Abstract The Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is the leading candidate for the Next Generation Nuclear Power (NGNP) Project in the U.S. which has the goal of demonstrating the production of emissions free electricity and hydrogen by 2015. Various scaled heated gas and water flow facilities were investigated for modeling VHTR upper and lower plenum flows during the decay heat portion of a pressurized conduction-cooldown scenario and for modeling thermal mixing and stratification (“thermal striping”) in the lower plenum during normal operation. It was concluded, based on phenomena scaling and instrumentation and other practical considerations, that a heated water flow scale model facility is preferable to a heated gas flow facility and to unheated facilities which use fluids with ranges of density to simulate the density effect of heating. For a heated water flow lower plenum model, both the Richardson numbers and Reynolds numbers may be approximately matched for conduction-cooldown natural circulation conditions. Thermal mixing during normal operation may be simulated but at lower, but still fully turbulent, Reynolds numbers than in the prototype. Natural circulation flows in the upper plenum may also be simulated in a separate heated water flow facility that uses the same plumbing as the lower …

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We have measured the {lambda}{sub b} lifetime using the exclusive decay {lambda}{sub b}{yields}J/{psi}{lambda}, based on 1.2 fb{sup -1} of data collected with the D0 detector during 2002-2006. From 171 reconstructed {lambda}{sub b} decays, where the J/{psi} and {lambda} are identified via the decays J/{psi}{yields}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -} and {lambda}{yields}p{pi}, we measured the {lambda}{sub b} lifetime to be {tau}({lambda}{sub b})=1.218{sub -0.115}{sup +0.130}(stat){+-}0.042(syst) ps. We also measured the B{sup 0} lifetime in the decay B{sup 0}{yields}J/{psi}({mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -})K{sub S}{sup 0}({pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) to be {tau}(B{sup 0})=1.501{sub -0.074}{sup +0.078}(stat){+-}0.050(syst) ps, yielding a lifetime ratio of {tau}({lambda}{sub b})/{tau}(B{sup 0})=0.811{sub -0.087}{sup +0.096}(stat){+-}0.034(syst = )

We describe a search for the standard model Higgs boson with a mass of 105 GeV/c{sup 2} to 145 GeV/c{sup 2} in data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 450 pb{sup -1} collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron p{bar p} collider at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The Higgs boson is required to be produced in association with a Z boson, and the Z boson is required to decay to either electrons or muons with the Higgs boson decaying to a b{bar b} pair. The data are well described by the expected background, leading to 95% confidence level cross section upper limits {sigma}p{bar p} {yields} ZH x B(H {yields} b{bar b}) in the range of 3.1 pb to 4.4 pb.

The authors have measured the polarizations of J/{psi} and {psi}(2S) mesons as functions of their transverse momentum p{sub T} when they are produced promptly in the rapidity range |y| < 0.6 with p{sub T} {ge} 5 GeV/c. The analysis is performed using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of about 800 pb{sup -1} collected by the CDF II detector. For both vector mesons, they find that the polarizations become increasingly longitudinal as p{sub T} increases from 5 to 30 GeV/c. These results are compared to the predictions of non-relativistic quantum chromo-dynamics and other contemporary models. The polarizations of J/{psi} and {psi}(2S) mesons from B-hadron decays are also reported.

The authors present the first search for heavy, long-lived particles that decay to photons at a hadron collider. They use a sample of {gamma} + jet + missing transverse energy events in p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV taken with the CDF II detector. Candidate events are selected based on the arrival time of the photon at the detector. Using an integrated luminosity of 570 pb{sup -1} of collision data, they observe 2 events, consistent with the background estimate of 1.3 {+-} 0.7 events. While the search strategy does not rely on model-specific dynamics, they set cross section limits in a supersymmetric model with {tilde {chi}}{sub 1}{sup 0} {yields} {gamma}{tilde G} and place the world-best 95% C.L. lower limit on the {tilde {chi}}{sub 1}{sup 0} mass of 101 GeV/c{sup 2} at {tau}{sub {tilde {chi}}{sub 1}{sup 0}} = 5 ns.

The MiniBooNE Collaboration reports first results of a search for {upsilon}{sub e} appearance in a {upsilon}{sub {mu}} beam. With two largely independent analyses, we observe no significant excess of events above background for reconstructed neutrino energies above 475 MeV. The data are consistent with no oscillations within a two neutrino appearance-only oscillation model.

Current goals of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Power Systems Initiatives include coal generation at 60% efficiency, which would require steam temperatures of up to 760°C. This temperature will require the construction of boiler and turbine components from austenitic stainless steels and nickel alloys. Many of the alloys being considered for use are primarily Cr2O3 forming alloys [1-4]. It is well known that the addition of a small amount of reactive elements, such as the rare earths elements Ce, La, and Y, can significantly improve the high temperature oxidation resistance of both iron- and nickel- base alloys. A list of the benefits of the reactive element effect include: (i) slowing scale growth, (ii) enhancing scale adhesion; and (iii) stabilizing Cr2O3 formation at lower Cr levels. The incorporation of the reactive element can be made in the melt or through a surface infusion or surface coating. Surface modifications allow for the concentration of the reactive element at the surface where it can provide the most benefit. This paper will detail a Ce surface treatment developed at NETL that improves the high temperature oxidation resistance of Cr2O3 forming alloys. The treatment consists of painting, dip coating, or spraying the alloy surface …

Pack cementation-like Cerium based surface treatments have been found to be effective in enhancing the oxidation resistance of ferritic steels (Crofer 22APU) for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. The application of either a CeN- or CeO2 based surface treatment results in a decrease in weight gain by a factor of three after 4000 hours exposure to air+3%H2O at 800oC. Similar oxide scales formed on treated and untreated surfaces, with a continuous Cr-Mn outer oxide layer and a continuous inner Cr2O3 layer formed on the surface. However, the thickness of the scales, and the amount of internal oxidation were significantly reduced with the treatment, leading to the decrease in oxidation rate. This presentation will detail the influence of the treatment on the electrical properties of the interconnect. Half-cell experiments (LSM cathode sandwiched between two steel interconnects) and full SOFC button cell experiments were run with treated and untreated interconnects. Preliminary results indicate the Ce treatment can improve SOFC performance.

An essential ingredient in all cross section measurements is the luminosity used to normalize the data sample. In this note, we present the final assessment of the integrated luminosity recorded by the D0 experiment during Tevatron Run IIa. The luminosity measurement is derived from hit rates from the products of inelastic proton-antiproton collisions registered in two arrays of scintillation counters called the luminosity monitor (LM) detectors. Measured LM rates are converted to absolute luminosity using a normalization procedure that is based on previously measured inelastic cross sections and the geometric acceptance and efficiency of the LM detectors for registering inelastic events. During Run IIa, the LM detector performance was improved by a sequence of upgrades to the electronic readout system and other factors summarized in this note. The effects of these changes on the reported luminosity were tracked carefully during the run. Due to the changes, we partition the run into periods for which different conversions from measured LM rates to absolute luminosity apply. The primary upgrade to the readout system late in Run IIa facilitated a reevaluation of the overall normalization of the luminosity measurement for the full data sample. In this note, we first review the luminosity measurement …

The Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been researching autonomous unmanned vehicle systems for the past several years. Areas of research have included unmanned ground and aerial vehicles used for hazardous and remote operations as well as teamed together for advanced payloads and mission execution. Areas of application include aerial particulate sampling, cooperative remote radiological sampling, and persistent surveillance including real-time mosaic and geo-referenced imagery in addition to high resolution still imagery. Both fixed-wing and rotary airframes are used possessing capabilities spanning remote control to fully autonomous operation. Patented INL-developed auto steering technology is taken advantage of to provide autonomous parallel path swathing with either manned or unmanned ground vehicles. Aerial look-ahead imagery is utilized to provide a common operating picture for the ground and air vehicle during cooperative missions. This paper will discuss the various robotic vehicles, including sensor integration, used to achieve these missions and anticipated cost and labor savings.

Bimonthly newsletter focusing on information for and about the business community in Hutto, Texas, along with advertising.

Bimonthly newsletter focusing on information for and about the business community in Hutto, Texas, along with advertising.

Abstract: Winter ice storms frequently occur in the southeastern United States and can severely damage softwood plantations. In January 2004, a severe storm deposited approximately 2 cm of ice on an intensively managed 4-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation in South Carolina. Existing irrigation and fertilization treatments presented an opportunity to examine the effects of resource amendments on initial ice damage and subsequent recovery. Fertilized treatments showed more individual stem breakage, whereas non fertilized treatments showed more stem bending; however, the proportion of undamaged trees did not differ between treatments. Irrigation did not influence the type of damage. Trees that experienced breakage during the storm were taller with larger diameter and taper and leaf, branch, and crown biomass compared with unbroken trees. One growing season after ice damage, relative height increases were significantly greater for trees experiencing stem breakage compared with unbroken trees; however, relative diameter increases were significantly lower for these trees. Relative diameter increases for broken trees were smaller for fertilized treatments compared with nonfertilized treatments. A reduction in wood strength was ruled out as the cause of greater breakage in fertilized trees; rather, fertilized trees had reached an intermediate diameter range known to be susceptible to …

Monthly periodical from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma published by and for members of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association that includes news and information along with advertising.

The CMS Data Acquisition System is designed to build and filter events originating from 476 detector data sources at a maximum trigger rate of 100 KHz. Different architectures and switch technologies have been evaluated to accomplish this purpose. Events will be built in two stages: the first stage will be a set of event builders called FED Builders. These will be based on Myrinet technology and will pre-assemble groups of about 8 data sources. The second stage will be a set of event builders called Readout Builders. These will perform the building of full events. A single Readout Builder will build events from 72 sources of 16 KB fragments at a rate of 12.5 KHz. In this paper we present the design of a Readout Builder based on TCP/IP over Gigabit Ethernet and the optimization that was required to achieve the design throughput. This optimization includes architecture of the Readout Builder, the setup of TCP/IP, and hardware selection.

In sodium fast reactor designs, the fuel related inherent negative reactivity feedback is accomplished mainly through parasitic capture in U-238. However for an efficient minor actinide burning system, it is desirable to reduce or eliminate U-238 entirely to suppress further transuranic actinide generation. Consequently, reactivity feedback is accomplished by enhancing axial neutron streaming during a loss of coolant void situation. This is done by flattening “pancake” the active core geometry. Flattening the reactor also increases axial leakage which removes neutrons that could otherwise be used to destroy minor actinides. Therefore, it is important to tailor the neutron spectrum in the core for optimized feedback and minor actinide destruction simultaneously by using minor actinide and fission product targets.

We present an overview of a few recent results related to CP-violation from the Tevatron. First, we discuss a measurement of the dimuon charge asymmetry from D{O} , that extracts the CP-violation parameter of B{sup 0} mixing and decay. This is followed by the CDF measurement of the CP-violating asymmetry in B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +}{pi}{sup -} decays. Finally we give the CDF result on the ratio R = BR(B{yields}D0K)/BR(B{yields}D0{pi}).

The conservative-form, pressure-based PCICE numerical method (Martineau and Berry, 2004) (Berry, 2006), recently developed for computing transient fluid flows of all speeds from very low to very high (with strong shocks), is simplified and generalized. Though the method automatically treats a continuous transition of compressibility, three distinct, limiting compressibility regimes are formally defined for purposes of discussion and comparison with traditional methods – the strictly incompressible limit, the nearly incompressible limit, and the f ully compressible limit. The PCICE method’s behavior is examined in each limiting regime. In the strictly incompressible limit the PCICE algorithm reduces to the traditional MAC-type method with velocity divergence driving the pressure Poisson equation. In the nearly incompressible limit the PCICE algorithm is found to reduce to a generalization of traditional incompressible methods, i.e. to one in which not only the velocity divergence effect, but also the density gradient effect is included as a driving function in the pressure Poisson equation. This nearly incompressible regime has received little attention, and it appears that in the past, strictly incompressible methods may have been conveniently applied to flows in this regime at the expense of ignoring a potentially important coupling mechanism. This could be significant in many …

We report the successful growth of highly spin-polarized chalcogenide thin films of CuCr{sub 2}Se{sub 4}, which are promising candidates for spin-based electronic applications. We also present electronic structure calculations for CuCr{sub 2}Se{sub 4} that, together with magnetic and transport data, imply that the stoichiometric compound is a metallic ferromagnet with a relatively low density of hole-like carriers at the Fermi energy. These calculations also predict that a deficiency of Se will deplete the minority density of states at the Fermi energy perhaps leading to a half-metal. We have successfully grown thin films of CuCr{sub 2}Se{sub 4} by pulsed laser deposition on isostructural MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} substrates followed by an anneal in a Se-rich environment. X-ray diffraction confirms the structure of CuCr{sub 2}Se{sub 4} on MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} substrates as well as a secondary phase of Cr{sub 2}Se{sub 3}. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that the chemical structure at the surface of the films is similar to that of bulk CuCr{sub 2}Se{sub 4} single crystals. Magnetization measurements indicate that these films saturate with a magnetic moment close to 5 {micro}{sub B} per formula unit and a T{sub c} above 400 K. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism shows that the magnetism persists to the …

NOvA (E929) is a long baseline experiment that will search for neutrino oscillations. There will be one detector near the beam source at Fermilab, and one detector in northern Minnesota. The DAQ system for the far detector collects over-threshold hits from over 450,000 channels of scintillator readouts, sorts the time-stamped data packets and archives selected time periods of data for transmission and processing. While a simple point-to-point protocol is used for the first level of data collection, Ethernet was chosen as the fabric for the rest of the DAQ. The packet time-stamp and overall system synchronization is based on two common-view GPS trained clock oscillators, one at each site. The present design cost-effectively satisfies the experiment's moderate speed and data volume requirements.

In preparation for NOvA, a future neutrino experiment at Fermilab, we are developing a system for passing control and status messages in the data acquisition system. The DAQ system will consist of applications running on approximately 450 nodes. The message passing system will use a publish-subscribe model and will provide support for sending messages and receiving the associated replies. Additional features of the system include a layered architecture with custom APIs tailored to the needs of a DAQ system, the use of an open source messaging system for handling the reliable delivery of messages, the ability to send broadcasts to groups of applications, and APIs in Java, C++, and Python. Our choice for the open source system to deliver messages is EPICS. We will discuss the architecture of the system, our experience with EPICS, and preliminary test results.

This paper examines the potential effects that emerging mandatory carbon markets have for voluntary markets for renewable energy, or green power markets. In an era of carbon regulation, green power markets will continue to play an important role because many consumers may be interested in supporting renewable energy development beyond what is supported through mandates or other types of policy support. The paper examines the extent to which GHG benefits motivate consumers to make voluntary renewable energy purchases and summarizes key issues emerging as a result of these overlapping markets, such as the implications of carbon regulation for renewable energy marketing claims, the demand for and price of renewable energy certificates (RECs), and the use of RECs in multiple markets (disaggregation of attributes). It describes carbon regulation programs under development in the Northeast and California, and how these might affect renewable energy markets in these regions, as well as the potential interaction between voluntary renewable energy markets and voluntary carbon markets, such as the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). It also briefly summarizes the experience in the European Union, where carbon is already regulated. Finally, the paper presents policy options for policymakers and regulators to consider in designing carbon policies to …

Current requirements of some Homeland Security active interrogation projects for the detection of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) necessitate the development of faster inspection and acquisition capabilities. In order to do so, fast detectors which can operate during and shortly after intense interrogation radiation flashes are being developed. Novel silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor Schottky diodes have been utilized as robust neutron and photon detectors in both pulsed photon and pulsed neutron fields and are being integrated into active inspection environments to allow exploitation of both prompt and delayed emissions. These detectors have demonstrated the capability of detecting both photon and neutron events during intense photon flashes typical of an active inspection environment. Beyond the inherent insensitivity of SiC to gamma radiation, fast digitization and processing has demonstrated that pulse shape discrimination (PSD) in combination with amplitude discrimination can further suppress unwanted gamma signals and extract fast neutron signatures. Usable neutron signals have been extracted from mixed radiation fields where the background has exceeded the signals of interest by >1000:1.