an Agent-based Model to Analyze Contemporary Helium Markets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riddle, Matthew E.; Uckun, Canan; Conzelmann, Guenter

Although U.S. helium demand has remained relatively flat since 2009, exports of helium have increased significantly since then, driven primarily by demand for electronic and semiconductor manufacturing in Asia. In the midst of this global demand shift, the Helium Act dictates a new procedure for pricing and distributing the gas through a reserve that historically functioned as a loose “oligarchy.” The new procedure requires prices to be determined by the open market through auctions and a survey of market prices, as opposed to increasing prices according to the consumer price index. Response to these changes has caused temporary shortages, pricemore » increases, and a significant increase in the development of the helium extraction technologies used to produce helium from formerly marginal sources. Technologies are being developed and refined to extract helium from formerly low-yielding natural gas fields containing much lower amounts of helium than the previously considered economic threshold of 0.3%. Combining these transformative policies with the potential for new and significant global supplies from Qatar, Algeria, and Russia could lead to new and unforeseen market behaviors and reactions from global helium markets. The objective of the project is to analyze the global helium markets.« less

Prodigious degassing of a billion years of accumulated radiogenic helium at Yellowstone

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lowenstern, Jacob B.; Evans, William C.; Bergfeld, D.; Hunt, Andrew G.

2014-01-01

Helium is used as a critical tracer throughout the Earth sciences, where its relatively simple isotopic systematics is used to trace degassing from the mantle, to date groundwater and to time the rise of continents1. The hydrothermal system at Yellowstone National Park is famous for its high helium-3/helium-4 isotope ratio, commonly cited as evidence for a deep mantle source for the Yellowstone hotspot2. However, much of the helium emitted from this region is actually radiogenic helium-4 produced within the crust by α-decay of uranium and thorium. Here we show, by combining gas emission rates with chemistry and isotopic analyses, that crustal helium-4 emission rates from Yellowstone exceed (by orders of magnitude) any conceivable rate of generation within the crust. It seems that helium has accumulated for (at least) many hundreds of millions of years in Archaean (more than 2.5 billion years old) cratonic rocks beneath Yellowstone, only to be liberated over the past two million years by intense crustal metamorphism induced by the Yellowstone hotspot. Our results demonstrate the extremes in variability of crustal helium efflux on geologic timescales and imply crustal-scale open-system behaviour of helium in tectonically and magmatically active regions.

79. VIEW FROM SOUTH OF NITROGEN AND HELIUM STORAGE TANKS ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

79. VIEW FROM SOUTH OF NITROGEN AND HELIUM STORAGE TANKS AND CONTROL SKIDS ON SLC-3W FUEL APRON - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 West, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

Helium as a Dynamical Tracer in the Thermosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thayer, J. P.; Liu, X.; Wang, W.; Burns, A. G.

2014-12-01

Helium has been a missing constituent in current thermosphere general circulation models. Although typically a minor gas relative to the more abundant major gasses, its unique properties of being chemically inert and light make it an excellent tracer of thermosphere dynamics. Studying helium can help simplify understanding of transport effects. This understanding can then be projected to other gasses whose overall structure and behavior are complex but, by contrasting with helium, can be evaluated for its transport dependencies. The dynamical influences on composition impact estimates of thermosphere mass density, where helium during solar minima can have a direct contribution, as well as ionosphere electron density. Furthermore, helium estimates in the upper thermosphere during solar minima have not been observed since the 1976 minimum. Indirect estimates of helium in the upper thermosphere during the recent extreme solar minimum indicates winter-time helium concentrations exceeded NRL-MSISE00 estimates by 30%-70% during periods of quiet geomagnetic activity. For times of active geomagnetic conditions, helium concentrations near ~450 km altitude are estimated to decrease while oxygen concentrations increase. An investigation of the altitude structure in thermosphere mass density storm-time perturbations reveal the important effects of composition change with maximum perturbation occurring near the He/O transition region and a much weaker maximum occurring near the O/N2 transition region. However, evaluating helium behavior and its role as a dynamical tracer is not straightforward and model development is necessary to adequately establish the connection to specific dynamical processes. Fortunately recent efforts have led to the implementation of helium modules in the NCAR TIEGCM and TIME-GCM. In this invited talk, the simulated helium behavior and structure will be shown to reproduce observations (such as the wintertime helium bulge and storm-time response) and its utility as a dynamical tracer of thermosphere dynamics will be elucidated.

The excitation of helium resonance lines in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porter, J. G.; Gebbie, K. B.; November, L. J.

1985-01-01

Helium resonance line intensities are calculated for a set of six flare models corresponding to two rates of heating and three widely varying incident fluxes of soft X-rays. The differing ionization and excitation equilibria produced by these models, the processes which dominate the various cases, and the predicted helium line spectra are examined. The line intensities and their ratios are compared with values derived from Skylab NRL spectroheliograms for a class M flare, thus determining which of these models most nearly represents the density vs temperature structure and soft X-ray flux in the flaring solar transition region, and the temperature and dominant mechanaism of formation of the helium line spectrum during a flare.

FRIB cryogenic system status

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casagrande, F.; Ganni, V.; Knudsen, P.; Jones, S.; Sidi-Yekhlef, A.; Tatsumoto, H.; Nguyen, C.; Fila, A.; Vargas, G.; Dudley, C.; Joseph, N.; Stanley, S.; Dixon, K.; Norton, R.; Laverdure, N.; Yang, S.

2017-12-01

Construction and installation of the FRIB 4.5 K helium refrigeration system is nearing completion, with compressor system commissioning and 4.5 K refrigerator commissioning on schedule to occur in late 2017. The LINAC 4.5 K helium distribution system, all major process equipment, and the cryogenic distribution for the sub-systems have been procured and delivered. The sub-atmospheric cold box fabrication is planned to begin the summer of 2017, which is on schedule for commissioning in the spring of 2018. Commissioning of the support systems, such as the helium gas storage, helium purifier, and oil processor is planned to be complete by the summer of 2017. This paper presents details of the equipment procured, installation status and commissioning plans.

The Hottest Horizontal-Branch Stars in Omega Centauri: Late Hot Flasher vs. Helium Enrichment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moehler, S.; Dreizler, S.; Lanz, T.; Bono, G.; Sweigart, A V.; Calamida, A.; Monelli, M.; Nonino, M.

2007-01-01

UV observations of some massive globular clusters uncovered a significant population of very hot stars below the hot end of the horizontal branch (HB), the so-called blue hook stars. This feature might be explained either by the late hot flasher scenario here stars experience the helium flash while on the white dwarf cooling curve or by the helium-rich sub-population recently postulated to exist in some clusters. Spectroscopic analyses of blue hook stars in omega Cen and NGC 2808 support the late hot flasher scenario, but the stars contain much less helium than expected and the predicted C, N enrichment could not be verified from existing data. We want to determine effective temperatures, surface gravities and abundances of He, C, N in blue hook and canonical extreme horizontal branch (EHB) star candidates. Moderately high resolution spectra of stars at the hot end of the blue horizontal branch in the globular cluster omega Cen were analysed for atmospheric parameters (T(sub eff), log g) and abundances using LTE and Non-LTE model atmospheres. In the temperature range 30,000 K to 50,000 K we find that 37% of our stars are helium-poor (log nHe/nH less than -2), 49% have solar helium abundance within a factor of 3 (-1.5 less than or equal to log nHe/nH less than or equal to -0.5) and 14% are helium rich (log nHe/nH greater than -0.4). We also find carbon enrichment in step with helium enrichment, with a maximum carbon enrichment of 3% by mass. At least 30% of the hottest HB stars in omega Centauri show helium abundances well above the predictions from the helium enrichment scenario (Y = 0.42 corresponding to log nHe/nH approximately equal to -0.74). In addition the most helium-rich stars show strong carbon enrichment as predicted by the late hot flasher scenario. We conclude that the helium-rich HB stars in omega Cen cannot be explained solely by the helium-enrichment scenario invoked to explain the blue main sequence.

Thermophysicochemical Reaction of ZrCo-Hydrogen-Helium System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Kwangjin; Kang, Hee-Seok; Yun, Sei-Hun; Chung, Hongsuk

2017-11-01

Nuclear fusion energy, which is clean and infinite, has been studied for more than half a century. Efforts are in progress worldwide for the demonstration and validation of nuclear fusion energy. Korea has been developing hydrogen isotope storage and delivery system (SDS) technologies including a basic scientific study on a hydrogen storage medium. An SDS bed, which is a key component of the SDS, is used for storing hydrogen isotopes in a metal hydride form and supplying them to a tokamak. Thermophysicochemical properties of the ZrCo-H2-He system are investigated for the practical utilization of a hydriding alloy system. The hydriding reaction, in which ZrCoHx is composed as ZrCo absorbing hydrogen, is exothermic. The dehydriding reaction, in which ZrCoHx decomposes into ZrCo and hydrogen, is endothermic. The heat generated through the hydriding reaction interrupts the hydriding progress. The heat loss by a dehydriding reaction impedes the dehydriding progress. The tritium decay product, helium-3, covers the ZrCo and keeps the hydrogen from contact with ZrCo in the SDS bed. In this study, we designed and fabricated a ZrCo bed and its performance test rig. The helium blanketing effect on a ZrCo hydrogen reaction with 0 % to 20 % helium content in a gaseous phase and a helium blanket removal method were studied experimentally. In addition, the volumetric flow rates and temperature at the beginning of a ZrCo hydrogen reaction in a hydrogen or helium atmosphere, and the cooling of the SDS bed by radiation only and by both radiation and natural convection related to the reuse cycle, were obtained.

Studies on the effects of helium on the microstructural evolution of V-3.8Cr-3.9Ti

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doraiswamy, N.; Kestel, B.; Alexander, D.E.

1997-04-01

The favorable physical and mechanical properties of V-3.8Cr-3.9Ti (wt.%), when subjected to neutron irradiation, has lead to considerable attention being focused on it for use in fusion reactor structural applications. However, there is limited data on the effects of helium on physical and mechanical properties of this alloy. Understanding these effects are important since helium will be generated by direct {alpha}-injection or transmutation reactions in the fusion environment, typically at a rate of {approx}5 appm He/dpa. Helium has been shown to cause substantial embrittlement, even at room temperature in vanadium and its alloys. Recent simulations of the fusion environment usingmore » the Dynamic Helium Charging Experiments (DHCE) have also indicated that the mechanical properties of vanadium alloys are altered by the presence of helium in post irradiation tests performed at room temperature. While the strengths were lower, room temperature ductilities of the DHCE specimens were higher than those of non-DHCE specimens. These changes have been attributed to the formation of different types of hardening centers in these alloys due to He trapping. Independent thermal desorption experiments suggest that these hardening centers may be associated with helium-vacancy-X (where X = O, N, and C) complexes. These complexes are stable below 290{degrees}C and persist at room temperature. However, there has been no direct microstructural evidence correlating the complexes with irradiation effects. An examination of the irradiation induced microstructure in samples preimplanted with He to different levels would enable such a correlation.« less

Revisiting the diffusion mechanism of helium in UO2: A DFT+U study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, X.-Y.; Andersson, D. A.

2018-01-01

The understanding of migration properties of helium atoms after their generation through α-decay of actinides in spent nuclear fuels is important for the safety of nuclear fuel storage and disposal. The diffusion of helium in UO2 is revisited by using the DFT+U simulation methodology employing the "U-ramping" method to address the issue of metastable energy states. A novel diffusion mechanism by helium interstitials, the "asymmetric hop" mechanism, is reported and compared to other diffusion mechanisms including an oxygen vacancy mediated mechanism and available experimental diffusion data. The new mechanism is shown to be the dominant one over a wide temperature range.

Ultra-sensitive atomic magnetometer for studying magnetization fields produced by hyperpolarized helium-3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zou, Sheng; Zhang, Hong; Fang, Jian-cheng, E-mail: fangjiancheng@buaa.edu.cn

2016-04-14

An ingenious approach to acquire the absolute magnetization fields produced by polarized atoms has been presented in this paper. The method was based on detection of spin precession signal of the hyperpolarized helium-3 with ultra-sensitive atomic magnetometer of potassium by referring to time-domain analysis. At first, dynamic responses of the mixed spin ensembles in the presence of variant external magnetic fields have been analyzed by referring to the Bloch equation. Subsequently, the relevant equipment was established to achieve the functions of hyperpolarizing helium-3 and detecting the precession of spin-polarized noble gas. By analyzing the transient response of the magnetometer inmore » time domain, we obtained the relevant damping ratio and natural frequency. When the value of damping ratio reached the maximum value of 0.0917, the combined atomic magnetometer was in equilibrium. We draw a conclusion from the steady response: the magnetization fields of the polarized electrons and the hyperpolarized nuclei were corresponding 16.12 nT and 90.74 nT. Under this situation, the nuclear magnetization field could offset disturbing magnetic fields perpendicular to the orientation of the electronic polarization, and it preserved the electronic spin staying in a stable axis. Therefore, the combined magnetometer was particularly attractive for inertial measurements.« less

Construction and Performance of a Superconducting Multipole Wiggler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, C. S.; Wang, B.; Chen, J. Y.; Chang, C. H.; Chen, H. H.; Fan, T. C.; Lin, F. Y.; Huang, M. H.; Chang, C. C.; Hsu, S. N.; Hsiung, G. Y.; Hsu, K. T.; Chen, J.; Chien, Y. C.; Chen, J. R.; Chen, C. T.

2004-05-01

A 3.2 Tesla superconducting multipole wiggler was designed and fabricated as an X-ray source. The magnet assembly, which consists of 32 pairs of racetrack NbTi superconducting coils with a periodic length of 60 mm, provides 28 effective poles. A 1.4056 m long elliptical cold-bore stainless steel beam duct with taper flanges and a wall thickness of 1 mm, was developed and constructed to fit the ultra-high vacuum condition for electron beam. The magnetic field strength was measured in liquid helium using a cryogenic Hall probe, revealing a field behavior very close to behavior consistent with the designed values. A Hall generator and the stretch wire methods are used to determine the transfer function of the peak field, the first and second integrated field distributions, and the good field region of the magnet. The quench protection of the magnet, the control algorithm for automatic filling of liquid helium, and the boil off rate of liquid helium and liquid nitrogen will also be discussed.

Helium ignition in rotating magnetized CO white dwarfs leading to fast and faint rather than classical Type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neunteufel, P.; Yoon, S.-C.; Langer, N.

2017-06-01

Context. Based mostly on stellar models that do not include rotation, CO white dwarfs that accrete helium at rates of about 10-8M⊙/ yr have been put forward as candidate progenitors for a number of transient astrophysical phenomena, including Type Ia supernovae and the peculiar and fainter Type Iax supernovae. Aims: Here we study the impact of accretion-induced spin-up including the subsequent magnetic field generation, angular momentum transport, and viscous heating on the white dwarf evolution up to the point of helium ignition. Methods: We resolve the structure of the helium accreting white dwarf models with a one-dimensional Langrangian hydrodynamic code, modified to include rotational and magnetic effects, in 315 model sequences adopting different mass-transfer rates (10-8-10-7M⊙/ yr), and initial white dwarf masses (0.54-1.10 M⊙) and luminosities (0.01-1 L⊙). Results: We find magnetic angular momentum transport, which leads to quasi-solid-body rotation, profoundly impacts the evolution of the white dwarf models, and the helium ignition conditions. Our rotating lower mass (0.54 and 0.82 M⊙) models accrete up to 50% more mass up to ignition than the non-rotating case, while it is the opposite for our more massive models. Furthermore, we find that rotation leads to helium ignition densities that are up to ten times smaller, except for the lowest adopted initial white dwarf mass. Ignition densities on the order of 106 g/cm3 are only found for the lowest accretion rates and for large amounts of accreted helium (≳0.4M⊙). However, correspondingly massive donor stars would transfer mass at much higher rates. We therefore expect explosive He-shell burning to mostly occur as deflagrations and at Ṁ > 2 × 10-8M⊙/ yr, regardless of white dwarf mass. Conclusions: Our results imply that helium accretion onto CO white dwarfs at the considered rates is unlikely to lead to the explosion of the CO core or to classical Type Ia supernovae, but may instead produce events that belong to the recently identified classes of faint and fast hydrogen-free supernovae.

CAN IBEX DETECT INTERSTELLAR NEUTRAL HELIUM OR OXYGEN FROM ANTI-RAM DIRECTIONS?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Galli, A.; Wurz, P.; Park, J.

To better constrain the parameters of the interstellar neutral flow, we searched the Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX)-Lo database for helium and oxygen from the interstellar medium in the anti-ram direction in the three years (2009–2011) with the lowest background rates. We found that IBEX-Lo cannot observe interstellar helium from the anti-ram direction because the helium energy is too low for indirect detection by sputtering off the IBEX-Lo conversion surface. Our results show that this sputtering process has a low energy threshold between 25 and 30 eV, whereas the energy of the incident helium is only 10 eV for these observations.more » Interstellar oxygen, on the other hand, could in principle be detected in the anti-ram hemisphere, but the expected magnitude of the signal is close to the detection limit imposed by counting statistics and by the magnetospheric foreground.« less

Genetic changes in mammalian cells transformed by helium ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durante, M.; Grossi, G.; Yang, T. C.; Roots, R.

Midterm Syrian Hamster embryo (SHE) cells were employed to study high LET-radiation induced tumorigenesis. Normal SHE cells (secondary passage) were irradiated with accelerated helium ions at an incident energy of 22 MeV/u (9-10 keV/μm). Transformed clones were isolated after growth in soft agar of cells obtained from the foci of the initial monolayer plated postirradiation. To study the progression process of malignant transformation, the transformed clones were followed by monolayer subculturing for prolonged periods of time. Subsequently, neoplasia tests in nude mice were done. In this work, however, we have focused on karyotypic changes in the banding patterns of the chromosomes during the early part of the progressive process of cell transformation for helium ion-induced transformed cells.

PRODUCTION OF HELIUM IN IRON METEORITES BY THE ACTION OF COSMIC RAYS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoffman, J.H.; Nier, A.O.

1958-12-15

The helium distribution in a slice from the iron meteorite, Grant, was measured aud plotted in the form of contour maps. The contours of constant helium show a minimum helium content and isotopic ratio, He/sup 3//He/sup 4/, near the center of the slice, tbe isotopic ratio varying from 0.26 near the center to 0.30 at the surface. A cosmogenic helium production rate equation was fitted to the data giving a He/sup 3//He/sup 4/ production ratio by primary cosmic rays of 0.50 and by secondary particles of 0.14. Primary and secondary particle interaction cross sections were found to be 540 mbmore » and 720 mb, respectively. The ratio of the average post-atmospheric radius to the pre- atmospheric radius of Grant was calculated to be 0.65. (auth)« less

Neutronic reactor thermal shield

DOEpatents

Wende, Charles W. J.

1976-06-15

1. The method of operating a water-cooled neutronic reactor having a graphite moderator which comprises flowing a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and helium, in which the helium comprises 40-60 volume percent of the mixture, in contact with the graphite moderator.

Boronization on NSTX using Deuterated Trimethylboron

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

W.R. Blanchard; R.C. Gernhardt; H.W. Kugel

2002-01-28

Boronization on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) has proved to be quite beneficial with increases in confinement and density, and decreases in impurities observed in the plasma. The boron has been applied to the interior surfaces of NSTX, about every 2 to 3 weeks of plasma operation, by producing a glow discharge in the vacuum vessel using deuterated trimethylboron (TMB) in a 10% mixture with helium. Special NSTX requirements restricted the selection of the candidate boronization method to the use of deuterated boron compounds. Deuterated TMB met these requirements, but is a hazardous gas and special care in themore » execution of the boronization process is required. This paper describes the existing GDC, Gas Injection, and Torus Vacuum Pumping System hardware used for this process, the glow discharge process, and the automated control system that allows for remote operation to maximize both the safety and efficacy of applying the boron coating. The administrative requirements and the detailed procedure for the setup, operation and shutdown of the process are also described.« less

Study of reverse Brayton cryocooler with Helium-Neon mixture for HTS cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhillon, A. K.; Ghosh, P.

2017-12-01

As observed in the earlier studies, helium is more efficient than neon as a refrigerant in a reverse Brayton cryocooler (RBC) from the thermodynamic point of view. However, the lower molecular weight of helium leads to higher refrigerant inventory as compared to neon. Thus, helium is suitable to realize the high thermodynamic efficiency of RBC whereas neon is appropriate for the compactness of the RBC. A binary mixture of helium and neon can be used to achieve high thermodynamic efficiency in the compact reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) based cryocooler. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyze the thermodynamic performance of the RBC with a binary mixture of helium and neon as the working fluid to provide 1 kW cooling load for high temperature superconductor (HTS) power cables working with a temperature range of 50 K to 70 K. The basic RBC is simulated using Aspen HYSYS V8.6®, a commercial process simulator. Sizing of each component based on the optimized process parameters for each refrigerant is performed based on a computer code developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES-V9.1). The recommendation is provided for the optimum mixture composition of the refrigerant based on the trade-off factors like thermodynamic efficiency such as the exergy efficiency and equipment considerations. The outcome of this study may be useful for recommending a suitable refrigerant for the RBC operating at a temperature level of 50 K to 70 K.

Solar flares and solar wind helium enrichments - July 1965-July 1967.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hirshberg, J.; Bame, S. J.; Robbins, D. E.

1972-01-01

It has previously been suggested that the very high relative abundances of helium occasionally observed in the solar wind mark the plasma accelerated by major solar flares. To confirm this hypothesis, we have studied the 43 spectra with He/H greater than 15% that were observed among 10,300 spectra collected by Vela 3 between July 1965-July 1967. Six new flare-enhancement events are discussed in this paper. It is concluded that the association of helium enhancements with major flares is real, nonrandom, and very strong. With this study, there are 12 cases of reliable associations between helium enhancements and flares reported in the literature. The general characteristics of these events are discussed. It is found that the flares are typically large and bright (2B or 3B), often they produce cosmic ray protons, and they are widely distributed in solar longitude. A qualitative discussion of some of the possibilities for the source of helium enhanced plasma is presented. It is suggested that the helium enriched plasma may be the piston producing the shock causing the Type II radio emission.

Quantum transition and decoherence of levitating polaron on helium film thickness under an electromagnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kenfack, S. C.; Fotue, A. J.; Fobasso, M. F. C.; Djomou, J.-R. D.; Tiotsop, M.; Ngouana, K. S. L.; Fai, L. C.

2017-12-01

We have studied the transition probability and decoherence time of levitating polaron in helium film thickness. By using a variational method of Pekar type, the ground and the first excited states of polaron are calculated above the liquid-helium film placed on the polar substrate. It is shown that the polaron transits from the ground to the excited state in the presence of an external electromagnetic field in the plane. We have seen that, in the helium film, the effects of the magnetic and electric fields on the polaron are opposite. It is also shown that the energy, transition probability and decoherence time of the polaron depend sensitively on the helium film thickness. We found that decoherence time decreases as a function of increasing electron-phonon coupling strength and the helium film thickness. It is seen that the film thickness can be considered as a new confinement in our system and can be adjusted in order to reduce decoherence.

Theoretical energies for the n = 1 and 2 states of the helium isoelectronic sequence up to Z = 100

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drake, G. W.

1988-01-01

The unified method described previously for combining high-precision nonrelativistic variational calculations with relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections is applied to the 1s2 1S0, 1s2s 1S0, 1s2s 1S0, 1s2s 3S1, 1s2p 1P1, and 1s2p 3P(0.1,2) states of helium-like ions. Detailed tabulations are presented for all ions in the range Z = 2-100 and are compared with a wide range of experimental data up to (Kr-34)+. The results for (U-90)+ significantly alter the recent Lamb shift measurement of Munger and Gould (1986) from 70.4 + or - 8.3 to 71.0 + or - 8.3 eV, in comparison with a revised theoretical value of 74.3 + or - 0.4 eV. The improved agreement is due to the inclusion of higher order two-electron corrections in the present work.

Evolution of the properties of helium nanobubbles during in situ annealing probed by spectrum imaging in the transmission electron microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alix, K.; David, M.-L.; Dérès, J.; Hébert, C.; Pizzagalli, L.

2018-03-01

The evolution of nanometric helium bubbles in silicon has been investigated using spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy during in situ annealing in the transmission electron microscope. This approach allows the simultaneous determination of both the morphology and the helium density in the bubbles at each step of the annealing. Structural modification and helium emission from bubbles of various diameters in the range 7.5 to 20 nm and various aspect ratios of 1.1 to 1.9 have been studied. We clearly show that helium emission takes place at temperatures where bubble migration had hardly started. At higher temperatures, the migration (and coalescence) of voids is clearly revealed. For helium density lower than 150 He nm-3 , the Cerofolini's model taking into account the thermodynamical properties of an ultradense fluid reproduces well the helium emission from the bubbles, leading to an activation energy of 1.8 eV. When bubbles exhibit a higher initial helium density, the Cerofolini's model fails to reproduce the helium emission kinetics. We ascribe this to the fact that helium may be in the solid phase and we propose a tentative model to take into account the properties of the solid.

Helium ion beam induced electron emission from insulating silicon nitride films under charging conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrov, Yu. V.; Anikeva, A. E.; Vyvenko, O. F.

2018-06-01

Secondary electron emission from thin silicon nitride films of different thicknesses on silicon excited by helium ions with energies from 15 to 35 keV was investigated in the helium ion microscope. Secondary electron yield measured with Everhart-Thornley detector decreased with the irradiation time because of the charging of insulating films tending to zero or reaching a non-zero value for relatively thick or thin films, respectively. The finiteness of secondary electron yield value, which was found to be proportional to electronic energy losses of the helium ion in silicon substrate, can be explained by the electron emission excited from the substrate by the helium ions. The method of measurement of secondary electron energy distribution from insulators was suggested, and secondary electron energy distribution from silicon nitride was obtained.

Backscattered helium spectroscopy in the helium ion microscope: Principles, resolution and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Gastel, R.; Hlawacek, G.; Dutta, S.; Poelsema, B.

2015-02-01

We demonstrate the possibilities and limitations for microstructure characterization using backscattered particles from a sharply focused helium ion beam. The interaction of helium ions with matter enables the imaging, spectroscopic characterization, as well as the nanometer scale modification of samples. The contrast that is seen in helium ion microscopy (HIM) images differs from that in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and is generally a result of the higher surface sensitivity of the method. It allows, for instance, a much better visualization of low-Z materials as a result of the small secondary electron escape depth. However, the same differences in beam interaction that give HIM an edge over other imaging techniques, also impose limitations for spectroscopic applications using backscattered particles. Here we quantify those limitations and discuss opportunities to further improve the technique.

Real gas flow parameters for NASA Langley 22-inch Mach 20 helium tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollis, Brian R.

1992-01-01

A computational procedure was developed which can be used to determine the flow properties in hypersonic helium wind tunnels in which real gas behavior is significant. In this procedure, a three-coefficient virial equation of state and the assumption of isentropic nozzle flow are employed to determine the tunnel reservoir, nozzle, throat, freestream, and post-normal shock conditions. This method was applied to a range of conditions which encompasses the operational capabilities of the LaRC 22-Inch Mach 20 Helium Tunnel. Results are presented graphically in the form of real gas correction factors which can be applied to perfect gas calculations. Important thermodynamic properties of helium are also plotted versus pressure and temperature. The computational scheme used to determine the real-helium flow parameters was incorporated into a FORTRAN code which is discussed.

The realization of the dipole (γ, γ) method and its application to determine the absolute optical oscillator strengths of helium.

PubMed

Xu, Long-Quan; Liu, Ya-Wei; Kang, Xu; Ni, Dong-Dong; Yang, Ke; Hiraoka, Nozomu; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Zhu, Lin-Fan

2015-12-17

The dipole (γ, γ) method, which is the inelastic x-ray scattering operated at a negligibly small momentum transfer, is proposed and realized to determine the absolute optical oscillator strengths of the vanlence-shell excitations of atoms and molecules. Compared with the conventionally used photoabsorption method, this new method is free from the line saturation effect, which can seriously limit the accuracies of the measured photoabsorption cross sections for discrete transitions with narrow natural linewidths. Furthermore, the Bethe-Born conversion factor of the dipole (γ, γ) method varies much more slowly with the excitation energy than does that of the dipole (e, e) method. Absolute optical oscillator strengths for the excitations of 1s(2) → 1 snp(n = 3-7) of atomic helium have been determined using the high-resolution dipole (γ, γ) method, and the excellent agreement of the present measurements with both those measured by the dipole (e, e) method and the previous theoretical calculations indicates that the dipole (γ, γ) method is a powerful tool to measure the absolute optical oscillator strengths of the valence-shell excitations of atoms and molecules.

80. DETAIL OF TYPICAL PRESSURE GAUGE IN NITROGEN AND HELIUM ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

80. DETAIL OF TYPICAL PRESSURE GAUGE IN NITROGEN AND HELIUM STORAGE AND TRANSFER CONTROL SKIDS ON NORTH END OF SLC-3W FUEL APRON - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 West, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

The adsorption of helium atoms on coronene cations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kurzthaler, Thomas; Rasul, Bilal; Kuhn, Martin

2016-08-14

We report the first experimental study of the attachment of multiple foreign atoms to a cationic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). The chosen PAH was coronene, C{sub 24}H{sub 12}, which was added to liquid helium nanodroplets and then subjected to electron bombardment. Using mass spectrometry, coronene cations decorated with helium atoms were clearly seen and the spectrum shows peaks with anomalously high intensities (“magic number” peaks), which represent ion-helium complexes with added stability. The data suggest the formation of a rigid helium layer consisting of 38 helium atoms that completely cover both faces of the coronene ion. Additional magic numbers canmore » be seen for the further addition of 3 and 6 helium atoms, which are thought to attach to the edge of the coronene. The observation of magic numbers for the addition of 38 and 44 helium atoms is in good agreement with a recent path integral Monte Carlo prediction for helium atoms on neutral coronene. An understanding of how atoms and molecules attach to PAH ions is important for a number of reasons including the potential role such complexes might play in the chemistry of the interstellar medium.« less

Dusty plasma in a glow discharge in helium in temperature range of 5–300 K

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samoilov, I. S.; Baev, V. P.; Timofeev, A. V., E-mail: timofeevalvl@gmail.com

2017-03-15

Dusty plasma structures in glow discharge in helium in the temperature range of 5–300 K are investigated experimentally. We have described the experimental setup that makes it possible to continuously vary the temperature regime. The method for experimental data processing has been described. We have measured interparticle distances in the temperature range of 9–295 K and compared them with the Debye radius. We indicate the ranges of variations in experimental parameters in which plasma–dust structures are formed and various types of their behavior are manifested (rotation, vibrations of structures, formation of vertical linear chains, etc.). The applicability of the Yukawamore » potential to the description of the structural properties of a dusty plasma in the experimental conditions is discussed.« less

Non-LTE spectral analysis and model constraints on SN 1993J

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baron, E.; Hauschildt, P. H.; Branch, D.; Austin, S.; Garnavich, P.; Ann, Hong Bae; Wagner, R. M.; Filippenko, A. V.; Matheson, T.; Liebert, James

1995-01-01

We present non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) synthetic spectra for a time series of observations of SN 1993J obtained on 1993 March 30-31, April 7, April 13-15, and June 13 UT. The spectra are dominated by hydrogen Balmer lines; neutral helium lines, which have been nonthermally excited; and Fe II features. The density profile evolves from an extremely steep 'brick wall' structure with an equivalent power-law index of about 50 on March 30 to a more typical SN II profile with a power law index of about 10. The early spectra are well fitted by a solar composition of metals, although an enhanced abundance of helium is required in order to fit the neutral helium lines. By June 13, the photosphere has receded deep into the helium layer, although there appears to be a layer of hydrogen at higher velocity. The distance is estimated for each epoch. While consistent results are found for spectra obtained in the month of April, the spread in distances from March to June is quite large. Our value for April is mu = 28.0 +/- 0.3 mag, consistent with the recent Cepheid distance to the host galaxy M81. We also compare our results to other implementations of the expanding photosphere method.

Metal hydride differential scanning calorimetry as an approach to compositional determination of mixtures of hydrogen isotopologues and helium

DOE PAGES

Robinson, David B.; Luo, Weifang; Cai, Trevor Y.; ...

2015-09-26

Gaseous mixtures of diatomic hydrogen isotopologues and helium are often encountered in the nuclear energy industry and in analytical chemistry. Compositions of stored mixtures can vary due to interactions with storage and handling materials. When tritium is present, it decays to form ions and helium-3, both of which can lead to further compositional variation. Monitoring of composition is typically achieved by mass spectrometry, a method that is bulky and energy-intensive. Mass spectrometers disperse sample material through vacuum pumps, which is especially troublesome if tritium is present. Moreover, our ultimate goal is to create a compact, fast, low-power sensor that canmore » determine composition with minimal gas consumption and waste generation, as a complement to mass spectrometry that can be instantiated more widely. We propose calorimetry of metal hydrides as an approach to this, due to the strong isotope effect on gas absorption, and demonstrate the sensitivity of measured heat flow to atomic composition of the gas. Peak shifts are discernible when mole fractions change by at least 1%. A mass flow restriction results in a unique dependence of the measurement on helium concentration. We present a mathematical model as a first step toward prediction of the peak shapes and positions. The model includes a useful method to compute estimates of phase diagrams for palladium in the presence of arbitrary mixtures of hydrogen isotopologues. As a result, we expect that this approach can be used to deduce unknown atomic compositions from measured calorimetric data over a useful range of partial pressures of each component.« less

1 K cryostat with sub-millikelvin stability based on a pulse-tube cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeMann, A.; Mueller, Sara; Field, S. B.

2016-01-01

A cryogenic system has been designed and tested that reaches a temperature below 1.1 K, with an rms temperature stability of 25 μ K. In this system a commercial pulse-tube cryocooler is used to liquify helium gas supplied from an external source. This liquid helium enters a 1 K pot through a large-impedance capillary tube, similar to a conventional 1 K system operated from a liquid helium bath. Unlike a conventional system, however, the molar flow rate of the system can be varied by changing the pressure of the incoming helium. This allows for a trade-off between helium usage and cooling power, which has a maximum value of 27 mW. The measured cooling power and fraction of helium exiting the capillary as liquid agree well with predictions based on an isenthalpic model of helium flow through the capillary. The system is simple to use and inexpensive to operate: The system can be cooled to base temperature in about 3 h and, with a flow rate giving a cooling power of 13 mW, the helium cost is around 6 per day.

The subcontinental mantle beneath southern New Zealand, characterised by helium isotopes in intraplate basalts and gas-rich springs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoke, L.; Poreda, R.; Reay, A.; Weaver, S. D.

2000-07-01

New helium isotope data measured in Cenozoic intraplate basalts and their mantle xenoliths are compared with present-day mantle helium emission on a regional scale from thermal and nonthermal gas discharges on the South Island of New Zealand and the offshore Chatham Islands. Cenozoic intraplate basaltic volcanism in southern New Zealand has ocean island basalt affinities but is restricted to continental areas and absent from adjacent Pacific oceanic crust. Its distribution is diffuse and widespread, it is of intermittent timing and characterised by low magma volumes. Most of the 3He/ 4He ratios measured in fluid inclusions in mantle xenocrysts and basalt phenocrysts such as olivine, garnet, and amphibole fall within the narrow range of 8.5 ± 1.5 Ra (Ra is the atmospheric 3He/ 4He ratio) with a maximum value of 11.5 Ra. This range is characteristic of the relatively homogeneous and degassed upper MORB-mantle helium reservoir. No helium isotope ratios typical of the lower less degassed mantle (>12 Ra), such as exemplified by the modern hot-spot region of Hawaii (with up to 32 Ra) were measured. Helium isotope ratios of less than 8 Ra are interpreted in terms of dilution of upper mantle helium with a radiogenic component, due to either age of crystallisation or small-scale mantle heterogeneities caused by mixing of crustal material into the upper mantle. The crude correlation between age of samples and helium isotopes with generally lower R/Ra values in mantle xenoliths compared with host rock phenocrysts and the in general depleted Nd and Sr isotope ratios and the light rare earth element enrichment of the basalts supports derivation of melts as small melt fractions from a depleted upper mantle, with posteruptive ingrowth of radiogenic helium as a function of lithospheric age. In comparison, the regional helium isotope survey of thermal and nonthermal gas discharges of the South Island of New Zealand shows that mantle 3He anomalies in general do not show an obvious relationship with either age or proximity to the Cenozoic intraplate volcanic centres or with major faults. In general, areas characterised by mantle 3He emission are interpreted to define those regions beneath which mantle melting and basalt magma addition to the crust are recent. The strongest mantle 3He anomaly (equivalent to >80% mantle helium component) is centred over southern Dunedin, measured in magmatic CO 2-rich mineral water springs issuing from crystalline basement rocks which outcrop at the southern extent of Miocene intraplate basaltic volcanism which ceased 9 Ma ago. This mantle helium anomaly overlaps with an area characterised by elevated surface high heat flow, compatible with a long-lived mantle melt/heat input into the crust. In comparison Banks Peninsula, another Miocene intraplate basaltic centre, is characterised by relatively low surface heat flow and a small mantle helium contribution measured in a nitrogen-rich spring. Here the thermal transient induced by the magmatic event has either dissipated or has not reached the surface. In the former case one might be dealing with storage and mixing of magmatic and crustal gases at shallow crustal levels and in the latter with active to recent mantle-melt degassing at depth. Along the most actively deforming part of the plate boundary zone, the transpressional Alpine Fault and Marlborough fault systems, mantle helium is present in gas-rich springs in all those areas underlain by actively subducting oceanic crust (the Australian plate in the south and Pacific plate in the north), whereas the central part of the Alpine transpressional fault is characterised by pure crustal radiogenic helium. Areas where the mantle helium component is negligible are restricted to the centre part of the South Island, extending along its length from Southland to northern Canterbury and Murchison. These areas are interpreted to delineate the extent of thicker and colder lithosphere compared to all other areas where mantle helium release from partial mantle melts at depth is recent to active being added to the lower lithosphere and/or lower crust. Areas characterised by mantle helium anomalies are equated with areas of thermal mantle anomalies, i.e., localised mantle heterogeneities such as upwelling less dense silicate melts in the upper asthenospheric mantle.

Lung injury induced by secondhand smoke exposure detected with hyperpolarized helium-3 diffusion MR.

PubMed

Wang, Chengbo; Mugler, John P; de Lange, Eduard E; Patrie, James T; Mata, Jaime F; Altes, Talissa A

2014-01-01

To determine whether helium-3 diffusion MR can detect the changes in the lungs of healthy nonsmoking individuals who were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. Three groups were studied (age: 59 ± 9 years): 23 smokers, 37 exposure-to-secondhand-smoke subjects, and 29 control subjects. We measured helium-3 diffusion values at diffusion times from 0.23 to 1.97 s. One-way analysis of variance revealed that the mean area under the helium-3 diffusion curves (ADC AUC) of the smokers was significantly elevated compared with the controls and to the exposure-to-secondhand-smoke subjects (P < 0.001 both). No difference between the mean ADC AUC of the exposure-to-secondhand-smoke subjects and that of the controls was found (P = 0.115). However, application of a receiver operator characteristic-derived rule to classify subjects as either a "control" or a "smoker," based on ADC AUC, revealed that 30% (11/37) of the exposure-to-secondhand subjects were classified as "smokers" indicating an elevation of the ADC AUC. Using helium-3 diffusion MR, elevated ADC values were detected in 30% of nonsmoking healthy subjects who had been regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, supporting the concept that, in susceptible individuals, secondhand smoke causes mild lung damage. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A novel method for computing effective diffusivity: Application to helium implanted α-Fe thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunn, Aaron; Agudo-Merida, Laura; Martin-Bragado, Ignacio; McPhie, Mathieu; Cherkaoui, Mohammed; Capolungo, Laurent

2014-05-01

The effective diffusivity of helium in thin iron films is quantified using spatially resolved stochastic cluster dynamics and object kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The roles of total displacement dose (in DPA), damage rate, helium to DPA ratio, layer thickness, and damage type (cascade damage vs Frenkel pair implantation) on effective He diffusivity are investigated. Helium diffusivity is found to decrease with increasing total damage and decreasing damage rate. Arrhenius plots show strongly increased helium diffusivity at high temperatures, high total implantation, and low implantation rates due to decreased vacancy and vacancy cluster concentrations. At low temperatures, effective diffusivity is weakly dependent on foil thickness while at high temperatures, narrower foils prevent defect accumulation by releasing all defects at the free surfaces. Helium to DPA ratio is not shown to strongly change helium diffusivity in the range of irradiation conditions simulated. Frenkel pair implantation is shown to cause higher effective diffusivity and more complex diffusion mechanisms than cascade implantation. The results of these simulations indicate that the differences in damage rates between implantation experiments and fission or fusion environments may result in differences in the final microstructure.

Experimental investigation of contamination prevention techniques to cryogenic surfaces on board orbiting spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hetrick, M. A.; Rantanen, R. O.; Ress, E. B.; Froechtenigt, J. F.

1978-01-01

Within the simulation limitations of on-orbit conditions, it was demonstrated that a helium purge system could be an effective method for reducing the incoming flux of contaminant species. Although a generalized purge system was employed in conjunction with basic telescope components, the simulation provided data that could be used for further modeling and design of a specific helium injection system. Experimental telescope pressures required for 90% attenuation appeared to be slightly higher (factor of 2 to 5). Cooling the helium purge gas and telescope components from 300 to 140 K had no measurable effect on stopping efficiency of a given mass flow of helium from the diffuse injector.

Revisiting the diffusion mechanism of helium in UO 2 : A DFT+ U study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, X. -Y.; Andersson, D. A.

The understanding of migration properties of helium atoms after their generation through α-decay of actinides in spent nuclear fuels is important for the safety of nuclear fuel storage and disposal. The diffusion of helium in UO 2 is revisited by using the DFT+U simulation methodology employing the “U-ramping” method to address the issue of metastable energy states. A novel diffusion mechanism by helium interstitials, the “asymmetric hop” mechanism, is reported and compared to other diffusion mechanisms including an oxygen vacancy mediated mechanism and available experimental diffusion data. We show that the new mechanism is the dominant one over a widemore » temperature range.« less

Revisiting the diffusion mechanism of helium in UO 2 : A DFT+ U study

DOE PAGES

Liu, X. -Y.; Andersson, D. A.

2017-11-03

The understanding of migration properties of helium atoms after their generation through α-decay of actinides in spent nuclear fuels is important for the safety of nuclear fuel storage and disposal. The diffusion of helium in UO 2 is revisited by using the DFT+U simulation methodology employing the “U-ramping” method to address the issue of metastable energy states. A novel diffusion mechanism by helium interstitials, the “asymmetric hop” mechanism, is reported and compared to other diffusion mechanisms including an oxygen vacancy mediated mechanism and available experimental diffusion data. We show that the new mechanism is the dominant one over a widemore » temperature range.« less

Nanopore fabrication and characterization by helium ion microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emmrich, D.; Beyer, A.; Nadzeyka, A.; Bauerdick, S.; Meyer, J. C.; Kotakoski, J.; Gölzhäuser, A.

2016-04-01

The Helium Ion Microscope (HIM) has the capability to image small features with a resolution down to 0.35 nm due to its highly focused gas field ionization source and its small beam-sample interaction volume. In this work, the focused helium ion beam of a HIM is utilized to create nanopores with diameters down to 1.3 nm. It will be demonstrated that nanopores can be milled into silicon nitride, carbon nanomembranes, and graphene with well-defined aspect ratio. To image and characterize the produced nanopores, helium ion microscopy and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy were used. The analysis of the nanopores' growth behavior allows inferring on the profile of the helium ion beam.

Final report on the Controlled Cold Helium Spill Test in the LHC tunnel at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dufay-Chanat, L.; Bremer, J.; Casas-Cubillos, J.; Chorowski, M.; Grabowski, M.; Jedrusyna, A.; Lindell, G.; Nonis, M.; Koettig, T.; Vauthier, N.; van Weelderen, R.; Winkler, T.

2015-12-01

The 27 km circumference LHC underground tunnel is a space in which the helium cooled LHC magnets are installed. The vacuum enclosures of the superconducting magnets are protected by over-pressure safety relief devices that open whenever cold helium escapes either from the magnet cold enclosure or from the helium supply headers, into this vacuum enclosure. A 3-m long no stay zone around these devices is defined based on scale model studies, protecting the personnel against cold burns or asphyxia caused by such a helium release event. Recently, several simulation studies have been carried out modelling the propagation of the helium/air mixture, resulting from the opening of such a safety device, along the tunnel. The released helium flows vary in the range between 1 kg/s and 0.1 kg/s. To validate these different simulation studies, real life mock-up tests have been performed inside the LHC tunnel, releasing helium flow rates of 1 kg/s, 0.3 kg/s and 0.1 kg/s. For each test, up to 1000 liters of liquid helium were released under standard operational tunnel conditions. The data recorded include oxygen concentration, temperature and flow speed measurements, and video footage used to assess qualitatively the visibility. These measurements have been made in the up- and downstream directions, with respect to the air ventilation flow, of the spill point. This paper presents the experimental set-up under which these release tests were made, the effects of these releases on the atmospheric tunnel condition as a function of the release flow rate. We discuss the modification to the personnel access conditions to the LHC tunnel that are presently implemented as a result of these tests.

The moon: An abundant source of clean and safe fusion fuel for the 21st century

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kulcinski, G. L.; Schmitt, Harrison H.

1988-01-01

It is shown how helium-3 can be obtained from the moon and how its use in fusion reactors can benefit the inhabitants of this planet. The physics and technology issues associated with the use of He-3 is addressed. A description is given of He-3 distribution on the moon and of methods which could be used to retrieve it.

The nanostructure of porous cobalt coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering in helium atmosphere.

PubMed

Lacroix, B; Godinho, V; Fernández, A

2018-05-01

In this work, (scanning) transmission electron microscopy has been used to study the nanostructure of porous cobalt coatings obtained by magnetron sputtering using helium as process gas. This nanostructure consists of closed pores of different nanometric size (about 4-20 nm) that are distributed all over a nanocrystalline Co matrix and filled with the deposition gas. Spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy analysis was applied to measure and map, with high lateral resolution, the relevant physical properties (density, pressure and He-K edge shift) of helium trapped inside these individual nanopores, in order to provide new insights about the growth mechanism involved in such systems. In particular, a coefficient of proportionality, C = 0.039 eV nm 3 , between the blue shift of the He K-edge and the He density has been found. In addition, very high He densities (10-100 at./nm 3 ) and pressures in the gigapascal range (0.05-5.0 GPa) have been measured. The linear dependence of these parameters as a function of the inverse radii obeying to the Laplace-Young law for most of the pores suggests that their formation during the coating's growth takes place in regime of elastic deformation of the Co matrix. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of Li2TiO3 pebbles using PVA-boric acid reaction for solid breeding materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Yi-Hyun; Cho, Seungyon; Ahn, Mu-Young

2014-12-01

Lithium metatitanate (Li2TiO3) is a candidate breeding material of the Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector (HCCR) Test Blanket Module (TBM). The breeding material is used in pebble-bed form to reduce the uncertainty of the interface thermal conductance. In this study, Li2TiO3 pebbles were successfully fabricated by the slurry droplet wetting method using the cross-linking reaction between polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and boric acid. The effects of fabrication parameters on the shaping of Li2TiO3 green body were investigated. In addition, the basic characteristics of the sintered pebble were also evaluated. The shape of Li2TiO3 green bodies was affected by slurry viscosity, PVA content and boric acid content. The grain size and average crush load of sintered Li2TiO3 pebble were controlled by the sintering time. The boron was completely removed during the final sintering process.

Primordial Noble Gases from Earth's Core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, K.; Lu, X.; Brodholt, J. P.

2016-12-01

Recent partitioning experiment suggests helium is more compatible in iron melt than in molten silicates at high pressures (> 10 GPa) (1), thus provide the possibility of the core as being the primordial noble gases warehouse that is responsible for the high primordial/radiogenic noble gas isotopic ratios observed in plume-related basalts. However, the possible transportation mechanism of the noble gases from the core to the overlying mantle is still ambiguous, understanding how this process would affect the noble gas isotopic characteristics of the mantle is critical to validate this core reservoir model. As diffusion is a dominant mass transport process that plays an important role in chemical exchange at the core-mantle boundary (CMB), we have determined the diffusion coefficients of helium, neon and argon in major lower mantle minerals, i.e. periclase (MgO), bridgemanite (MgSiO3-Pv) and post-perovskite (MgSiO3-PPv), by first-principles calculation based on density functional theory (DFT). As expected, the diffusion rate of helium is the fastest at the CMB, which is in the range of 3 × 10-10 to 1 × 10-8 m2/s. The neon diffusion is slightly slower, from 5 × 10-10 to 5 × 10-9 m2/s. Argon diffuses slowest at the rate from 1 × 10-10 to 2 × 10-10 m2/s. We have further simulated the evolution of noble gas isotopic ratios in the mantle near the CMB. Considering its close relationship with the mantle plumes and very likely to be the direct source of "hot-spot" basalts, we took a close investigation on the large low-shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs). Under reasonable assumptions based on our diffusion parameters, the modelling results indicate that LLSVP is capable of generating all the noble gas isotope signals, e.g., 3He/4He = 55 Ra, 3He/22Ne = 3.1, 3He/36Ar = 0.82, 40Ar/36Ar = 9500, that are in good agreement with the observed values in "hot-spot" basalts (2). Therefore, this core-reservior hypothesis is a self-consistent model that can fits in multiple noble gas isotopic constrains. (1) Bouhifd, M.A., Jephcoat, A.P., Heber, V.S., Kelley, S.P., 2013. Helium in Earth's early core. Nat. Geosci. 6, 982-986. (2) Mukhopadhyay, S., 2012. Early differentiation and volatile accretion recorded in deep-mantle neon and xenon. Nature 486, 101-124.

Dynamic MRI of Grid-Tagged Hyperpolarized Helium-3 for the Assessment of Lung Motion During Breathing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cai Jing; Sheng Ke; Benedict, Stanley H.

2009-09-01

Purpose: To develop a dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tagging technique using hyperpolarized helium-3 (HP He-3) to track lung motion. Methods and Materials: An accelerated non-Cartesian k-space trajectory was used to gain acquisition speed, at the cost of introducing image artifacts, providing a viable strategy for obtaining whole-lung coverage with adequate temporal resolution. Multiple-slice two-dimensional dynamic images of the lung were obtained in three healthy subjects after inhaling He-3 gas polarized to 35%-40%. Displacement, strain, and ventilation maps were computed from the observed motion of the grid peaks. Results: Both temporal and spatial variations of pulmonary mechanics were observed inmore » normal subjects, including shear motion between different lobes of the same lung. Conclusion: These initial results suggest that dynamic imaging of grid-tagged hyperpolarized magnetization may potentially be a powerful tool for observing and quantifying pulmonary biomechanics on a regional basis and for assessing, validating, and improving lung deformable image registration algorithms.« less

3. SOUTHWEST REAR, WITH RAILROAD LINE AT RIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

3. SOUTHWEST REAR, WITH RAILROAD LINE AT RIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE HELIUM STORAGE TANKS AT LEFT. - Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Helium Compression Plant, Test Area 1-115, intersection of Altair & Saturn Boulevards, Boron, Kern County, CA

Experiments on the properties of superfluid helium in zero gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, P.; Collins, D.; Petrac, D.; Yang, L.; Edeskuty, F.; Williamson, K.

1976-01-01

The paper describes a research program designed to study the behavior of superfluid liquid helium in low and zero gravity in order to determine the properties which are critically important to its use as a stored cryogen for cooling scientific instruments aboard spacecraft for periods up to several months. The experiment program consists of a series of flights of an experiment package on a free-fall trajectory both on an aircraft and on a rocket. The objectives are to study thickness of thin films of helium as a function of acceleration, heat transfer in thin films, heat transfer across copper-liquid helium interfaces, fluid dynamics of bulk helium in high and low accelerations and under various conditions of rotations, alternate methods of separation of liquid and vapor phases and of efficient venting of the vapor, and undesirable thermomechanical oscillations in the vent pipes. Preliminary results from aircraft tests are discussed.

Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping

DOEpatents

Trapp, Donald J.

1994-01-01

A method and device for detecting the location of leaks along a wall or piping system, preferably in double-walled piping. The apparatus comprises a sniffer probe, a rigid cord such as a length of tube attached to the probe on one end and extending out of the piping with the other end, a source of pressurized air and a source of helium. The method comprises guiding the sniffer probe into the inner pipe to its distal end, purging the inner pipe with pressurized air, filling the annulus defined between the inner and outer pipe with helium, and then detecting the presence of helium within the inner pipe with the probe as is pulled back through the inner pipe. The length of the tube at the point where a leak is detected determines the location of the leak in the pipe.

Evaluation of defect formation in helium irradiated Y2O3 doped W-Ti alloys by positron annihilation and nanoindentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richter, Asta; Anwand, Wolfgang; Chen, Chun-Liang; Böttger, Roman

2017-10-01

Helium implanted tungsten-titanium ODS alloys are investigated using positron annihilation spectroscopy and nanoindentation. Titanium reduces the brittleness of the tungsten alloy, which is manufactured by mechanical alloying. The addition of Y2O3 nanoparticles increases the mechanical properties at elevated temperature and enhances irradiation resistance. Helium ion implantation was applied to simulate irradiation effects on these materials. The irradiation was performed using a 500 kV He ion implanter at fluences around 5 × 1015 cm-2 for a series of samples both at room temperature and at 600 °C. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the pristine and irradiated W-Ti-ODS alloy are compared with respect to the titanium and Y2O3 content. Radiation damage is studied by positron annihilation spectroscopy analyzing the lifetime and the Doppler broadening. Three types of helium-vacancy defects were detected after helium irradiation in the W-Ti-ODS alloy: small defects with high helium-to-vacancy ratio (low S parameter) for room temperature irradiation, larger open volume defects with low helium-to-vacancy ratio (high S parameter) at the surface and He-vacancy complexes pinned at nanoparticles deeper in the material for implantation at 600 °C. Defect induced hardness was studied by nanoindentation. A drastic hardness increase is observed after He ion irradiation both for room temperature and elevated irradiation temperature of 600 °C. The Ti alloyed tungsten-ODS is more affected by the hardness increase after irradiation compared to the pure W-ODS alloy.

Unsteady heat dissipation in accelerator superconducting coils insulated with porous ceramic insulation in normal and supercritical helium conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pietrowicz, S.; Four, A.; Baudouy, B.

To investigate the unsteady heat dissipation in accelerator superconducting coils insulated with porous ceramic insulation, two experimental mock-ups reproducing the thermal and the mechanical conditions of a superconducting coils were produced. The mock-ups with compressive load of 10 MPa and 20 MPa were tested at normal (T = 4.23 K and p = 1 bar) and supercritical helium conditions (T = 4.23 K and p = 2.0 to 3.75 bar) during unsteady heat dissipation. The paper presents the experimental results of temperature rise in both superconducting coils as a function of time for a wide range of a localized heatmore » load varying from 0.1 kJ/m{sup 3} up to 12.8 MJ m{sup −3} per pulse. A numerical model of the transient process in these coils has been developed and the computations are compared with the experimental results.« less

The control system of a 2kW@20K helium refrigerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, W.; Wu, J. H.; Li, Qing; Liu, L. Q.; Li, Qiang

2017-12-01

The automatic control of a helium refrigerator includes three aspects, that is, one-button start and stop control, safety protection control, and cooling capacity control. The 2kW@20K helium refrigerator’s control system uses the SIEMENS PLC S7-300 and its related programming and configuration software Step7 and the industrial monitoring software WinCC, to realize the dynamic control of its process, the real-time monitoring of its data, the safety interlock control, and the optimal control of its cooling capacity. At first, this paper describes the control architecture of the whole system in detail, including communication configuration and equipment introduction; and then introduces the sequence control strategy of the dynamic processes, including the start and stop control mode of the machine and the safety interlock control strategy of the machine; finally tells the precise control strategy of the machine’s cooling capacity. Eventually, the whole system achieves the target of one-button starting and stopping, automatic fault protection and stable running to the target cooling capacity, and help finished the cold helium pressurization test of aerospace products.

Doping He droplets by laser ablation with a pulsed supersonic jet source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Katzy, R.; Singer, M.; Izadnia, S.

Laser ablation offers the possibility to study a rich number of atoms, molecules, and clusters in the gas phase. By attaching laser ablated materials to helium nanodroplets, one can gain highly resolved spectra of isolated species in a cold, weakly perturbed system. Here, we present a new setup for doping pulsed helium nanodroplet beams by means of laser ablation. In comparison to more well-established techniques using a continuous nozzle, pulsed nozzles show significant differences in the doping efficiency depending on certain experimental parameters (e.g., position of the ablation plume with respect to the droplet formation, nozzle design, and expansion conditions).more » In particular, we demonstrate that when the ablation region overlaps with the droplet formation region, one also creates a supersonic beam of helium atoms seeded with the sample material. The processes are characterized using a surface ionization detector. The overall doping signal is compared to that of conventional oven cell doping showing very similar dependence on helium stagnation conditions, indicating a comparable doping process. Finally, the ablated material was spectroscopically studied via laser induced fluorescence.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hansen, Francis D.

Observational petrofabrics, thermal, mechanical, and hydrological measurements were made on reconsolidated salt samples extracted from the field site in which a study called Backfilling and Sealing of Underground Repositories for Radioactive Waste in Salt was conducted. Similar characterization was completed more than a decade ago, so this work furthers previous measurements after sustained consolidation in situ . Porosity determined by traditional point-counting on polished sections and helium porosimeter methods ranged from 20-25% with consolidation governed by brittle processes, as evidence of fluid-aided, grain-boundary processes was rarely observed. Thermal conductivity in the range of 2.3 W /( m * K )more » is consistent for granular halite in this porosity range. Gas flow measurements yielded permeability of the order of 5e -13 m 2 . Pressure-sensitive compressive strengths at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 MPa confining pressure were 8, 9, and 14 MPa, respectively, with apparent elastic moduli increase with deformation.« less

Development of a New Generation of Stable, Tunable, and Catalytically Active Nanoparticles Produced by the Helium Nanodroplet Deposition Method

DOE PAGES

Wu, Qiyuan; Ridge, Claron J.; Zhao, Shen; ...

2016-07-13

Nanoparticles (NPs) are revolutionizing many areas of science and technology, often delivering unprecedented improvements to properties of the conventional materials. However, despite important advances in NPs synthesis and applications, numerous challenges still remain. Development of alternative synthetic method capable of producing very uniform, extremely clean and very stable NPs is urgently needed. If successful, such method can potentially transform several areas of nanoscience, including environmental and energy related catalysis. Here we present the first experimental demonstration of catalytically active NPs synthesis achieved by the helium nanodroplet isolation method. This alternative method of NPs fabrication and deposition produces narrowly distributed, clean,more » and remarkably stable NPs. The fabrication is achieved inside ultra-low temperature, superfluid helium nanodroplets, which can be subsequently deposited onto any substrate. Lastly, this technique is universal enough to be applied to nearly any element, while achieving high deposition rates for single element as well as composite core-shell NPs.« less

78. GENERAL VIEW OF SLC3W FUEL APRON FROM NORTH. HELIUM ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

78. GENERAL VIEW OF SLC-3W FUEL APRON FROM NORTH. HELIUM AND NITROGEN STORAGE TANKS AND CONTROL SKIDS IN LEFT CENTER. FUEL STORAGE TANK AND CONTROL SKID IN RIGHT BACKGROUND. SLC-3E MST IN DISTANT RIGHT BACKGROUND. - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 West, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

Polarization Control via He-Ion Beam Induced Nanofabrication in Layered Ferroelectric Semiconductors

DOE PAGES

Belianinov, Alex; Iberi, Vighter; Tselev, Alexander; ...

2016-02-23

Rapid advanced in nanoscience rely on continuous improvements of matter manipulation at near atomic scales. Currently, well characterized, robust, resist-based lithography carries the brunt of the nanofabrication process. However, use of local electron, ion and physical probe methods is also expanding, driven largely by their ability to fabricate without the multi-step preparation processes that can result in contamination from resists and solvents. Furthermore, probe based methods extend beyond nanofabrication to nanomanipulation and imaging, vital ingredients to rapid transition to prototyping and testing of layered 2D heterostructured devices. In this work we demonstrate that helium ion interaction, in a Helium Ionmore » Microscope (HIM), with the surface of bulk copper indium thiophosphate CuM IIIP 2X 6 (M = Cr, In; X= S, Se), (CITP) results in the control of ferroelectric domains, and growth of cylindrical nanostructures with enhanced conductivity; with material volumes scaling with the dosage of the beam. The nanostructures are oxygen rich, sulfur poor, and with the copper concentration virtually unchanged as confirmed by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging contrast as well as Scanning Microwave Microscopy (SMM) measurements suggest enhanced conductivity in the formed particle, whereas Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements indicate that the produced structures have lower dissipation and a lower Young s modulus.« less

Liquid helium-cooled MOSFET preamplifier for use with astronomical bolometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goebel, J. H.

1977-01-01

A liquid helium-cooled p-channel enhancement mode MOSFET, the 3N167, is found to have sufficiently low noise for use as a preamplifier with helium-cooled bolometers that are used in infrared astronomy. Its characteristics at 300, 77, and 4.2 K are presented. It is also shown to have useful application with certain photoconductive and photovoltaic infrared detectors.

High sensitivity leak detection method and apparatus

DOEpatents

Myneni, Ganapatic R.

1994-01-01

An improved leak detection method is provided that utilizes the cyclic adsorption and desorption of accumulated helium on a non-porous metallic surface. The method provides reliable leak detection at superfluid helium temperatures. The zero drift that is associated with residual gas analyzers in common leak detectors is virtually eliminated by utilizing a time integration technique. The sensitivity of the apparatus of this disclosure is capable of detecting leaks as small as 1.times.10.sup.-18 atm cc sec.sup.-1.

High sensitivity leak detection method and apparatus

DOEpatents

Myneni, G.R.

1994-09-06

An improved leak detection method is provided that utilizes the cyclic adsorption and desorption of accumulated helium on a non-porous metallic surface. The method provides reliable leak detection at superfluid helium temperatures. The zero drift that is associated with residual gas analyzers in common leak detectors is virtually eliminated by utilizing a time integration technique. The sensitivity of the apparatus of this disclosure is capable of detecting leaks as small as 1 [times] 10[sup [minus]18] atm cc sec[sup [minus]1]. 2 figs.

Helium in the eroding atmosphere of an exoplanet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spake, J. J.; Sing, D. K.; Evans, T. M.; Oklopčić, A.; Bourrier, V.; Kreidberg, L.; Rackham, B. V.; Irwin, J.; Ehrenreich, D.; Wyttenbach, A.; Wakeford, H. R.; Zhou, Y.; Chubb, K. L.; Nikolov, N.; Goyal, J. M.; Henry, G. W.; Williamson, M. H.; Blumenthal, S.; Anderson, D. R.; Hellier, C.; Charbonneau, D.; Udry, S.; Madhusudhan, N.

2018-05-01

Helium is the second-most abundant element in the Universe after hydrogen and is one of the main constituents of gas-giant planets in our Solar System. Early theoretical models predicted helium to be among the most readily detectable species in the atmospheres of exoplanets, especially in extended and escaping atmospheres1. Searches for helium, however, have hitherto been unsuccessful2. Here we report observations of helium on an exoplanet, at a confidence level of 4.5 standard deviations. We measured the near-infrared transmission spectrum of the warm gas giant3 WASP-107b and identified the narrow absorption feature of excited metastable helium at 10,833 angstroms. The amplitude of the feature, in transit depth, is 0.049 ± 0.011 per cent in a bandpass of 98 angstroms, which is more than five times greater than what could be caused by nominal stellar chromospheric activity. This large absorption signal suggests that WASP-107b has an extended atmosphere that is eroding at a total rate of 1010 to 3 × 1011 grams per second (0.1-4 per cent of its total mass per billion years), and may have a comet-like tail of gas shaped by radiation pressure.

Helium-3 and helium-4 acceleration by high power laser pulses for hadron therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bulanov, S. S.; Esarey, E.; Schroeder, C. B.

The laser driven acceleration of ions is considered a promising candidate for an ion source for hadron therapy of oncological diseases. Though proton and carbon ion sources are conventionally used for therapy, other light ions can also be utilized. Whereas carbon ions require 400 MeV per nucleon to reach the same penetration depth as 250 MeV protons, helium ions require only 250 MeV per nucleon, which is the lowest energy per nucleon among the light ions (heavier than protons). This fact along with the larger biological damage to cancer cells achieved by helium ions, than that by protons, makes thismore » species an interesting candidate for the laser driven ion source. Two mechanisms (magnetic vortex acceleration and hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration) of PW-class laser driven ion acceleration from liquid and gaseous helium targets are studied with the goal of producing 250 MeV per nucleon helium ion beams that meet the hadron therapy requirements. We show that He3 ions, having almost the same penetration depth as He4 with the same energy per nucleon, require less laser power to be accelerated to the required energy for the hadron therapy.« less

Helium-3 and helium-4 acceleration by high power laser pulses for hadron therapy

DOE PAGES

Bulanov, S. S.; Esarey, E.; Schroeder, C. B.; ...

2015-06-24

The laser driven acceleration of ions is considered a promising candidate for an ion source for hadron therapy of oncological diseases. Though proton and carbon ion sources are conventionally used for therapy, other light ions can also be utilized. Whereas carbon ions require 400 MeV per nucleon to reach the same penetration depth as 250 MeV protons, helium ions require only 250 MeV per nucleon, which is the lowest energy per nucleon among the light ions (heavier than protons). This fact along with the larger biological damage to cancer cells achieved by helium ions, than that by protons, makes thismore » species an interesting candidate for the laser driven ion source. Two mechanisms (magnetic vortex acceleration and hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration) of PW-class laser driven ion acceleration from liquid and gaseous helium targets are studied with the goal of producing 250 MeV per nucleon helium ion beams that meet the hadron therapy requirements. We show that He3 ions, having almost the same penetration depth as He4 with the same energy per nucleon, require less laser power to be accelerated to the required energy for the hadron therapy.« less

A review of sup 3 He resources and acquisition for use as fusion fuel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wittenberg, L.J.; Camerson, E.N.; Kulcinski, G.L.

1992-07-01

This paper reports that a combination of man-made and natural resources on earth could provide sufficient {sup 3}He fuel for the technological development of D-{sup 3}He fusion reactors. Helium exists in natural gas wells; however, at the current rate of natural gas usage, this resource would provide {lt}5 kg/yr of {sup 3}He. The radioactive decay of {sup 3}H produced in fission production reactors could yield 110 kg of {sup 3}He by the year 2000 if it were retained. Apparently, a large amount of {sup 3}He exists within the earth's mantle, but it is inaccessible. A significant quantity of {sup 3}He,more » which could be imported to supply a fusion power industry on earth for hundreds of years, exists on the moon. The solar wind has deposited {gt}1 million tonnes of {sup 3}He in the fine regolith that covers the surface of the moon. The presence of this solar wind gas was confirmed by analyses of the lunar regolith samples brought to earth. A strong correlation is noted between the helium retained and the TiO{sub 2} content of the regolith; consequently, remote-sensing data showing high-titanium-bearing soils in the lunar maria areas have been used to locate potentially rich sites for helium extraction. Surface photographs of Mare Tranquillitatis have shown that nearly 50% of this mare may be minable and capable of supplying {approximately}7100 tonnes of {sup 3}He. A mobile mining vehicle is proposed for use in the excavation of the soil and the release of the helium and other solar wind gases. The evolved gases would be purified by a combination of permeators and cryogenic techniques to provide a rich resource of H{sub 2}, helium, CO{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O, and N{sub 2}, followed by helium isotopic separation systems.« less

Formation of Triplet Positron-helium Bound State by Stripping of Positronium Atoms in Collision with Ground State Helium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drachman, Richard J.

2006-01-01

Formation of triplet positron-helium bound state by stripping of positronium atoms in collision with ground state helium JOSEPH DI RlENZI, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, RICHARD J. DRACHMAN, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center - The system consisting of a positron and a helium atom in the triplet state e(+)He(S-3)(sup e) was conjectured long ago to be stable [1]. Its stability has recently been established rigorously [2], and the values of the energies of dissociation into the ground states of Ps and He(+) have also been reported [3] and [4]. We have evaluated the cross-section for this system formed by radiative attachment of a positron in triplet He state and found it to be small [5]. The mechanism of production suggested here should result in a larger cross-section (of atomic size) which we are determining using the Born approximation with simplified initial and final wave functions.

Solving the Schroedinger equation for helium atom and its isoelectronic ions with the free iterative complement interaction (ICI) method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nakashima, Hiroyuki; Nakatsuji, Hiroshi

2007-12-14

The Schroedinger equation was solved very accurately for helium atom and its isoelectronic ions (Z=1-10) with the free iterative complement interaction (ICI) method followed by the variational principle. We obtained highly accurate wave functions and energies of helium atom and its isoelectronic ions. For helium, the calculated energy was -2.903 724 377 034 119 598 311 159 245 194 404 446 696 905 37 a.u., correct over 40 digit accuracy, and for H{sup -}, it was -0.527 751 016 544 377 196 590 814 566 747 511 383 045 02 a.u. These results prove numerically that with the free ICImore » method, we can calculate the solutions of the Schroedinger equation as accurately as one desires. We examined several types of scaling function g and initial function {psi}{sub 0} of the free ICI method. The performance was good when logarithm functions were used in the initial function because the logarithm function is physically essential for three-particle collision area. The best performance was obtained when we introduce a new logarithm function containing not only r{sub 1} and r{sub 2} but also r{sub 12} in the same logarithm function.« less

Study of helium embrittlement in boron doped EUROFER97 steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaganidze, E.; Petersen, C.; Aktaa, J.

2009-04-01

To simulate helium effects in Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic steels, experimental heats ADS2, ADS3 and ADS4 with the basic composition of EUROFER97 (9%Cr-WVTa) were doped with different contents of natural boron and separated 10B-isotope (0.008-0.112 wt.%) and irradiated in High Flux Reactor (HFR) Petten up to 16.3 dpa at 250-450 °C and in Bor-60 fast reactor in Dimitrovgrad up to 31.8 dpa at 332-338 °C. The embrittlement and hardening are investigated by instrumented Charpy-V tests with subsize specimens. Complete burn-up of 10B isotope under neutron irradiation in HFR Petten led to generation of 84, 432 and 5580 appm He and partial boron-to-helium transformation in Bor-60 led to generation of 9, 46, 880 appm He in ADS2, ADS3 and ADS4 heats, respectively. At low irradiation temperatures Tirr ⩽ 340 °C the boron doped steels show progressive embrittlement with increasing helium amount. Irradiation induced DBTT shift of EUROFER97 based heat doped with 1120 wppm separated 10B isotope could not be quantified due to large embrittlement found in the investigated temperature range. At Tirr ⩽ 340 °C helium induced extra embrittlement is attributed to material hardening induced by helium bubbles and described in terms of phenomenological model.

147. EAST END OF LIQUID NITROGEN/HELIUM HEAT EXCHANGER IN FUEL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

147. EAST END OF LIQUID NITROGEN/HELIUM HEAT EXCHANGER IN FUEL CONTROL ROOM (215), LSB (BLDG. 751), WITH ASSOCIATED PIPING AND VALVES - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 East, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

49 CFR 173.320 - Cryogenic liquids; exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... atmospheric gases and helium: (1) During loading and unloading operations (pressure rises may exceed 25.3 psig...; exceptions. (a) Atmospheric gases and helium, cryogenic liquids, in Dewar flasks, insulated cylinders... the pressure in such packagings will not exceed 25.3 psig under ambient temperature conditions during...

DETECTION OF FORBIDDEN LINE COMPONENTS OF LITHIUM-LIKE CARBON IN STELLAR SPECTRA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Werner, Klaus; Rauch, Thomas; Hoyer, Denny

2016-08-10

We report the first identification of forbidden line components from an element heavier than helium in the spectrum of astrophysical plasmas. So far, these components were identified only in laboratory plasmas and not in astrophysical objects. Forbidden components are well known for neutral helium lines in hot stars, particularly in helium-rich post-AGB stars and white dwarfs. We discovered that two hitherto unidentified lines in the ultraviolet spectra of hot hydrogen-deficient (pre-) white dwarfs can be identified as forbidden line components of triply ionized carbon (C iv). The forbidden components (3p–4f and 3d–4d) appear in the blue and red wings ofmore » the strong, Stark broadened 3p–4d and 3d–4f lines at 1108 Å and 1169 Å, respectively. They are visible over a wide effective temperature range (60,000–200,000 K) in helium-rich (DO) white dwarfs and PG 1159 stars that have strongly oversolar carbon abundances.« less

Detection of Forbidden Line Components of Lithium-like Carbon in Stellar Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werner, Klaus; Rauch, Thomas; Hoyer, Denny; Quinet, Pascal

2016-08-01

We report the first identification of forbidden line components from an element heavier than helium in the spectrum of astrophysical plasmas. So far, these components were identified only in laboratory plasmas and not in astrophysical objects. Forbidden components are well known for neutral helium lines in hot stars, particularly in helium-rich post-AGB stars and white dwarfs. We discovered that two hitherto unidentified lines in the ultraviolet spectra of hot hydrogen-deficient (pre-) white dwarfs can be identified as forbidden line components of triply ionized carbon (C IV). The forbidden components (3p-4f and 3d-4d) appear in the blue and red wings of the strong, Stark broadened 3p-4d and 3d-4f lines at 1108 Å and 1169 Å, respectively. They are visible over a wide effective temperature range (60,000-200,000 K) in helium-rich (DO) white dwarfs and PG 1159 stars that have strongly oversolar carbon abundances.

Optical emission spectroscopic diagnostics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium-oxygen plasma jet for biomedical applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thiyagarajan, Magesh; Sarani, Abdollah; Nicula, Cosmina

In this work, we have applied optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics to investigate the characteristics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet. The discharge characteristics in the active and afterglow region of the plasma jet, that are critical for biomedical applications, have been investigated. The voltage-current characteristics of the plasma discharge were analyzed and the average plasma power was measured to be around 18 W. The effect of addition of small fractions of oxygen at 0.1%-0.5% on the plasma jet characteristics was studied. The addition of oxygen resulted in a decrease in plasma plume length due to the electronegativity propertymore » of oxygen. Atomic and molecular lines of selected reactive plasma species that are considered to be useful to induce biochemical reactions such as OH transitions A{sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}({nu}=0,1){yields}X{sup 2}{Pi}({Delta}{nu}=0) at 308 nm and A{sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}({nu}=0,1){yields}X{sup 2}{Pi}({Delta}{nu}=1) at 287 nm, O I transitions 3p{sup 5}P{yields}3s{sup 5}S{sup 0} at 777.41 nm, and 3p{sup 3}P{yields}3s{sup 3}S{sup 0} at 844.6 nm, N{sub 2}(C-B) second positive system with electronic transition C{sup 3}{Pi}{sub u}{sup {yields}}B{sup 3}{Pi}{sub g}'' in the range of 300-450 nm and N{sub 2}{sup +}(B-X) first negative system with electronic transition B{sup 2}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup +}{yields}X{sup 2}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup +}({Delta}{nu}=0) at 391.4 nm have been studied. The atomic emission lines of helium were identified, including the He I transitions 3p{sup 3}P{sup 0}{yields}2s{sup 3}S at 388.8 nm, 3p{sup 1}P{sup 0}{yields} 2s{sup 1}S at 501.6 nm, 3d{sup 3}D{yields}2p{sup 3}P{sup 0} at 587.6 nm, 3d{sup 1}D{yields}2p{sup 1}P{sup 0} at 667.8 nm, 3s{sup 3}S{sup 1}{yields}2p{sup 3}P{sup 0} at 706.5 nm, 3s{sup 1}S{sup 0}{yields}2p{sup 1}P{sup 0} at 728.1 nm, and H{sub {alpha}} transition 2p-3d at 656.3 nm. Using a spectral fitting method, the OH radicals at 306-312 nm, the rotational and vibrational temperatures equivalent to gas temperatures of the discharge was measured and the effective non-equilibrium nature of the plasma jet was demonstrated. Our results show that, in the entire active plasma region, the gas temperature remains at 310 {+-} 25 K and 340 {+-} 25 K and it increases to 320 {+-} 25 K and 360 {+-} 25 K in the afterglow region of the plasma jet for pure helium and helium/oxygen (0.1%) mixture, respectively. Additionally, the vibrational temperatures range from 2200 {+-} 100 K and 2500 {+-} 100 K for pure helium and helium/oxygen (0.1%) mixture, respectively. The plasma jet was tested on heat sensitive polymer films used in biomedical applications such as polyethylene terephthalate and poly-L-lactide samples continuously for several minutes without causing any physical or thermal damage to the films. The plasma jet produces significant reactive species of interest while the gas temperatures remain very low demonstrating its potential for a range of biomedical applications.« less

Global helium particle balance in LHD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motojima, G.; Masuzaki, S.; Tokitani, M.; Kasahara, H.; Yoshimura, Y.; Kobayashi, M.; Sakamoto, R.; Morisaki, T.; Miyazawa, J.; Akiyama, T.; Ohno, N.; Mutoh, T.; Yamada, H.; LHD Experiment Group

2015-08-01

Global helium particle balance in long-pulse discharges is analyzed for the first time in the Large Helical Device (LHD) with the plasma-facing components of the first wall and the divertor tiles composed of stainless steel and carbon, respectively. During the 2-min discharge sustained by ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) and electron cyclotron heating (ECH), helium is observed to be highly retained in the wall (regarded as both the first wall and the divertor tiles). Almost all (about 96%) puffed helium particles (1.3 × 1022 He) are absorbed in the wall near the end of the discharge. Even though a dynamic retention is eliminated, 56% is still absorbed. The analysis is also applied to longer pulse discharges over 40 min by ICRH and ECH, indicating that the helium wall retention is dynamically changed in time. At the initial phase of the discharge, a mechanism for adsorbing helium other than dynamical retention is invoked.

Structure design and simulation research of active magnetic bearing for helium centrifugal cold compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Y Zhang, S.; Pan, W.; Wei, C. B.; Wu, J. H.

2017-12-01

Helium centrifugal cold compressors are utilized to pump gaseous helium from saturated liquid helium tank to obtain super-fluid helium in cryogenic refrigeration system, which is now being developed at TIPC, CAS. Active magnetic bearing (AMB) is replacing traditional oil-fed bearing as the optimal supporting assembly for cold compressor because of its many advantages: free of contact, high rotation speed, no lubrication and so on. In this paper, five degrees of freedom for AMB are developed for the helium centrifugal cold compressor application. The structure parameters of the axial and radial magnetic bearings as well as hardware and software of the electronic control system is discussed in detail. Based on modal analysis and critical speeds calculation, a control strategy combining PID arithmetic with other phase compensators is proposed. Simulation results demonstrate that the control method not only stables AMB system but also guarantees good performance of closed-loop behaviour. The prior research work offers important base and experience for test and application of AMB experimental platform for system centrifugal cold compressor.

Development of a low cost, low temperature cryocooler using the Gifford McMahon cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramanayaka, A.; Mani, R.

2008-03-01

Although Helium is the second most abundant element, its concentration in the earth's atmosphere is fairly low and constant, as the portion that escapes from the atmosphere is replace by new emission. Historically, Helium was extracted as a byproduct of natural gas production, and stored in gas fields in a National Helium Reserve, in an attempt to conserve this interesting element. National policy has changed and the cost of liquid Helium has increased rapidly in the recent past. These new circumstances have created new interest in alternative eco-friendly methods to realizing and maintaining low temperatures in the laboratory. There have been number of successful attempts at making low temperature closed cycle Helium refrigerators by modifying an existing closed cycle system, and usually the regenerator has been replaced in order to achieve the desired results. Here, we discus our attempt to fabricate a low cost, low temperature closed cycle Helium refrigerator starting from a 15K Gifford McMahon system. We reexamine the barriers to realizing lower temperature here and our attempts at overcoming them.

Helium tables.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havill, Clinton H

1928-01-01

These tables are intended to provide a standard method and to facilitate the calculation of the quantity of "Standard Helium" in high pressure containers. The research data and the formulas used in the preparation of the tables were furnished by the Research Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Influence of excited state spatial distributions on plasma diagnostics: Atmospheric pressure laser-induced He-H2 plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monfared, Shabnam K.; Hüwel, Lutz

2012-10-01

Atmospheric pressure plasmas in helium-hydrogen mixtures with H2 molar concentrations ranging from 0.13% to 19.7% were investigated at times from 1 to 25 μs after formation by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Spatially integrated electron density values are obtained using time resolved optical emission spectroscopic techniques. Depending on mixture concentration and delay time, electron densities vary from almost 1017 cm-3 to about 1014 cm-3. Helium based results agree reasonably well with each other, as do values extracted from the Hα and Hβ emission lines. However, in particular for delays up to about 7 μs and in mixtures with less than 1% hydrogen, large discrepancies are observed between results obtained from the two species. Differences decrease with increasing hydrogen partial pressure and/or increasing delay time. In mixtures with molecular hydrogen fraction of 7% or more, all methods yield electron densities that are in good agreement. These findings seemingly contradict the well-established idea that addition of small amounts of hydrogen for diagnostic purposes does not perturb the plasma. Using Abel inversion analysis of the experimental data and a semi-empirical numerical model, we demonstrate that the major part of the detected discrepancies can be traced to differences in the spatial distributions of excited helium and hydrogen neutrals. The model yields spatially resolved emission intensities and electron density profiles that are in qualitative agreement with experiment. For the test case of a 1% H2 mixture at 5 μs delay, our model suggests that high electron temperatures cause an elevated degree of ionization and thus a reduction of excited hydrogen concentration relative to that of helium near the plasma center. As a result, spatially integrated analysis of hydrogen emission lines leads to oversampling of the plasma perimeter and thus to lower electron density values compared to those obtained from helium lines.

Helium diffusion parameters of hematite from a single-diffusion-domain crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farley, K. A.

2018-06-01

This contribution reports new parameters for helium diffusion in hematite useful for interpretation of cosmogenic 3He and radiogenic 4He chronometry. Fragments of a coarse, euhedral single crystal of hematite from Minas Gerais, Brazil were subjected to bulk step-heating helium diffusion experiments after proton irradiation to make a uniform distribution of 3He. Aliquots of three different grain sizes ranging from ∼300 to ∼700 μm in equivalent-sphere radius yielded helium diffusion activation energies Ea ∼ 170 kJ/mol, very similar to previous estimates for Ea in hematite. Uniquely in this specimen, diffusivity varies with the dimensions of the analyzed fragments in precisely the fashion expected if the diffusion domain corresponds to the physical grain. This contrasts with previous studies that concluded that the analyzed hematites consist of polycrystalline aggregates in which helium migration is governed by the size distribution of the constituent crystallites. These new data permit a direct estimate of the helium diffusivity at infinite temperature for hematite of ln(Do) = -0.66 ± 0.35 in cm2/s. The major implication of the new diffusion parameters is that hematite is very retentive of helium even at very small crystal sizes. For example, a 20 nm radius hematite crystal, at the smallest end of the size range so far described in dated polycrystalline hematite specimens, will retain more than 99% of its ingrown He over 1 Myr at 30 °C, and more than 90% over 100 Myr. Under most conditions, hematite is close to quantitatively helium-retentive on the Earth's surface, simplifying radiogenic and cosmogenic helium dating of this phase. In a system cooling at 10 °C/Myr, the 20 nm hematite crystal has a He closure temperature of ∼70 °C, similar to a typical ∼100 μm apatite crystal. Helium is likely held tightly in hematite owing to its dense hexagonal closest packing structure and absence of migration-enhancing channels. The isostructural minerals corundum and ilmenite are likely to be similarly helium retentive.

Performance of the Helium Circulation System on a Commercialized MEG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

T, Takeda; M, Okamoto; T, Miyazaki; K, Katagiri

2012-12-01

We report the performance of a helium circulation system (HCS) mounted on a MEG (Magnetoencephalography) at Nagoya University, Japan. This instrument is the first commercialized version of an HCS. The HCS collects warm helium gas at approximately 300 K and then cools it to approximately 40 K. The gas is returned to the neck tube of a Dewar of the MEG to keep it cold. It also collects helium gas in the region just above the liquid helium surface while it is still cold, re-liquefies the gas and returns it to the Dewar. A special transfer tube (TT) of approximately 3 m length was developed to allow for dual helium streams. This tube separates the HCS using a MEG to reduce magnetic noise. A refiner was incorporated to effectively collect contaminating gases by freezing them. The refiner was equipped with an electric heater to remove the frozen contaminants as gases into the air. A gas flow controller was also developed, which automatically controlled the heater and electric valves to clean up contamination. The developed TT exhibited a very low heat inflow of less than 0.1 W/m to the liquid helium, ensuring efficient operation. The insert tube diameter, which was 1.5 in. was reduced to a standard 0.5 in. size. This dimensional change enabled the HCS to mount onto any commercialized MEG without any modifications to the MEG. The HCS can increase liquid helium in the Dewar by at least 3 liters/Day using two GM cryocoolers (SRDK-415D, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.). The noise levels were virtually the same as before this installation.

Effect of a high helium content on the flow and fracture properties of a 9Cr martensitic steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henry, J.; Vincent, L.; Averty, X.; Marini, B.; Jung, P.

2007-08-01

An experimental characterization was conducted of helium effects on the mechanical properties of a 9Cr martensitic steel. Six sub-size Charpy samples were implanted in the notch region at 250 °C with 0.25 at.% helium and subsequently tested in 3-point bending at room temperature. Brittle fracture mode (cleavage and intergranular fracture) was systematically observed in the implanted zones of the samples. Finite element calculations of the tests, using as input the tensile properties measured on a helium loaded sample, were performed in order to determine the fracture stress at the onset of brittle crack propagation. Preliminary TEM investigations of the implantation-induced microstructure revealed a high density of small helium bubbles.

Effects of Helium Ion Irradiation on Properties of Crystalline and Amorphous Multiphase Ceramic Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yong; Hu, Liangbin; Qiu, Changjun; He, Bin; Wang, Zhongchang

2017-08-01

The Al2O3-TiO2 crystalline and amorphous multiphase ceramic coatings were prepared on a martensitic steel by laser in situ reaction technique and impose irradiation with 200 keV He ions at different doses. The helium ion irradiation goes 1.55 μm deep from the surface of coating, and the displacement per atom (dpa) for the Al2O3-TiO2 coating is 20.0. When the irradiation fluency is 5 × 1017 ions/cm2, defects are identified in crystalline areas and there form interfacial areas in the coating. These crystal defects tend to migrate and converge at the interfaces. Moreover, helium ion irradiation is found to exert no effect on surface chemical composition and phase constitution of the coatings, while surface mechanical properties for the coatings after irradiation differ from those before irradiation. Further nano-indentation experiments reveal that surface nano-hardness of the Al2O3-TiO2 multiphase coatings decreases as the helium ions irradiation flux increases. Such Al2O3-TiO2 crystalline and amorphous multiphase ceramic coatings exhibit the strongest resistance against helium ion irradiation which shall be applied as candidate structural materials for accelerator-driven sub-critical system to handle the nuclear waste under extreme conditions.

Cell wall microstructure, pore size distribution and absolute density of hemp shiv

PubMed Central

Lawrence, M.; Ansell, M. P.; Hussain, A.

2018-01-01

This paper, for the first time, fully characterizes the intrinsic physical parameters of hemp shiv including cell wall microstructure, pore size distribution and absolute density. Scanning electron microscopy revealed microstructural features similar to hardwoods. Confocal microscopy revealed three major layers in the cell wall: middle lamella, primary cell wall and secondary cell wall. Computed tomography improved the visualization of pore shape and pore connectivity in three dimensions. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) showed that the average accessible porosity was 76.67 ± 2.03% and pore size classes could be distinguished into micropores (3–10 nm) and macropores (0.1–1 µm and 20–80 µm). The absolute density was evaluated by helium pycnometry, MIP and Archimedes' methods. The results show that these methods can lead to misinterpretation of absolute density. The MIP method showed a realistic absolute density (1.45 g cm−3) consistent with the density of the known constituents, including lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose. However, helium pycnometry and Archimedes’ methods gave falsely low values owing to 10% of the volume being inaccessible pores, which require sample pretreatment in order to be filled by liquid or gas. This indicates that the determination of the cell wall density is strongly dependent on sample geometry and preparation. PMID:29765652

Cell wall microstructure, pore size distribution and absolute density of hemp shiv

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Y.; Lawrence, M.; Ansell, M. P.; Hussain, A.

2018-04-01

This paper, for the first time, fully characterizes the intrinsic physical parameters of hemp shiv including cell wall microstructure, pore size distribution and absolute density. Scanning electron microscopy revealed microstructural features similar to hardwoods. Confocal microscopy revealed three major layers in the cell wall: middle lamella, primary cell wall and secondary cell wall. Computed tomography improved the visualization of pore shape and pore connectivity in three dimensions. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) showed that the average accessible porosity was 76.67 ± 2.03% and pore size classes could be distinguished into micropores (3-10 nm) and macropores (0.1-1 µm and 20-80 µm). The absolute density was evaluated by helium pycnometry, MIP and Archimedes' methods. The results show that these methods can lead to misinterpretation of absolute density. The MIP method showed a realistic absolute density (1.45 g cm-3) consistent with the density of the known constituents, including lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose. However, helium pycnometry and Archimedes' methods gave falsely low values owing to 10% of the volume being inaccessible pores, which require sample pretreatment in order to be filled by liquid or gas. This indicates that the determination of the cell wall density is strongly dependent on sample geometry and preparation.

High Resolution Helium Ion Scanning Microscopy of the Rat Kidney

PubMed Central

Rice, William L.; Van Hoek, Alfred N.; Păunescu, Teodor G.; Huynh, Chuong; Goetze, Bernhard; Singh, Bipin; Scipioni, Larry; Stern, Lewis A.; Brown, Dennis

2013-01-01

Helium ion scanning microscopy is a novel imaging technology with the potential to provide sub-nanometer resolution images of uncoated biological tissues. So far, however, it has been used mainly in materials science applications. Here, we took advantage of helium ion microscopy to explore the epithelium of the rat kidney with unsurpassed image quality and detail. In addition, we evaluated different tissue preparation methods for their ability to preserve tissue architecture. We found that high contrast, high resolution imaging of the renal tubule surface is possible with a relatively simple processing procedure that consists of transcardial perfusion with aldehyde fixatives, vibratome tissue sectioning, tissue dehydration with graded methanol solutions and careful critical point drying. Coupled with the helium ion system, fine details such as membrane texture and membranous nanoprojections on the glomerular podocytes were visualized, and pores within the filtration slit diaphragm could be seen in much greater detail than in previous scanning EM studies. In the collecting duct, the extensive and striking apical microplicae of the intercalated cells were imaged without the shrunken or distorted appearance that is typical with conventional sample processing and scanning electron microscopy. Membrane depressions visible on principal cells suggest possible endo- or exocytotic events, and central cilia on these cells were imaged with remarkable preservation and clarity. We also demonstrate the use of colloidal gold probes for highlighting specific cell-surface proteins and find that 15 nm gold labels are practical and easily distinguishable, indicating that external labels of various sizes can be used to detect multiple targets in the same tissue. We conclude that this technology represents a technical breakthrough in imaging the topographical ultrastructure of animal tissues. Its use in future studies should allow the study of fine cellular details and provide significant advances in our understanding of cell surface structures and membrane organization. PMID:23505418

Production of stable, non-thermal atmospheric pressure rf capacitive plasmas using gases other than helium or neon

DOEpatents

Park, Jaeyoung; Henins, Ivars

2005-06-21

The present invention enables the production of stable, steady state, non-thermal atmospheric pressure rf capacitive .alpha.-mode plasmas using gases other than helium and neon. In particular, the current invention generates and maintains stable, steady-state, non-thermal atmospheric pressure rf .alpha.-mode plasmas using pure argon or argon with reactive gas mixtures, pure oxygen or air. By replacing rare and expensive helium with more readily available gases, this invention makes it more economical to use atmospheric pressure rf .alpha.-mode plasmas for various materials processing applications.

145. VIEW OF LIQUID NITROGEN/HELIUM HEAT EXCHANGER IN FUEL CONTROL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

145. VIEW OF LIQUID NITROGEN/HELIUM HEAT EXCHANGER IN FUEL CONTROL ROOM (215), LSB (BLDG. 751), FROM FUEL APRON WITH BAY DOOR OPEN - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 East, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

136. VIEW OF LIQUID NITROGEN/HELIUM HEAT EXCHANGER IN LIQUID NITROGEN ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

136. VIEW OF LIQUID NITROGEN/HELIUM HEAT EXCHANGER IN LIQUID NITROGEN CONTROL ROOM (115), LSB (BLDG. 770), FROM FUEL APRON WITH BAY DOOR OPEN - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 West, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

Energetic helium particles trapped in the magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Jiasheng; Guzik, T. Gregory; Sang, Yeming; Wefel, John P.; Cooper, John F.

1994-01-01

High energy (approximately 40-100 MeV/nucleon) geomagnetically trapped helium nuclei have been measured, for the first time, by the ONR-604 instrument during the 1990/1991 Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) mission. The helium events observed at L less than 2.3 have a pitch angle distribution peaking perpendicular to the local magnetic field and are contained in peaks located at L = 1.2 and 1.9. The events in each peak can be characterized by power law energy spectra with indices of 10.0 +/- 0.7 for L = 1.9-2.3 and 6.8 +/- 1.0 for L = 1.15-1.3, before the large storm of 24 March 1991. CRRES was active during solar maximum when the anomalous component is excluded from the inner heliosphere, making it unlikely that the observed events derived from the anomalous component. The trapped helium counting rates decrease gradually with time indicating that these high energy ions were not injected by flares during the 1990/91 mission. Flare injection prior to mid-1990 may account for the highest energy particles, while solar wind injection during magnetic storms and subsequent acceleration could account for the helium at lower energies.

Helium sequestration at nanoparticle-matrix interfaces in helium + heavy ion irradiated nanostructured ferritic alloys

DOE PAGES

Parish, Chad M.; Unocic, Kinga A.; Tan, Lizhen; ...

2016-10-24

Here we irradiated four ferritic alloys with energetic Fe and He ions: one castable nanostructured alloy (CNA) containing Ti-W-Ta-carbides, and three nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs). The NFAs were: 9Cr containing Y-Ti-O nanoclusters, and two Fe-12Cr-5Al NFAs containing Y-Zr-O or Y-Hf-O clusters. All four were subjected to simultaneous dual-beam Fe + He ion implantation (650 °C, ~50 dpa, ~15 appm He/dpa), simulating fusion-reactor conditions. Examination using scanning/transmission electron microscopy (STEM) revealed high-number-density helium bubbles of ~8 nm, ~10 21 m -3 (CNA), and of ~3 nm, 10 23 m -3 (NFAs). STEM combined with multivariate statistical analysis data mining suggests thatmore » the precipitate-matrix interfaces in all alloys survived ~50 dpa at 650 °C and serve as effective helium trapping sites. All alloys appear viable structural material candidates for fusion or advanced fission energy systems. Finally, among these developmental alloys the NFAs appear to sequester the helium into smaller bubbles and away from the grain boundaries more effectively than the early-generation CNA.« less

1.9 K Heat Inleak and Resistive Heating Measurements on Lhc Cryomagnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferlin, G.; Claudet, S.; Tavian, L.; Wagner, U.

2010-04-01

The superconducting magnets of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) distributed over eight sectors of 3.3-km long are cooled at 1.9 K in pressurized superfluid helium. During the commissioning campaign of the sectors in 2008, cold standby periods at nominal operating temperature have allowed to measure the overall static heat inleaks reaching the magnet cold masses at 1.9 K by enthalpy balance in steady-state operation. In addition, during electrical powering of the different magnet circuits, helium II calorimetry based on precision thermometry has been implemented to assess with an accuracy of 100 mW/m the additional heat loads due to resistive heating and to detect possible abnormal heat dissipation during powering. This paper describes the method applied to perform these measurements, compares the results with the expected specified values and discusses the impact of the measured values on cryo-plant tuning and operational margins.

Petrology of basalts from Loihi Seamount, Hawaii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawkins, James; Melchior, John

1983-12-01

Loihi Seamount is the southeasternmost active volcano of the Emperor-Hawaii linear volcanic chain. It comprises a spectrum of basalt compositional varieties including basanite, alkali basalt, transitional basalt and tholeiite. Samples from four dredge collections made on Scripps Institution of Oceanography Benthic Expedition in October 1982 are tholeiite. The samples include highly vesicular, olivine-rich basalt and dense glass-rich pillow fragments containing olivine and augite phenocrysts. Both quartz-normative and olivine-normative tholeiites are present. Minor and trace element data indicate relatively high abundances of low partition coefficient elements (e.g., Ti, K, P. Rb, Ba, Zr) and suggest that the samples were derived by relatively small to moderate extent of partial melting, of an undepleted mantle source. Olivine composition, MgO, Cr and Ni abundances, and Mg/(Mg+Fe), are typical of moderately fractionated to relatively unfractionated "primary" magmas. The variations in chemistry between samples cannot be adequately explained by low-pressure fractional crystallization but can be satisfied by minor variations in extent of melting if a homogeneous source is postulated. Alternatively, a heterogeneous source with variable abundances of certain trace elements, or mixing of liquids, may have been involved. Data for 3He/ 4He, presented in a separate paper, implies a mantle plume origin for the helium composition of the Loihi samples. There is little variation in the helium isotope ratio for samples having different compositions and textures. The helium data are not distinctive enough to unequivocally separate the magma sources for the tholeiitic rocks from the other rock types such as Loihi alkalic basalts and the whole source region for Loihi may have a nearly uniform helium compositions even though other element abundances may be variable. Complex petrologic processes including variable melting, fractional crystallization and magma mixing may have blurred original helium isotopic signatures.

Helium isotopic variations in volcanic rocks from Loihi Seamount and the Island of Hawaii

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kurz, M.D.; Jenkins, W.J.; Hart, S.R.; Clague, D.

1983-01-01

Helium isotopic ratios ranging from 20 to 32 times the atmospheric 3He 4He(RA) have been observed in a suite of 15 basaltic glasses from the Loihi Seamount. These ratios, which are up to four times higher than those of MORB glasses and more than twice those of nearby Kilauea, are strongly suggestive of a primitive source of volatiles supplying this volcanism. The Loihi glasses measured span a broad compositional range, and the 3He/4He ratios were found to be generally lower for the alkali basalts than for the tholeiites. The component with a lower 3He 4He ratio appears to be associated with olivine xenocrysts, within which fluid inclusions are probably the carrier of contaminant helium. One Loihi sample has a much lower isotopic ratio ( 30 RA) helium with some (variable) component of lithospheric contamination added during "breakthrough", while the later stages are characterized by a relaxation toward lithospheric 3He 4He ratios (??? 8 RA) due to isolation of the diapir from the mantle below (as the plate moves on), and subsequent mining of the inherited helium and contamination from the surrounding lithosphere. The abrupt contrast in 3He 4He ratios between Kilauea and Loihi, despite their close proximity, is indicative of the small lateral extent of the plume. ?? 1983.

Compact, ultra-low vibration, closed-cycle helium recycler for uninterrupted operation of MEG with SQUID magnetometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chao; Sun, Limin; Lichtenwalter, Ben; Zerkle, Brent; Okada, Yoshio

2016-06-01

A closed-cycle helium recycler was developed for continuous uninterrupted operation for magnetometer-based whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems. The recycler consists of a two stage 4 K pulse-tube cryocooler and is mounted on the roof of a magnetically shielded room (MSR). A flexible liquid helium (LHe) return line on the recycler is inserted into the fill port of the MEG system in the MSR through a slotted opening in the ceiling. The helium vapor is captured through a line that returns the gas to the top of the recycler assembly. A high-purity helium gas cylinder connected to the recycler assembly supplies the gas, which, after it is liquefied, increases the level of LHe in the MEG system during the start-up phase. No storage tank for evaporated helium gas nor a helium gas purifier is used. The recycler is capable of liquefying helium with a rate of ∼17 L/d after precooling the MEG system. It has provided a fully maintenance-free operation under computer control for 7 months without refill of helium. Although the recycler is used for single-orientation operation at this initial testing site, it is designed to operate at ±20° orientations, allowing the MEG system to be tilted for supine and reclining positions. Vibration of the recycler is dampened to an ultra-low level by using several vibration isolation methods, which enables uninterrupted operation during MEG measurements. Recyclers similar to this system may be quite useful even for MEG systems with 100% magnetometers.

Ionization states of helium in He-3-rich solar energetic particle events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klecker, B.; Hovestadt, D.; Moebius, E.; Scholer, M.; Gloeckler, G.; Ipavich, F. M.

1983-01-01

Results of a systematic study of the ionic charge state of helium in the energy range 0.6-1.0 MeV/nucleon for He-3-rich solar energetic particle events during the time period August 1978 to October 1979 are reported. The data have been obtained with the Max-Planck-Institut/University of Maryland experiment on ISEE-3. Whereas for solar energetic particle events with no enrichment of He-3 relative to He-4 surprisingly large abundances of singly ionized helium have been reported recently, He-3-rich solar energetic particle events do not show significant abundances of He-3(+). This result is consistent with current theories explaining large compositional anomalies by mass per charge dependent selective heating of the minor ion species.

Helium isotope studies in the Mojave Desert, California: Implications for groundwater chronology and regional seismicity

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kulongoski, J.T.; Hilton, David R.; Izbicki, J.A.

2003-01-01

We report helium isotope and concentration results for groundwaters from the western Mojave River Basin (MRB), 130 km east of Los Angeles, CA. The basin lies adjacent to the NW-SE trending San Andreas Fault (SAF) system. Samples were collected along two groundwater flowpaths that originate in the San Gabriel Mountains and discharge to the Mojave River located ???32 km to the northeast. Additional groundwater samples were collected from Mojave River Deposits underlying the Mojave River. The primary objective of this study is to identify and quantify crustal and mantle helium contributions to the regional groundwater system. A total of 27 groundwaters, sampled previously for chemistry and isotope systematics (including 14C activity) have measured helium concentrations that increase along flowpaths from 9.9??10-8 to 1.0??10-4 cm3 STP g-1 H2O. Concomitantly, 3He/4He ratios decrease from 0.84RA to 0.11RA (RA equals the 3He/4He ratio in air=1.4??10-6). We did not record 3He/4He ratios equivalent to crustal-production values (???0.02RA) in any sample. Dissolved helium concentrations were resolved into components associated with solubility equilibration, air entrainment, mantle-derivation, in-situ production within the aquifer, and extraneous crustal fluxes. All samples contained the first four components, but only older samples had the superimposed effects of helium derived from a crustal flux. The radiogenic He component has chronological significance, and good concordance between 4He and 14C ages for younger groundwaters (<25,000 year) demonstrates the integrity of the 4 He-chronometer in this setting. Helium-rich waters could also be dated with the 4He technique, but only by first isolating the whole crustal flux (3-10??10-6 cm3 STP cm-2 year-1). Mantle-derived 3He (3Hem) is present in all MRB samples irrespective of distance from the SAF. However, regional-aquifer groundwaters near the terminus of the flowpath have a significantly greater content of mantle-derived 3He in comparison with more modern samples. We propose that faults in the basin other than the SAF may be an additional source of mantle-derived helium. The large range in 3He m concentrations may be related to fault activity; however, groundwaters with lower and more constant 3Hem contents may indicate that seismic activity along the SAF has been relatively constant for the past 30,000 years, demonstrating that ancient groundwaters may serve as an archive for paleo-seismic events. ?? 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.

Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping

DOEpatents

Trapp, D.J.

1994-12-27

A method and device are disclosed for detecting the location of leaks along a wall or piping system, preferably in double-walled piping. The apparatus comprises a sniffer probe, a rigid cord such as a length of tube attached to the probe on one end and extending out of the piping with the other end, a source of pressurized air and a source of helium. The method comprises guiding the sniffer probe into the inner pipe to its distal end, purging the inner pipe with pressurized air, filling the annulus defined between the inner and outer pipe with helium, and then detecting the presence of helium within the inner pipe with the probe as is pulled back through the inner pipe. The length of the tube at the point where a leak is detected determines the location of the leak in the pipe. 2 figures.

Production of valuable hydrocarbons by flash pyrolysis of oil shale

DOEpatents

Steinberg, M.; Fallon, P.T.

1985-04-01

A process for the production of gas and liquid hydrocarbons from particulated oil shale by reaction with a pyrolysis gas at a temperature of from about 700/sup 0/C to about 1100/sup 0/C, at a pressure of from about 400 psi to about 600 psi, for a period of about 0.2 second to about 20 seconds. Such a pyrolysis gas includes methane, helium, or hydrogen. 3 figs., 3 tabs.

Scaled equation of state parameters for gases in the critical region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sengers, J. M. H. L.; Greer, W. L.; Sengers, J. V.

1976-01-01

In the light of recent theoretical developments, the paper presents an accurate characterization of anomalous thermodynamic behavior of xenon, helium 4, helium 3, carbon dioxide, steam and oxygen in the critical region. This behavior is associated with long range fluctuations in the system and the physical properties depend primarily on a single variable, namely, the correlation length. A description of the thermodynamic behavior of fluids in terms of scaling laws is formulated, and the two successfully used scaled equations of state (NBS equation and Linear Model parametric equation) are compared. Methods for fitting both equations to experimental equation of state data are developed and formulated, and the optimum fit for each of the two scaled equations of the above gases are presented and the results are compared. By extending the experimental data for the above one-component fluids to partially miscible binary liquids, superfluid liquid helium, ferromagnets and solids exhibiting order-disorder transitions, the principle of universality is concluded. Finally by using this principle, the critical regions for nine additional fluids are described.

Transpiration Cooling Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Song, Kyo D.; Ries, Heidi R.; Scotti, Stephen J.; Choi, Sang H.

1997-01-01

The transpiration cooling method was considered for a scram-jet engine to accommodate thermally the situation where a very high heat flux (200 Btu/sq. ft sec) from hydrogen fuel combustion process is imposed to the engine walls. In a scram-jet engine, a small portion of hydrogen fuel passes through the porous walls of the engine combustor to cool the engine walls and at the same time the rest passes along combustion chamber walls and is preheated. Such a regenerative system promises simultaneously cooling of engine combustor and preheating the cryogenic fuel. In the experiment, an optical heating method was used to provide a heat flux of 200 Btu/sq. ft sec to the cylindrical surface of a porous stainless steel specimen which carried helium gas. The cooling efficiencies by transpiration were studied for specimens with various porosity. The experiments of various test specimens under high heat flux have revealed a phenomenon that chokes the medium flow when passing through a porous structure. This research includes the analysis of the system and a scaling conversion study that interprets the results from helium into the case when hydrogen medium is used.

The helium effect at grain boundaries in Fe-Cr alloys: A first-principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zemła, M. R.; Wróbel, J. S.; Wejrzanowski, T.; Nguyen-Manh, D.; Kurzydłowski, K. J.

2017-02-01

Helium is produced in the structural materials in nuclear power plants by nuclear transmutation following neutron irradiation. Since the solubility of helium in all metals is extremely low, helium tends to be trapped at defects such as vacancies, dislocations and grain boundaries, which cause material embrittlement. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed in order to investigate the helium effect at grain boundaries (GBs) in iron-chromium alloys. Both cohesive energy and magnetic properties at symmetric Σ3(1 1 1) and Σ5(2 1 0) tilt Fe GBs are studied in the presence of Cr and He atoms. It is found that the presence of Cr atoms increases cohesive energy, at different He concentrations, and strongly influences magnetic properties at the GBs. The effect of the segregation energy of helium atom as a function of the different positions of Cr atoms located inside/outside a GB has been considered. Results of the present first-principles study enable one to clarify the role of Cr in understanding the helium effect in Fe-Cr-based alloys.

Theory of the n = 2 levels in muonic helium-3 ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franke, Beatrice; Krauth, Julian J.; Antognini, Aldo; Diepold, Marc; Kottmann, Franz; Pohl, Randolf

2017-12-01

The present knowledge of Lamb shift, fine-, and hyperfine structure of the 2S and 2P states in muonic helium-3 ions is reviewed in anticipation of the results of a first measurement of several 2S → 2P transition frequencies in the muonic helium-3 ion, μ3He+. This ion is the bound state of a single negative muon μ- and a bare helium-3 nucleus (helion), 3He++. A term-by-term comparison of all available sources, including new, updated, and so far unpublished calculations, reveals reliable values and uncertainties of the QED and nuclear structure-dependent contributions to the Lamb shift and the hyperfine splitting. These values are essential for the determination of the helion rms charge radius and the nuclear structure effects to the hyperfine splitting in μ3He+. With this review we continue our series of theory summaries in light muonic atoms [see A. Antognini et al., Ann. Phys. 331, 127 (2013); J.J. Krauth et al., Ann. Phys. 366, 168 (2016); and M. Diepold et al. arXiv:1606.05231 (2016)].

Selective fibronectin adsorption against albumin and enhanced stem cell attachment on helium atmospheric pressure glow discharge treated titanium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Inho; Vagaska, Barbora; Joo Park, Bong; Lee, Mi Hee; Jin Lee, Seung; Park, Jong-Chul

2011-06-01

Successful tissue integration of implanted medical devices depends on appropriate initial cellular response. In this study, the effect of helium atmospheric pressure glow discharge (He-APGD) treatment of titanium on selective protein adsorption and the initial attachment processes and focal adhesion formation of osteoprogenitor cells and stem cells were examined. Titanium disks were treated in a self-designed He-APGD system. Initial attachment of MC3T3-E1 mouse pre-osteoblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated by MTT assay and plasma membrane staining followed by morphometric analysis. Fibronectin adsorption was investigated by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbant Assay. MSCs cell attachment to treated and non-treated titanium disks coated with different proteins was verified also in serum-free culture. Organization of actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions was evaluated microscopically. He-APGD treatment effectively modified the titanium surfaces by creating a super-hydrophilic surface, which promoted selectively higher adsorption of fibronectin, a protein of critical importance for cell/biomaterial interaction. In two different types of cells, the He-APGD treatment enhanced the number of attaching cells as well as their attachment area. Moreover, cells had higher organization of actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions. Faster acceptance of the material by the progenitor cells in the early phases of tissue integration after the implantation may significantly reduce the overall healing time; therefore, titanium treatment with He-APGD seems to be an effective method of surface modification of titanium for improving its tissue inductive properties.

Large Scale Helium Liquefaction and Considerations for Site Services for a Plant Located in Algeria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froehlich, P.; Clausen, J. J.

2008-03-01

The large-scale liquefaction of helium extracted from natural gas is depicted. Based on a block diagram the process chain, starting with the pipeline downstream of the natural-gas plant to the final storage of liquid helium, is explained. Information will be provided about the recent experiences during installation and start-up of a bulk helium liquefaction plant located in Skikda, Algeria, including part-load operation based on a reduced feed gas supply. The local working and ambient conditions are described, including challenging logistic problems like shipping and receiving of parts, qualified and semi-qualified subcontractors, basic provisions and tools on site, and precautions to sea water and ambient conditions. Finally, the differences in commissioning (technically and evaluation of time and work packages) to European locations and standards will be discussed.

Thermodynamic properties and transport coefficients of two-temperature helium thermal plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Xiaoxue; Murphy, Anthony B.; Li, Xingwen

2017-03-01

Helium thermal plasmas are in widespread use in arc welding and many other industrial applications. Simulation of these processes relies on accurate plasma property data, such as plasma composition, thermodynamic properties and transport coefficients. Departures from LTE (local thermodynamic equilibrium) generally occur in some regions of helium plasmas. In this paper, properties are calculated allowing for different values of the electron temperature, T e, and heavy-species temperature, T h, at atmospheric pressure from 300 K to 30 000 K. The plasma composition is first calculated using the mass action law, and the two-temperature thermodynamic properties are then derived. The viscosity, diffusion coefficients, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of the two-temperature helium thermal plasma are obtained using a recently-developed method that retains coupling between electrons and heavy species by including the electron-heavy-species collision term in the heavy-species Boltzmann equation. It is shown that the viscosity and the diffusion coefficients strongly depend on non-equilibrium ratio θ (θ ={{T}\\text{e}}/{{T}\\text{h}} ), through the plasma composition and the collision integrals. The electrical conductivity, which depends on the electron number density and ordinary diffusion coefficients, and the thermal conductivity have similar dependencies. The choice of definition of the Debye length is shown to affect the electrical conductivity significantly for θ  >  1. By comparing with literature data, it is shown that the coupling between electrons and heavy species has a significant influence on the electrical conductivity, but not on the viscosity. Plasma properties are tabulated in the supplementary data.

Physiological response of rats to delivery of helium and xenon: implications for hyperpolarized noble gas imaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramirez, M. P.; Sigaloff, K. C.; Kubatina, L. V.; Donahue, M. A.; Venkatesh, A. K.; Albert, M. S.; ALbert, M. S. (Principal Investigator)

2000-01-01

The physiological effects of various hyperpolarized helium and xenon MRI-compatible breathing protocols were investigated in 17 Sprague-Dawley rats, by continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, EKG, temperature and endotracheal pressure. The protocols included alternating breaths of pure noble gas and oxygen, continuous breaths of pure noble gas, breath-holds of pure noble gas for varying durations, and helium breath-holds preceded by two helium rinses. Alternate-breath protocols up to 128 breaths caused a decrease in oxygen saturation level of less than 5% for either helium or xenon, whereas 16 continuous-breaths caused a 31.5% +/- 2.3% decrease in oxygen saturation for helium and a 30.7% +/- 1. 3% decrease for xenon. Breath-hold protocols up to 25 s did not cause the oxygen saturation to fall below 90% for either of the noble gases. Oxygen saturation values below 90% are considered pathological. At 30 s of breath-hold, the blood oxygen saturation dropped precipitously to 82% +/- 0.6% for helium, and to 76.5% +/- 7. 4% for xenon. Breath-holds longer than 10 s preceded by pre-rinses caused oxygen saturation to drop below 90%. These findings demonstrate the need for standardized noble gas inhalation procedures that have been carefully tested, and for continuous physiological monitoring to ensure the safety of the subject. We find short breath-hold and alternate-breath protocols to be safe procedures for use in hyperpolarized noble gas MRI experiments. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modulations of Driven Nonlinear Surface Waves on Water and Liquid Helium-4.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-06-01

loop to control drive amplitude. 63 CHAPTER III. DATA AND INTERPRETATION. Section 5. Cockscombs. 25. Cockscomb in water at f/30. 67 26. Double...annular trough, sealed and then partially filled with normal or superfluid helium, is oscillated vertically and supported 6 . . ... . . . . . 41 700...44 0 .0 0 00 loudspeaker surface wave sealed trough transducer shel oo •Figure 3. Schmatic of the helium experiment. 8 r

The Ignition Requirements of the Degeneracy Microspheres of Deuterium Helium-3 Mixture with Low-Radioactive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahdavi, M.; Khodadadi Azadboni, F.

2012-08-01

This paper examines the burn characteristics for inertial confinement D/3 He fuel pellets with different concentrations of Helium-3. It is shown that the Helium-3 relative density of the fuel mixture plays a significant role in determining the burn characteristics and fuel gain. In spite of the safety of the plasma degeneracy of D/3 He fuel with fraction of y = 0.2 (y: Helium-3 content parameter), ignition of fuel is impossible. In design fuel extra to safety should be considered fractional burn-up and fuel gain. The main contribution of this research is to show that the plasma degeneracy of equimolar mixture of D/3 He fuel lowers the ignition temperature and increases fuel gain. The results indicate that a ≤ 0.3 is difficult to ignite reasonable driver energy. A fuel gain of 378 can be obtained with a D/3 He fuel with fraction of y = 0.33, and areal density (ρ R) of 12 g/cm2. It is found that the fuel gain of an equimolar D/3 He fuel at temperature of 70 keV and ρ R value of 8.5 g/cm2 is 480. This value gain is higher by about 22% than the case of the pellets (y = 0.33).

Helium in the eroding atmosphere of an exoplanet.

PubMed

Spake, J J; Sing, D K; Evans, T M; Oklopčić, A; Bourrier, V; Kreidberg, L; Rackham, B V; Irwin, J; Ehrenreich, D; Wyttenbach, A; Wakeford, H R; Zhou, Y; Chubb, K L; Nikolov, N; Goyal, J M; Henry, G W; Williamson, M H; Blumenthal, S; Anderson, D R; Hellier, C; Charbonneau, D; Udry, S; Madhusudhan, N

2018-05-01

Helium is the second-most abundant element in the Universe after hydrogen and is one of the main constituents of gas-giant planets in our Solar System. Early theoretical models predicted helium to be among the most readily detectable species in the atmospheres of exoplanets, especially in extended and escaping atmospheres 1 . Searches for helium, however, have hitherto been unsuccessful 2 . Here we report observations of helium on an exoplanet, at a confidence level of 4.5 standard deviations. We measured the near-infrared transmission spectrum of the warm gas giant 3 WASP-107b and identified the narrow absorption feature of excited metastable helium at 10,833 angstroms. The amplitude of the feature, in transit depth, is 0.049 ± 0.011 per cent in a bandpass of 98 angstroms, which is more than five times greater than what could be caused by nominal stellar chromospheric activity. This large absorption signal suggests that WASP-107b has an extended atmosphere that is eroding at a total rate of 10 10 to 3 × 10 11 grams per second (0.1-4 per cent of its total mass per billion years), and may have a comet-like tail of gas shaped by radiation pressure.

Microstructural analysis of 800H steel exposed at test operation in HTHL by using FIB-SEM and HRTEM techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marušáková, Daniela; Bublíková, Petra; Berka, Jan; Vávrovcová, Zuzana; Burda, Jaroslav

2017-09-01

To understand the degradation process of metal materials which are used in power engineering, appropriate evaluation procedure is necessary to ensure. In that order, the degradation of alloy 800H during the first period of test operation in High Temperature Helium Loop (HTHL) was tested. Experiment was carried out in atmosphere of pure technical helium with purity 4.6 containing only residual concentration of moisture up to 300 vppm. Parameters during the operation test were not constant, process was interrupted several times. The maximum temperature on specimens during this period was 750 °C, average temperature was 460 °C, gas pressure ranged from 3 to 6 MPa and gas flow from 3 to 9 gs-1. Total duration of the test was 264 h. After the exposure the degradation of specimens was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Using the technique of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) integrated within SEM the transparent samples with quality surface parameters were obtained for TEM analysis. FIB technique in combination with High Resolution TEM ensured the guaranteed methodology of exposed sample preparation and precise description of changes in this kind of material.

Helium Purge Flow Prevention of Atmospheric Contamination of the Cryogenically Cooled Optics of Orbiting Infrared Telescopes: Calculation of He-O Differential Cross Section,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-06-05

interactions. Aquilanti and coworkers were able to obtain two analytic forms for the interatomic potential --a Lennard - Jones (12, 6) and an exp(a, 6) function...Sec. UI.D 38 ences between the 3R and 3E- potential functions which described the interac- tions of ground-state oxygen and helium atoms. Instead, for...AO-AIOI 152 AEROSPACE CORP EL SEUMOO CA CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS LAD r/6 17 HELIUM PLRE FLOW PREVENTION OF ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINATION OF TAR fTCiO )JN81

Calculations of cosmic-ray helium transport in shielding materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.

1993-01-01

The transport of galactic cosmic-ray helium nuclei and their secondaries through bulk shielding is considered using the straight-ahead approximation to the Boltzmann equation. A data base for nuclear interaction cross sections and secondary particle energy spectra for high-energy light-ion breakup is presented. The importance of the light ions H-2, H-3, and He-3 for cosmic-ray risk estimation is discussed, and the estimates of the fractional contribution to the neutron flux from helium interactions compared with other particle interactions are presented using a 1977 solar minimum cosmic-ray spectrum.

Serial single molecule electron diffraction imaging: diffraction background of superfluid helium droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jie; He, Yunteng; Lei, Lei; Alghamdi, Maha; Oswalt, Andrew; Kong, Wei

2017-08-01

In an effort to solve the crystallization problem in crystallography, we have been engaged in developing a method termed "serial single molecule electron diffraction imaging" (SS-EDI). The unique features of SS-EDI are superfluid helium droplet cooling and field-induced orientation: together the two features constitute a molecular goniometer. Unfortunately, the helium atoms surrounding the sample molecule also contribute to a diffraction background. In this report, we analyze the properties of a superfluid helium droplet beam and its doping statistics, and demonstrate the feasibility of overcoming the background issue by using the velocity slip phenomenon of a pulsed droplet beam. Electron diffraction profiles and pair correlation functions of ferrocene-monomer-doped droplets and iodine-nanocluster-doped droplets are presented. The timing of the pulsed electron gun and the effective doping efficiency under different dopant pressures can both be controlled for size selection. This work clears any doubt of the effectiveness of superfluid helium droplets in SS-EDI, thereby advancing the effort in demonstrating the "proof-of-concept" one step further.

Dimer formation of perylene: An ultracold spectroscopic and computational study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Birer, Ö.; Yurtsever, E.

2015-10-01

The electronic spectra of perylene inside helium nanodroplets recorded by the depletion method are presented. The results show two broad peaks in addition to sharp monomer vibronic transitions due to dimer formation. In order to understand the details of the spectra, first the dimer formation is studied by DFT and SCS-MP2 calculations and then the electronic spectra are calculated at the minima of the potential energy surface (PES). Theoretical calculations show that there are two low-lying energetically degenerate dimer structures; namely a parallel displaced one and a rotated stacked one. PES around these minima is very flat with a number of local minima at higher energies which at the experimental temperatures cannot be populated. Even though thermodynamically these two structures are equally populated, dynamical considerations point out that in helium droplet the parallel displaced geometry is encouraged by the natural alignment of the molecules due to the acquired angular momentum following the pick-up process. The calculated spectrum of the parallel displaced geometry predicts the positions of the dimer transitions within 30 nm of the experimental spectrum. Furthermore, the difference between the two dimer transitions is accurately predicted to be about 25 nm while the experimental difference was about 20 nm. Such a small difference could only be detected due to the ultracold conditions helium nanodroplets provided.

Thermal vacancies and phase separation in bcc mixtures of helium-3 and helium-4

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fraass, Benedick Andrew

1980-01-01

Thermal vacancy concentrations in crystals of 3He- 4He mixtures have been determined. A new x-ray diffractometer-position sensitive detector system is used to make measurements of the absolute lattice parameter of the helium crystals with an accuracy of 300 ppM, and measurements of changes in lattice parameters to better than 60 ppM. The phase separation of the concentrated 3He- 4He mixtures has been studied in detail with the x-ray measurements. Vacancy concentrations in crystals with 99%, 51%, 28%, 12%, and 0% 3He have been determined. Phase separation has been studied in mixed crystals with concentrations of 51%, 28%, and 12% 3Hemore » and melting pressures between 3.0 and 6.1 MPa. The phase separation temperatures determined in this work are in general agreement with previous work. The pressure dependence of T c, the phase separation temperature for a 50% mixture, is found to be linear: dT c/dP = -34 mdeg/MPa. The x-ray measurements are used to make several comments on the low temperature phase diagram of the helium mixtures.« less

Abundance Analysis of the Helium Weak Star 20-TAURI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mon, M.; Hirata, R.; Sadakane, K.

An abundance analysis of the helium-weak star 20 Tauri is performed with a fully line-blanketed model atmosphere. The adopted atmospheric parameters are Teff =12600 K and log g=3.2. These values are lower by about 1000 K in Teff and 0.3 in log g than those used in previous investigations, and 20 Tau is the coolest star among the group of helium-weak star. A value of log N(He)/N(H)=-1.7 is found from the average of six He I lines. Mg, Si, Ca, and Ni are underabundant, while P and Mn are overabundant. The abundances of C, Ti, Cr, and Fe coincide with the solar values within ±0.3 dex. Upper limits of the abundances of S, Sc, and Sr are estimated and these elements are not overabundant. The observed abundance pattern in 20 Tau is quite different from those in other helium-weak stars, while it shows a mild characteristic of Mn-Hg stars.

Combined cold compressor/ejector helium refrigerator

DOEpatents

Brown, D.P.

1984-06-05

A refrigeration apparatus having an ejector operatively connected with a cold compressor to form a two-stage pumping system. This pumping system is used to lower the pressure, and thereby the temperature of a bath of boiling refrigerant (helium). The apparatus as thus arranged and operated has substantially improved operating efficiency when compared to other processes or arrangements for achieving a similar low pressure.

Combined cold compressor/ejector helium refrigerator

DOEpatents

Brown, Donald P.

1985-01-01

A refrigeration apparatus having an ejector operatively connected with a cold compressor to form a two-stage pumping system. This pumping system is used to lower the pressure, and thereby the temperature of a bath of boiling refrigerant (helium). The apparatus as thus arranged and operated has substantially improved operating efficiency when compared to other processes or arrangements for achieving a similar low pressure.

AES, EELS and TRIM simulation method study of InP(100) subjected to Ar+, He+ and H+ ions bombardment.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghaffour, M.; Abdellaoui, A.; Bouslama, M.; Ouerdane, A.; Abidri, B.

2012-06-01

Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) have been performed in order to investigate the InP(100) surface subjected to ions bombardment. The InP(100) surface is always contaminated by carbon and oxygen revealed by C-KLL and O-KLL AES spectra recorded just after introduction of the sample in the UHV spectrometer chamber. The usually cleaning process of the surface is the bombardment by argon ions. However, even at low energy of ions beam (300 eV) indium clusters and phosphorus vacancies are usually formed on the surface. The aim of our study is to compare the behaviour of the surface when submitted to He+ or H+ ions bombardment. The helium ions accelerated at 500V voltage and for 45 mn allow removing contaminants but induces damaged and no stoichiometric surface. The proton ions were accelerated at low energy of 500 eV to bombard the InP surface at room temperature. The proton ions broke the In-P chemical bonds to induce the formation of In metal islands. Such a chemical reactivity between hydrogen and phosphorus led to form chemical species such as PH and PH3, which desorbed from the surface. The chemical susceptibly and the small size of H+ advantaged their diffusion into bulk. Since the experimental methods alone were not able to give us with accuracy the disturbed depth of the target by these ions. We associate to the AES and EELS spectroscopies, the TRIM (Transport and Range of Ions in Matter) simulation method in order to show the mechanism of interaction between Ar+, He+ or H+ ions and InP and determine the disturbed depth of the target by argon, helium or proton ions.

High-κ Al2O3 material in low temperature wafer-level bonding for 3D integration application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, J.; Tu, L. C.; Tan, C. S.

2014-03-01

This work systematically investigated a high-κ Al2O3 material for low temperature wafer-level bonding for potential applications in 3D microsystems. A clean Si wafer with an Al2O3 layer thickness of 50 nm was applied as our experimental approach. Bonding was initiated in a clean room ambient after surface activation, followed by annealing under inert ambient conditions at 300 °C for 3 h. The investigation consisted of three parts: a mechanical support study using the four-point bending method, hermeticity measurements using the helium bomb test, and thermal conductivity analysis for potential heterogeneous bonding. Compared with samples bonded using a conventional oxide bonding material (SiO2), a higher interfacial adhesion energy (˜11.93 J/m2) and a lower helium leak rate (˜6.84 × 10-10 atm.cm3/sec) were detected for samples bonded using Al2O3. More importantly, due to the excellent thermal conductivity performance of Al2O3, this technology can be used in heterogeneous direct bonding, which has potential applications for enhancing the performance of Si photonic integrated devices.

Spectroscopy of Lithium Atoms and Molecules on Helium Nanodroplets

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

We report on the spectroscopic investigation of lithium atoms and lithium dimers in their triplet manifold on the surface of helium nanodroplets (HeN). We present the excitation spectrum of the 3p ← 2s and 3d ← 2s two-photon transitions for single Li atoms on HeN. The atoms are excited from the 2S(Σ) ground state into Δ, Π, and Σ pseudodiatomic molecular substates. Excitation spectra are recorded by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization time-of-flight (REMPI-TOF) mass spectroscopy, which allows an investigation of the exciplex (Li*–Hem, m = 1–3) formation process in the Li–HeN system. Electronic states are shifted and broadened with respect to free atom states, which is explained within the pseudodiatomic model. The assignment is assisted by theoretical calculations, which are based on the Orsay–Trento density functional where the interaction between the helium droplet and the lithium atom is introduced by a pairwise additive approach. When a droplet is doped with more than one alkali atom, the fragility of the alkali–HeN systems leads preferably to the formation of high-spin molecules on the droplets. We use this property of helium nanodroplets for the preparation of Li dimers in their triplet ground state (13Σu+). The excitation spectrum of the 23Πg(ν′ = 0–11) ← 13Σu+(ν″ = 0) transition is presented. The interaction between the molecule and the droplet manifests in a broadening of the transitions with a characteristic asymmetric form. The broadening extends to the blue side of each vibronic level, which is caused by the simultaneous excitation of the molecule and vibrations of the droplet (phonons). The two isotopes of Li form 6Li2 and 7Li2 as well as isotope mixed 6Li7Li molecules on the droplet surface. By using REMPI-TOF mass spectroscopy, isotope-dependent effects could be studied. PMID:23895106

Fragmentation of ionized doped helium nanodroplets: theoretical evidence for a dopant ejection mechanism.

PubMed

Bonhommeau, D; Lewerenz, M; Halberstadt, N

2008-02-07

We report a theoretical study of the effect induced by a helium nanodroplet environment on the fragmentation dynamics of a dopant. The dopant is an ionized neon cluster Ne(n) (+) (n=4-6) surrounded by a helium nanodroplet composed of 100 atoms. A newly designed mixed quantum/classical approach is used to take into account both the large helium cluster zero-point energy due to the light mass of the helium atoms and all the nonadiabatic couplings between the Ne(n) (+) potential-energy surfaces. The results reveal that the intermediate ionic dopant can be ejected from the droplet, possibly with some helium atoms still attached, thereby reducing the cooling power of the droplet. Energy relaxation by helium atom evaporation and dissociation, the other mechanism which has been used in most interpretations of doped helium cluster dynamics, also exhibits new features. The kinetic energy distribution of the neutral monomer fragments can be fitted to the sum of two Boltzmann distributions, one with a low kinetic energy and the other with a higher kinetic energy. This indicates that cooling by helium atom evaporation is more efficient than was believed so far, as suggested by recent experiments. The results also reveal the predominance of Ne(2) (+) and He(q)Ne(2) (+) fragments and the absence of bare Ne(+) fragments, in agreement with available experimental data (obtained for larger helium nanodroplets). Moreover, the abundance in fragments with a trimeric neon core is found to increase with the increase in dopant size. Most of the fragmentation is achieved within 10 ps and the only subsequent dynamical process is the relaxation of hot intermediate He(q)Ne(2) (+) species to Ne(2) (+) by helium atom evaporation. The dependence of the ionic fragment distribution on the parent ion electronic state reached by ionization is also investigated. It reveals that He(q)Ne(+) fragments are produced only from the highest electronic state, whereas He(q)Ne(2) (+) fragments originate from all the electronic states. Surprisingly, the highest electronic states also lead to fragments that still contain the original ionic dopant species. A mechanism is conjectured to explain this fragmentation inhibition.

Development of monitoring system of helium leakage from canister

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Toriu, D.; Ushijima, S.; Takeda, H.

2013-07-01

This paper presents a computational method for the helium leakage from a canister. The governing equations for compressible fluids consist of mass conservation equation in Eulerian description, momentum equations and energy equation. The numerical procedures are divided into three phases, advection, diffusion and acoustic phases, and the equations of compressible fluids are discretized with a finite volume method. Thus, the mass conservation law is sufficiently satisfied in the calculation region. In particular, our computational method enables us to predict the change of the temperature distributions around the canister boundaries by calculating the governing equations for the compressible gas flows, whichmore » are leaked out from a slight crack on the canister boundary. In order to confirm the validity of our method, it was applied to the basic problem, 2-dimensional natural convection flows in a rectangular cavity. As a result, it was shown that the naturally convected flows can be reasonably simulated by our method. Furthermore, numerical experiments were conducted for the helium leakage from canister and we derived a close relationship between the inner pressure and the boundary temperature distributions.« less

Formation of the lunar helium corona and atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hodges, R. R., Jr.

1977-01-01

Helium is one of the dominant gases of the lunar atmosphere. Its presence is easily identified in data from the mass spectrometer at the Apollo 17 landing site. The major part of these data was obtained in lunar nighttime, where helium concentration reaches the maximum of its diurnal cyclic variation. The large night to day concentration ratio agrees with the basic theory of exospheric lateral transport reported by Hodges and Johnson (1968). A reasonable fraction of atmospheric helium atoms has a velocity in excess of the gravitational escape velocity. The result is a short average lifetime and a tenuous helium atmosphere. A description is presented of an investigation which shows that the atmosphere of the moon has two distinct components including low energy atoms, which are gravitationally bound in trajectories that intersect the lunar surface, and higher energy atoms, which are trapped in satellite orbits. The total helium abundance in the lunar corona is shown to be about 1.3 times 10 to the 30th power atoms.

Solvation and Spectral Line Shifts of Chromium Atoms in Helium Droplets Based on a Density Functional Theory Approach

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

The interaction of an electronically excited, single chromium (Cr) atom with superfluid helium nanodroplets of various size (10 to 2000 helium (He) atoms) is studied with helium density functional theory. Solvation energies and pseudo-diatomic potential energy surfaces are determined for Cr in its ground state as well as in the y7P, a5S, and y5P excited states. The necessary Cr–He pair potentials are calculated by standard methods of molecular orbital-based electronic structure theory. In its electronic ground state the Cr atom is found to be fully submerged in the droplet. A solvation shell structure is derived from fluctuations in the radial helium density. Electronic excitations of an embedded Cr atom are simulated by confronting the relaxed helium density (ρHe), obtained for Cr in the ground state, with interaction pair potentials of excited states. The resulting energy shifts for the transitions z7P ← a7S, y7P ← a7S, z5P ← a5S, and y5P ← a5S are compared to recent fluorescence and photoionization experiments. PMID:24906160

Solvation and spectral line shifts of chromium atoms in helium droplets based on a density functional theory approach.

PubMed

Ratschek, Martin; Pototschnig, Johann V; Hauser, Andreas W; Ernst, Wolfgang E

2014-08-21

The interaction of an electronically excited, single chromium (Cr) atom with superfluid helium nanodroplets of various size (10 to 2000 helium (He) atoms) is studied with helium density functional theory. Solvation energies and pseudo-diatomic potential energy surfaces are determined for Cr in its ground state as well as in the y(7)P, a(5)S, and y(5)P excited states. The necessary Cr-He pair potentials are calculated by standard methods of molecular orbital-based electronic structure theory. In its electronic ground state the Cr atom is found to be fully submerged in the droplet. A solvation shell structure is derived from fluctuations in the radial helium density. Electronic excitations of an embedded Cr atom are simulated by confronting the relaxed helium density (ρHe), obtained for Cr in the ground state, with interaction pair potentials of excited states. The resulting energy shifts for the transitions z(7)P ← a(7)S, y(7)P ← a(7)S, z(5)P ← a(5)S, and y(5)P ← a(5)S are compared to recent fluorescence and photoionization experiments.

A helium P-Cygni profile in RR Lyrae stars?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillet, D.; Sefyani, F. L.; Benhida, A.; Fabas, N.; Mathias, P.; Benkhaldoun, Z.; Daassou, A.

2016-03-01

Context. Until 2006, helium emission lines had never been observed in RR Lyrae stars. For the first time, a pre-maximum helium emission in 11 RRab stars was observed during rising light (around the pulsation phase 0.92) and the reappearance of helium emission near maximum light (phase 0.0) in one RRab star: RV Oct. This post-maximum emission has been only observed in the He I λ5875.66 (D3) line. Its intensity is very weak, and its profile mimics a P-Cygni profile with the emission peak centered at the laboratory wavelength. The physical explanation for this unexpected line profile has not been proposed yet. Aims: Using new observations of RR Lyr, we investigate the physical origin of the presence of a P-Cygni profile in the He I λ5875.66 (D3) line. Methods: High-resolution spectra of RR Lyr, collected with a spectrograph eShel/C14 at the Oukaïmeden Observatory (Morocco) in 2013, were analyzed to understand the origin of the observed P-Cygni profile at D3. Results: When the shock intensity is moderate, helium emission cannot be produced in the shock wake, and consequently, the two consecutive helium emissions (pre- and post-maximum light emissions) are not observed. This is the most frequent case. When the shock intensity becomes high enough, a pre-maximum He I emission first occurs, which can be followed by the appearance of a P-Cygni profile if the shock intensity is still strong in the high atmosphere. The observation of a P-Cygni profile means that the shock wave is already detached from the photosphere. It is shown that the shock strongly first decelerates between the pulsation phases 0.90 and 1.04 from 130 km s-1 to 60 km s-1, probably before accelerating again to 80 km s-1 near phase 1.30. Conclusions: The presence of the P-Cygni profile seems to be a natural consequence of the large extension of the expanding atmosphere, which is induced by strong (radiative) shock waves propagating toward the high atmosphere. This kind of P-Cygni profile has already been observed in the Hα line of some RR Lyrae stars and long-period Cepheids. Based on observations obtained at the Oukaïmeden Observatory in the High Atlas mountains, 78 km south of Marrakech and operated by the Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Département de Physique, LPHEA, Marrakech, Morocco.

High resolution spectroscopy of six new extreme helium stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heber, U.; Jones, G.; Drilling, J. S.

1986-01-01

High resolution spectra of six newly discovered extreme helium stars are presented. LSS 5121 is shown to be a spectroscopical twin of the hot extreme helium star HD 160641. A preliminary LTE analysis of LSS 3184 yielded an effective temperature of 22,000 K and a surface gravity of log g = 3.2. Four stars form a new subgroup, classified by sharp-lined He I spectra and pronounced O II spectra, and it is conjectured that these lie close to the Eddington limit. The whole group of extreme helium stars apparently is inhomogeneous with respect to luminosity to mass ratio and chemical composition.

A versatile laboratory cryogenic plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dobrov, V.M.; Marevichev, I.P.; Petrova, Y.B.

1983-07-01

The Institute of Theoretical and Experimental physics has designed a versatile cryogenic plant (VCP) which can liquefy helium, hydrogen, neon, and can extract neon from a gaseous neon-helium mixture. It can also be used as a refrigerator for cryostating external objects. The versatile cryogenic plant is schematicized and the refrigerating capacity and VCP control panel are detailed. Characteristic features which distinguish the VCP from other plants are specified. The processes involved in the liquefaction of helium, hydrogen, or neon, and the cryostating and cooling of an external object are explained. The use of the plant showed it to be economic,more » reliable, and convenient to operate.« less

Characterizing Accreting Double White Dwarf Binaries with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna and Gaia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breivik, Katelyn; Kremer, Kyle; Bueno, Michael; Larson, Shane L.; Coughlin, Scott; Kalogera, Vassiliki

2018-02-01

We demonstrate a method to fully characterize mass-transferring double white dwarf (DWD) systems with a helium-rich (He) white dwarf (WD) donor based on the mass–radius (M–R) relationship for He WDs. Using a simulated Galactic population of DWDs, we show that donor and accretor masses can be inferred for up to ∼60 systems observed by both Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and Gaia. Half of these systems will have mass constraints {{Δ }} {M}{{D}} ≲ 0.2 {M}ȯ and {{Δ }} {M}{{A}} ≲ 2.3 {M}ȯ . We also show how the orbital frequency evolution due to astrophysical processes and gravitational radiation can be decoupled from the total orbital frequency evolution for up to ∼50 of these systems.

Atmospheric helium and geomagnetic field reversals.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheldon, W. R.; Kern, J. W.

1972-01-01

The problem of the earth's helium budget is examined in the light of recent work on the interaction of the solar wind with nonmagnetic planets. It is proposed that the dominant mode of helium (He4) loss is ion pumping by the solar wind during geomagnetic field reversals, when the earth's magnetic field is very small. The interaction of the solar wind with the earth's upper atmosphere during such a period is found to involve the formation of a bow shock. The penetration altitude of the shock-heated solar plasma is calculated to be about 700 km, and ionization rates above this level are estimated for a cascade ionization (electron avalanche) process to average 10 to the 9th power ions/sq cm/sec. The calculated ionization rates and the capacity of the solar wind to remove ionized helium (He4) from the upper atmosphere during geomagnetic dipole reversals are sufficient to yield a secular equilibrium over geologic time scales. The upward transport of helium from the lower atmosphere under these conditions is found to be adequate to sustain the proposed loss rate.

Recursive approach of EEG-segment-based principal component analysis substantially reduces cryogenic pump artifacts in simultaneous EEG-fMRI data.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun-Chul; Yoo, Seung-Schik; Lee, Jong-Hwan

2015-01-01

Electroencephalography (EEG) data simultaneously acquired with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data are preprocessed to remove gradient artifacts (GAs) and ballistocardiographic artifacts (BCAs). Nonetheless, these data, especially in the gamma frequency range, can be contaminated by residual artifacts produced by mechanical vibrations in the MRI system, in particular the cryogenic pump that compresses and transports the helium that chills the magnet (the helium-pump). However, few options are available for the removal of helium-pump artifacts. In this study, we propose a recursive approach of EEG-segment-based principal component analysis (rsPCA) that enables the removal of these helium-pump artifacts. Using the rsPCA method, feature vectors representing helium-pump artifacts were successfully extracted as eigenvectors, and the reconstructed signals of the feature vectors were subsequently removed. A test using simultaneous EEG-fMRI data acquired from left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) clenching tasks performed by volunteers found that the proposed rsPCA method substantially reduced helium-pump artifacts in the EEG data and significantly enhanced task-related gamma band activity levels (p=0.0038 and 0.0363 for LH and RH tasks, respectively) in EEG data that have had GAs and BCAs removed. The spatial patterns of the fMRI data were estimated using a hemodynamic response function (HRF) modeled from the estimated gamma band activity in a general linear model (GLM) framework. Active voxel clusters were identified in the post-/pre-central gyri of motor area, only from the rsPCA method (uncorrected p<0.001 for both LH/RH tasks). In addition, the superior temporal pole areas were consistently observed (uncorrected p<0.001 for the LH task and uncorrected p<0.05 for the RH task) in the spatial patterns of the HRF model for gamma band activity when the task paradigm and movement were also included in the GLM. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interactions of satellite-speed helium atoms with satellite surfaces. 3: Drag coefficients from spatial and energy distributions of reflected helium atoms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharma, P. K.; Knuth, E. L.

1977-01-01

Spatial and energy distributions of helium atoms scattered from an anodized 1235-0 aluminum surface as well as the tangential and normal momentum accommodation coefficients calculated from these distributions are reported. A procedure for calculating drag coefficients from measured values of spatial and energy distributions is given. The drag coefficient calculated for a 6061 T-6 aluminum sphere is included.

Helium abundance and speed difference between helium ions and protons in the solar wind from coronal holes, active regions, and quiet Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Hui; Madjarska, M. S.; Li, Bo; Xia, LiDong; Huang, ZhengHua

2018-05-01

Two main models have been developed to explain the mechanisms of release, heating and acceleration of the nascent solar wind, the wave-turbulence-driven (WTD) models and reconnection-loop-opening (RLO) models, in which the plasma release processes are fundamentally different. Given that the statistical observational properties of helium ions produced in magnetically diverse solar regions could provide valuable information for the solar wind modelling, we examine the statistical properties of the helium abundance (AHe) and the speed difference between helium ions and protons (vαp) for coronal holes (CHs), active regions (ARs) and the quiet Sun (QS). We find bimodal distributions in the space of AHeand vαp/vA(where vA is the local Alfvén speed) for the solar wind as a whole. The CH wind measurements are concentrated at higher AHeand vαp/vAvalues with a smaller AHedistribution range, while the AR and QS wind is associated with lower AHeand vαp/vA, and a larger AHedistribution range. The magnetic diversity of the source regions and the physical processes related to it are possibly responsible for the different properties of AHeand vαp/vA. The statistical results suggest that the two solar wind generation mechanisms, WTD and RLO, work in parallel in all solar wind source regions. In CH regions WTD plays a major role, whereas the RLO mechanism is more important in AR and QS.

A faint type of supernova from a white dwarf with a helium-rich companion.

PubMed

Perets, H B; Gal-Yam, A; Mazzali, P A; Arnett, D; Kagan, D; Filippenko, A V; Li, W; Arcavi, I; Cenko, S B; Fox, D B; Leonard, D C; Moon, D-S; Sand, D J; Soderberg, A M; Anderson, J P; James, P A; Foley, R J; Ganeshalingam, M; Ofek, E O; Bildsten, L; Nelemans, G; Shen, K J; Weinberg, N N; Metzger, B D; Piro, A L; Quataert, E; Kiewe, M; Poznanski, D

2010-05-20

Supernovae are thought to arise from two different physical processes. The cores of massive, short-lived stars undergo gravitational core collapse and typically eject a few solar masses during their explosion. These are thought to appear as type Ib/c and type II supernovae, and are associated with young stellar populations. In contrast, the thermonuclear detonation of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf, whose mass approaches the Chandrasekhar limit, is thought to produce type Ia supernovae. Such supernovae are observed in both young and old stellar environments. Here we report a faint type Ib supernova, SN 2005E, in the halo of the nearby isolated galaxy, NGC 1032. The 'old' environment near the supernova location, and the very low derived ejected mass ( approximately 0.3 solar masses), argue strongly against a core-collapse origin. Spectroscopic observations and analysis reveal high ejecta velocities, dominated by helium-burning products, probably excluding this as a subluminous or a regular type Ia supernova. We conclude that it arises from a low-mass, old progenitor, likely to have been a helium-accreting white dwarf in a binary. The ejecta contain more calcium than observed in other types of supernovae and probably large amounts of radioactive (44)Ti.

Diffuse He degassing from Cumbre Vieja volcano, La Palma, Canary Islands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asensio-Ramos, María; De Jongh, Marli E.; Lamfers, Kristen R.; Alonso, Mar; Amonte, Cecilia; Padrón, Eleazar; Hernández, Pedro A.; Pérez, Nemesio M.

2017-04-01

Helium is considered as an ideal geochemical tracer due to its geochemical properties: chemical inertness, physical stability and practical insolubility in water under normal conditions. These characteristics, together with its high mobility on the crust, make the presence of helium anomalies on the surface environment of a volcanic system to be related to deep fluid migration controlled by volcano-tectonic features, also providing valuable information about the location and characteristics of the gas source and the fracturing of the crust. The recent results reported by Padrón et al. (2013) clearly show importance of helium emission studies for the prediction of major volcanic events and the importance of continuous monitoring of this gas in active volcanic regions. La Palma Island (708.32 km2) is located at the northwestern end of the Canarian Archipelago. Subaerial volcanic activity on this island started ˜2.0 My ago and has taken place exclusively at the southern part in the last 123 ka. Cumbre Vieja volcano, the most active basaltic volcano of the Canary Islands, was built in this zone, including a main north-south rift area 20 km long and up to 1,950 m in elevation, with vents located also at the northwest and northeast. Padrón et al., (2012) showed that helium is mainly emitted along both N-S and N-W rift of Cumbre Vieja, being, therefore, zones of enhanced permeability for deep gas migration and preferential routes for degassing. This work represents a continuation of the results obtained by Padrón et al. (2012) until the year 2016. Each study covered the 220 km2 of Cumbre Vieja with an average of 570 homogenously distributed sampling points. At each sampling site, soil gas samples were collected at 40 cm depth by withdrawing the gas aliquots into 60 cc hypodermic syringes. He content in the soil gases was analyzed by means of quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS). Atmospheric gas was used periodically to calibrate the instrument. To estimate the helium emission rate at each sampling point, a pure diffusive model was applied following the Fick's law. Thus, assuming a pure diffusive mechanism, the helium emission was estimated between 18 and 38 kg d-1 in the studied period (2002-2016). Helium efflux contour maps were constructed using sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) as interpolation method. In most of the surveys, helium enrichments in the soil layer with respect to the air concentration measured on Cumbre Vieja indicate a strong structural control in the degassing processes of the volcano and the excess helium seems to be emitted mainly along both N-S and N-W rifts of the volcano. This work reinforce the importance of performing helium emission studies as an important volcano monitoring technique that might help to detect early warning signals of volcanic unrest in oceanic volcanic islands. References: Padrón et al., (2012). Chem. Geol. 312-313, 138-147. Padrón et al. (2013). Geology 41(5), 539-542.

The application of laser Rayleigh scattering to gas density measurements in hypersonic helium flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoppe, J. C.; Honaker, W. C.

1979-01-01

Measurements of the mean static free-stream gas density have been made in two Langley Research Center helium facilities, the 3-inch leg of the high-Reynolds-number helium complex and the 22-inch hypersonic helium tunnel. Rayleigh scattering of a CW argon ion laser beam at 514.5 nm provided the basic physical mechanism. The behavior of the scattered signal was linear, confirmed by a preliminary laboratory study. That study also revealed the need to introduce baffles to reduce stray light. A relatively simple optical system and associated photon-counting electronics were utilized to obtain data for densities from 10 to the 23rd to 10 to the 25th per cu m. The major purpose, to confirm the applicability of this technique in the hypersonic helium flow, was accomplished.

Pair-correlation function of a metastable helium Bose-Einstein condensate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zin, Pawel; Trippenbach, Marek; Gajda, Mariusz

2004-02-01

The pair-correlation function is one of the basic quantities to characterize the coherence properties of a Bose-Einstein condensate. We calculate this function in the experimentally important case of a zero temperature Bose-Einstein condensate in a metastable triplet helium state using the variational method with a pair-excitation ansatz. We compare our result with a pair-correlation function obtained for the hard-sphere potential with the same scattering length. Both functions are practically indistinguishable for distances greater than the scattering length. At smaller distances, due to interatomic interactions, the helium condensate shows strong correlations.

Helium Ion Secondary Electron Mode Microscopy For Interconnect Material Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogawa, Shinichi; Thompson, William; Stern, Lewis; Scipioni, Larry; Notte, John; Farkas, Lou; Barriss, Louise

2010-04-01

The recently developed helium ion microscope (HIM) is now capable of 0.35 nm secondary electron (SE) mode image resolution. When low-k dielectrics or copper interconnects in ultra large scale integrated circuits (ULSI) interconnect structures were imaged in this mode, it was found that unique pattern dimension and fidelity information at sub-nanometer resolution was available for the first time. This paper will discuss the helium ion microscope architecture and the SE imaging techniques that make the HIM observation method of particular value to the low-k dielectric and dual damascene copper interconnect technologies.

A progenitor binary and an ejected mass donor remnant of faint type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geier, S.; Marsh, T. R.; Wang, B.; Dunlap, B.; Barlow, B. N.; Schaffenroth, V.; Chen, X.; Irrgang, A.; Maxted, P. F. L.; Ziegerer, E.; Kupfer, T.; Miszalski, B.; Heber, U.; Han, Z.; Shporer, A.; Telting, J. H.; Gänsicke, B. T.; Østensen, R. H.; O'Toole, S. J.; Napiwotzki, R.

2013-06-01

Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) are the most important standard candles for measuring the expansion history of the universe. The thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf can explain their observed properties, but neither the progenitor systems nor any stellar remnants have been conclusively identified. Underluminous SN Ia have been proposed to originate from a so-called double-detonation of a white dwarf. After a critical amount of helium is deposited on the surface through accretion from a close companion, the helium is ignited causing a detonation wave that triggers the explosion of the white dwarf itself. We have discovered both shallow transits and eclipses in the tight binary system CD-30°11223 composed of a carbon/oxygen white dwarf and a hot helium star, allowing us to determine its component masses and fundamental parameters. In the future the system will transfer mass from the helium star to the white dwarf. Modelling this process we find that the detonation in the accreted helium layer is sufficiently strong to trigger the explosion of the core. The helium star will then be ejected at such high velocity that it will escape the Galaxy. The predicted properties of this remnant are an excellent match to the so-called hypervelocity star US 708, a hot, helium-rich star moving at more than 750 km s-1, sufficient for it to leave the Galaxy. The identification of both progenitor and remnant provides a consistent picture of the formation and evolution of underluminous SNIa.

Helium accumulation and bubble formation in FeCoNiCr alloy under high fluence He+ implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Da; Tong, Y.; Li, H.; Wang, J.; Zhao, Y. L.; Hu, Alice; Kai, J. J.

2018-04-01

Face-centered cubic (FCC) high-entropy alloys (HEA), as emerging alloys with equal-molar or near equal-molar constituents, show a promising radiation damage resistance under heavy ion bombardment, making them potential for structural material application in next-generation nuclear reactors, but the accumulation of light helium ions, a product of nuclear fission reaction, has not been studied. The present work experimentally studied the helium accumulation and bubble formation at implantation temperatures of 523 K, 573 K and 673 K in a homogenized FCC FeCoNiCr HEA, a HEA showing excellent radiation damage resistance under heavy ion irradiation. The size and population density of helium bubbles in FeCoNiCr samples were quantitatively analyzed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the helium content existing in bubbles were estimated from a high-pressure Equation of State (EOS). We found that the helium diffusion in such condition was dominated by the self-interstitial/He replacement mechanism, and the corresponding activation energy in FeCoNiCr is comparable with the vacancy migration energy in Ni and austenitic stainless steel but only 14.3%, 31.4% and 51.4% of the accumulated helium precipitated into helium bubbles at 523 K, 573 K and 673 K, respectively, smaller than the pure Ni case. Importantly, the small bubble size suggested that FeCoNiCr HEA has a high resistance of helium bubble formation compared with Ni and steels.

Liquid helium-free cryostat and hermetically sealed cryogenic microwave cavity for hyperfine spectroscopy of antiprotonic helium

PubMed Central

Massiczek, O.; Friedreich, S.; Juhász, B.; Widmann, E.; Zmeskal, J.

2011-01-01

The design and properties of a new cryogenic set-up for laser–microwave–laser hyperfine structure spectroscopy of antiprotonic helium – an experiment performed at the CERN-Antiproton Decelerator (AD), Geneva, Switzerland – are described. Similar experiments for 4He have been performed at the AD for several years. Due to the usage of a liquid helium operated cryostat and therefore necessary refilling of coolants, a loss of up to 10% beamtime occurred. The decision was made to change the cooling system to a closed-circuit cryocooler. New hermetically sealed target cells with minimised 3He gas volume and different dimensions of the microwave resonator for measuring the 3He transitions were needed. A new set-up has been designed and tested at Stefan Meyer Institute in Vienna before being used for the 2009 and 2010 beamtimes at the AD. PMID:22267883

Time-frequency representation of autoionization dynamics in helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busto, D.; Barreau, L.; Isinger, M.; Turconi, M.; Alexandridi, C.; Harth, A.; Zhong, S.; Squibb, R. J.; Kroon, D.; Plogmaker, S.; Miranda, M.; Jiménez-Galán, Á.; Argenti, L.; Arnold, C. L.; Feifel, R.; Martín, F.; Gisselbrecht, M.; L'Huillier, A.; Salières, P.

2018-02-01

Autoionization, which results from the interference between direct photoionization and photoexcitation to a discrete state decaying to the continuum by configuration interaction, is a well known example of the important role of electron correlation in light-matter interaction. Information on this process can be obtained by studying the spectral, or equivalently, temporal complex amplitude of the ionized electron wave packet. Using an energy-resolved interferometric technique, we measure the spectral amplitude and phase of autoionized wave packets emitted via the sp2+ and sp3+ resonances in helium. These measurements allow us to reconstruct the corresponding temporal profiles by Fourier transform. In addition, applying various time-frequency representations, we observe the build-up of the wave packets in the continuum, monitor the instantaneous frequencies emitted at any time and disentangle the dynamics of the direct and resonant ionization channels.

Porous plug for Gravity Probe B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Suwen; Everitt, C. W. Francis; Frank, David J.; Lipa, John A.; Muhlfelder, Barry F.

2015-11-01

The confinement of superfluid helium for a Dewar in space poses a unique challenge due to its propensity to minimize thermal gradients by essentially viscous-free counterflow. This poses the risk of losing liquid through a vent pipe, reducing the efficiency of the cooling process. To confine the liquid helium in the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) flight Dewar, a porous plug technique was invented at Stanford University. Here, we review the history of the porous plug and its development, and describe the physics underlying its operation. We summarize a few missions that employed porous plugs, some of which preceded the launch of GP-B. The design, manufacture and flight performance of the GP-B plug are described, and its use resulted in the successful operation of the 2441 l flight Dewar on-orbit for 17.3 months.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jung, Hee Joon; Edwards, Dan J.; Kurtz, Richard J.

An investigation of the influence of helium on damage evolution under neutron irradiation of an 11 at% Al, 19 at% Cr ODS ferritic PM2000 alloy was carried out in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) using a novel in situ helium injection (ISHI) technique. Helium was injected into adjacent TEM discs from thermal neutron 59Ni(nth, 59Ni(nth,α) reactions in a thin NiAl layer. The PM2000 undergoes concurrent displacement damage from the high-energy neutrons. The ISHI technique allows direct comparisons of regions with and without high concentrations of helium since only the side coated with the NiAl experiences helium injection. The correspondingmore » microstructural and microchemical evolutions were characterized using both conventional and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. The evolutions observed include formation of dislocation loops and associated helium bubbles, precipitation of a variety of phases, amorphization of the Al2YO3 oxides (which also variously contained internal voids), and several manifestations of solute segregation. Notably, high concentrations of helium had a significant effect on many of these diverse phenomena. These results on PM2000 are compared and contrasted to the evolution of so-called nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFA).« less

Perforated plates for cryogenic regenerators and method of fabrication

DOEpatents

Hendricks, J.B.

1994-03-29

Perforated plates having very small holes with a uniform diameter throughout the plate thickness are prepared by a [open quotes]wire drawing[close quotes] process in which a billet of sacrificial metal is disposed in an extrusion can of the plate metal, and the can is extruded and restacked repeatedly, converting the billet to a wire of the desired hole diameter. At final size, the rod is then sliced into wafers, and the wires are removed by selective etching. This process is useful for plate metals of interest for high performance regenerator applications, in particular, copper, niobium, molybdenum, erbium, and other rare earth metals. Er[sub 3]Ni, which has uniquely favorable thermophysical properties for such applications, may be incorporated in regions of the plates by providing extrusion cans containing erbium and nickel metals in a stacked array with extrusion cans of the plate metal, which may be copper. The array is heated to convert the erbium and nickel metals to Er[sub 3]Ni. Perforated plates having two sizes of perforations, one of which is small enough for storage of helium, are also disclosed. 10 figures.

Perforated plates for cryogenic regenerators and method of fabrication

DOEpatents

Hendricks, John B.

1994-01-01

Perforated plates (10) having very small holes (14) with a uniform diameter throughout the plate thickness are prepared by a "wire drawing" process in which a billet of sacrificial metal is disposed in an extrusion can of the plate metal, and the can is extruded and restacked repeatedly, converting the billet to a wire of the desired hole diameter. At final size, the rod is then sliced into wafers, and the wires are removed by selective etching. This process is useful for plate metals of interest for high performance regenerator applications, in particular, copper, niobium, molybdenum, erbium, and other rare earth metals. Er.sub.3 Ni, which has uniquely favorable thermophysical properties for such applications, may be incorporated in regions of the plates by providing extrusion cans (20) containing erbium and nickel metals in a stacked array (53) with extrusion cans of the plate metal, which may be copper. The array is heated to convert the erbium and nickel metals to Er.sub.3 Ni. Perforated plates having two sizes of perforations (38, 42), one of which is small enough for storage of helium, are also disclosed.

High-performance MgB2 superconducting wires for use under liquid-helium-free conditions fabricated using an internal Mg diffusion process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, ShuJun; Song, Minghui; Matsumoto, Akiyoshi; Togano, Kazumasa; Takeguchi, Masaki; Ohmura, Takahito; Kumakura, Hiroaki

2013-12-01

MgB2 has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 39 K, which is much higher than that for practical metallic superconductors. Thus, it is hoped that MgB2 can not only replace metallic superconductors, but can be used under liquid-helium-free conditions, for example, at temperatures of 10-20 K that can easily be achieved using cryocooling systems. However, to date, the reported critical current density (Jc) for MgB2 wires is not high enough for large-scale applications in liquid-helium-free conditions. In the present study, successful fabrication of high-performance MgB2 superconducting wires was carried out using an internal Mg diffusion (IMD) process, involving a p-dimethylbenzene (C8H10) pre-treatment of carbon-coated B powder with nanometer-sized particles. The resulting wires exhibited the highest ever Jc of 1.2 × 105 A cm-2 at 4.2 K and 10 T, and an engineering critical current density (Je) of about 1 × 104 A cm-2. Not only in 4.2 K, but also in 10 K, the Jc values for the wires fabricated in the present study are in fact higher than that for Nb-Ti wires at 4.2 K for the magnetic fields at which the measurements were carried out. At 20 K and 5 T, the Jc and Je were about 7.6 × 105 A cm-2 and 5.3 × 103 A cm-2, respectively, which are the highest values reported for MgB2 wires to date. The results of a detailed microstructural analysis suggested that the main reason for the superior electrical performance was the high density of the MgB2 layer rather than just the small grain size, and that the critical current could be further increased by suitable control of the microstructure. These high-performance IMD-processed MgB2 wires are thus promising superconductors for applications such as magnetic resonance imaging and maglev trains that can operate under liquid-helium-free conditions.

Photoelectron imaging of doped helium nanodroplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neumark, Daniel

2008-03-01

Photoelectron images of helium nanodroplets doped with Kr and Ne atoms are reported. The images and resulting photoelectron spectra were obtained using tunable synchrotron radiation to ionize the droplets. Droplets were excited at 21.6 eV, corresponding to a strong droplet electronic excitation. The rare gas dopant is then ionized via a Penning excitation transfer process. The electron kinetic energy distributions reflect complex ionization and electron escape dynamics.

Pressure relaxation and diffusion of vacancies in rapidly grown helium crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Birchenko, A. P.; Mikhin, N. P.; Rudavskii, E. Ya.; Smirnov, S. N.; Fysun, Ya. Yu.

2018-04-01

An experimental study of the features of pressure relaxation in rapidly grown crystals of a diluted solid solution 3He-4He, at temperatures above 1.3 K, was performed. A cylindrical cell with capacitive pressure sensors at the ends was used for measurements. It was found that, when the helium crystals were grown at cooling rates ≳4 mK/s, the difference in pressure ΔP registered by the sensors at 1.3 K reached 2.4 bars. The ΔP value decreased with subsequent stepwise increase in temperature, but reached zero only after thorough annealing at the premelting temperatures. The kinetics of pressure changes at the sample ends at different temperatures was recorded. The results obtained were interpreted within the framework of the structural relaxation model based on the monovacancy diffusion mechanism. The proposed model made it possible to explain the dependence of ΔP on the time and temperature recorded in the experiment, as well as to determine the activation energy of the structural relaxation process and the diffusion coefficient of vacancies. The details of the vacancy model are described in the Appendix.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kurz, M.D.; Geist, D.

The authors have measured the isotopes of He, Sr, Nd and Pb in a number of lava flows from the Galapagos Archipelago; the main goal is to use magmatic helium as a tracer of plume influence in the western volcanoes. Because the Galapagos lava flows are so well preserved, it is also possible to measure surface exposure ages using in situ cosmic-ray-produced {sup 3}He. The exposure ages range from {lt}0.1 to 580 Ka, are consistent with other chronological constrains, and provide the first direct dating of these lava flows. The new age data demonstrate the utility of the technique inmore » this important age range and show that the western Galapagos volcanoes have been erupting distance compositions simultaneously for the last {approximately}10 Ka. The magmatic {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He ratios range from 6.0 to 27 times atmospheric (R{sub a}), with the highest values found on the islands of Isabella (16.8 R{sub a} for Vulcan Sierra Negra) and Fernandina (23 to 27 R{sub a}). Values from Santa Cruz are close to typical mid-ocean ridge basalt values (MORB, of {approximately}9 R{sub 2}) and Pinta has a {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He ratio lower than MORB (6.9 R{sub a}). These data confirm that the plume is centered beneath Fernandina which is the most active volcano in the archipelago and is at the leading edge of plate motion. The data are consistent with previous isotopic studies, confirming extensive contributions from depleted asthenospheric or lithospheric mantle sources, especially to the central islands. The most striking aspect of the helium isotopic data is that the {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He ratios decrease systematically in all directions from Fernandina. This spatial variability is assumed to reflect the contribution of the purest plume component to Fernandina magmatism, and shows that helium is a sensitive indicator of plume influence. The highest {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He ratios are found in volcanoes with lowest Na{sub 2}O(8) and FeO(8), which may relate to source composition as well as degree and depth of melting. An excellent correlation is observed between {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He and Nb/La, suggesting that the Galapagos plume source is characterized by high concentrations of Nb (and Ta). The major and trace element correlations demonstrate that helium is controlled by silicate melting and source variations rather than degassing and/or metasomatic processes. Although lavas with radiogenic isotopic compositions tend to have higher {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He, the island-wide isotopic variability cannot be explained by simple two components mixing alone. The preferred model to explain the isotopic data includes a heterogeneous plume, centered at Fernandina, which undergoes polybaric melting, and spatial divergence and mixing with asthenospheric material at shallower depths. The unique regional pattern of the helium isotopic data suggests that helium is extracted more efficiently than other elements during the early stages of melting in the ascending plume.« less

Frequency Identification and Asteroseismic Analysis of the Red Giant KIC 9145955: Fundamental Parameters and Helium Core Size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xinyi; Wu, Tao; Li, Yan

2018-03-01

We have analyzed 18 quarters of long-cadence data of KIC 9145955 provided by Kepler, and extracted 61 oscillation frequencies from these high-precision photometric data. The oscillation frequencies include 7 l = 0 modes, 44 l = 1 modes, 7 l = 2 modes, and 3 l = 3 modes. We identify l = 0 modes as p modes and l = 2 modes as p-dominated modes. For l = 1 modes, all of them are identified as mixed modes. These mixed modes can be used to determine the size of the helium core. We conduct a series of asteroseismic models and the size of the helium core is determined to be M He = 0.210 ± 0.002 M ⊙ and {R}He}=0.0307+/- 0.0002 {R}ȯ . Furthermore, we find that only the acoustic radius τ 0 can be precisely determined with the asteroseismic method independently. The value of τ 0 is determined to be 0.494 ± 0.001 days. By combining asteroseismic results and spectroscopic observations, we obtain the best-fitting model. The physical parameters of this model are M = 1.24 M ⊙, Z = 0.009, α = 2.0, T eff = 5069 K, log g = 3.029, R = 5.636 R ⊙, and L = 18.759 L ⊙. In addition, we think that the observed frequency F39 (96.397 μHz) is more appropriate to be identified as a mixed mode of the most p-dominated.

The velocity and composition of supernova ejecta

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colgate, S. A.

1971-01-01

In case of the Gum nebula, a pulsar - a presumed neutron star - is believed to be a relic of the supernova explosion. Regardless of the mechanism of the explosion, the velocity distribution and composition of the ejected matter will be roughly the same. The reimploding mass fraction is presumed to be neutron rich. The final composition is thought to be roughly 1/3 iron and 2/3 silicon, with many small fractions of elements from helium to iron. The termination of helium shell burning occurs because the shell is expanded and cooled by radiation stress. The mass fraction of the helium burning shell was calculated.

Helium Nanobubbles Enhance Superelasticity and Retard Shear Localization in Small-Volume Shape Memory Alloy.

PubMed

Han, Wei-Zhong; Zhang, Jian; Ding, Ming-Shuai; Lv, Lan; Wang, Wen-Hong; Wu, Guang-Heng; Shan, Zhi-Wei; Li, Ju

2017-06-14

The intriguing phenomenon of metal superelasticity relies on stress-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT), which is well-known to be governed by developing cooperative strain accommodation at multiple length scales. It is therefore scientifically interesting to see what happens when this natural length scale hierarchy is disrupted. One method is producing pillars that confine the sample volume to micrometer length scale. Here we apply yet another intervention, helium nanobubbles injection, which produces porosity on the order of several nanometers. While the pillar confinement suppresses superelasticity, we found the dispersion of 5-10 nm helium nanobubbles do the opposite of promoting superelasticity in a Ni 53.5 Fe 19.5 Ga 27 shape memory alloy. The role of helium nanobubbles in modulating the competition between ordinary dislocation slip plasticity and SIMT is discussed.

Laboratory testing of a supercritical helium pump for a magnetic refrigerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Pao-Lien

1988-01-01

A supercritical helium testing system for a magnetic refrigerator has been built. Details of the supercritical helium pump, the test system, and the test instrumentation are given. Actual pump tests were not run during this ASEE term because of delivery problems associated with the required pump flow meter. Consequently, efforts were directed on preliminary design of the magnetic refrigeration system for the pump. The first concern with the magnetic refrigerator design was determining how to effectively make use of the pump. A method to incorporate the supercritical helium pump into a magnetic refrigerator was determined by using a computer model. An illustrated example of this procedure is given to provide a tool for sizing the magnetic refrigerator system as a function of the pump size. The function of the computer model and its operation are also outlined and discussed.

Electromagnetic Radiation: Final Range Environmental Assessment, Revision 1

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-03

scanning, research, and medical treatment and surgical procedures. There are many different types of lasing materials as identified below ( Indiana ...vapor (red) 0.627 Xenon chloride (Excimer-UV) 0.308 Helium neon (red) 0.633 Xenon fluoride (Excimer-UV) 0.351 Krypton (red) 0.647 Helium cadmium (UV...0.325 Rhodamine 6G dye (tunable) 0.570-0.650 Nitrogen (UV) 0.337 Ruby (CrAlO3) (red) 0.694 Helium cadmium (violet) 0.441 Gallium arsenide (diode

Cost Analysis of NEDU’s Helium Reclaimer.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-01

T ITLE (and Subtitle) S . TYPE OF REPORT 6 PERIOD COVERED COST ANALYSIS OF NEDU’S HELIUM RECLAIMER . Survey 6 . PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMSER 7...telephone conversation). 5. Charles T. Horngren , "Introduction tu Management Accounting " Fourth Edition. 3 . .4m mmnssmmlm~ • FIGURE 1 PRESENT, FUTURE AND...FEET COST OF PERIODIC MAINTENANCE OF HELIUM ELECTRIiC COST COST OF TOTAL RECLAIMED POWER NEW COST PRESENT WORTH YEAR N PER YEAR ( S /1000 FT

Preservation of extraterrestrial 3He in 480-Ma-old marine limestones.

PubMed

Patterson, D B; Farley, K A; Schmitz, B

1998-11-01

We have measured the helium abundance and isotopic composition of a suite of Lower Ordovician marine limestones and associated fossil meteorites from Kinnekulle, Sweden. Limestone 3He/4He ratios as high as 11.5 times the atmospheric value in fused samples and up to 23 times atmospheric in a single step-heat fraction indicate the presence of extraterrestrial helium, and demonstrate that at least a fraction of the extraterrestrial 3He carried by interplanetary dust particles must be retained against diffusive and diagenetic losses for up to 480 Ma. The carrier phase has not been identified but is not magnetic. Extrapolation of high-temperature 3He diffusivities in these sediments is consistent with strong retention of extraterrestrial 3He under ambient Earth-surface conditions. Combination of the observed helium concentrations with sedimentation rates estimated from conodont biostratigraphy suggest that the flux of extraterrestrial 3He in the Early Ordovician was about 0.5 x 10(-12) cm3 STP cm-2 ka-1, ignoring potential post-deposition helium loss. This value is indistinguishable from the average 3He flux estimated for the Cenozoic Era. In contrast, previous studies of fossil meteorites, Ir abundances, and Os isotopic ratios in the limestone suggest that the total accretion rate of extraterrestrial material during the studied interval was at least an order of magnitude higher than the Cenozoic average. This disparity may reflect significant post-depositional loss of 3He from IDPs within these old limestones; if so, the match between the Ordovician flux and the Cenozoic average would be fortuitous. Alternatively, the size distribution of infalling objects during the Early Ordovician may have been enriched only in extraterrestrial material too large to retain 3He during atmospheric entry heating (> approximately 30 micrometers). The fossil meteorites themselves also preserve extraterrestrial helium. Meteorite 3He concentrations of 2 to 9 x 10(-12) cm3 STP g-1 are several orders of magnitude lower than found in most modern meteorites, suggesting very substantial helium loss (probably >99.9%) from these chemically altered objects. The Meteorites carry 3He concentrations only a factor of a few higher than the host limestones. The meteorites themselves cannot be the source of the extraterrestrial 3He observed in the limestones.

High-power baseline and motoring test results for the GPU-3 Stirling engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thieme, L. G.

1981-01-01

Test results are given for the full power range of the engine with both helium and hydrogen working fluids. Comparisons are made to previous testing using an alternator and resistance load bank to absorb the engine output. Indicated power results are presented as determined by several methods. Motoring tests were run to aid in determining engine mechanical losses. Comparisons are made between the results of motoring and energy-balance methods for finding mechanical losses.

Exploring the isopycnal mixing and helium-heat paradoxes in a suite of Earth System Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnanadesikan, A.; Abernathey, R.; Pradal, M.-A.

2014-11-01

This paper uses a suite of Earth System models which simulate the distribution of He isotopes and radiocarbon to examine two paradoxes in Earth science. The helium-heat paradox refers to the fact that helium emissions to the deep ocean are far lower than would be expected given the rate of geothermal heating, since both are thought to be the result of radioactive decay in the earth's interior. The isopycnal mixing paradox comes from the fact that many theoretical parameterizations of the isopycnal mixing coefficient ARedi that link it to baroclinic instability project it to be small (of order a few hundred m2 s-1) in the ocean interior away from boundary currents. However, direct observations using tracers and floats (largely in the upper ocean) suggest that values of this coefficient are an order of magnitude higher. Because helium isotopes equilibrate rapidly with the atmosphere, but radiocarbon equilibrates slowly, it might be thought that resolving the isopycnal mixing paradox in favor of the higher observational estimates of ARedi might also solve the helium paradox. In this paper we show that this is not the case. In a suite of models with different spatially constant and spatially varying values of ARedi the distribution of radiocarbon and helium isotopes is sensitive to the value of ARedi. However, away from strong helium sources in the Southeast Pacific, the relationship between the two is not sensitive, indicating that large-scale advection is the limiting process for removing helium and radiocarbon from the deep ocean. The helium isotopes, in turn, suggest a higher value of ARedi in the deep ocean than is seen in theoretical parameterizations based on baroclinic growth rates. We argue that a key part of resolving the isopycnal mixing paradox is to abandon the idea that ARedi has a direct relationship to local baroclinic instability and to the so called "thickness" mixing coefficient AGM.

Atmospheric Mining in the Outer Solar System:. [Aerial Vehicle Reconnaissance and Exploration Options

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan A.

2014-01-01

Atmospheric mining in the outer solar system has been investigated as a means of fuel production for high energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as Helium 3 (3He) and hydrogen can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. Helium 3 and hydrogen (deuterium, etc.) were the primary gases of interest with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses were undertaken to investigate resource capturing aspects of atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. This included the gas capturing rate, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. Additional supporting analyses were conducted to illuminate vehicle sizing and orbital transportation issues. While capturing 3He, large amounts of hydrogen and 4He are produced. With these two additional gases, the potential for fueling small and large fleets of additional exploration and exploitation vehicles exists. Additional aerospacecraft or other aerial vehicles (UAVs, balloons, rockets, etc.) could fly through the outer planet atmospheres, for global weather observations, localized storm or other disturbance investigations, wind speed measurements, polar observations, etc. Deep-diving aircraft (built with the strength to withstand many atmospheres of pressure) powered by the excess hydrogen or helium 4 may be designed to probe the higher density regions of the gas giants. Outer planet atmospheric properties, atmospheric storm data, and mission planning for future outer planet UAVs are presented.

Regeneration experiments below 10K in a regenerative-cycle cryocooler

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sager, R. E.; Paulson, D. N.

1983-01-01

At temperatures below 10K, regenerative cycle cryocoolers are limited by regeneration losses in the helium working fluid which result from the decreasing heat capacity of the regenerating material and the increasing density of helium. Experiments examining several approaches to improving the low-temperature regeneration in a four-stage regenerative cycle cooler constructed primarily of fiberglass materials are discussed. Using an interchangeable fourth stage, the experiments included configurations with multiple regeneration passages, and a static helium volume for increased heat capacity. Experiments using helium-3 as the working fluid and a Malone stage are planned. Results indicate that, using these techniques, it should be possible to construct a regenerative cycle cooler which will operate below 6K.

Commissioning of the JT-60SA helium refrigerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamiya, Koji; Natsume, Kyohei; Ohtsu, Kiichi; Oishi, Makoto; Honda, Atsushi; Kashiwa, Yoshitoshi; Kizu, Kaname; Koide, Yoshihiko; Hoa, Christine; Michel, Frederic; Roussel, Pascal; Lamaison, Valerie; Bonne, Francois; Dipietro, Enrico; Cardella, Antonino; Wanner, Manfred; Legrand, Jerome; Pudys, Vincent; Langevin, Baptiste

2017-09-01

The JT-60SA project will use superconducting magnets to confine the plasma and achieve a plasma current with a typical flat top duration of 100 second in purely inductive mode. The helium refrigerator has an equivalent cooling power of 9 kW at 4.5 K providing 3.7 K, 4.5 K, 50 K and 80 K for the diverter cryopump, the superconducting magnets, the HTS current leads, and the thermal shields, respectively. This paper summarizes the JT-60SA helium refrigerator commissioning activities aiming at successful operation of heat load smoothing technology to manage the 12 kW heat pulses by 9 kW cooling power using a 7000 liter liquid helium.

Atmospheric helium isotope ratio: Possible temporal and spatial variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sano, Yuji; Furukawa, Yukiko; Takahata, Naoto

2010-09-01

The atmospheric 3He/ 4He ratio has been considered to be constant on a global scale, because the residence time of helium is significantly longer than the mixing time in the atmosphere. However, this ratio may be decreasing with time owing to the anthropogenic release of crustal helium from oil and natural gas wells, although this observation has been disputed. Here, we present the 3He/ 4He ratios of old air trapped in historical slags in Japan and of modern surface air samples collected at various sites around the world, measured with a newly developed analytical system. In air helium extracted from metallurgical slag found at refineries in operation between AD 1603 and 1907 in Japan, we determined a mean 3He/ 4He ratio of (5106 ± 108) × 10 -5 R HESJ (where R HESJ is the 3He/ 4He ratio of the Helium Standard of Japan), which is consistent with the previously reported value of (5077 ± 59) × 10 -5 R HESJ for historical slags in France and United Arab Emirates and about 4% higher than that of average modern air, (4901 ± 4) × 10 -5 R HESJ. This result implies that the air 3He/ 4He ratio has decreased with time as expected by anthropogenic causes. Our modern surface air samples revealed that the 3He/ 4He ratio increases from north to south at a rate of (0.16 ± 0.08) × 10 -5 R HESJ/degree of latitude, suggesting that the low 3He/ 4He ratio originates in high-latitude regions of the northern hemisphere, which is consistent with the fact that most fossil fuel is extracted and consumed in the northern hemisphere.

Surface Modification of Polyimide for Improving Adhesion Strength by Inductively Coupled Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byun, Tae Joon; Kim, Sung Il; Kim, Youn Joon; Choi, Yoon Suk; Choi, In Sik; Setsuhara, Yuichi; Geon Han, Jeon

2009-08-01

This study examined the effect of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) treatment using an argon and helium gas mixture on the adhesion between polyimide and a copper film. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of the ICP revealed the emission intensity of helium and argon at various intensities with the helium mixing ratio. The treated polyimide surface was analyzed using a contact angle analyzer, Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The contact angle and RMS roughness ranged from 66 to 31° and 2.3 to 4.1 nm, respectively. XPS showed an increase in C-O bonding. The highest peel strength was 0.43 kgf/cm at a 40% of helium mixing ratio, which contained the highest level of activate species. Overall, an ICP treatment of a polyimide surface with a 40% helium gas mixture improves the adhesion strength between copper and polyimide significantly.

Helium glow detector experiment, MA-088. [Apollo Soyuz test project data reduction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowyer, C. S.

1978-01-01

Of the two 584 A channels in the helium glow detector, channel #1 appeared to provide data with erratic count rates and undue susceptibility to dayglow and solar contamination possibly because of filter fatigue or failure. Channel #3 data appear normal and of high quality. For this reason only data from this last channel was analyzed and used for detailed comparison with theory. Reduction and fitting techniques are described, as well as applications of the data in the study of nighttime and daytime Hel 584 A emission. A hot model of the interstellar medium is presented. Topics covered in the appendix include: observations of interstellar helium with a gas absorption cell: implications for the structure of the local interstellar medium; EUV dayglow observations with a helium gas absorption cell; and EUV scattering from local interstellar helium at nonzero temperatures: implications for the derivations of interstellar medium parameters.

Cryogen free cooling of ASTRO-H SXS Helium Dewar from 300 K to 4 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanao, Ken'ichi; Yoshida, Seiji; Miyaoka, Mikio; Tsunematsu, Shoji; Otsuka, Kiyomi; Hoshika, Shunji; Narasaki, Katsuhiro; Mitsuda, Kazuhisa; Yamasaki, Noriko; Takei, Yoh; Fujimoto, Ryuji; Sato, Yoichi; Okamoto, Atsushi; Noda, Hirofumi; DiPirro, Michel J.; Shirron, Peter J.

2017-12-01

Soft X-ray Spectrometer instrument (SXS) is one of the primary scientific instruments of ASTRO-H. SXS has a cold detector that is cooled to 50 mK by using a multi-stage Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR). SXS Dewar containing ADR provides 1.3 K heat sink by using liquid helium in nominal operation. After liquid helium is dried up, 4 K heat sink is provided by using mechanical coolers. Both nominal operation and cryogen free operation were successfully demonstrated. This paper describes the test result of cryogen free operation and cool-down performance from room temperature by using only mechanical coolers without liquid helium. The coolers on the Dewar cooled down cold mass from around 300 K to 4 K with 260 W electric power in 40 days. Cold mass is 35 kg in 4 K area including the helium tank, ADR and detector assembly.

Comparative surface dynamics of amorphous and semicrystalline polymer films

PubMed Central

Becker, James S.; Brown, Ryan D.; Killelea, Daniel R.; Yuan, Hanqiu; Sibener, S. J.

2011-01-01

The surface dynamics of amorphous and semicrystalline polymer films have been measured using helium atom scattering. Time-of-flight data were collected to resolve the elastic and inelastic scattering components in the diffuse scattering of neutral helium atoms from the surface of a thin poly(ethylene terephthalate) film. Debye–Waller attenuation was observed for both the amorphous and semicrystalline phases of the polymer by recording the decay of elastically scattered helium atoms with increasing surface temperature. Thermal attenuation measurements in the specular scattering geometry yielded perpendicular mean-square displacements of 2.7•10-4 Å2 K-1 and 3.1•10-4 Å2 K-1 for the amorphous and semicrystalline surfaces, respectively. The semicrystalline surface was consistently ∼15% softer than the amorphous across a variety of perpendicular momentum transfers. The Debye–Waller factors were also measured at off-specular angles to characterize the parallel mean-square displacements, which were found to increase by an order of magnitude over the perpendicular mean-square displacements for both surfaces. In contrast to the perpendicular motion, the semicrystalline state was ∼25% stiffer than the amorphous phase in the surface plane. These results were uniquely accessed through low-energy neutral helium atom scattering due to the highly surface-sensitive and nonperturbative nature of these interactions. The goal of tailoring the chemical and physical properties of complex advanced materials requires an improved understanding of interfacial dynamics, information that is obtainable through atomic beam scattering methods. PMID:20713734

Resource letter SH-1: superfluid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallock, Robert B.

1982-03-01

The resource letter covers the general subject of superfluid helium and treats 3He and 3He-4He mixtures as well as 4He. No effort has been made to include the fascinating experiments on either solid helium or the equally fascinating work on adsorbed helium where the helium coverage is below that necessary for superfluidity. An earlier resource letter by C. T. Lane [Am. J. Phys. 35, 367 (1967)] may be consulted for additional comments on some of the cited earlier manuscripts, but the present work is self-contained and may be used independently. Many high-quality research reports have not been cited here. Rather, the author has tried in most cases to include works particularly readable or relevant. There is a relatively heavy emphasis on experimental references. The primary reason is that these works tend to be more generally readable. No doubt some works that might have been included, have not, and for this the author takes responsibility with apology. Articles selected for incorporation in a reprint volume (to be published separately by the American Association of Physics Teachers) are marked with an asterisk(*). Following each referenced work the general level of difficulty is indicated by E, I, or A for elementary, intermediate, or advanced.

Ab Initio Values of the Thermophysical Properties of Helium as Standards

PubMed Central

Hurly, John J.; Moldover, Michael R.

2000-01-01

Recent quantum mechanical calculations of the interaction energy of pairs of helium atoms are accurate and some include reliable estimates of their uncertainty. We combined these ab initio results with earlier published results to obtain a helium-helium interatomic potential that includes relativistic retardation effects over all ranges of interaction. From this potential, we calculated the thermophysical properties of helium, i.e., the second virial coefficients, the dilute-gas viscosities, and the dilute-gas thermal conductivities of 3He, 4He, and their equimolar mixture from 1 K to 104 K. We also calculated the diffusion and thermal diffusion coefficients of mixtures of 3He and 4He. For the pure fluids, the uncertainties of the calculated values are dominated by the uncertainties of the potential; for the mixtures, the uncertainties of the transport properties also include contributions from approximations in the transport theory. In all cases, the uncertainties are smaller than the corresponding experimental uncertainties; therefore, we recommend the ab initio results be used as standards for calibrating instruments relying on these thermophysical properties. We present the calculated thermophysical properties in easy-to-use tabular form. PMID:27551630

Calibrating the Helium Pressurization System for the Space Shuttle Liquid-Hydrogen Tank

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Analysis of the results from the STS-114 tanking tests and subsequent launch called into question existing thermal and mass models of helium pressurization of the liquid hydrogen tank. This hydrogen tank, which makes up the bottom two-thirds of the External Tank, is pressurized prior to launch to avoid cavitation in the Shuttle Main Engine pumps. At about 2 minutes prior to launch, the main vent valve is closed, and pressurized helium flows into the tank ullage space to achieve set point pressure. As the helium gas cools, its pressure drops, calling for additional helium. Subsequent helium flows are provided in short, timed pulses. The number of pulses is taken as a rough leak indicator. An analysis of thermal models by Marshall Space Flight Center showed considerable uncertainty in the pressure-versus-time behavior of the helium ullage space and the ability to predict the number of pulses normally expected. Kennedy Space Center proposed to calibrate the dime-sized orifice, which together with valves, controls the helium flow quantity (Figure 1). Pressure and temperature sensors were installed to provide upstream and downstream measurements necessary to compute flow rate based on the orifice discharge coefficient. An assessment of flow testing with helium indicated an extremely costly use of this critical resource. In order to reduce costs, we proposed removing the orifices from each Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) and asking Colorado Engineering Experiment Station Inc. (CEESI) to calibrate the flow. CEESI has a high-pressure air flow system with traceable flow meters capable of handling the large flow rates. However, literature research indicated that square-edged orifices of small diameters often exhibit significant hysteresis and nonrepeatability in the vicinity of choked or sonic flow. Fortunately, the MLP orifices behaved relatively well in testing (Figure 2). Using curve fitting of the air-flow data, in conjunction with ASME orifice modeling equations, a method of relating the helium mass flow to measured air flow data was obtained. This analysis showed that the highest uncertainty in flow occurred in the vicinity of the choking pressure ratio, as would be expected. In addition, analysis of typical flow pulses showed that most of the helium flow occurred either well below or well above this uncertain area. The final result is the ability to provide postlaunch estimates of helium mass flows that are within 1.5 percent of the actual value.

Exploring the isopycnal mixing and helium-heat paradoxes in a suite of Earth system models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnanadesikan, A.; Pradal, M.-A.; Abernathey, R.

2015-07-01

This paper uses a suite of Earth system models which simulate the distribution of He isotopes and radiocarbon to examine two paradoxes in Earth science, each of which results from an inconsistency between theoretically motivated global energy balances and direct observations. The helium-heat paradox refers to the fact that helium emissions to the deep ocean are far lower than would be expected given the rate of geothermal heating, since both are thought to be the result of radioactive decay in Earth's interior. The isopycnal mixing paradox comes from the fact that many theoretical parameterizations of the isopycnal mixing coefficient ARedi that link it to baroclinic instability project it to be small (of order a few hundred m2 s-1) in the ocean interior away from boundary currents. However, direct observations using tracers and floats (largely in the upper ocean) suggest that values of this coefficient are an order of magnitude higher. Helium isotopes equilibrate rapidly with the atmosphere and thus exhibit large gradients along isopycnals while radiocarbon equilibrates slowly and thus exhibits smaller gradients along isopycnals. Thus it might be thought that resolving the isopycnal mixing paradox in favor of the higher observational estimates of ARedi might also solve the helium paradox, by increasing the transport of mantle helium to the surface more than it would radiocarbon. In this paper we show that this is not the case. In a suite of models with different spatially constant and spatially varying values of ARedi the distribution of radiocarbon and helium isotopes is sensitive to the value of ARedi. However, away from strong helium sources in the southeastern Pacific, the relationship between the two is not sensitive, indicating that large-scale advection is the limiting process for removing helium and radiocarbon from the deep ocean. The helium isotopes, in turn, suggest a higher value of ARedi below the thermocline than is seen in theoretical parameterizations based on baroclinic growth rates. We argue that a key part of resolving the isopycnal mixing paradox is to abandon the idea that ARedi has a direct relationship to local baroclinic instability and to the so-called "thickness" mixing coefficient AGM.

Cryogenic system with GM cryocooler for krypton, xenon separation from hydrogen-helium purge gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, X. X.; Zhang, M. M.; Zhang, D. X.; Xu, D.; Qian, Y.; Liu, W.

2014-01-01

In the thorium molten salt reactor (TMSR), fission products such as krypton, xenon and tritium will be produced continuously in the process of nuclear fission reaction. A cryogenic system with a two stage GM cryocooler was designed to separate Kr, Xe, and H2 from helium purge gas. The temperatures of two stage heat exchanger condensation tanks were maintained at about 38 K and 4.5 K, respectively. The main fluid parameters of heat transfer were confirmed, and the structural heat exchanger equipment and cold box were designed. Designed concentrations after cryogenic separation of Kr, Xe and H2 in helium recycle gas are less than 1 ppb.

James Franck, the ionization potential of helium, and the experimental discovery of metastable states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gearhart, Clayton A.

2017-11-01

In 1920, James Franck together with Fritz Reiche and Paul Knipping found strong experimental evidence that the lowest-lying triplet state in helium is metastable-an atom in this state cannot make a spontaneous transition to the ground state. Even though their evidence was entirely experimental, they tied their results almost inextricably to Alfred Landé's 1919 model of the helium atom, and in the process, misunderstood the new theoretical selection rules of Adalbert Rubinowicz and Niels Bohr. In an additional complication, experiments of the English physicists Frank Horton and Ann Catherine Davies contradicted Franck's. Although Franck's result has held up, the reasons for the discrepancies remain unclear.

Calculation of fully differential cross sections for the near threshold double ionization of helium atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Prithvi; Purohit, Ghanshyam; Dorn, Alexander; Ren, Xueguang; Patidar, Vinod

2016-01-01

Fully differential cross sectional (FDCS) results are reported for the electron-impact double ionization of helium atoms at 5 and 27 eV excess energy. The present attempt to calculate the FDCS in the second Born approximation and treating the postcollision interaction is helpful to analyze the measurements of Ren et al (2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 093201) and Durr et al (2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 193201). The second-order processes and postcollision interaction have been found to be significant in describing the trends of the FDCS. More theoretical effort is required to describe the collision dynamics of electron-impact double ionization of helium atoms at near threshold.

Optimization design of turbo-expander gas bearing for a 500W helium refrigerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, S. S.; Fu, B.; Y Zhang, Q.

2017-12-01

Turbo-expander is the core machinery of the helium refrigerator. Bearing as the supporting element is the core technology to impact the design of turbo-expander. The perfect design and performance study for the gas bearing are essential to ensure the stability of turbo-expander. In this paper, numerical simulation is used to analyze the performance of gas bearing for a 500W helium refrigerator turbine, and the optimization design of the gas bearing has been completed. And the results of the gas bearing optimization have a guiding role in the processing technology. Finally, the turbine experiments verify that the gas bearing has good performance, and ensure the stable operation of the turbine.

Development of a He- and He0 beam source for alpha particle measurement in a burning plasma.

PubMed

Tanaka, N; Sasao, M; Terai, K; Okamoto, A; Kitajima, S; Yamaoka, H; Wada, M

2012-02-01

Proof of principle experiments of neutral helium beam production for alpha particle diagnostics was carried out on a test stand. Negative helium ions were produced in the Li charge exchange cell, in which stable and long time operation was possible. He(-) beam was accelerated to 157 keV. Finally, He(0) beam was successfully produced after the flight in the drift-tube through the auto-electron-detachment process from He(-) to He(0). A neutral beam detector using a pyroelectric device was also developed to measure He(0) beam intensity. The metastable component in the neutral helium beam was found to be less than 2%.

An experimental study of planar heterogeneous supersonic confined jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanis, Frederick J., Jr.

1994-12-01

The effects of varying the exit pressure of a supersonic helium jet exhausting coaxially with two parallel supersonic air streams into a constant area duct were investigated. The method used to evaluate the mass entrainment rate was to measure helium molar concentration profiles and mass flux across the duct using a binary gas probe then calculate the mass entrainment into the helium jet. In order to conduct this study a novel binary gas probe was developed which allowed helium concentration and mass flux data to be obtained during continuous traverses across the supersonic flowfield. High exit pressure ratio (EPR) led to improved overall mixing compared to the baseline case with an EPR near unity. The high EPR caused low mass entrainment along the jet shear layers due to high convective Mach numbers and velocity ratios, but the high EPR caused oblique shocks to form which reflected off the duct walls and intersected with the helium jet several times causing significant mass entrainment due to numerous shock-shear layer interactions (SSLI's). A correlation between the vorticity generated during a SSLI and the mass entrainment into the jet was developed.

Helium transfer from water into quartz crystals: A new approach for porewater dating [rapid communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolstikhin, I.; Gannibal, M.; Tarakanov, S.; Pevzner, B.; Lehmann, B.; Ihly, B.; Waber, H. N.

2005-09-01

Several important fundamental and applied problems require a quantification of slow rates of groundwater flow. To resolve these problems helium appears to be a promising tracer. In this contribution we discuss a new approach, which gives the helium inventory in a rock - pore water system by using the relevant mineral record, i.e., without extraction and investigation of the porewater samples. Some U- and Th-poor minerals such as quartz (quartz separates from Permo-Carboniferous Formation, sandstone-shale interlayering, Molasses Basin, Northern Switzerland, hereafter PCF, are used in this study) contain excessive helium having migrated into their internal helium-accessible volume (HAV) from the surrounding porewater [I.N. Tolstikhin, B.E. Lehmann, H.H. Loosli, A. Gautschi, Helium and argon isotopes in rocks, minerals and related groundwaters: a case study in Northern Switzerland, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 60 (1996) 1497-1514]. These volumes are estimated by using helium as a nano-size penetrating tool, i.e., by saturation of the minerals with helium under controlled pressure-temperature conditions and subsequent measurements of the helium-saturated concentrations. In the quartz separates HAV/total volume ratios vary from 0.017% to 0.16%; along with the measured initial (unsaturated) He concentration the HAV gives the internal helium pressure, the mean value obtained for 7 samples (25 sample aliquots) is P = 0.45 ± 0.15 atm (1 σ). The product of helium pressure and solubility (7.35 × 10 - 3 cc STP He/cc H 2O for the temperature and salinity of PCF aquifers reported in [F.J. Pearson, W. Balderer, H.H. Loosli, B.E. Lehmann, A. Matter, T. Peters, H. Schmassmann, A. Gautschi, Applied Isotope Hydrogeology-A Case Study in Northern Switzerland, Elsevier Amsterdam, 1991, 439 pp.]) is the mineral-derived He concentration in the respective porewater, CPW = 0.0035 ± 0.0017 cc He/cc H 2O. This value is in full accord with measured He concentrations in PCF aquifers, CPCF, varying from 0.0045 to 0.0016 cc He/cc H 2O. This agreement validates the proposed approach and also shows that the mineral-porewater helium-concentration equilibrium has been established. Indeed, estimates of the He-migration rates through our quartz samples show that in ˜6000 years the internal pressure should equilibrate with He-concentration in related porewater of PCF, and this time interval is short compared to independent estimates [I.N. Tolstikhin, B.E. Lehmann, H.H. Loosli, A. Gautschi, Helium and argon isotopes in rocks, minerals and related groundwaters: a case study in Northern Switzerland, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 60 (1996) 1497-1514]. The helium inventory in the rock-porewater assemblage shows that helium abundance in pore waters is indeed important. In shale samples (with ˜15% porosity) porewaters contain more helium than the host minerals altogether. Porewater helium-concentration profiles, available from the mineral record, along with helium production rates are input parameters allowing model(s) of helium migration through a hydrological structure to be developed. Quite high helium concentrations in PCF porewaters imply slow removal mechanisms, which will be discussed elsewhere.

Mass separation of deuterium and helium with conventional quadrupole mass spectrometer by using varied ionization energy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Yaowei; Hu, Jiansheng, E-mail: hujs@ipp.ac.cn; Wan, Zhao

2016-03-15

Deuterium pressure in deuterium-helium mixture gas is successfully measured by a common quadrupole mass spectrometer (model: RGA200) with a resolution of ∼0.5 atomic mass unit (AMU), by using varied ionization energy together with new developed software and dedicated calibration for RGA200. The new software is developed by using MATLAB with the new functions: electron energy (EE) scanning, deuterium partial pressure measurement, and automatic data saving. RGA200 with new software is calibrated in pure deuterium and pure helium 1.0 × 10{sup −6}–5.0 × 10{sup −2} Pa, and the relation between pressure and ion current of AMU4 under EE = 25 eVmore » and EE = 70 eV is obtained. From the calibration result and RGA200 scanning with varied ionization energy in deuterium and helium mixture gas, both deuterium partial pressures (P{sub D{sub 2}}) and helium partial pressure (P{sub He}) could be obtained. The result shows that deuterium partial pressure could be measured if P{sub D{sub 2}} > 10{sup −6} Pa (limited by ultimate pressure of calibration vessel), and helium pressure could be measured only if P{sub He}/P{sub D{sub 2}} > 0.45, and the measurement error is evaluated as 15%. This method is successfully employed in EAST 2015 summer campaign to monitor deuterium outgassing/desorption during helium discharge cleaning.« less

75 FR 75995 - Request for Comments on Helium-3 Use in the Oil and Natural Gas Well Logging Industry

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-07

... manufacture neutron detectors used by the well logging industry or wireline or Logging-While-Drilling tools incorporating neutron detectors, and whether companies purchase or lease logging tools that contain neutron detectors. DOE also seeks information on the volumes of Helium-3 anticipated by the oil and gas well logging...

New Tracers of Gas Migration in the Continental Crust

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kurz, Mark D.

2015-11-01

Noble gases are exceptional tracers in continental settings due to the remarkable isotopic variability between the mantle, crust, and atmosphere, and because they are inert. Due to systematic variability in physical properties, such as diffusion, solubility, and production rates, the combination of helium, neon, and argon provides unique but under-utilized indices of gas migration. Existing noble gas data sets are dominated by measurements of gas and fluid phases from gas wells, ground waters and hot springs. There are very few noble gas measurements from the solid continental crust itself, which means that this important reservoir is poorly characterized. The centralmore » goal of this project was to enhance understanding of gas distribution and migration in the continental crust using new measurements of noble gases in whole rocks and minerals from existing continental drill cores, with an emphasis on helium, neon, argon. We carried out whole-rock and mineral-separate noble gas measurements on Precambrian basement samples from the Texas Panhandle. The Texas Panhandle gas field is the southern limb of the giant Hugoton-Panhandle oil and gas field; it has high helium contents (up to ~ 2 %) and 3He/4He of 0.21 (± 0.03) Ra. Because the total amount of helium in the Panhandle gas field is relatively well known, crustal isotopic data and mass balance calculations can be used to constrain the ultimate source rocks, and hence the helium migration paths. The new 3He/4He data range from 0.03 to 0.11 Ra (total), all of which are lower than the gas field values. There is internal isotopic heterogeneity in helium, neon, and argon, within all the samples; crushing extractions yield less radiogenic values than melting, demonstrating that fluid inclusions preserve less radiogenic gases. The new data suggest that the Precambrian basement has lost significant amounts of helium, and shows the importance of measuring helium with neon and argon. The 4He/40Ar values are particularly useful in demonstrating helium loss because all the data falls well below the production ratio.« less

Thermoluminescence Dynamics During Destructions of Porous Structures Formed by Nitrogen Nanoclusters in Bulk Superfluid Helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meraki, Adil; Mao, Shun; McColgan, Patrick T.; Boltnev, Roman E.; Lee, David M.; Khmelenko, Vladimir V.

2016-11-01

We studied the dynamics of thermoluminescence during destruction of porous structures formed by nanoclusters of nitrogen molecules containing high concentrations of stabilized nitrogen atoms. The porous structures were formed in bulk superfluid helium by injection of the products of discharges in nitrogen-helium gas mixtures through the liquid helium surface. Fast recombination of nitrogen atoms during warming-up led to explosive destruction of the porous structures accompanied by bright flashes. Intense emissions from the α -group of nitrogen atoms, the β -group of oxygen atoms and the Vegard-Kaplan bands of N_2 molecules were observed at the beginning of destruction. At the end of destruction the M- and β -bands of NO molecules as well as bands of O_2 molecules were also observed. Observation of the emissions from NO molecules at the end of destruction was explained by processes of accumulation of NO molecules in the system due to the large van der Waals interaction of NO molecules. For the first time, we observed the emission of the O_2 molecules at the end of destruction of the porous nitrogen structures as a result of the (NO)_2 dimer formation in solid nitrogen and subsequent processes leading to the appearance of excited O_2 molecules.

Quantitative method for measuring heat flux emitted from a cryogenic object

DOEpatents

Duncan, Robert V.

1993-01-01

The present invention is a quantitative method for measuring the total heat flux, and of deriving the total power dissipation, of a heat-fluxing object which includes the steps of placing an electrical noise-emitting heat-fluxing object in a liquid helium bath and measuring the superfluid transition temperature of the bath. The temperature of the liquid helium bath is thereafter reduced until some measurable parameter, such as the electrical noise, exhibited by the heat-fluxing object or a temperature-dependent resistive thin film in intimate contact with the heat-fluxing object, becomes greatly reduced. The temperature of the liquid helum bath is measured at this point. The difference between the superfluid transition temperature of the liquid helium bath surrounding the heat-fluxing object, and the temperature of the liquid helium bath when the electrical noise emitted by the heat-fluxing object becomes greatly reduced, is determined. The total heat flux from the heat-fluxing object is determined as a function of this difference between these temperatures. In certain applications, the technique can be used to optimize thermal design parameters of cryogenic electronics, for example, Josephson junction and infra-red sensing devices.

Quantitative method for measuring heat flux emitted from a cryogenic object

DOEpatents

Duncan, R.V.

1993-03-16

The present invention is a quantitative method for measuring the total heat flux, and of deriving the total power dissipation, of a heat-fluxing object which includes the steps of placing an electrical noise-emitting heat-fluxing object in a liquid helium bath and measuring the superfluid transition temperature of the bath. The temperature of the liquid helium bath is thereafter reduced until some measurable parameter, such as the electrical noise, exhibited by the heat-fluxing object or a temperature-dependent resistive thin film in intimate contact with the heat-fluxing object, becomes greatly reduced. The temperature of the liquid helum bath is measured at this point. The difference between the superfluid transition temperature of the liquid helium bath surrounding the heat-fluxing object, and the temperature of the liquid helium bath when the electrical noise emitted by the heat-fluxing object becomes greatly reduced, is determined. The total heat flux from the heat-fluxing object is determined as a function of this difference between these temperatures. In certain applications, the technique can be used to optimize thermal design parameters of cryogenic electronics, for example, Josephson junction and infrared sensing devices.

Liquid helium free cryogenic mechanical property test system with optical windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, H. C.; Huang, C. J.; Huang, R. J.; Li, L. F.

2017-12-01

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a non-contact optical method for the in-plane displacement and strain measurement, which has been widely accepted and applied in mechanical property analysis owing to its simple experimental steps, high accuracy and large range of measurement. However, it has been rarely used in cryogenic mechanical test since the opaque design of cryostats and the interaction of optics with liquid coolants (liquid nitrogen or liquid helium). In the present work, a liquid helium free cryogenic mechanical property test system cooled by G-M cryocoolers, with a continuous, tunable environmental temperature from room temperature down to around 20 K, was developed and tested. Quartz optical windows, which are compatible with 2D DIC technology, were designed and manufactured on both inner and outer vacuum chambers. The cryogenic test system with optical windows satisfies well for mechanical tests of materials and takes advantage of both being compatible with DIC technology and getting rid of the use of expensive liquid helium. Surface displacement and strain field of Ti6Al4V under uniaxial tension were studied at 20 K by using this system. The results obtained by DIC method agree well with those obtained by extensometers at cryogenic temperatures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gelles, D. S.; Browning, James Frederick; Snow, Clark Sheldon

Er(D,T){sub 2-x} {sup 3}He{sub x}, erbium di-tritide, films of thicknesses 500 nm, 400 nm, 300 nm, 200 nm, and 100 nm were grown and analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, and Ion Beam Analysis to determine variations in film microstructure as a function of film thickness and age, due to the time-dependent build-up of {sup 3}He in the film from the radioactive decay of tritium. Several interesting features were observed: One, the amount of helium released as a function of film thickness is relatively constant. This suggests that the helium is being released only from the near surface regionmore » and that the helium is not diffusing to the surface from the bulk of the film. Two, lenticular helium bubbles are observed as a result of the radioactive decay of tritium into {sup 3}He. These bubbles grow along the [111] crystallographic direction. Three, a helium bubble free zone, or 'denuded zone' is observed near the surface. The size of this region is independent of film thickness. Four, an analysis of secondary diffraction spots in the Transmission Electron Microscopy study indicate that small erbium oxide precipitates, 5-10 nm in size, exist throughout the film. Further, all of the films had large erbium oxide inclusions, in many cases these inclusions span the depth of the film.« less

Impact of helium pressure in arc plasma synthesis on crystallinity of single-walled carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ando, Atsushi; Takeda, Keigo; Ohta, Takayuki; Ito, Masafumi; Hiramatsu, Mineo; Ishikawa, Kenji; Kondo, Hiroki; Sekine, Makoto; Suzuki, Tomoko; Inoue, Sakae; Ando, Yoshinori; Hori, Masaru

2018-06-01

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were synthesized with a high growth rate by an arc plasma method employing the electrodes made from a Ni–Y mixture catalyst. In a previous study, it was reported that the monitoring of high-crystallinity SWNT growth enabled the evaluation of the results of the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of C2, Ni, and Y. Here, the impact of helium pressure of arc plasma on the high crystallinity of SWNTs was determined by considering the high intensity ratios of catalytic metals over C2 emissions at low helium pressures in the arc plasma.

Adobe photoshop quantification (PSQ) rather than point-counting: A rapid and precise method for quantifying rock textural data and porosities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xuefeng; Liu, Bo; Wang, Jieqiong; Zhang, Zhe; Shi, Kaibo; Wu, Shuanglin

2014-08-01

Commonly used petrological quantification methods are visual estimation, counting, and image analyses. However, in this article, an Adobe Photoshop-based analyzing method (PSQ) is recommended for quantifying the rock textural data and porosities. Adobe Photoshop system provides versatile abilities in selecting an area of interest and the pixel number of a selection could be read and used to calculate its area percentage. Therefore, Adobe Photoshop could be used to rapidly quantify textural components, such as content of grains, cements, and porosities including total porosities and different genetic type porosities. This method was named as Adobe Photoshop Quantification (PSQ). The workflow of the PSQ method was introduced with the oolitic dolomite samples from the Triassic Feixianguan Formation, Northeastern Sichuan Basin, China, for example. And the method was tested by comparing with the Folk's and Shvetsov's "standard" diagrams. In both cases, there is a close agreement between the "standard" percentages and those determined by the PSQ method with really small counting errors and operator errors, small standard deviations and high confidence levels. The porosities quantified by PSQ were evaluated against those determined by the whole rock helium gas expansion method to test the specimen errors. Results have shown that the porosities quantified by the PSQ are well correlated to the porosities determined by the conventional helium gas expansion method. Generally small discrepancies (mostly ranging from -3% to 3%) are caused by microporosities which would cause systematic underestimation of 2% and/or by macroporosities causing underestimation or overestimation in different cases. Adobe Photoshop could be used to quantify rock textural components and porosities. This method has been tested to be precise and accurate. It is time saving compared with usual methods.

Equation of state of fluid helium at high temperatures and densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Lingcang; Chen, Qifeng; Gu, Yunjun; Zhang, Ying; Zhou, Xianming; Jing, Fuqian

2005-03-01

Hugoniot curves and shock temperatures of gas helium with initial temperature 293 K and three initial pressures 0.6, 1.2, and 5.0 MPa were measured up to 15000 K using a two-stage light-gas gun and transient radiation pyrometer. It was found that the calculated Hugoniot EOS of gas helium at the same initial pressure using Saha equation with Debye-Hückel correction was in good agreement with the experimental data. The curve of the calculated shock wave velocity with the particle velocity of gas helium which is shocked from the initial pressure 5 MPa and temperature 293 K, i.e., the D ≈ u relation, D= C 0+λ u ( u<10 km/s, λ=1.32) in a low pressure region, is approximately parallel with the fitted D ≈ u (λ=1.36) of liquid helium from the experimental data of Nellis et al. Our calculations show that the Hugoniot parameter λ is independent of the initial density p{in0}. The D≈ u curves of gas helium will transfer to another one and approach a limiting value of compression when their temperature elevates to about 18000 K and the ionization degree of the shocked gas helium reaches 10-3.

The formation of microvoids in MgO by helium ion implantation and thermal annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Veen, A.; Schut, H.; Fedorov, A. V.; Labohm, F.; Neeft, E. A. C.; Konings, R. J. M.

1999-01-01

The formation of microvoids in metal oxides by helium implantation and thermal annealing is observed under similar conditions as has been shown earlier for silicon. Cleaved MgO (1 0 0) single crystals were implanted with 30 keV 3He ions with doses varying from 10 15 to 10 16 cm -2 and subsequently thermally annealed from RT to 1500 K. Monitoring of the defect depth profile and the retained amount of helium was performed by positron beam analysis and neutron depth profiling, respectively. For a dose larger than 2 × 10 15 cm -2 annealing of the defects was observed in two stages: at 1000 K helium filled monovacancies dissociated, and other defects still retaining the helium were formed, and at 1300 K all helium left the sample while an increase of positron-valence-electron annihilations was observed, indicating an increase of the volume available in the defects. The voids of nm size were located at shallower depth than the implanted helium. At lower dose no voids were left after high temperature annealing. Voids can also be created, and even more effectively, by hydrogen or deuterium implantation. The voids are stable to temperatures of 1500 K. The use of the nanovoids as a precursor state for nanoprecipitates of metals or other species is discussed.

A comparative study of tribological characteristics of hydrogenated DLC film sliding against ceramic mating materials for helium applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Daheng; Ren, Siming; Pu, Jibin; Lu, Zhibin; Zhang, Guangan; Wang, Liping

2018-05-01

The tribological behaviors of hydrogenated DLC film sliding against Al2O3, ZrO2, Si3N4 and WC mating balls have been comparatively investigated by a ball-on-disk tribometer at 150 °C under helium and air (RH = 6%) conditions. The results showed that the mating material influenced the friction and wear behavior remarkably in helium atmosphere, where the wear rates were in inversely proportional to the friction coefficients (COF) of those tribo-pairs. Compared to the tests in helium, the tribological performance of DLC film significantly improved in air. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy were performed to study the friction behavior and wear mechanism of the film under different conditions. It suggested that the severe abrasion was caused by the strong interaction between the tribo-pairs in helium atmosphere at 150 °C, whereas the sufficient passivation of the dangling bonds of carbon atoms at sliding interface by chemically active molecules, such as water and oxygen, dominated the ultralow friction under air condition. Meanwhile, Hertz analysis was used to further elucidate the frictional mechanism of DLC film under helium and air conditions. It showed that the coefficient of friction was consistent with the varied tendency of the contact radius, namely, higher friction coefficient corresponded to the larger contact radius, which was the same with the relationship between the wear rate and the contact pressure. All of the results made better understanding of the essential mechanism of hydrogenated DLC film sliding against different pairs, which were able to guide the further application of DLC film in the industrial fields of helium atmosphere.

Study of the amorphization of surface silicon layers implanted by low-energy helium ions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lomov, A. A., E-mail: lomov@ftian.ru; Myakon’kikh, A. V.; Oreshko, A. P.

2016-03-15

The structural changes in surface layers of Si(001) substrates subjected to plasma-immersion implantation by (2–5)-keV helium ions to a dose of D = 6 × 10{sup 15}–5 × 10{sup 17} cm{sup –2} have been studied by highresolution X-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering, and spectral ellipsometry. It is found that the joint application of these methods makes it possible to determine the density depth distribution ρ(z) in an implanted layer, its phase state, and elemental composition. Treatment of silicon substrates in helium plasma to doses of 6 × 10{sup 16} cm{sup –2} leads to the formation of a 20- to 30-nm-thick amorphizedmore » surface layer with a density close to the silicon density. An increase in the helium dose causes the formation of an internal porous layer.« less

Theoretical Studies of Liquid He-4 Near the Superfluid Transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manousakis, Efstratios

2002-01-01

We performed theoretical studies of liquid helium by applying state of the art simulation and finite-size scaling techniques. We calculated universal scaling functions for the specific heat and superfluid density for various confining geometries relevant for experiments such as the confined helium experiment and other ground based studies. We also studied microscopically how the substrate imposes a boundary condition on the superfluid order parameter as the superfluid film grows layer by layer. Using path-integral Monte Carlo, a quantum Monte Carlo simulation method, we investigated the rich phase diagram of helium monolayer, bilayer and multilayer on a substrate such as graphite. We find excellent agreement with the experimental results using no free parameters. Finally, we carried out preliminary calculations of transport coefficients such as the thermal conductivity for bulk or confined helium systems and of their scaling properties. All our studies provide theoretical support for various experimental studies in microgravity.

Qualification and implementation of line ratio spectroscopy on helium as plasma edge diagnostic at ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griener, M.; Muñoz Burgos, J. M.; Cavedon, M.; Birkenmeier, G.; Dux, R.; Kurzan, B.; Schmitz, O.; Sieglin, B.; Stroth, U.; Viezzer, E.; Wolfrum, E.; the ASDEX Upgrade Team

2018-02-01

A new thermal helium beam diagnostic has been implemented as plasma edge diagnostic at the ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) tokamak. The helium beam is built to measure the electron density n e and temperature T e simultaneously with high spatial and temporal resolution in order to investigate steady-state as well as fast transport processes in the plasma edge region. For the thermal helium beam emission line ratio spectroscopy, neutral helium is locally injected into the plasma by a piezo valve. This enabled the measurement of the line resolved emission intensities of seven He I lines for different plasma scenarios in AUG. The different line ratios can be used together with a collisional-radiative model (CRM) to reconstruct the underlying electron temperature and density. Ratios from the same spin species are used for the electron density reconstruction, whereas spin mixed ratios are sensitive to electron temperature changes. The different line ratios as well as different CRMs are tested for their suitability for diagnostic applications. Furthermore their consistency in calculating identical parameters is validated and the resulting profiles are compared to other available diagnostics at AUG.

Light dark matter in superfluid helium: Detection with multi-excitation production

DOE PAGES

Knapen, Simon; Lin, Tongyan; Zurek, Kathryn M.

2017-03-22

We examine in depth a recent proposal to utilize superfluid helium for direct detection of sub-MeV mass dark matter. For sub-keV recoil energies, nuclear scattering events in liquid helium primarily deposit energy into long-lived phonon and roton quasiparticle excitations. If the energy thresholds of the detector can be reduced to the meV scale, then dark matter as light as ~MeV can be reached with ordinary nuclear recoils. If, on the other hand, two or more quasiparticle excitations are directly produced in the dark matter interaction, the kinematics of the scattering allows sensitivity to dark matter as light as ~keV atmore » the same energy resolution. We present in detail the theoretical framework for describing excitations in superfluid helium, using it to calculate the rate for the leading dark matter scattering interaction, where an off-shell phonon splits into two or more higher-momentum excitations. Here, we validate our analytic results against the measured and simulated dynamic response of superfluid helium. Finally, we apply this formalism to the case of a kinetically mixed hidden photon in the superfluid, both with and without an external electric field to catalyze the processes.« less

Method for the determination of lignin content of a sample by flash pyrolysis in an atmosphere of hydrogen or helium and method therefor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shakkottai, Parthasarathy (Inventor); Kwack, Eug Y. (Inventor); Lawson, Daniel D. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

The lignin content of wood, paper pulp or other material containing lignin (such as filter paper soaked in black liquor) is more readily determined by flash pyrolysis of the sample at approximately 550.degree. C. in a reducing atmosphere of hydrogen or in an inert atmosphere of helium followed by a rapid analysis of the product gas by a mass spectrometer. The heated pyrolysis unit as fabricated comprises a small platinum cup welded to an electrically-heated stainless steel ribbon with control means for programmed short duration (1.5 sec, approximately) heating and means for continuous flow of hydrogen or helium. The pyrolysis products enter an electron-ionization mode mass spectrometer for spectral evaluation. Lignin content is obtained from certain ratios of integrated ion currents of many mass spectral lines, the ratios being linearly related to the Kappa number of Klason lignin.

Myocardial correlates of helium-cold induction and maintenance of hypothermia.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, G. L.; Prewitt, R., Jr.; Musacchia, X. J.

1971-01-01

Hypothermia was induced in the golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus, using the helium-cold method. The first group of hamsters was sacrificed immediately after induction to rectal temperature 7 C, a second group was sacrificed after being maintained at a body temperature of 7 C for 18-24 hr, and a third group consisted of unexposed controls. The hearts were excised and the ventricles analyzed for hypoxic damage, glycogen, and catecholamines. In the short-term hypothermic animals, resting tension was increased while peak isometric tension, generated tension after 10 min of anoxic exposure, glycogen, and catecholamines were all reduced. All of the functional parameters recovered in the long-term hypothermic group, while glycogen and catecholamines showed a trend toward recovery. It is concluded that myocardial hypoxia develops during induction into hypothermia when using the helium-cold method. This effect is reversible and hypoxic damage does not increase as the hypothermic exposure is prolonged.

Asymptotic Energies and QED Shifts for Rydberg States of Helium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drake, G.W.F.

2007-01-01

This paper reviews progress that has been made in obtaining essentially exact solutions to the nonrelativistic three-body problem for helium by a combination of variational and asymptotic expansion methods. The calculation of relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections by perturbation theory is discussed, and in particular, methods for the accurate calculation of the Bethe logarithm part of the electron self energy are presented. As an example, the results are applied to the calculation of isotope shifts for the short-lived 'halo' nucleus He-6 relative to He-4 in order to determine the nuclear charge radius of He-6 from high precision spectroscopic measurements carried out at the Argonne National Laboratory. The results demonstrate that the high precision that is now available from atomic theory is creating new opportunities to create novel measurement tools, and helium, along with hydrogen, can be regarded as a fundamental atomic system whose spectrum is well understood for all practical purposes.

Goulds Belt, Interstellar Clouds, and the Eocene Oligocene Helium-3 Enhancement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubincam, David Parry

2015-01-01

Drag from hydrogen in the interstellar cloud which formed Gould's Belt may have sent interplanetary dust particle (IDPs) and small meteoroids with embedded helium to the Earth, perhaps explaining part the helium-3 flux increase seen in the sedimentary record near the Eocene-Oligocene transition. Assuming the Solar System passed through part of the cloud, IDPs in the inner Solar System may have been dragged to Earth, while dust and small meteoroids in the asteroid belt up to centimeter size may have been dragged to the resonances, where their orbital eccentricities were pumped up into Earth-crossing orbits; however, this hypotheses does not explain the Popigai and Chesapeake Bay impacts.

Potential-splitting approach applied to the Temkin-Poet model for electron scattering off the hydrogen atom and the helium ion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yarevsky, E.; Yakovlev, S. L.; Larson, Å; Elander, N.

2015-06-01

The study of scattering processes in few body systems is a difficult problem especially if long range interactions are involved. In order to solve such problems, we develop here a potential-splitting approach for three-body systems. This approach is based on splitting the reaction potential into a finite range core part and a long range tail part. The solution to the Schrödinger equation for the long range tail Hamiltonian is found analytically, and used as an incoming wave in the three body scattering problem. This reformulation of the scattering problem makes it suitable for treatment by the exterior complex scaling technique in the sense that the problem after the complex dilation is reduced to a boundary value problem with zero boundary conditions. We illustrate the method with calculations on the electron scattering off the hydrogen atom and the positive helium ion in the frame of the Temkin-Poet model.

Spectral Analysis and Metastable Absorption Measurements of High Pressure Capacitively and Inductively Coupled Radio-Frequency Argon-Helium Discharges

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

density of the s5 and s3 metastable states for different discharge parameters. The absorption data was fit to an approximated Voigt profile from which...pressures are required in order to have enough spin-orbit relaxation to maintain CW lasing without significant bottlenecking. There are many methods to...for just that [(5),(12)]. This method allows for a wide study of energy levels since the limiting factor is the sensitivity of the detector and modern

Composite Ceramic Superconducting Wires for Electric Motor Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-07-07

generators that have been built using NbTi superconducting wire at liquid 3 helium temperature (4.2*K). Most of these magnets , motors, and generators have...temperature superconductors. A magnetic diffusivity value cannot be rigorously determined for the superconductor in the superconducting state when flux jump...cv, FIRST ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PROJECT "COMPOSITE CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTING WIRES FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR APPLICATIONS" 2 PRIME CONTRACTOR CERAMICS PROCESS

Measurements of multi-scalar mixing in a turbulent coaxial jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hewes, Alais; Mydlarski, Laurent

2017-11-01

There are relatively few studies of turbulent multi-scalar mixing, despite the occurrence of this phenomenon in common processes (e.g. chemically reacting flows, oceanic mixing). In the present work, we simultaneously measure the evolution of two passive scalars (temperature and helium concentration) and velocity in a coaxial jet. Such a flow is particularly relevant, as coaxial jets are regularly employed in applications of turbulent non-premixed combustion, which relies on multi-scalar mixing. The coaxial jet used in the current experiment is based on the work of Cai et al. (J. Fluid Mech., 2011), and consists of a vertically oriented central jet of helium and air, surrounded by an annular flow of (unheated) pure air, emanating into a slow co-flow of (pure) heated air. The simultaneous two-scalar and velocity measurements are made using a 3-wire hot-wire anemometry probe. The first two wires of this probe form an interference (or Way-Libby) probe, and measure velocity and concentration. The third wire, a hot-wire operating at a low overheat ratio, measures temperature. The 3-wire probe is used to obtain concurrent velocity, concentration, and temperature statistics to characterize the mixing process by way of single and multivariable/joint statistics. Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Grant 217184).

Magnetic resonance studies of atomic hydrogen at zero field and low temperature: Recombination and binding on liquid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jochemsen, R.; Morrow, M.; Berlinsky, A. J.; Hardy, W. N.

1982-07-01

Magnetic resonance studies at zero field are reported for atomic hydrogen gas confined in a closed glass bulb with helium-coated walls for T < 1 K in a dilution refrigerator. Low-energy r.f. discharge pulses have been used to produce H atoms at temperatures as low as T = 0.06 K. The atom density nH (10 9 < nH < 10 13) measured by the strength of the free induction decay signal, follows a second-order rate equation {dn H}/{dt} = -Kn H2. At the lowest temperatures recombination is dominated by the process H + H+ wall → H 2 + wall. From the temperature dependence of the rate constant K we have determined the binding energy of H on liquid 4He and 3He, and also the cross section for recombination on the surface.

Nuclear fusion and carbon flashes on neutron stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taam, R. E.; Picklum, R. E.

1978-01-01

This paper reports on detailed calculations of the thermal evolution of the carbon-burning shells in the envelopes of accreting neutron stars for mass-accretion rates of 1 hundred-billionth to 2 billionths of a solar mass per yr and neutron-star masses of 0.56 and 1.41 solar masses. The work of Hansen and Van Horn (1975) is extended to higher densities, and a more detailed treatment of nuclear processing in the hydrogen- and helium-burning regions is included. Results of steady-state calculations are presented, and results of time-dependent computations are examined for accretion rates of 3 ten-billionths and 1 billionth of solar mass per yr. It is found that two evolutionary sequences lead to carbon flashes and that the carbon abundance at the base of the helium shell is a strong function of accretion rate. Upper limits are placed on the accretion rates at which carbon flashes will be important.

Communication: A combined periodic density functional and incremental wave-function-based approach for the dispersion-accounting time-resolved dynamics of ⁴He nanodroplets on surfaces: ⁴He/graphene.

PubMed

de Lara-Castells, María Pilar; Stoll, Hermann; Civalleri, Bartolomeo; Causà, Mauro; Voloshina, Elena; Mitrushchenkov, Alexander O; Pi, Martí

2014-10-21

In this work we propose a general strategy to calculate accurate He-surface interaction potentials. It extends the dispersionless density functional approach recently developed by Pernal et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 263201 (2009)] to adsorbate-surface interactions by including periodic boundary conditions. We also introduce a scheme to parametrize the dispersion interaction by calculating two- and three-body dispersion terms at coupled cluster singles and doubles and perturbative triples (CCSD(T)) level via the method of increments [H. Stoll, J. Chem. Phys. 97, 8449 (1992)]. The performance of the composite approach is tested on (4)He/graphene by determining the energies of the low-lying selective adsorption states, finding an excellent agreement with the best available theoretical data. Second, the capability of the approach to describe dispersionless correlation effects realistically is used to extract dispersion effects in time-dependent density functional simulations on the collision of (4)He droplets with a single graphene sheet. It is found that dispersion effects play a key role in the fast spreading of the (4)He nanodroplet, the evaporation-like process of helium atoms, and the formation of solid-like helium structures. These characteristics are expected to be quite general and highly relevant to explain experimental measurements with the newly developed helium droplet mediated deposition technique.

Development of a real time monitor and multivariate method for long term diagnostics of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharges: application to He, He/N2, and He/O2 discharges.

PubMed

O'Connor, N; Milosavljević, V; Daniels, S

2011-08-01

In this paper we present the development and application of a real time atmospheric pressure discharge monitoring diagnostic. The software based diagnostic is designed to extract latent electrical and optical information associated with the operation of an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (APDBD) over long time scales. Given that little is known about long term temporal effects in such discharges, the diagnostic methodology is applied to the monitoring of an APDBD in helium and helium with both 0.1% nitrogen and 0.1% oxygen gas admixtures over periods of tens of minutes. Given the large datasets associated with the experiments, it is shown that this process is much expedited through the novel application of multivariate correlations between the electrical and optical parameters of the corresponding chemistries which, in turn, facilitates comparisons between each individual chemistry also. The results of these studies show that the electrical and optical parameters of the discharge in helium and upon the addition of gas admixtures evolve over time scales far longer than the gas residence time and have been compared to current modelling works. It is envisaged that the diagnostic together with the application of multivariate correlations will be applied to rapid system identification and prototyping in both experimental and industrial APDBD systems in the future.

Controlled Cold Helium Spill Test in the LHC Tunnel at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koettig, T.; Casas-Cubillos, J.; Chorowski, M.; Dufay-Chanat, L.; Grabowski, M.; Jedrusyna, A.; Lindell, G.; Nonis, M.; Vauthier, N.; van Weelderen, R.; Winkler, T.; Bremer, J.

The helium cooled magnets of the LHC particle accelerator are installed in a confined space, formed by a 27 km circumference 3.8 m diameter underground tunnel. The vacuum enclosures of the superconducting LHC magnets are protected by a lift plate against excessive overpressure created by eventual leaks from the magnet helium bath, or from the helium supply headers. A three-meter long no stay zone has been defined centered to these plates, based on earlier scale model studies, to protect the personnel against the consequences of an eventual opening of such a lift plate. More recently several simulation studies have been carried out modelling the propagation of the resulting helium/air mixture along the tunnel in case of such a cold helium release at a rate in the range of 1 kg/s. To validate the different scale models and simulation studies, real life mock-up tests have been performed in the LHC, releasing about 1000 liter of liquid helium under standard operational tunnel conditions. Data recorded during these tests include oxygen level, temperature and flow speed as well as video recordings, taken up- and downstream of the spill point (-100 m to +200 m) with respect to the ventilation direction in the LHC tunnel. The experimental set-up and measurement results are presented. Generic effects found during the tests will be discussed to allow the transposal to possible cold helium release cases in similar facilities.

HELIUM ATMOSPHERES ON WARM NEPTUNE- AND SUB-NEPTUNE-SIZED EXOPLANETS AND APPLICATIONS TO GJ 436b

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Renyu; Yung, Yuk L.; Seager, Sara, E-mail: renyu.hu@jpl.nasa.gov

2015-07-01

Warm Neptune- and sub-Neptune-sized exoplanets in orbits smaller than Mercury’s are thought to have experienced extensive atmospheric evolution. Here we propose that a potential outcome of this atmospheric evolution is the formation of helium-dominated atmospheres. The hydrodynamic escape rates of Neptune- and sub-Neptune-sized exoplanets are comparable to the diffusion-limited escape rate of hydrogen, and therefore the escape is heavily affected by diffusive separation between hydrogen and helium. A helium atmosphere can thus be formed—from a primordial hydrogen–helium atmosphere—via atmospheric hydrodynamic escape from the planet. The helium atmosphere has very different abundances of major carbon and oxygen species from those ofmore » a hydrogen atmosphere, leading to distinctive transmission and thermal emission spectral features. In particular, the hypothesis of a helium-dominated atmosphere can explain the thermal emission spectrum of GJ 436b, a warm Neptune-sized exoplanet, while also being consistent with the transmission spectrum. This model atmosphere contains trace amounts of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, with the predominance of CO over CH{sub 4} as the main form of carbon. With our atmospheric evolution model, we find that if the mass of the initial atmosphere envelope is 10{sup −3} planetary mass, hydrodynamic escape can reduce the hydrogen abundance in the atmosphere by several orders of magnitude in ∼10 billion years. Observations of exoplanet transits may thus detect signatures of helium atmospheres and probe the evolutionary history of small exoplanets.« less

Laser Induced Fluorescence of Helium Ions in a Helicon Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Compton, C. S.; Biloui, C.; Hardin, R. A.; Keesee, A. M.; Scime, E. E.; Boivin, R.

2003-10-01

The lack of a suitable Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) scheme for helium ions at visible wavelengths has prevented LIF from being employed in helium plasmas for measurements of ion temperature and bulk ion flow speeds. In this work, we will discuss our attempts to perform LIF of helium ions in a helicon source plasma using an infrared, tunable diode laser operating at 1012.36 nm. The infrared transition corresponds to excitation from the n = 4 level (4f ^2F) to the n = 5 (5g ^2G) level of singly ionized helium and therefore requires substantial electron temperatures (> 10 eV) to maintain an adequate ion population in the n = 4 state. Calculations using a steady state coronal model predict that the n = 4 state population will be 25% larger than the n = 5 population for our experimental conditions. The fluorescence decay from the n = 5 (5f ^2F) level of singly ionized helium level to the n = 3 (3d ^2D) level at 320.31 nm is monitored as the diode laser is swept through 10 GHz around the 1012.36 nm line. Note that the fluorescence emission requires a collisionally coupled transition between two different n = 5 quantum states. We will also present measurements of the emission intensities of both the 1012.36 nm and the 320.31 nm lines as a function of source neutral pressure, rf power, and plasma density. This work supported by the U.S. DoE EPSCoR Lab Partnership Program.

Correlated helium, neon, and melt production on the super-fast spreading East Pacific Rise near 17°S

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurz, Mark D.; Moreira, Manuel; Curtice, Joshua; Lott, Dempsey E.; Mahoney, John J.; Sinton, John M.

2005-03-01

We report new helium and neon isotopic compositions in dredged basalt glasses from the superfast spreading East Pacific Rise (EPR) between 13° and 23°S. The 3He/ 4He ratios vary from 8.0 to 11.0 times the atmospheric value (Ra) [ 4He/ 3He between 65,700 and 90,300], with the least radiogenic values in samples from near 16.75°S. Atmospheric contamination corrections on neon isotopes are made using step heating and extrapolated 21Ne/ 22Ne ratios (to a solar 20Ne/ 22Ne value of 13.8). The lowest corrected 21Ne/ 22Ne ratios are found near 16.75°S, and are consistent with the helium isotopes in suggesting a less degassed mantle source. The EPR at 17°S is unusual in displaying such isotopic anomalies in the absence of any known hotspot. The minima in 4He/ 3He and 21Ne/ 22Ne correspond to extremes in Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios, but the length scale of the helium and neon anomalies are shorter along-axis than the peaks for the other isotopic ratios. The minimum in 4He/ 3He is observed from 16° to 18°S (a distance of ˜220 km), whereas the elevated Sr and Pb values, and lower 143Nd/ 144Nd, are observed between 16° and 20.7°S (a distance of ˜500 km); neon isotope anomalies are observed on an intermediate length scale along-axis. Unradiogenic helium and neon values correlate with low mantle Bouguer anomalies, and maxima in the axial cross-sectional area, all of which are attributed to higher melt production near 17°S. A conceptual model that fits the observations includes melting of an entrained heterogeneity beneath the EPR at 17 °S. The relationship between helium and neon isotopes and along-axis geophysical characteristics (and by inference melt distribution) is probably related to the extreme incompatibility of helium and neon. High concentrations of 3He and 21Ne (extrap) are found in the glasses near 17°S, which is consistent with higher noble gas concentrations in the anomalous mantle.

Optical Plasma Control During ARC Carbon Nanotube Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinkov, I.; Farhat, S.; DeLaChapelle, M. Lamy; Fan, S. S.; Han, H. X.; Li, G. H.; Scott, C. D.

2001-01-01

To improve nanotube production, we developed a novel optical control technique, based on the shape of the visible plasma zone created between the anode and the cathode in the direct current (DC) arc process. For a given inert gas, we adjust the anode to cathode distance (ACD) in order to obtain strong visible vortices around the cathode. This enhance anode vaporization, which improve nanotubes formation. In light of our experimental results, we focus our discussion on the relationship between plasma parameters and nanotube growth. Plasma temperature control during arc process is achieved using argon, helium, and their mixtures as a buffer gases. The variation of the gas mixture from pure argon to pure helium changes plasma temperature. As a consequence, the microscopic characteristics of nanotubes as diameter distribution is changed moving from smaller values for argon to higher diameters for helium. We also observe a dependence of the macroscopic characteristics of the final products as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area.

High precision Hugoniot measurements on statically pre-compressed fluid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seagle, Christopher T.; Reinhart, William D.; Lopez, Andrew J.; Hickman, Randy J.; Thornhill, Tom F.

2016-09-01

The capability for statically pre-compressing fluid targets for Hugoniot measurements utilizing gas gun driven flyer plates has been developed. Pre-compression expands the capability for initial condition control, allowing access to thermodynamic states off the principal Hugoniot. Absolute Hugoniot measurements with an uncertainty less than 3% on density and pressure were obtained on statically pre-compressed fluid helium utilizing a two stage light gas gun. Helium is highly compressible; the locus of shock states resulting from dynamic loading of an initially compressed sample at room temperature is significantly denser than the cryogenic fluid Hugoniot even for relatively modest (0.27-0.38 GPa) initial pressures. The dynamic response of pre-compressed helium in the initial density range of 0.21-0.25 g/cm3 at ambient temperature may be described by a linear shock velocity (us) and particle velocity (up) relationship: us = C0 + sup, with C0 = 1.44 ± 0.14 km/s and s = 1.344 ± 0.025.

The effect of calcination on multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced by dc-arc discharge.

PubMed

Pillai, Sreejarani K; Augustyn, Willem G; Rossouw, Margaretha H; McCrindle, Robert I

2008-07-01

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by dc-arc discharge in helium atmosphere and the effect of calcination at different temperatures ranging from 300-600 degrees C was studied in detail. The degree of degradation to the structural integrity of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes during the thermal process was studied by Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy and High resolution transmission electron microscopy. The thermal behaviour of the as prepared and calcined samples was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Calcination in air at 400 degrees C for 2 hours was found to be an efficient and simple method to eliminate carbonaceous impurities from the nanotube bundles with minimal damage to the tube walls and length. The impurities were oxidized at a faster rate when compared to the nanotubes and gave good yield of about 50%. The nanotubes were observed to be damaged at temperature higher than 450 degrees C. The results show that this method is less destructive when compared liquid phase oxidation with 5 M HNO3.

Processes and energy costs for mining lunar Helium-3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sviatoslavsky, I. N.

1988-01-01

Preliminary investigations show that obtaining He-3 from the moon is technically feasible and economically viable. With the exception of beneficiation, the proposed procedures are state of the art. Mass of equipment needed from earth is of some concern, but resupply will eventually be ameliorated by the use of titanium from indigenous ilmenite. A complete energy payback from a D/He-3 fusion reactor utilizing lunar He-3 is approx. 80, providing ample incentive for commercial investment is forthcoming. Byproducts will be of great value to the resupply of a permanent lunar base and enhancement of space exploration.

Introduction to electron crystallography.

PubMed

Kühlbrandt, Werner

2013-01-01

From the earliest work on regular arrays in negative stain, electron crystallography has contributed greatly to our understanding of the structure and function of biological macromolecules. The development of electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) then lead to the first groundbreaking atomic models of the membrane proteins bacteriorhodopsin and light harvesting complex II within lipid bilayers. Key contributions towards cryo-EM and electron crystallography methods included specimen preparation and vitrification, liquid-helium cooling, data collection, and image processing. These methods are now applied almost routinely to both membrane and soluble proteins. Here we outline the advances and the breakthroughs that paved the way towards high-resolution structures by electron crystallography, both in terms of methods development and biological milestones.

A Density Functional for Liquid 3He Based on the Aziz Potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barranco, M.; Hernández, E. S.; Mayol, R.; Navarro, J.; Pi, M.; Szybisz, L.

2006-09-01

We propose a new class of density functionals for liquid 3He based on the Aziz helium-helium interaction screened at short distances by the microscopically calculated two-body distribution function g(r). Our aim is to reduce to a minumum the unavoidable phenomenological ingredients inherent to any density functional approach. Results for the homogeneous liquid and droplets are presented and discussed.

Radiogenic 3He/4He Estimates and Their Effect on Calculating Plio-Pleistocene Cosmogenic 3He Ages of Alluvial-Fan Terraces in the Lower Colorado River Basin, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fenton, C.; Pelletier, J.

2005-12-01

Several alluvial-fan terraces near Topock, AZ were created by successive entrenchment of Pliocene and Pleistocene alluvial-fan gravels shed from the adjacent Black Mountains along the lower Colorado River corridor below Hoover Dam. These fans interfinger with and overlie main-stem Colorado River sands and gravels and grade to terrace levels that correspond with pre-existing elevations of the Colorado River. Absolute dates for the ages of Quaternary deposits on the lower Colorado River are rare and cosmogenic 3He age estimates of these surfaces would help constrain the timing of aggradation and incision in the lower Colorado River corridor. We analyzed individual basalt boulders from several terrace surfaces for total 3He/4He concentrations to calculate cosmogenic 3He ages of each fan terrace; 3He/4He values, expressed as R/Ra where Ra is the 3He/4He of air, range from 0.29 to 590. Black Mountain volcanic rocks have reported K-Ar ages between 15 and 30 Ma and basalt samples from adjacent alluvial fans contain 0.42 to 47× 1012 at/g of 4He, which has likely accumulated due to nuclear processes. The amount of radiogenic 3He/4He can be significant in old rocks with young exposure ages and can complicate determination of cosmogenic 3 He content. Alpha-decay of U, Th, and their daughter isotopes produces large amounts of 4He, whereas significant amounts of radiogenic 3He are only produced through the neutron bombardment of Li and subsequent beta-decay of tritium. We measured Li, U, Th, major and rare-earth element concentrations in whole-rock basalts and mineral separates. These concentrations are used to estimate the ratio of radiogenic helium contributed to the total helium system in our samples. Li concentrations typically range from 6 to 17 ppm, with one outlier of 62 ppm. U contents range from <0.1 to 2.7 ppm and Th contents range from 0.4 to 15.3 ppm. Based on these values, our calculations predict that the average radiogenic helium (R/Ra) contributed to the total helium in Black Mountain basalt samples is 0.011. Other noble gas studies have shown that radiogenic 3He/4He is independent of the U content, nearly independent of the Th content, and strongly influenced by the Li content of a rock; we find the same results. It is assumed that mantle gases are released when the sample is crushed into a fine powder before melting in a furnace under vacuum. To correct for the possible presence of mantle gases in our age-calculations, we crushed two samples under vacuum to measure the R/Ra value (7.9 and 16.03) of mantle helium trapped in fluid inclusions in olivines and pyroxenes. Based on our 3He corrections and calculations, boulders on these alluvial fans range in age from 10 ka to 2.7 Ma.

[The discussion of superconducting MRI magnet transformation without LHe].

PubMed

Yu, Huixian

2014-01-01

In this paper, from the current situation of the domestic use of superconducting MRI, on liquid helium supply and demand crisis in the market, the significance of the transformation without LHe of the superconducting MRI magnet was explained, and according to the enterprise's production process, a number of operating without liquid helium transformation practice and ideas were raised, important value orientation for the domestic manufacture and use of superconducting MRI was provided.

Diagnostic evaluations of microwave generated helium and nitrogen plasma mixtures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haraburda, Scott S.; Hawley, Martin C.; Dinkel, Duane W.

1990-01-01

The goal of this work is to continue the development to fundamentally understand the plasma processes as applied to spacecraft propulsion. The diagnostic experiments used are calorimetric, dimensional, and spectroscopic measurements using the TM 011 and TM 012 modes in the resonance cavity. These experimental techniques are highly important in furthering the understanding of plasma phenomena and of designing rocket thrusters. Several experimental results are included using nitrogen and helium gas mixtures.

International solar polar mission: The vector helium magnetometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

The functional requirements for the vector helium magnetometer (VHM) on the Solar Polar spacecraft are presented. The VHM is one of the two magnetometers on board that will measure the vector magnetic field along the Earth to Jupiter transfer trajectory, as well as in the vicinity of Jupiter and along the solar polar orbit following the Jupiter encounter. The interconnection between these two magnetometers and their shared data processing unit is illustrated.

Method and means of reducing erosion of components of plasma devices exposed to helium and hydrogen isotope radiation

DOEpatents

Kaminsky, Manfred S.; Das, Santosh K.; Rossing, Thomas D.

1977-01-25

Surfaces of components of plasma devices exposed to radiation by atoms or ions of helium or isotopes of hydrogen can be protected from damage due to blistering by shielding the surfaces with a structure formed by sintering a powder of aluminum or beryllium and its oxide or by coating the surfaces with such a sintered metal powder.

Stabilization of He2(A(sup 3)Sigma(sub u)(+)) molecules in liquid helium by optical pumping for vacuum UV laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zmuidzinas, J. S. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A technique is disclosed for achieving large populations of metastable spin-aligned He2(a 3 Sigma u +) molecules in superfluid helium to obtain lasing in the vacuum ultraviolet wavelength regime around 0.0800 micron m by electronically exciting liquid (superfluid) helium with a comparatively low-current electron beam and spin aligning the metastable molecules by means of optical pumping with a modestly-powered (100mW) circularly-polarized continuous wave laser operating at, for example, 0.9096 or 0.4650 micron m. Once a high concentration of spin-aligned He2 (a 3 Sigma u +) is achieved with lifetimes of a few milliseconds, a strong microwave signal destroys the spin alignment and induces a quick collisional transition of He2 (a 3 Sigma u +) molecules to the a 1 Sigma u + state and thereby a lasing transition to the X 1 Sigma g + state.

Numerical study of the Columbia high-beta device: Torus-II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Izzo, R.

1981-01-01

The ionization, heating and subsequent long-time-scale behavior of the helium plasma in the Columbia fusion device, Torus-II, is studied. The purpose of this work is to perform numerical simulations while maintaining a high level of interaction with experimentalists. The device is operated as a toroidal z-pinch to prepare the gas for heating. This ionization of helium is studied using a zero-dimensional, two-fluid code. It is essentially an energy balance calculation that follows the development of the various charge states of the helium and any impurities (primarily silicon and oxygen) that are present. The code is an atomic physics model ofmore » Torus-II. In addition to ionization, we include three-body and radiative recombination processes.« less

21 CFR 184.1355 - Helium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Helium. 184.1355 Section 184.1355 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) DIRECT FOOD SUBSTANCES AFFIRMED AS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Listing of Specific...

The nu-process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woosley, S. E.; Hartmann, D. H.; Hoffman, R. D.; Haxton, W. C.

1990-01-01

As the core of a massive star collapses to form a neutron star, the flux of neutrinos in the overlying shells of heavy elements becomes so great that, despite the small cross section, substantial nuclear transmutation is induced. Neutrinos excite heavy elements and even helium to particle unbound levels. The evaporation of a single neutron or proton, and the back reaction of these nucleons on other species present, significantly alters the outcome of traditional nucleosynthesis calculations leading to a new process: nu-nucleosynthesis. Modifications to traditional hydrostatic and explosive varieties of helium, carbon, neon, oxygen, and silicon burning are considered. The results show that a large number of rare isotopes, including many of the odd-Z nuclei from boron through copper, owe much of their present abundance in nature to this process.

An efficient cooling loop for connecting cryocooler to a helium reservoir

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, C.E.; Abbott, C.S.R.; Leitner, D.

2003-09-21

The magnet system of the VENUS ECR Ion Source at LBNL has two 1.5-watt cryocoolers suspended in the cryostat vacuum. Helium vapor from the liquid reservoir is admitted to a finned condenser bolted to the cryocooler 2nd stage and returns as liquid via gravity. Small-diameter flexible tubes allow the cryocoolers to be located remotely from the reservoir. With 3.1 watts load, the helium reservoir is maintained at 4.35 K, 0.05K above the cryocooler temperature. Design, analysis, and performance are presented.

Weak values of spin and momentum in atomic systems.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flack, Robert; Hiley, Basil; Barker, Peter; Monachello, Vincenzo; Morley, Joel

2017-04-01

Weak values have a long history and were first considered by Landau and London in connection with superfluids. Hirschfelder called them sub-observables and Dirac anticipatied them when discussing non-commutative geometry in quantum mechanics. The idea of a weak value has returned to prominence due to Aharonov, Albert and Vaidman showing how they can be measured. They are not eigenvalues of the system and can not be measured by a collapse of the wave function with the traditional Von Neumann (strong) measurement which is a single stage process. In contrast the weak measurement process has three stages; preselection, weak stage and finally a post selection. Although weak values have been observed using photons and neutrons, we are building two experiments to observe weak values of spin and momentum in atomic systems. For spin we are following the method outlined by Duck et al which is a variant on the original Stern-Gerlach experiment using a metastable, 23S1 , form of helium. For momentum we are using a method similar to that used by Kocsis with excited argon atoms in the 3P2 state, passing through a 2-slit interferometer. The design, simulation and re John Fetzer Memorial Trust.

The broadening of the calcium resonance line in a high-temperature helium atmosphere. [solar and white dwarf atmospheric studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Driver, R. D.; Snider, J. L.

1976-01-01

The paper describes experimental measurements of the shape of the Ca I resonance line at 4227 A in a high-temperature helium atmosphere. A ballistic piston compressor was used to produce hot helium in the temperature range from 3000 to 7000 K and the number-density range from 2 to 4 by 10 to the 20th power per cu cm, which conditions approximate those postulated for the atmospheres of certain cool white-dwarf stars. The Boltzmann temperature of the calcium atoms was measured by the brightness-emissivity method, the absorption line shape was measured with a twelve-channel polychromator, and the helium kinetic temperature was calculated from the equation of an ideal gas. The observed deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium is illustrated. The value of the ratio of the damping constant to the helium number density at 5000 K is found to be 45 (+ or - 4) by 10 to the -22nd power A cu cm, or 4.7 (+ or - 0.4) by 10 to the -9th power rad/s cu cm. It is noted that no existing line-broadening calculation for the calcium-helium system is consistent with the present results. Recent studies of the 4227-A line in spectra of the sun and the white dwarf van Maanen 2 are discussed.

The adsorption of helium atoms on small cationic gold clusters.

PubMed

Goulart, Marcelo; Gatchell, Michael; Kranabetter, Lorenz; Kuhn, Martin; Martini, Paul; Gitzl, Norbert; Rainer, Manuel; Postler, Johannes; Scheier, Paul; Ellis, Andrew M

2018-04-04

Adducts formed between small gold cluster cations and helium atoms are reported for the first time. These binary ions, Aun+Hem, were produced by electron ionization of helium nanodroplets doped with neutral gold clusters and were detected using mass spectrometry. For a given value of n, the distribution of ions as a function of the number of added helium atoms, m, has been recorded. Peaks with anomalously high intensities, corresponding to so-called magic number ions, are identified and interpreted in terms of the geometric structures of the underlying Aun+ ions. These features can be accounted for by planar structures for Aun+ ions with n ≤ 7, with the addition of helium having no significant effect on the structures of the underlying gold cluster ions. According to ion mobility studies and some theoretical predictions, a 3-D structure is expected for Au8+. However, the findings for Au8+ in this work are more consistent with a planar structure.

Helium-cold induced hypothermia in the white rat.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Musacchia, X. J.; Jacobs, M.

1973-01-01

Hypothermia was induced in white rats by exposing them to low ambient temperatures (about 0 C) and a gaseous atmosphere of 80% helium and 20% oxygen (helox). Biological survival, in which revival from hypothermia to normothermia is achieved, and clinical survival, in which one or more functional attributes are monitored in the hypothermic animal until it dies, are examined. The helium-cold method appears to produce a hypothermic state in the rat quite similar to that resulting from such techniques as ice water immersion or hypercapnia + hypoxia. There is a direct relationship between body weight and percent survival. Despite the fact that they require a longer period to become hypothermic, the heavier animals are better able to survive.

Quality improvement of environmental secondary electron detector signal using helium gas in variable pressure scanning electron microscopy.

PubMed

Oho, Eisaku; Suzuki, Kazuhiko; Yamazaki, Sadao

2007-01-01

The quality of the image signal obtained from the environmental secondary electron detector (ESED) employed in a variable pressure (VP) SEM can be dramatically improved by using helium gas. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increases gradually in the range of the pressures that can be used in our modified SEM. This method is especially useful in low-voltage VP SEM as well as in a variety of SEM operating conditions, because helium gas can more or less maintain the amount of unscattered primary electrons. In order to measure the SNR precisely, a digital scan generator system for obtaining two images with identical views is employed as a precondition.

Process Control Migration of 50 LPH Helium Liquefier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panda, U.; Mandal, A.; Das, A.; Behera, M.; Pal, Sandip

2017-02-01

Two helium liquefier/refrigerators are operational at VECC while one is dedicated for the Superconducting Cyclotron. The first helium liquefier of 50 LPH capacity from Air Liquide has already completed fifteen years of operation without any major trouble. This liquefier is being controlled by Eurotherm PC3000 make PLC. This PLC has become obsolete since last seven years or so. Though we can still manage to run the PLC system with existing spares, risk of discontinuation of the operation is always there due to unavailability of spare. In order to eliminate the risk, an equivalent PLC control system based on Siemens S7-300 was thought of. For smooth migration, total programming was done keeping the same field input and output interface, nomenclature and graphset. New program is a mix of S7-300 Graph, STL and LAD languages. One to one program verification of the entire process graph was done manually. The total program was run in simulation mode. Matlab mathematical model was also used for plant control simulations. EPICS based SCADA was used for process monitoring. As of now the entire hardware and software is ready for direct replacement with minimum required set up time.

Characterisation and optimisation of flexible transfer lines for liquid helium. Part II: Thermohydraulic modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dittmar, N.; Haberstroh, Ch.; Hesse, U.; Krzyzowski, M.

2016-10-01

In part one of this publication experimental results for a single-channel transfer line used at liquid helium (LHe) decant stations are presented. The transfer of LHe into mobile dewars is an unavoidable process since the places of storage and usage are generally located apart from each other. The experimental results have shown that reasonable amounts of LHe evaporate due to heat leak and pressure drop. Thus, generated helium cold gas has to be collected and reliquefied, demanding a huge amount of electrical energy. Although this transfer process is common in cryogenic laboratories, no existing code could be found to model it. Therefore, a thermohydraulic model has been developed to model the LHe flow at operating conditions using published heat transfer and pressure drop correlations. This paper covers the basic equations used to calculate heat transfer and pressure drop, as well as the validation of the thermohydraulic code, and its application within the optimisation process. The final transfer line design features reduced heat leak and pressure drop values based on a combined measurement and modelling campaign in the range of 0.112 < pin < 0.148 MPa, 190 < G < 450 kg/(m2 s), and 0.04 < xout < 0.12.

Results from the (U-Th)/He dating systems in Japan Atomic Energy Agency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, K.; Hanamuro, T.; Tagami, T.; Yamada, R.; Umeda, K.

2007-12-01

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has jointly set up the lab of the (U-Th)/He dating in cooperation with Kyoto University and National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention. We use the MM5400 rare gas mass spectrometer and the SPQ9000 ICP quadrupole mass spectrometer, belonging to JAEA, and built a new vacuum heater using infrared laser to extract helium. HF decomposes zircon after the alkali-fusion method using XRF bead sampler and LiBO3 in the preparation of ICP solution. Helium is quantified using sensitivity method. Uranium and thorium are using standard addition method. Quantifications of uranium-238 and thorium-232 are only need for parent isotopes to date samples because they are expected that the state of secular equilibrium becomes established and samarium does not compose the samples. At the present stage, we calibrate our systems by dating some standards, such as zircon from the Fish Canyon Tuff and apatite from the Durango, those are the international age standard, and apatite and zircon from the Tanzawa Tonalite Complex, that was dated in Yamada's PhD thesis, as a working standard. We report the results and detailed views of the dating systems.

Influence of the excitation frequency on the density of helium metastable atoms in an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boisvert, J.-S.; Sadeghi, N.; Margot, J.; Massines, F.

2017-01-01

Diffuse dielectric barrier discharges in atmospheric-pressure helium can be sustained over a wide range of excitation frequencies (from, but not restricted, 25 kHz to 15 MHz). The aim of the present paper is to identify the specific characteristics of the discharge modes that can be sustained in this frequency range, namely, the atmospheric-pressure Townsend-like discharge (APTD-L) mode, the atmospheric-pressure glow discharge (APGD) mode, the Ω mode, the hybrid mode, and the RF-α mode. This is achieved experimentally, by measuring the density of helium metastable atoms, which are known to play a driving role on the discharge kinetics. This density is measured by means of two absorption spectroscopy methods, one using a spectral lamp and the other one using a diode laser as a light source. The first one provides the time-averaged atom densities in the singlet He(21S) and triplet He(23S) metastable states, while with the second one we access the time-resolved density of He(23S) atoms. Time-averaged measurements indicate that the He(23S) density is relatively low in the APTD-L, the Ω and the RF-α modes ( <4 ×1016 m-3 ) slightly higher in the APGD mode ( 2 -7 ×1016 m-3 ), and still higher ( >1 ×1017 m-3 ) in the hybrid mode. The hybrid mode is exclusively observed for frequencies from 0.2 to 3 MHz. However, time-resolved density measurement shows that at 1 MHz and below, the hybrid mode is not continuously sustained. Instead, the discharge oscillates between the Ω and the hybrid mode with a switching frequency about the kilohertz. This explains the significantly lower power required to sustain the plasma as compared to above 1 MHz.

Use of accelerated helium-3 ions for determining oxygen and carbon impurities in some pure materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aleksandrova, G. I.; Borisov, G. I.; Demidov, A. M.; Zakharov, Y. A.; Sukhov, G. V.; Shmanenkova, G. I.; Shchelkova, V. P.

1978-01-01

Methods are developed for the determination of O impurity in Be and Si carbide and concurrent determination of C and O impurities in Si and W by irradiation with accelerated He-3 ions and subsequent activity measurements of C-11 and F-18 formed from C and O with the aid of a gamma-gamma coincidence spectrometer. Techniques for determining O in Ge and Ga arsenide with radiochemical separation of F-18 are also described.

A Determination of Air-Sea Gas Exchange and Upper Ocean Biological Production From Five Noble Gases and Tritiugenic Helium-3

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

limitations due to so-called "bottle effects" produced by confining production to a single bottle, eliminating grazers, trace metal contamination from the...1, b - 2/3) (Levich, 1962 ) or can be determined by modeling studies of characteristic bubble populations (a = 0.7, b = 0.35) (Keeling, 1993). In this...artifacts associated with the early sampling method. In addition, some of the samples with large supersaturations may have been contaminated with

Exergy Analysis of the Cryogenic Helium Distribution System for the Large Hadron Collider (lhc)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claudet, S.; Lebrun, Ph.; Tavian, L.; Wagner, U.

2010-04-01

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN features the world's largest helium cryogenic system, spreading over the 26.7 km circumference of the superconducting accelerator. With a total equivalent capacity of 145 kW at 4.5 K including 18 kW at 1.8 K, the LHC refrigerators produce an unprecedented exergetic load, which must be distributed efficiently to the magnets in the tunnel over the 3.3 km length of each of the eight independent sectors of the machine. We recall the main features of the LHC cryogenic helium distribution system at different temperature levels and present its exergy analysis, thus enabling to qualify second-principle efficiency and identify main remaining sources of irreversibility.

Polarization of the light from the 3P(1)-2S(1) transition in proton beam excited helium. Ph.D. Thesis; [target gas pressure effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinhous, M. S.

1973-01-01

Measurements of the polarization of the light from the 3 1p-2 1s transition in proton beam excited Helium have shown both a proton beam energy and Helium target gas pressure dependence. Results for the linear polarization fraction range from +2.6% at 100 keV proton energy to -5.5% at 450 keV. The zero crossover occurs at approximately 225 keV. This is in good agreement with other experimental work in the field, but in poor agreement with theoretical predictions. Measurements at He target gas pressures as low as .01 mtorr show that the linear polarization fraction is still pressure dependent at .01 mtorr.

On the empirical determination of positron trapping coefficient at nano-scale helium bubbles in steels irradiated in spallation target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krsjak, Vladimir; Kuriplach, Jan; Vieh, Christiane; Peng, Lei; Dai, Yong

2018-06-01

In the present work, the specific positron trapping rate of small helium bubbles was empirically derived from positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of Fe9Cr martensitic steels. Both techniques are well known to be sensitive to nanometer-sized helium-filled cavities induced during irradiation in a mixed proton-neutron spectrum of spallation target. Complementary TEM and PALS studies show that positrons are being trapped to these defects at a rate of 1.2 ± 0.8 × 10-14 m3s-1. This suggests that helium bubbles in ferritic/martensitic steels are attractive traps for positrons comparable to mono-vacancies and quantitative analysis of the bubbles by PALS technique is plausible.

The development of the red giant branch. I - Theoretical evolutionary sequences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sweigart, Allen V.; Greggio, Laura; Renzini, Alvio

1989-01-01

A grid of 100 evolutionary sequences extending from the zero-age main sequence to the onset of helium burning has been computed for stellar masses between 1.4 and 3.4 solar masses, helium abundances of 0.20 and 0.30, and heavy-element abundances of 0.004, 0.01, and 0.04. Using these computations the transition in the morphology of the red giant branch (RGB) between low-mass stars, which have an extended and luminous first RGB phase prior to helium ignition, and intermediate-mass stars, which do not, is investigated. Extensive tabulations of the numerical results are provided to aid in applying these sequences. The effects of the first dredge-up on the surface helium and CNO abundances of the sequences is discussed.

Study of helium transfer technology for STICCR: Fluid management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frank, D. J.; Yuan, S. W. K.; Grove, R. K.; Lheureux, J. M.

1987-01-01

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is a long life cryogenically cooled space based telescope for infrared astronomy from 2 to 700 microns currently under study and planned for launch in the mid 90's. SIRTF will operate as a multi-user facility, initially carrying 3 instruments at the focal plane. It will be cooled to below 2 K by superfluid liquid helium to achieve radiometric sensitivity limited only by the statistical fluctuations in the natural infrared background radiation over most of its spectral range. The lifetime of the mission will be limited by the lifetime of the liquid helium supply, and is currently baselined to be 2 years. Candidates are reviewed for a liquid management device to be used in the resupply of liquid helium, and for the selection of an appropriate candidate.

Comparative effects of 60Co gamma-rays and neon and helium ions on cycle duration and division probability of EMT 6 cells. A time-lapse cinematography study.

PubMed

Collyn-d'Hooghe, M; Hemon, D; Gilet, R; Curtis, S B; Valleron, A J; Malaise, E P

1981-03-01

Exponentially growing cultures of EMT 6 cells were irradiated in vitro with neon ions, helium ions or 60Co gamma-rays. Time-lapse cinematography allowed the determination, for individual cells, of cycle duration, success of the mitotic division and the age of the cell at the moment of irradiation. Irradiation induced a significant mitotic delay increasing proportionally with the delivered dose. Using mitotic delay as an endpoint, the r.b.e. for neon ions with respect to 60Co gamma-rays was 3.3 +/- 0.2 while for helium ions it was 1.2 +/- 0.1. Mitotic delay was greatest in those cells that had progressed furthest in their cycle at the time of irradiation. No significant mitotic delay was observed in the post-irradiation generation. Division probability was significantly reduced by irradiation both in the irradiated and in the post-irradiated generation. The reduction in division probability obtained with 3 Gy of neon ions was similar to that obtained after irradiation with 6 Gy of helium ions or 60Co gamma-rays.

First measurement of helium on Mars: implications for the problem of radiogenic gases on the terrestrial planets.

PubMed

Krasnopolsky, V A; Bowyer, S; Chakrabarti, S; Gladstone, G R; McDonald, J S

1994-06-01

108 +/- 11 photons of the martian He 584-angstroms airglow detected by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite during a 2-day exposure (January 22-23, 1993) correspond to the effective disk average intensity of 43 +/- 10 Rayleigh. Radiative transfer calculations, using a model atmosphere appropriate to the conditions of the observation and having an exospheric temperature of 210 +/- 20 K, result in a He mixing ratio of 1.1 +/- 0.4 ppm in the lower atmosphere. Nonthermal escape of helium is due to electron impact ionization and pickup of He+ by the solar wind, to collisions with hot oxygen atoms, and to charge exchange with molecular species with corresponding column loss rates of 1.4 x 10(5), 3 x 10(4), and 7 x 10(3) cm-2 sec-1, respectively. The lifetime of helium on Mars is 5 x 10(4) years. The He outgassing rate, coupled with the 40Ar atmospheric abundance and with the K:U:Th ratio measured in the surface rocks, is used as input to a single two-reservoir degassing model which is applied to Mars and then to Venus. A similar model with known abundances of K, U, and Th is applied to Earth. The models for Earth and Mars presume loss of all argon accumulated in the atmospheres during the first billion years by large-scale meteorite and planetesimal impacts. The models show that the degassing coefficients for all three planets may be approximated by function delta = delta (0)(t(0)/t)1/2 with delta (0) = 0/1, 0.04, and 0.0125 Byr-1 for Earth, Venus, and Mars, respectively. After a R2 correction this means that outgassing processes on Venus and Mars are weaker than on Earth by factors of 3 and 30, respectively. Mass ratios of U and Th are almost the same for all three planets, while potassium is depleted by a factor of 2 in Venus and Mars. Mass ratios of helium and argon are close to 5 x 10(-9) and 2 x 10(-8) g/g in the interiors of all three planets. The implications of these results are discussed.

Millennial-scale variations in dustiness recorded in Mid-Atlantic sediments from 0 to 70 ka

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Middleton, Jennifer L.; Mukhopadhyay, Sujoy; Langmuir, Charles H.; McManus, Jerry F.; Huybers, Peter J.

2018-01-01

Sedimentary records of dust deposition in the subtropical Atlantic provide important constraints on millennial- and orbital-scale variability in atmospheric circulation and North African aridity. Constant flux proxies, such as extraterrestrial helium-3, yield dust flux records that are independent of the biases caused by lateral sediment transport and limited resolution that may be associated with age-model-derived mass accumulation rates. However, Atlantic dust records constrained using constant flux proxies are sparsely distributed and generally limited to the past 20 ka. Here we extend the Atlantic record of North African dust deposition to 70 ka using extraterrestrial helium-3 and measurements of titanium, thorium, and terrigenous helium-4 in two sediment cores collected at 26°N and 29°N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and compare results to model estimates for dust deposition in the subtropical North Atlantic. Dust proxy fluxes between 26°N and 29°N are well correlated, despite variability in lateral sediment transport, and underscore the utility of extraterrestrial helium-3 for constraining millennial-scale variability in dust deposition. Similarities between Mid-Atlantic dust flux trends and those observed along the Northwest African margin corroborate previous interpretations of dust flux variability over the past 20 ka and suggest that long distance transport and depositional processes do not overly obscure the signal of North African dust emissions. The 70 ka Mid-Atlantic record reveals a slight increase in North African dustiness from Marine Isotope Stage 4 through the Last Glacial Maximum and a dramatic decrease in dustiness associated with the African Humid Period. On the millennial-scale, the new records exhibit brief dust maxima coincident with North Atlantic cold periods such as the Younger Dryas, and multiple Heinrich Stadials. The correlation between Mid-Atlantic dust fluxes and previous constraints on North African aridity is high. However, precipitation exerts less control on dust flux variability prior to the African Humid Period, when wind variability governs dust emissions from consistently dry dust source regions. Thus, the Mid-Atlantic dust record supports the hypothesis that both aridity and wind strength drive dust flux variability across changing climatic conditions.

Laser-induced breakup of helium 3S 1s2s with intermediate doubly excited states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simonsen, A. S.; Bachau, H.; Førre, M.

2014-02-01

Solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in full dimensionality for two electrons, it is found that in the XUV regime the two-photon double ionization dynamics of He(1s2s) is predominantly dictated by the process of resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization via doubly excited states (DESs). We have studied a pump-probe scenario where the full laser-driven breakup of the 3S 1s2s metastable state is dominated by intermediate quasiresonant excitation to doubly excited (autoionizing) states in the 3Po series. Clear evidence of multipath interference effects is revealed in the resulting angular distributions of the ejected electrons in cases where more than one intermediate DES is populated in the process.