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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11

Interaction-enhanced nesting in spin-fermion and Fermi-Hubbard models

The spin-fermion (SF) model postulates that the dominant coupling between low-energy fermions in near critical metals is mediated by collective spin fluctuations (paramagnons) peaked at the Néel wave vector, Q N , connecting hot spots on opposite sides of the Fermi surface. It has been argued that strong correlations at hot spots lead to a Fermi surface deformation (FSD) featuring flat regions and increased nesting. This conjecture was confirmed in the perturbative self-consistent calculations when the paramagnon propagator dependence on momentum deviation from Q N is given by χ − 1 ∝ | Δ q | . Using diagrammatic Monte Carlo (diagMC) technique we show that such a dependence holds only at temperatures orders of magnitude smaller than any other energy scale in the problem, indicating that a different mechanism may be at play. Instead, we find that a χ − 1 ∝ | Δ q | 2 dependence yields a robust finite- T scenario for achieving FSD. To link phenomenological and microscopic descriptions, we applied the connected determinant diagMC method to the ( t − t ′ ) Hubbard model and found that at large U / t > 5.5 before the formation of electron and hole pockets (i) the FSD defined as a maximum of the spectral function is not very pronounced; instead, it is the lines of zeros of the renormalized dispersion relation that deforms toward nesting, and (ii) the static spin susceptibility is well described by χ − 1 ∝ | Δ q | 2 . Flat FS regions yield a nontrivial scenario for realizing a non-Fermi liquid state. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnon thermal conductivity in multiferroics with spin cycloids

Multiferroic materials, characterized by the occurrence of two or more ferroic properties, hold potential in future technological applications and also exhibit intriguing phenomena caused by the interplay of multiple orders. One such example is the formation of spin-cycloid structures within multiferroic materials, which we investigate in this work by focusing on their magnon excitations and transport based on a general multiferroic Hamiltonian with an antiferromagnetic order. More specifically, we identify the ground state and explore the dynamics of magnon modes, revealing distinct in-plane and out-of-plane modes with anisotropic dispersion relations. The magnon modes include a massless excitation, known as the Goldstone boson, originating from the spontaneous breaking of the translational symmetry by the formation of the cycloid structures. By employing the Boltzmann transport formalism, the magnonic thermal conductivity with spin cycloids and low-temperature anisotropic behaviors is discussed. This work provides pathways to envision the spin-textured multiferroics, which may serve as a fertile ground to look for novel thermal and spin transport with the rich interplay of quasiparticles such as magnons and phonons.

Park, Hyeon Woo↗

Spin-dependent dark matter scattering in quasi-two-dimensional magnets

We study the prospects of detecting dark matter coupled to the spin of the electron, such that it may scatter and excite magnons—collective excitations of electronic spins. We show that materials exhibiting long-range magnetic order where the spins are coupled only along a plane may act as directional dark matter detectors. These quasi-two-dimensional materials possess anisotropic dispersion relations and structure functions which induce a sidereal modulation in the excitation rate. We calculate the expected signal rate for some candidate (anti)ferromagnets, demonstrating a possible route to the direct detection of spin-dependent dark matter in the keV to MeV mass range.

Dark matter direct detection↗

Insights into distorted lamellar phases with small-angle scattering and machine learning

Lamellar phases are essential in various soft matter systems, with topological defects significantly influencing their mechanical properties. In this report, we present a machine-learning approach for quantitatively analyzing the structure and dynamics of distorted lamellar phases using scattering techniques. By leveraging the mathematical framework of Kolmogorov–Arnold networks, we demonstrate that the conformations of these distorted phases – expressed as superpositions of complex waves – can be reconstructed from small-angle scattering intensities. Through the contour analysis of wave field phase singularities, we obtain the statistics of the spatial distribution of topological defects. Furthermore, we establish that the temporal evolution of these defects can be derived from the time-dependent traveling wave field, informed by the dispersion relation of spectral components. This method opens new avenues for investigating the dynamics of distorted lamellar phases using various dynamic scattering techniques such as neutron spin echo and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. These findings enhance our microscopic understanding of how defects influence the physical properties of lamellar materials, with implications for both equilibrium and non-equilibrium states in general lamellar systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Strong-field Driven Sub-cycle Band Structure Modulation and Dephasing Control

In this work, we present measurements of ultrafast electric-field observables in magnesium oxide using a non-resonant nonlinear optical interaction. Using field observables, we show that strong laser fields modulate the band structure on sub-cycle timescales, thereby altering the material’s nonlinear optical response. We perform time-dependent perturbation theory calculations using a field-dependent dispersion relation and semiconductor Bloch equation calculations, both of which agree with experimental observations. Furthermore, we extract pulse decay times from the real-time signal electric field envelope and show sub-cycle control of dephasing times. Our work offers a new perspective on strong-field-driven electron dynamics in solids through electric-field observables. The demonstrated attosecond modulation of the nonlinear response could have important implications for quantum light generation and quantum spectroscopy using nonlinear optical processes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Proton internal pressure from deeply virtual Compton scattering on collider kinematics

Abstract The unique experimental connection to the QCD energy–momentum tensor offered by generalised parton distributions has been strongly highlighted in the past few years with attempts to extract the pressure and shear forces distributions within the nucleon. If, in principle, this can be performed in a model independent way from experimental data, in practice, the current limited precision and kinematic coverage make such an extraction very challenging. Moreover, the limitation to a leading-order description in the strong coupling of the data has provided only an indirect and weakly sensitive access to gluon degrees of freedom, solely through their mixing to quarks via evolution. In this paper we address this issue by providing a next-to-leading order formalism allowing a reanalysis of global fits with genuine gluonic degrees of freedom. In addition, we provide an estimate of the reduction in uncertainty that could stem from the extended kinematic range relevant for the future Electron Ion Collider. Finally, we stress the connection between the analysis of the dispersion relation in terms of generalised parton distributions and the deconvolution problem.

Dutrieux, H. (ORCID:0000000183344885)↗

Evaluating Entrainment–Mixing Characteristics through Direct Comparisons of Drop Size Distributions Using In Situ Observations from ACE-ENA

Abstract Constraining the impacts of entrainment and associated mixing (i.e., entrainment–mixing) on cloud properties continues to be difficult, partly due to observational uncertainties as well as a lacking consensus of which methodologies for diagnosing entrainment–mixing are most appropriate. This study introduces a novel method to evaluate the presence and degree of inhomogeneous and homogeneous mixing using ∼100 h of in situ observations from a research aircraft over the northeastern Atlantic. Specifically, drop size distributions are compared between regions containing negligible and significant entrainment for select flight legs, making a direct characterization of the degree of homogeneous and inhomogeneous mixing possible. A measure of drop concentration variance is used as a proxy variable to diagnose entrainment–mixing. Results correspond well with entrainment–mixing metrics, showing lower Damköhler numbers where drop size distributions shift toward smaller drop sizes (i.e., inhomogeneous mixing) and greater transition length scales where drop size distributions do not (i.e., homogeneous mixing). Inhomogeneous mixing occurs in most samples from Aerosol and Cloud Experiment in the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA) (regardless of homogeneous mixing frequencies increasing with increasing spatial resolution from ∼100 to ∼10 m) and is associated with decreased drop size relative dispersion and both greater aerosol and drop concentrations compared with homogeneous mixing. Precipitating clouds have a greater frequency of homogeneous mixing compared with nonprecipitating clouds. The proposed methodology is similarly applied to in situ observations of southeast Pacific stratocumulus, shallow convective clouds over central Oklahoma and low-level clouds over the Southern Ocean. All four locations are primarily dominated by inhomogeneous mixing with minimal variability among each region.

Clouds↗

Unidirectional amplification in the frozen mode regime enabled by a nonlinear defect

A stationary inflection point (SIP) is a spectral singularity of the Bloch dispersion relation ω(k) of a periodic structure where the first and the second derivatives of ω with respect to k vanish. An SIP is associated with a third-order exceptional point degeneracy in the spectrum of the unit-cell transfer matrix, where there is a collapse of one propagating and two evanescent Bloch modes. At the SIP frequency, the incident wave can be efficiently converted into the frozen mode with greatly enhanced amplitude and vanishing group velocity. This can be very attractive for applications, including light amplification. Due to its non-resonant nature, the frozen mode regime (FMR) has fundamental advantages over common cavity resonances. Furthermore, we propose, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, scheme for FMR-based unidirectional amplifiers by leveraging a tailored amplification/attenuation mechanism and a single nonlinear defect. The defect breaks the directional symmetry of the periodic structure and enables nonlinearity-related unidirectional amplification/attenuation in the vicinity of the SIP frequency. We demonstrate the robustness of the amplification mechanism to local impurities and parasitic nonlinearity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy and Differential Phase Contrast Imaging with Active Decision in Multimodal Electron Microscopy: Isotopic detection at the atomic scale

Isotopic engineering provides a powerful route to control phonon behavior in crystalline solids, enabling fundamental studies of lattice dynamics and heat transport at the atomic scale. Here, we directly visualize isotope-dependent phonon propagation in epitaxial Cr 2 O 3 using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with monochromated, high-energy-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Guided by ab initio phonon calculations, we demonstrate that optical phonon modes above 70 meV are predominantly oxygen-derived and exhibit measurable redshifts upon substitution of natural 16 O by enriched 18 O. Spatially resolved vibrational spectrum imaging reveals isotope-enriched tracer layers within Cr 2 O 3 thin films, correlating isotope concentration with phonon intensity variations and vibrational energy shifts. At the nanometer and atomic scales, vibrational EELS mapping uncovers coherent phonon propagation across isotopic interfaces, consistent with theoretical phonon density of states and dispersion relations. These results establish vibrational EELS as a quantitative probe for isotope-dependent phonon transport in materials, opening new possibilities for studying energy dissipation and lattice dynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Close-Out Project Description for Koepke's Dept of Energy grant DE-SC0021405

Objectives: To establish, for lab & space conditions, EM-IEDDI’s (electromagnetic shear-driven instability's) dispersion relation, unstable range, instability threshold, and mode characteristics, we need LAPD’s Alfven-wave-favorable electromagnetic-style conditions, including higher "beta" (0.001 < beta ≤ 0.3) and low-collisionality. Also, we attempted to intentionally launch or spontaneously destabilize compressional and shear Alfven waves in the strong, localized, perpendicular-velocity-shear region at the interface between coaxial plasmas (one plasma cylinder inside an outer, otherwise hollow, tube, each having a different, controllable, value of plasma electrostatic potential, i.e., “space” potential (not to be confused with the temperature-dependent “floating” potential of an object immersed in the plasma). Nonlinear wave-wave interactions between same-family (EM-IEDD or Alfven) and cross-family (EM-IEDD-with-Alfven) fluctuations were targeted for documentation over a range of spectral overlap. Although laboratory experiments were conducted, the following theoretical work was left unfinished: Analytical non-modal prediction Computational non-modal prediction Check to see if Mikhailenko’s theory formulation leads to his published graphs

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Hofmann Stability Charts Revisited for PIP-II: From Classical Theory to Assumption-Free and ML-Driven Maps

The Hofmann stability chart remains a standard for visualizing parametric resonances in space-charge–dominated linacs, but its use typically relies on non-oscillatory Vlasov dispersion relations with simplifying assumptions (continuous focusing, KV phase space, linear optics, limited transverse–longitudinal coupling). We revisit the chart for the PIP-II linac along three tracks. (1) We reproduce the conventional maps in the (νz/νx, νx/ν0x) plane for relevant εz/εx, providing a validated reference. (2) We remove key assumptions by deriving stability surfaces directly from multi-particle tracking with realistic lattice discreteness, RF defocusing, solenoid/quad optics, and bunched-beam dynamics; local tunes and early-time growth rates are estimated from envelope oscillations and projected to the same coordinates. These assumption-reduced maps recover the canonical stopbands while revealing shifts and broadenings driven by tune modulation, non-KV distributions, and transverse–longitudinal coupling at PIP-II intensities. (3) We train a compact machine-learning surrogate that emulates the growth surface from zero-current optics, tune depression, emittance ratio, bunching factor, and selected lattice descriptors, enabling rapid scans and online working-point selection. We compare the three representations on representative PIP-II sections and discuss implications for commissioning guard bands, resonance avoidance, and routine operations.

Pathak, Abhishek [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000021704208↗

Neutron skins: A perspective from dispersive optical models

An overview of neutron skin predictions obtained using an empirical nonlocal dispersive optical model (DOM) is presented. The DOM links both scattering and bound-state experimental data through a subtracted dispersion relation which allows for fully consistent, data-informed predictions for nuclei where such data exist. Large skins were predicted for both 48 Ca ( R$^{48}_{skin}$ = 0.25 ± 0.023 fm in 2017) and 208 Pb (R$^{208}_{skin}$) = 0.25 ± 0.05 fm in 2020). Whereas the DOM prediction in 208 Pb is within 1σ of the subsequent PREX-2 measurement, the DOM prediction in 48 Ca is over 2σ larger than the thin neutron skin resulting from CREX. From the moment it was revealed, the thin skin in 48 Ca has puzzled the nuclear-physics community as no adequate theories simultaneously predict both a large skin in 208 Pb and a small skin in 48 Ca. The DOM is unique in its ability to treat both structure and reaction data on the same footing, providing a unique perspective on this R skin puzzle. It appears vital that more neutron data be measured in both the scattering and bound-state domain for 48 Ca to clarify the situation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Learning from knockout reactions using a dispersive optical model

We present the empirical dispersive optical model (DOM) as applied to direct nuclear reactions. The DOM links both scattering and bound-state experimental data through a dispersion relation, which allows for fully consistent, data-informed predictions for nuclei where such data exist. In particular, we review investigations of the electron-induced proton knockout reaction from both 40 Ca and 48 Ca in a distorted-wave impulse approximation (DWIA) utilizing the DOM for a fully consistent description. Viewing these reactions through the lens of the DOM allows us to connect the documented quenching of spectroscopic factors with the increased high-momentum proton content in neutron-rich nuclei. A similar DOM-DWIA description of the proton-induced knockout from 40 Ca, however, does not currently fit in the consistent story of its electron-induced counterpart. With the main difference in the proton-induced case being the use of an effective proton–proton interaction, we suggest that a more sophisticated in-medium interaction would produce consistent results.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Effect of radial pressure corrugations and profile shearing on turbulence in Fusion plasmas

Microturbulence can produce stationary fine-scale radial corrugations on the plasma density and temperature gradients in magnetic confinement fusion devices. We show that these structures play a significant role in regulating turbulent transport. We focus on the pedestal, studying electron-temperature-gradient (ETG) mode destabilisation and saturation in the presence of radial corrugations on the electron temperature gradient that could result from microtearing turbulence. A linear dispersion relation is derived for a shearless slab case, which indicates that in the presence of a sinusoidal background corrugation, each ETG mode splits into three distinct eigenvalues, with one being the original, one being more unstable and one being less unstable. However, despite the presence of more unstable linear modes, nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of ETG with corrugated background electron temperature show a reduction of fluxes. Our investigation reveals a radial variation of the phase velocity of the modes that is proportional to the diamagnetic drift velocity and the local pressure gradient. The associated profile shearing breaks the turbulent eddies apart, reducing the transport level. This profile shearing resulting from fine-scale pressure corrugations could be a ubiquitous turbulence saturation mechanism not just in Fusion plasmas, but in Astrophysics and other areas.

FOS: Physical sciences↗