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Zheng, Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Zheng, Q..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Fast attenuation of high-frequency acoustic waves in bicontinuous nanoporous gold

We studied the formation and attenuation of GHz elastic waves in free-standing nanoporous gold films by MeV ultrafast electron diffraction and finite element simulations. By tracing the evolution of the high frequency acoustic waves in time domain, we found that the bicontinuous nanoporous structure in nanoporous gold films results in three-dimensionally acoustic response with low coherence, leading to fast attenuation of the elastic waves in comparison with solid gold films. The morphologically dominated dynamics indicates the nanoporosity plays an important role in the high-frequency acoustic energy relaxation, which shines a light on the applications of dealloyed nanoporous materials in nanodevices and sensors as GHz and THz acoustic filters and dampers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

The photochemical ring-opening of 1,3-cyclohexadiene imaged by ultrafast electron diffraction

The ultrafast photoinduced ring-opening of 1,3-cyclohexadiene constitutes a textbook example of electrocyclic reactions in organic chemistry and a model for photobiological reactions in vitamin D synthesis. Although the relaxation from the photoexcited electronic state during the ring-opening has been investigated in numerous studies, the accompanying changes in atomic distance have not been resolved. With this work, we present a direct and unambiguous observation of the ring-opening reaction path on the femtosecond timescale and subångström length scale using megaelectronvolt ultrafast electron diffraction. We followed the carbon–carbon bond dissociation and the structural opening of the 1,3-cyclohexadiene ring by the direct measurement of time-dependent changes in the distribution of interatomic distances. We discovered a substantial acceleration of the ring-opening motion after internal conversion to the ground state due to a steepening of the electronic potential gradient towards the product minima. The ring-opening motion transforms into rotation of the terminal ethylene groups in the photoproduct 1,3,5-hexatriene on the subpicosecond timescale.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Heterogeneous to homogeneous melting transition visualized with ultrafast electron diffraction

The ultrafast laser excitation of matters leads to nonequilibrium states with complex solid-liquid phase-transition dynamics. In this paper, we used electron diffraction at mega–electron volt energies to visualize the ultrafast melting of gold on the atomic scale length. For energy densities approaching the irreversible melting regime, we first observed heterogeneous melting on time scales of 100 to 1000 picoseconds, transitioning to homogeneous melting that occurs catastrophically within 10 to 20 picoseconds at higher energy densities. We showed evidence for the heterogeneous coexistence of solid and liquid. We determined the ion and electron temperature evolution and found superheated conditions. Finally, our results constrain the electron-ion coupling rate, determine the Debye temperature, and reveal the melting sensitivity to nucleation seeds.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Dynamics of Electron–Phonon Coupling in Bicontinuous Nanoporous Gold

Here, the nanosize effect on electron–phonon interactions in free-electron noble metals has been a subject of intense discussion because of their important applications in physics, chemistry, and biomedicine. However, the interference from supports of dispersive nanoparticulate metals has led to controversial observations. We utilize freestanding, bicontinuous nanoporous gold (NPG) films to investigate electron–phonon interaction dynamics using ultrafast MeV electron diffraction. Compared to solid gold films, NPG shows faster electron–phonon interaction and thus noticeably higher electron–phonon coupling constant. The results demonstrate that surface states of electrons and phonons play an important role in electron–phonon coupling of nanostructured materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

A terahertz pump mega-electron-volt ultrafast electron diffraction probe apparatus at the SLAC Accelerator Structure Test Area facility

Here, we describe a new experimental setup capable of measuring structural dynamics following intense terahertz excitation. This system, developed at the SLAC Accelerator Structure Test Area facility, uses a high-energy ultrafast laser to produce intense terahertz pulses and femtosecond electron bunches that are accelerated to mega-electron-volt kinetic energies. The focused terahertz pulses have electric fields in excess of 600 kV/cm, and the resulting structural dynamics can be followed by electron diffraction. We also present some examples demonstrating its implementation where interactions between the THz pulses and the electron bunch are used to characterize the spatial and temporal characteristics of the THz field.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional K 2 Cr 3 As 3

Here, quasi-one-dimensional A 2 Cr 3 As 3 (with A = K, Cs, Rb) is an intriguing new family of superconductors which exhibit many similar features to the cuprate and iron-based unconventional superconductor families. Yet, in contrast to these systems, no charge or magnetic ordering has been observed which could provide the electronic correlations presumed necessary for an unconventional superconducting pairing mechanism—an absence which defies predictions of first-principles models. We report the results of neutron scattering experiments on polycrystalline K 2 Cr 3 As 3 (T c ~ 7) which probed the low-temperature dynamics near T c . Neutron diffraction data evidence a subtle response of the nuclear lattice to the onset of superconductivity while inelastic scattering reveals a highly dispersive column of intensity at the commensurate wave vector q = (001/2) which loses intensity beneath T c -indicative of short-range magnetic fluctuations. Using linear spin-wave theory, we model the observed scattering and suggest a possible structure to the short-range magnetic order. These observations suggest that K 2 Cr 3 As 3 is in close proximity to a magnetic instability and that the incipient magnetic order both couples strongly to the lattice and competes with superconductivity, in direct analogy with the iron-based superconductors.

1-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2017

Electron-lattice energy relaxation in laser-excited thin-film Au-insulator heterostructures studied by ultrafast MeV electron diffraction

We apply time-resolved MeV electron diffraction to study the electron-lattice energy relaxation in thin film Au-insulator heterostructures. Through precise measurements of the transient Debye-Waller-factor, the mean-square atomic displacement is directly determined, which allows to quantitatively follow the temporal evolution of the lattice temperature after short pulse laser excitation. Data obtained over an extended range of laser fluences reveal an increased relaxation rate when the film thickness is reduced or the Au-film is capped with an additional insulator top-layer. This behavior is attributed to a cross-interfacial coupling of excited electrons in the Au film to phonons in the adjacent insulator layer(s). Analysis of the data using the two-temperature-model taking explicitly into account the additional energy loss at the interface(s) allows to deduce the relative strength of the two relaxation channels.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Improving superconductivity in BaFe 2 As 2 -based crystals by cobalt clustering and electronic uniformity

Quantum materials such as antiferromagnets or superconductors are complex in that chemical, electronic, and spin phenomena at atomic scales can manifest in their collective properties. Although there are some clues for designing such materials, they remain mainly unpredictable. In this work, we find that enhancement of transition temperatures in BaFe 2 As 2 -based crystals are caused by removing local-lattice strain and electronic-structure disorder by thermal annealing. While annealing improves Neel-ordering temperature in BaFe 2 As 2 crystal (T N =132K to 136K) by improving in-plane electronic defects and reducing overall a-lattice parameter, it increases superconducting-ordering temperature in optimally cobalt-doped BaFe 2 As 2 crystal (T c =23 to 25K) by precipitating-out the cobalt dopants and giving larger overall a-lattice parameter. And while annealing improves local chemical and electronic uniformity resulting in higher T N in the parent, it also promotes nanoscale phase separation in the superconductor resulting in lower disparity and strong superconducting band gaps in the dominant crystal regions, which lead to both higher overall T c and critical-current-density, J c

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Single-shot mega-electronvolt ultrafast electron diffraction for structure dynamic studies of warm dense matter

We have developed a single-shot mega-electronvolt ultrafast-electron-diffraction system to measure the structural dynamics of warm dense matter. The electron probe in this system is featured by a kinetic energy of 3.2 MeV and a total charge of 20 fC, with the FWHM pulse duration and spot size at sample of 350 fs and 120 μm respectively. We demonstrate its unique capability by visualizing the atomic structural changes of warm dense gold formed from a laser-excited 35-nm freestanding single-crystal gold foil. The temporal evolution of the Bragg peak intensity and of the liquid signal during solid-liquid phase transition are quantitatively determined. This experimental capability opens up an exciting opportunity to unravel the atomic dynamics of structural phase transitions in warm dense matter regime.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Tuning of in-plane optical anisotropy by inserting ultra-thin InAs layer at interfaces in (001)-grown GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells

The in-plane optical anisotropy (IPOA) in (001)-grown GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells (QWs) with different well widths varying from 2 nm to 8 nm has been studied by reflectance difference spectroscopy. Ultra-thin InAs layers with thickness ranging from 0.5 monolayer (ML) to 1.5 ML have been inserted at GaAs/AlGaAs interfaces to tune the asymmetry in the QWs. It is demonstrated that the IPOA can be accurately tailored by the thickness of the inserted ultra-thin InAs layer at the interfaces. Strain-induced IPOA has also been extracted by using a stress apparatus. We find that the intensity of the strain-induced IPOA decreases with the thickness of the inserted InAs layer, while that of the interface-induced IPOA increases with the thickness of the InAs layer. Theoretical calculations based on 6 band k ⋅ p theory have been carried out, and good agreements with experimental results are obtained. Our results demonstrate that, the IPOA of the QWs can be greatly and effectively tuned by inserting an ultra-thin InAs layer with different thicknesses at the interfaces of QWs, which does not significantly influence the transition energies and the transition probability of QWs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Faster motion of double 360° domain walls system induced by spin-polarized current

By micromagnetic simulation, we investigated a double 360° domain walls system in two parallel nanowires. Two domain walls are coupled to each other via magnetostatic interaction. When a spin-polarized current is applied to only one nanowire or both nanowires with the same direction, the two domain walls propagate along nanowires together. The critical velocity of such system is obviously higher than that of a single 360° domain wall. The interaction between the two domain walls can be modeled as two bodies that connected by a spring, and we analyzed the coupling characteritics of the double 360° domain walls at last.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2010

Recent Developments in the Radiation Belt Environment Model

The fluxes of energetic particles in the radiation belts are found to be strongly controlled by the solar wind conditions. In order to understand and predict the radiation particle intensities, we have developed a physics-based Radiation Belt Environment (RBE) model that considers the influences from the solar wind, ring current and plasmasphere. Recently, an improved calculation of wave-particle interactions has been incorporated. In particular, the model now includes cross diffusion in energy and pitch-angle. We find that the exclusion of cross diffusion could cause significant overestimation of electron flux enhancement during storm recovery. The RBE model is also connected to MHD fields so that the response of the radiation belts to fast variations in the global magnetosphere can be studied.Weare able to reproduce the rapid flux increase during a substorm dipolarization on 4 September 2008. The timing is much shorter than the time scale of wave associated acceleration.

Fok, M.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A new type of overshoot phenomenon in wind wave development and its implication in remote sensing of the ocean

Laboratory measurements using both wave probes (contact and optical) and radar confirm the existence of a new type of overshoot phenomenon in the wind-wave development processes. This type of overshoot, which occurs at gravity-capillary wavelengths, is practically a function of local wind stress only. It is named the overshoot phenomenon of the third kind. With the existence of this overshoot it becomes obvious that the assumed simple power-law relationship between the rms value of surface slope at a fixed wavelength and the wind stress is untenable. Since such a relationship is one of the key assumptions invoked in the development of algorithms used in scatterometry, the published scatterometer data are reexamined, pointing out the implications of this overshoot phenomenon. Recommendations for improvement of the performance of the scatterometer are also made in light of this new understanding of the wind-wave development processes.

Huang, N. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Finite difference numerical methods for boundary control problems governed by hyperbolic partial differential equations

This paper briefly reviews convergent finite difference schemes for hyperbolic initial boundary value problems and their applications to boundary control systems of hyperbolic type which arise in the modelling of vibrations. These difference schemes are combined with the primal and the dual approaches to compute the optimal control in the unconstrained case, as well as the case when the control is subject to inequality constraints. Some of the preliminary numerical results are also presented.

Chen, G.↗