Studies of Dynamic Material Interfaces in Extreme Environments
Abstract
The objective for this program will be to examine critical aspects of the chemical and physical behavior of dynamic material interfaces operating in extreme environments. We propose a comprehensive examination of how time evolving surface characteristics influence interfacial reactivity, materials integrity, and energy transfer for energetic processes at interfaces. Gas surface collision conditions will be investigated for interactions involving high temperature, high velocity gas flows, severe oxidative conditions, and gaseous condensation at low temperatures under non equilibrium flow conditions including isotopically selective processes. The first focus will be in support of high performance flight systems including both interfacial reactivity and interfacial collisional energy transfer using primarily supersonic beam sources. The second focus will be in support of energetic embedding and isotope dependent gas surface interactions. This will allow us to examine new aspects of gases becoming embedded into thin films and thereby modifying collisional energy and momentum transfer, as well as isotope dependent gas surface interactions that have led during the last year to new routes for enriching and separating isotopes. These fundamental studies will allow us to seek new routes leading to isotopically enriched-purified materials with focus, for example, on silicon and silicon substrates for spin purified quantum information platforms. Such materials also offer unique opportunities for enhanced thermal conduction and electron transport. The approaches to be used in this program will utilize a unique combination of gas surface scattering instruments used in conjunction with microscopy for interface visualization spanning atomic level through longer length scales. Interfaces to be explored include amorphous, crystalline, and defect containing materials as well as molecular coatings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910324
Entities
People
- Steven J. Sibener
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Chicago