FULL SCALE TESTING TECHNOLOGY MATURATION OF A THIN FILM EVAPORATOR FOR HIGH-LEVEL LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT AT HANFORD - 12125 (open access)

FULL SCALE TESTING TECHNOLOGY MATURATION OF A THIN FILM EVAPORATOR FOR HIGH-LEVEL LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT AT HANFORD - 12125

Simulant testing of a full-scale thin-film evaporator system was conducted in 2011 for technology development at the Hanford tank farms. Test results met objectives of water removal rate, effluent quality, and operational evaluation. Dilute tank waste simulant, representing a typical double-shell tank supernatant liquid layer, was concentrated from a 1.1 specific gravity to approximately 1.5 using a 4.6 m{sup 2} (50 ft{sup 2}) heated transfer area Rototherm{reg_sign} evaporator from Artisan Industries. The condensed evaporator vapor stream was collected and sampled validating efficient separation of the water. An overall decontamination factor of 1.2E+06 was achieved demonstrating excellent retention of key radioactive species within the concentrated liquid stream. The evaporator system was supported by a modular steam supply, chiller, and control computer systems which would be typically implemented at the tank farms. Operation of these support systems demonstrated successful integration while identifying areas for efficiency improvement. Overall testing effort increased the maturation of this technology to support final deployment design and continued project implementation.
Date: January 26, 2012
Creator: AR, TEDESCHI; JE, CORBETT; RA, WILSON & J, LARKIN
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Results of applying a non-evaporative mitigation technique to laser-initiated surface damage on fused-silica (open access)

Results of applying a non-evaporative mitigation technique to laser-initiated surface damage on fused-silica

We present results from a study to determine an acceptable CO{sub 2} laser-based non-evaporative mitigation protocol for use on surface damage sites in fused-silica optics. A promising protocol is identified and evaluated on a set of surface damage sites created under ICF-type laser conditions. Mitigation protocol acceptability criteria for damage re-initiation and growth, downstream intensification, and residual stress are discussed. In previous work, we found that a power ramp at the end of the protocol effectively minimizes the residual stress (<25 MPa) left in the substrate. However, the biggest difficulty in determining an acceptable protocol was balancing between low re-initiation and problematic downstream intensification. Typical growing surface damage sites mitigated with a candidate CO{sub 2} laser-based mitigation protocol all survived 351 nm, 5 ns damage testing to fluences >12.5 J/cm{sup 2}. The downstream intensification arising from the mitigated sites is evaluated, and all but one of the sites has 100% passing downstream damage expectation values. We demonstrate, for the first time, a successful non-evaporative 10.6 {micro}m CO{sub 2} laser mitigation protocol applicable to fused-silica optics used on fusion-class lasers like the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
Date: October 26, 2010
Creator: Adams, J. J.; Bolourchi, M.; Bude, J. D.; Guss, G. M.; Matthews, M. J. & Nostrand, M. C.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
X-ray Diffraction Diagnostic Design for the National Ignition Facility (open access)

X-ray Diffraction Diagnostic Design for the National Ignition Facility

None
Date: July 26, 2013
Creator: Ahmed, M; House, A; Smith, R F; Lamb, Z & Swift, D W
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Silicon Detector Letter of Intent (open access)

Silicon Detector Letter of Intent

This document presents the current status of SiD's effort to develop an optimized design for an experiment at the International Linear Collider. It presents detailed discussions of each of SiD's various subsystems, an overview of the full GEANT4 description of SiD, the status of newly developed tracking and calorimeter reconstruction algorithms, studies of subsystem performance based on these tools, results of physics benchmarking analyses, an estimate of the cost of the detector, and an assessment of the detector R&D needed to provide the technical basis for an optimised SiD.
Date: May 26, 2010
Creator: Aihara, H.; Burrows, P. & Oreglia, M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank Reauthorization: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Export-Import Bank Reauthorization: Frequently Asked Questions

This report addresses frequently asked questions about Ex-Im Bank, grouped in the following categories: congressional interest and the Ex-Im Bank reauthorization debate; market context; international context; organizational structure and management; programs; statutory requirements and policies; risk management; budget and appropriations; implications of a sunset in authority; and historical and current approaches to reauthorization.
Date: November 26, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Carpenter, David H.; Levit, Mindy R. & Taylor, Julia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improved Electrodes and Electrolytes for Dye-Based Solar Cells (open access)

Improved Electrodes and Electrolytes for Dye-Based Solar Cells

The most important factor in limiting the stability of dye-sensitized solar cells is the use of volatile liquid solvents in the electrolytes, which causes leakage during extended operation especially at elevated temperatures. This, together with the necessary complex sealing of the cells, seriously hampers the industrial-scale manufacturing and commercialization feasibilities of DSSCs. The objective of this program was to bring about a significant improvement in the performance and longevity of dye-based solar cells leading to commercialization. This had been studied in two ways first through development of low volatility solid, gel or liquid electrolytes, second through design and fabrication of TiO2 sculptured thin film electrodes.
Date: October 26, 2011
Creator: Allcock, Harry R.; Mallouk, Thomas E. & Horn, Mark W.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Synchrotron Studies of Quantum Emergence in Non-Low Dimensional Materials Final Report (open access)

Synchrotron Studies of Quantum Emergence in Non-Low Dimensional Materials Final Report

This document is the final report of research performed under U.S. DOE Award Number DE-FG02-07ER46379, entitled Synchrotron Studies of Quantum Emergence in Non-Low Dimensional Materials. It covers the full period of the award, from June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2011.
Date: August 26, 2011
Creator: Allen, James W.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characterizing surplus US plutonium for disposition (open access)

Characterizing surplus US plutonium for disposition

The United States (US) has identified 61.5 metric tons (MT) of plutonium that is permanently excess to use in nuclear weapons programs, including 47.2 MT of weapons-grade plutonium. Surplus inventories will be stored safely by the Department of Energy (DOE) and then transferred to facilities that will prepare the plutonium for permanent disposition. The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) operates a Feed Characterization program for the Office of Fissile Materials Disposition (OFMD) of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the DOE Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM). SRNL manages a broad program of item tracking through process history, laboratory analysis, and non-destructive assay. A combination of analytical techniques allows SRNL to predict the isotopic and chemical properties that qualify materials for disposition through the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). The research also defines properties that are important for other disposition paths, including disposal to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) as transuranic waste (TRUW) or to high-level waste (HLW) systems.
Date: February 26, 2013
Creator: Allender, Jeffrey S. & Moore, Edwin N.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Illumination Sufficiency Survey Techniques: In-situ Measurements of Lighting System Performance and a User Preference Survey for Illuminance in an Off-Grid, African Setting (open access)

Illumination Sufficiency Survey Techniques: In-situ Measurements of Lighting System Performance and a User Preference Survey for Illuminance in an Off-Grid, African Setting

Efforts to promote rechargeable electric lighting as a replacement for fuel-based light sources in developing countries are typically predicated on the notion that lighting service levels can be maintained or improved while reducing the costs and environmental impacts of existing practices. However, the extremely low incomes of those who depend on fuel-based lighting create a need to balance the hypothetically possible or desirable levels of light with those that are sufficient and affordable. In a pilot study of four night vendors in Kenya, we document a field technique we developed to simultaneously measure the effectiveness of lighting service provided by a lighting system and conduct a survey of lighting service demand by end-users. We took gridded illuminance measurements across each vendor's working and selling area, with users indicating the sufficiency of light at each point. User light sources included a mix of kerosene-fueled hurricane lanterns, pressure lamps, and LED lanterns.We observed illuminance levels ranging from just above zero to 150 lux. The LED systems markedly improved the lighting service levels over those provided by kerosene-fueled hurricane lanterns. Users reported that the minimum acceptable threshold was about 2 lux. The results also indicated that the LED lamps in use by the …
Date: August 26, 2010
Creator: Alstone, Peter; Jacobson, Arne & Mills, Evan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fermi surface of SrFe2P2 determined by de Haas-van Alphen effect (open access)

Fermi surface of SrFe2P2 determined by de Haas-van Alphen effect

We report measurements of the Fermi surface (FS) of the ternary iron-phosphide SrFe{sub 2}P{sub 2} using the de Haas-van Alphen effect. The calculated FS of this compound is very similar to SrFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}, the parent compound of the high temperature superconductors. Our data show that the Fermi surface is composed of two electron and two hole sheets in agreement with bandstructure calculations. Several of the sheets show strong c-axis warping emphasizing the importance of three-dimensionality in the non-magnetic state of the ternary pnictides. We find that the electron and hole pockets have a different topology, implying that this material does not satisfy a ({pi},{pi}) nesting condition.
Date: May 26, 2010
Creator: Analytis, J.G.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Quantum Oscillations in the Parent pnictide BaFe2As2 : Itinerant Electrons in the Reconstructed State (open access)

Quantum Oscillations in the Parent pnictide BaFe2As2 : Itinerant Electrons in the Reconstructed State

We report quantum oscillation measurements that enable the direct observation of the Fermi surface of the low temperature ground state of BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}. From these measurements we characterize the low energy excitations, revealing that the Fermi surface is reconstructed in the antiferromagnetic state, but leaving itinerant electrons in its wake. The present measurements are consistent with a conventional band folding picture of the antiferromagnetic ground state, placing important limits on the topology and size of the Fermi surface.
Date: May 26, 2010
Creator: Analytis, J.G.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemistry, phase formation, and catalytic activity of thin palladium-containing oxide films synthesized by plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition (open access)

Chemistry, phase formation, and catalytic activity of thin palladium-containing oxide films synthesized by plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition

The chemistry, microstructure, and catalytic activity of thin films incorporating palladium were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, X-ray diffraction, spectrophotometry, 4-point probe and catalytic tests. The films were synthesized using pulsed filtered cathodic arc and magnetron sputter deposition, i.e. techniques far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Catalytic particles were formed by thermally cycling thin films of the Pd-Pt-O system. The evolution and phase formation in such films as a function of temperature were discussed in terms of the stability of PdO and PtO2 in air. The catalytic efficiency was found to be strongly affected by the chemical composition, with oxidized palladium definitely playing a major role in the combustion of methane. Reactive sputter deposition of thin films in the Pd-Zr-Y-O system allowed us forming microstructures ranging from nanocrystalline zirconia to palladium nanoparticles embedded in a (Zr,Y)4Pd2O matrix. The sequence of phase formation is put in relation to simple thermodynamic considerations.
Date: November 26, 2010
Creator: Anders, Andre
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Summary of the Preliminary Optical ICHMI Design Study: A Preliminary Engineering Design Study for a Standpipe Viewport (open access)

Summary of the Preliminary Optical ICHMI Design Study: A Preliminary Engineering Design Study for a Standpipe Viewport

This summary report examines an in-vessel optical access concept intended to support standoff optical instrumentation, control and human-machine interface (ICHMI) systems for future advanced small modular reactor (AdvSMR) applications. Optical-based measurement and sensing systems for AdvSMR applications have several key benefits over traditional instrumentation and control systems used to monitor reactor process parameters, such as temperature, flow rate, pressure, and coolant chemistry (Anheier et al. 2013). Direct and continuous visualization of the in-vessel components can be maintained using external cameras. Many optical sensing techniques can be performed remotely using open optical beam path configurations. Not only are in-vessel cables eliminated by these configurations, but also sensitive optical monitoring components (e.g., electronics, lasers, detectors, and cameras) can be placed outside the reactor vessel in the instrument vault, containment building, or other locations where temperatures and radiation levels are much lower. However, the extreme AdvSMR environment present challenges for optical access designs and optical materials. Optical access is not provided in any commercial nuclear power plant or featured in any reactor design, although successful implementation of optical access has been demonstrated in test reactors (Arkani and Gharib 2009). This report outlines the key engineering considerations for an AdvSMR optical access concept. Strict …
Date: December 26, 2013
Creator: Anheier, Norman C.; Qiao, Hong (Amy); Berglin, Eric J. & Hatchell, Brian K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Flavor Physics in the Quark Sector (open access)

Flavor Physics in the Quark Sector

In the past decade, one of the major challenges of particle physics has been to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of quark flavor. In this time frame, measurements and the theoretical interpretation of their results have advanced tremendously. A much broader understanding of flavor particles has been achieved, apart from their masses and quantum numbers, there now exist detailed measurements of the characteristics of their interactions allowing stringent tests of Standard Model predictions. Among the most interesting phenomena of flavor physics is the violation of the CP symmetry that has been subtle and difficult to explore. In the past, observations of CP violation were confined to neutral K mesons, but since the early 1990s, a large number of CP-violating processes have been studied in detail in neutral B mesons. In parallel, measurements of the couplings of the heavy quarks and the dynamics for their decays in large samples of K,D, and B mesons have been greatly improved in accuracy and the results are being used as probes in the search for deviations from the Standard Model. In the near future, there will be a transition from the current to a new generation of experiments, thus a review of …
Date: August 26, 2010
Creator: Antonelli, Mario; Asner, David Mark; Bauer, Daniel Adams; Becher, Thomas G.; Beneke, M.; Bevan, Adrian John et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Midterm Progress Report for TORUS Topical Collaboration in Nuclear Theory (open access)

Midterm Progress Report for TORUS Topical Collaboration in Nuclear Theory

None
Date: July 26, 2012
Creator: Arbanas, G.; Elster, C.; Escher, J.; Mukhamedzhanov, A.; Nunes, F. & Thompson, I. J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The European Parliament (open access)

The European Parliament

This report provides background on the Congress-European Parliament (EP) relationship and the role of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD). It also explores potential future options that could strengthen ties between the two bodies.
Date: January 26, 2010
Creator: Archick, Kristin
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
European Union Enlargement (open access)

European Union Enlargement

This report discusses the status of European Union (EU) enlargement and its implications for both the EU itself and U.S.-EU relations. It includes a history of the European Union, the process of enlargement, overviews of current EU candidates, prospects for future enlargements, and U.S. perspectives.
Date: January 26, 2012
Creator: Archick, Kristin
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Guinea: Background and Relations with the United States (open access)

Guinea: Background and Relations with the United States

This report gives an overview of Guinea and discusses the background information and relations with the United States
Date: July 26, 2011
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Morocco: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Morocco: Background and U.S. Relations

This report outlines the politics, economy, terrorism issues, and foreign relations of Morocco.
Date: October 26, 2018
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improved Meteorological Input for Atmospheric Release Decision support Systems and an Integrated LES Modeling System for Atmospheric Dispersion of Toxic Agents: Homeland Security Applications (open access)

Improved Meteorological Input for Atmospheric Release Decision support Systems and an Integrated LES Modeling System for Atmospheric Dispersion of Toxic Agents: Homeland Security Applications

When hazardous material is accidently or intentionally released into the atmosphere, emergency response organizations look to decision support systems (DSSs) to translate contaminant information provided by atmospheric models into effective decisions to protect the public and emergency responders and to mitigate subsequent consequences. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC) is one of the primary DSSs utilized by emergency management organizations. IMAAC is responsible for providing 'a single piont for the coordination and dissemination of Federal dispersion modeling and hazard prediction products that represent the Federal position' during actual or potential incidents under the National Response Plan. The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC), locatec at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), serves as the primary operations center of the IMAAC. A key component of atmospheric release decision support systems is meteorological information - models and data of winds, turbulence, and other atmospheric boundary-layer parameters. The accuracy of contaminant predictions is strongly dependent on the quality of this information. Therefore, the effectiveness of DSSs can be enhanced by improving the meteorological options available to drive atmospheric transport and fate models. The overall goal of this project was to develop and …
Date: April 26, 2010
Creator: Arnold, E; Simpson, M; Larsen, S; Gash, J; Aluzzi, F; Lundquist, J et al.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Observation of the three-body rare decay B-> J/psi phi K (open access)

Observation of the three-body rare decay B-> J/psi phi K

The authors report the study of the B meson decays B{sup {+-}} {yields} J/{psi}{phi}K{sup {+-}}, B{sup 0} {yields} J/{psi}{phi}K{sup 0} using 433 million of B{bar B} events collected at the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e{sup +}e{sup -} asymmetric-energy collider. They obtain the branching fraction measurements: {Beta}(B{sup {+-}} {yields} J{psi}{phi}K{sup {+-}}) = (5.6 {+-} 0.9(stat) {+-} 0.3(sys)) x 10{sup -5}, {Beta}(B{sup {+-}} {yields} J{psi}{phi}K{sup 0}) = (5.4 {+-} 1.2(stat) {+-} 0.4(sys)) x 10{sup -5}.
Date: August 26, 2010
Creator: Aubert, B.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Observation of the decay B0bar -> LambdaC antiproton pi0 (open access)

Observation of the decay B0bar -> LambdaC antiproton pi0

In a sample of 467 million B{bar B} pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider at SLAC we have observed the decay {bar B}{sup 0} {yields} {Lambda}{sub c}{sup +}{bar p}{pi}{sup 0} and measured the branching fraction to be (1.94 {+-} 0.17 {+-} 0.14 {+-} 0.50) x 10{sup -4}, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and the uncertainty on the {Lambda}{sub c}{sup +} {yields} pK{sup -}{pi}{sup +} branching fraction, respectively. We determine an upper limit of 1.5 x 10{sup -6} at 90% C.L. for the product branching fraction {Beta}({bar B}{sup 0} {yields} {Sigma}{sub c}{sup +}(2455){bar p}) x {Beta}({Lambda}{sub c}{sup +} {yields} pK{sup -}{pi}{sup +}). Furthermore, we observe an enhancement at the threshold of the invariant mass of the baryon-antibaryon pair.
Date: August 26, 2010
Creator: Aubert, B.; Karyotakis, Y.; Lees, J. P.; Poireau, V.; Prencipe, E.; Prudent, X. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Measurement of CP violation observables and parameters for the decays $B^{\pm}\to DK^{*\pm}$ (open access)

Measurement of CP violation observables and parameters for the decays $B^{\pm}\to DK^{*\pm}$

We study the decay B{sup -} {yields} DK*{sup -} using a sample of 379 x 10{sup 6} {Upsilon}(4S) {yields} B{bar B} events collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-factory. We perform a 'GLW' analysis where the D meson decays into either a CP-even (CP+) eigenstate (K{sup +}K{sup -}, {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}), CP-odd (CP-) eigenstate (K{sub S}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}, K{sub S}{sup 0}{phi}, K{sub S}{sup 0}{omega}) or a non-CP state (K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}). We also analyze D meson decays into K{sup +}{pi}{sup -} from a Cabibbo-favored {bar D}{sup 0} decay or doubly suppressed D{sup 0} decay ('ADS' analysis). We measure observables that are sensitive to the CKM angle {gamma}: the partial-rate charge asymmetries A{sub CP{+-}}, the ratios R{sub CP{+-}} of the B-decay branching fractions in CP{+-} and non-CP decay, the ratio R{sub ADS} of the charge-averaged branching fractions, and the charge asymmetry A{sub ADS} of the ADS decays: A{sub CP+} = 0.09 {+-} 0.13 {+-} 0.06, A{sub CP-} = -0.23 {+-} 0.21 {+-} 0.07, R{sub CP+} = 2.17 {+-} 0.35 {+-} 0.09, R{sub CP-} = 1.03 {+-} 0.27 {+-} 0.13, R{sub ADS} = 0.066 {+-} 0.031 {+-} 0.010, and A{sub ADS} = -0.34 {+-} 0.43 {+-} 0.16, where the first …
Date: August 26, 2010
Creator: Aubert, Bernard; Karyotakis, Y.; Lees, J. P.; Poireau, V.; Prencipe, E.; Prudent, X. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay in $^{136}$Xe with EXO-200 (open access)

Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay in $^{136}$Xe with EXO-200

None
Date: March 26, 2013
Creator: Auger, M.; Auty, D. J.; Barbeau, P. S.; Beauchamp, E.; Belov, V.; Benitez-Medina, C. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library