Paul Scherrer Institute

About: Paul Scherrer Institute is a facility organization based out in Villigen, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Neutron & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 9248 authors who have published 23984 publications receiving 890129 citations. The organization is also known as: PSI.

Public Participation in Sustainability Science: A Handbook

Abstract: Part I. Concepts and Insights: 1. Citizenship participation in sustainability assessments Bernd Kasemir, Carlo C. Jaeger and Jill Jager 2. Contexts of citizen participation Clair Gough, Eric Darier, Bruna de Marchi, Silvio Funtowicz, Robin Grove-White, Angela Guimaraes Pereira, Simon Shackley and Brian Wynne 3. Models as metaphors Jerry Ravetz Part II. Experiences with IA-Focus Groups: 4. Collage processes and citizens' visions for the future Bernd Kasemir, Urs Dahinden, Asa Gerger Swartling, Daniela Schibli, Ralf Schule, David T...bara and Carlo C. Jager 5. Citizen interaction with computer models Urs Dahinden, Cristina Querol, Jill Jager and Mans Nilsson 6. Citizens' reports on climate strategies Cristina Querol, Asa Gerger Swartling, Bernd Kasemir and David T...bara Part III. Further Forms of Participation: 7. Venture capital and climate policy Bernd Kasemir, Ferenc Toth and Vanessa Masing 8. COOL: exploring options for CO2 reduction in a participatory mode Willemijn Tuinstra, Marleen van de Kerkhoff, Matthijs Hisschemoller and Arthur Mol 9. Expert stakeholder participation in the Thames region Thomas E. Downing, Karen Bakker, Kate Lonsdale, Neil Summerton, Erik Swyngedouw and Consuelo Giansante 10. On the art of scenario development Chris Anastasi Part IV. Future Perspectives: 11. From projects to program in integrated assessment research Marjolein B. A. van Asselt and Jan Rotmans 12. Citizen participation and developing country agendas Kilaparti Ramakrishna 13. Linking the citizen to governance for sustainable climate futures Susanne Stoll-Kleemann, Tim O'Riordan and Tom R. Burns.

Towards a stable organic electrolyte for the lithium oxygen battery

Abstract: A new lithium-ether-derived chelate ionic liquid is synthesized to serve as an electrolyte for the Li-O2 battery that is stable to metallic lithium, and whose ethereal framework is much more inherently stable to superoxide-initiated hydrogen abstraction than the simple glyme, dimethoxyethane (DME). Reactions of chemically generated superoxide with this electrolyte show that virtually no decomposition products such as lithium formate are generated. When the electrolyte is employed in a Li-O2 battery, a ten-fold decrease in CO2 evolution is evident on charge by comparison to DME and greatly enhanced cycling stability is observed with TiC as a cathode support. A mechanism is proposed to account for the lowered reactivity, offering new insight into the stability of organic electrolytes in Li-O2 batteries. This approach for electrolyte design is presented here for the first time, and it can be extended to other organic systems to provide a platform for the design of advanced electrolyte systems.

Low slip rates and long-term preservation of geomorphic features in Central Asia

Abstract: In order to understand the dynamics of the India Asia collision zone, it is important to know the strain distribution in Central Asia, whose determination relies on the slip rates for active faults. Many previous slip-rate estimates of faults in Central Asia were based on the assumption that offset landforms are younger than the Last Glacial Maximum (approximately 20 kyr ago). In contrast, here we present surface exposure ages of 40 to 170 kyr, obtained using cosmogenic nuclide dating, for a series of terraces near a thrust at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Combined with the tectonic offset, the ages imply a long-term slip rate of only about 0.35 mm x yr(-1) for the active thrust, an order of magnitude lower than rates obtained from the assumption that the terraces formed after the Last Glacial Maximum. Our data demonstrate that the preservation potential of geomorphic features in Central Asia is higher than commonly assumed.

A Novel 50kW 11,000 suns High-Flux Solar Simulator Based on an Array of Xenon Arc Lamps

Abstract: A novel high-flux solar simulator, capable of delivering over 50 kW of radiative power at peak radiative fluxes exceeding 11,000 suns, is operational at the Paul Scherner Institute. It comprises an array of ten Xe arcs, each close-coupled with ellipsoidal specular reflectors of common focus. Its optical design, main engineering features, and operating performance are described. The Monte Carlo ray-tracing technique is applied to optimize the geometrical configuration for maximum source-to-target transfer efficiency of radiative power. Calorimeter measurements indicated an average flux of 6800 kW/m2 over a 60-mm-diameter circular target, which corresponds to stagnation temperatures above 3300 K. This research facility simulates the radiation characteristics of highly concentrating solar systems and serves as an experimental platform for investigating the thermochemical processing of solar fuels and for testing advanced high-temperature materials.