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At least 235 records · Page 13

Validation of the Archived CERES Surface and Atmosphere Radiation Budget (SARB) at SGP

The CERES Surface and Atmosphere Radiation Budget (SARB) product (Charlock et al, 2002) includes the vertical profile of broadband SW, broadband LW, and 8-12 micron window (WN) fluxes; upwelling and downwelling at TOA, 70 hPa, 200 hPa, 500 hPa, and the surface; and for all-sky and clear-sky conditions. We test the archived CERES TRMM record of SARB for January-August 1998 and focus on discrepancies with ground-based measurements at SGP. The CERES SARB is generated by a highly modified Fu-Liou radiative transfer code (Fu and Liou, 1993). The most critical inputs for this application are cloud optical properties (fractional area, optical depth, particle size and phase, height of top, and estimate of geometrical thickness Minnis et al., 2002) from the narrowband VIRS imager. Numerous VIRS pixels (approx. 2km resolution at nadir) are matched to each of the large (approx. 20km) CERES broadband footprints (Wielicki et al, 1996). Other inputs include temperature and humidity from ECMWF (Rabier et al, 1998) , NCEP ozone profiles from SBUV and TOVS (Yang et al, 2001), aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from the Model for Atmospheric Transport and Chemistry (MATCH) aerosol assimilation (Collins et al., 2001) or alternately from the VIRS imager (Ignatov and Stowe, 2000). VIRS AOT is available for clear and partly cloudy ocean footprints during daylight; and only when viewing geometry renders a contribution from sunglint as unlikely. For other footprints, AOT is taken from MATCH. AOT is apportioned into fractions of dust (Tegan and Lacis, 1996), sea salt, sulfate, dust, soluble organic, insoluble organic, and soot (Hess et al., 1996) using the 6-hourly MATCH output. Tuned fluxes are retrieved by adjusting inputs to nudge computed TOA fluxes toward CERES observations (Rose et al, 1997). In clear conditions, the fields of humidity, surface skin temperature, surface albedo and AOT are adjusted to produce a closer match of computed and observed fluxes at TOA. When CERES footprints have clouds, the cloud optical thickness, fractional area within the footprint, and temperature of cloud top are adjusted by the tuning algorithm. Both tuned and untuned fluxes are archived, as are the respective adjustments to any parameters at the surface or within the atmosphere.

Charlock, Thomas P.↗

Phase Matching of Diverse Modes in a WGM Resonator

Phase matching of diverse electromagnetic modes (specifically, coexisting optical and microwave modes) in a whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonator has been predicted theoretically and verified experimentally. Such phase matching is necessary for storage of microwave/terahertz and optical electromagnetic energy in the same resonator, as needed for exploitation of nonlinear optical phenomena. WGM resonators are used in research on nonlinear optical phenomena at low optical intensities and as a basis for design and fabrication of novel optical devices. Examples of nonlinear optical phenomena recently demonstrated in WGM resonators include low-threshold Raman lasing, optomechanical oscillations, frequency doubling, and hyperparametric oscillations. The present findings regarding phase matching were made in research on low-threshold, strongly nondegenerate parametric oscillations in lithium niobate WGM resonators. The principle of operation of such an oscillator is rooted in two previously observed phenomena: (1) stimulated Raman scattering by polaritons in lithium niobate and (2) phase matching of nonlinear optical processes via geometrical confinement of light. The oscillator is partly similar to terahertz oscillators based on lithium niobate crystals, the key difference being that a novel geometrical configuration of this oscillator supports oscillation in the regime. The high resonance quality factors (Q values) typical of WGM resonators make it possible to achieve oscillation at a threshold signal level much lower than that in a non-WGM-resonator lithium niobate crystal.

Savchenkov, Anatoliy↗

Cloud Remote Sensing with EPIC/DSCOVR Observations: A Sensitivity Study with Radiative Transfer Simulations

The Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) onboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) views nearly the whole sunlit face of the Earth with 10 spectral bands ranging from the UV to the near-infrared, including two oxygen absorbing bands centered at 764 nm (A-band) and 687.75 nm (B-band). Clouds are among the primary remote sensing targets using EPIC images because of their important impacts on the Earth’s radiation budget. In order to facilitate the EPIC cloud data product development, we have built a radiative transfer simulator featuring flexible cloud microphysical parameters, gas absorptions, and the instrument line shape functions for each EPIC band. The radiative transfer simulator is used to explore the sensitivity of EPIC observations on liquid-phase cloud microphysical parameters, including optical depth, geometric thickness, and cloud top height. We found that the ratios of the reflectances in the oxygen A and B bands to their respective continuum measurements can be used to increase the confidence level of cloud masking over scenes with sun-glint. In addition, the 388 nm band can be used to differentiate low and high clouds with the uncertainty of roughly 2–3 km. Combining this information with the oxygen absorption bands, the cloud geometric thickness can be obtained with the rough uncertainty of 3–4 km.

atmospheric and ocean optics↗

Effect of loading path on grain misorientation and geometrically necessary dislocation density in polycrystalline aluminum under reciprocating shear

Solid phase processing (SPP) is a promising alloy fabrication technique to produce fine and homogeneous grain structures for high-performance alloys. However, there is very limited modeling capability to understand and predict the grain refinement during SPP. In this work, the crystal plasticity theory was used to study elastic-plastic deformation in polycrystalline aluminums under large shear deformation. Two approaches, kernel averaged misorientation (KAM) and grain reference orientation deviation (GROD), were used to assess the grain misorientations. The geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) density was computed with the plastic strain rate. The deformation simulations were carried out under two loading conditions to investigate the effect of loading paths on the evolutions of grain misorientation and GND density. The results show that the regions with high misorientation and GND density first appear near grain boundaries. These regions then extend toward interior grains. The loading path affects dislocation system activation and dislocation recovery, hence dislocation evolution and misorientation. In conclusion, both two- and three-dimensional simulations showed that the spatial and temporal evolutions of GROD, KAM, and GND density in are closely correlated, which indicates they all can be used as criteria of grain refinement or recrystallization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Processing of phase change materials by fused deposition modeling: Toward efficient thermal energy storage designs

We report that recently, several efforts have emerged that employ additive manufacturing techniques to integrate phase change material (PCM) thermal energy storage into geometrically complex designs for advanced thermal management. In this work, we contribute to this emerging research by reporting on the production of a composite nylon-based filament for fused deposition modeling incorporating encapsulated PCMs for 3D printing heat sink geometries. Microencapsulated PCM (MEPCM) with a 6 degrees C transition temperature was selected as the material for thermal energy storage. This transition temperature was selected due to its suitability to provide thermal energy storage to target air-conditioning applications in buildings. In an attempt to improve the thermal conductivity of the composite, fine boron nitride fillers were added, although the effect on improvement was found to be negligible in the overall composite mixture. The nylon-MEPCM ratio in the filaments was optimized, and filaments containing up to 40 wt% MEPCM were successfully synthesized, which were found optimal for 3D printing complex heat sink and other geometries. Thermal and mechanical properties of the filaments were characterized, including latent heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, phase change temperature, tensile strength, and more. Thermal infrared imaging of heat sink geometries printed using the MEPCM filaments undergoing thermal discharging was also conducted. This work presents the most promising result to date in the open literature for a 3D-printed PCM composite in the combination of size, energy density, and geometric complexity of printed parts.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Uncertainty Analysis of Composite Structures

A two-phase approach and a computational procedure are presented for predicting the variability in the nonlinear response of composite structures associated with variations in the geometric and material parameters of the structure. In the first phase, hierarchical sensitivity analysis is used to identify the major parameters, which have the most effect on the response quantities of interest. In the second phase, the major parameters are taken to be fuzzy parameters, and a fuzzy set analysis is used to determine the range of variation of the response, associated with preselected variations in the major parameters. The effectiveness of the procedure is demonstrated by means of a numerical example of a cylindrical panel with four T-shaped stiffeners and a circular cutout.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

Rough Surfaces: Is the Dark Stuff Just Shadow?: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The shadow knows!"

Remote observations of the surfaces of airless planetary objects are fundamental to inferring the physical structure and compositional makeup of the surface material. A number of forward models have been developed to reproduce the photometric behavior of these surfaces, based on specific, assumed structural properties such as macroscopic roughness and associated shadowing. Most work of this type is applied to geometric albedos, which are affected by complicated effects near zero phase angle that represent only a tiny fraction of the net energy reflected by the object. Other applications include parameter fits to resolved portions of some planetary surface as viewed over a range of geometries. The spherical albedo of the entire object (when it can be determined) captures the net energy balance of the particle more robustly than the geometric albedo. In most treatments involving spherical albedos, spherical albedos and particle phase functions are often treated as if they are independent, neglecting the effects of roughness. In this paper we take a different approach. We note that whatever function captures the phase angle dependence of the brightness of a realistic rough, shadowed, flat surface element relative to that of a smooth granular surface of the same material, it is manifested directly in both the integral phase function and the spherical albedo of the object. We suggest that, where broad phase angle coverage is possible, spherical albedos may be easily corrected for the effects of shadowing using observed (or assumed) phase functions, and then modeled more robustly using smooth-surface regolith radiative transfer models without further imposed (forward-modeled) shadowing corrections. Our approach attributes observed "power law" phase functions of various slope (and "linear" ranges of magnitude-vs.-phase angle) to shadowing, as have others, and goes on to suggest that regolith-model-based inferences of composition based on shadow-uncorrected spherical albedos overestimate the amount of absorbing material contained in the regolith.

geometric albedos↗

Interstitial Atoms and the Frustrated and Allowed Structural Transitions Principle: Tunability in the Electronic Structure of AuCu 3 ‐type Frameworks in Dy 4 T 1− x Ga 12 (T = Ag, Ir)

In this Article, we explore how the chemical pressure (CP) features of an intermetallic phase may provide opportunities to couple perturbations in electron count with the stabilization of the underlying geometrical structure. AuCu 3 ‐type LnGa 3 (Ln = lanthanide or group 3 metal) phases contain octahedral cavities of negative CP held open by overly compressed Ln–Ga interactions, leading to a series of transition metal‐stuffed derivatives. We present new additions to this family with the synthesis and crystal structures of Dy 4 T 1−x Ga 12 with (T, x) = (Ag, 0.29) and (Ir, 0.15), adopting Y 4 PdGa 12 ‐type superstructures of the AuCu 3 ‐type. density functional Ttheory (DFT)‐CP calculations, when adjusted to avoid dipolar CP features, affirm that T atom incorporation provides a mechanism for the relief of packing tensions, while electronic density of states distributions illustrate that the T atoms serve largely as electron or hole donors to the band structure, as needed for them to attain d 10 configurations. The maximum obtainable value for x may be limited by a mismatch between the Fermi energy and pseudogap, in line with the balance of factors envisioned by the frustrated and allowed structural transitions principle. Furthermore, trends in resistivity measurements on T = Ir, Pd, and Ag compounds are interpretable in terms of the varying degrees of disorder arising from x < 1.0.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of Drying of Porous Media Considering Contact Angle Hysteresis

Drying of porous media is governed by a combination of evaporation and movement of the liquid phase within the porous structure. Contact angle hysteresis induced by surface roughness is shown to influence multi-phase flows, such as contact line motion of droplet, phase distribution during drainage and coffee ring formed after droplet drying in constant contact radius mode. However, the influence of contact angle hysteresis on liquid drying in porous media is still an unanswered question. Lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) is an advanced numerical approach increasingly used to study phase change problems including drying. In this paper, based on a geometric formulation scheme to prescribe contact angle, we implement a contact angle hysteresis model within the framework of a two-phase pseudopotential LBM. The capability and accuracy of prescribing and automatically measuring contact angles over a large range are tested and validated by simulating droplets sitting on flat and curved surfaces. Afterward, the proposed contact angle hysteresis model is validated by modeling droplet drying on flat and curved surfaces. Then, drying of two connected capillary tubes is studied, considering the influence of different contact angle hysteresis ranges on drying dynamics. Finally, the model is applied to study drying of a dual-porosity porous medium, where phase distribution and drying rate are compared with and without contact angle hysteresis. The proposed model is shown to be capable of dealing with different contact angle hysteresis ranges accurately and of capturing the physical mechanisms during drying in different porous media including flat and curved geometries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Molecular dynamics analysis of particle number fluctuations in the mixed phase of a first-order phase transition

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for a finite nonrelativistic system of particles with Lennard-Jones potential. We study the effect of liquid-gas mixed phase on particle number fluctuations in coordinate subspace. A metastable region of the mixed phase, the so-called nucleation region, is analyzed in terms of a noninteracting cluster model. Large fluctuations due to spinodal decomposition are observed. They arise due to the interplay between the size of the acceptance region and that of the liquid phase. These effects are studied with a simple geometric model. The model results for the scaled variance of particle number distribution are compared with those obtained from the direct molecular dynamic simulations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Quantum Phase Diagram and Spontaneously Emergent Topological Chiral Superconductivity in Doped Triangular-Lattice Mott Insulators

The topological superconducting state is a highly sought-after quantum state hosting topological order and Majorana excitations. Here, in this Letter, we explore the mechanism to realize the topological superconductivity (TSC) in the doped Mott insulators with time-reversal symmetry (TRS). Through large-scale density matrix renormalization group study of an extended triangular-lattice t–J model on the six- and eight-leg cylinders, we identify a d + id-wave chiral TSC with spontaneous TRS breaking, which is characterized by a Chern number C=2 and quasi-long-range superconducting order. We map out the quantum phase diagram with by tuning the next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) electron hopping and spin interaction. In the weaker NNN-coupling regime, we identify a pseudogaplike phase with a charge stripe order coexisting with fluctuating superconductivity, which can be tuned into d -wave superconductivity by increasing the doping level and system width. The TSC emerges in the intermediate-coupling regime, which has a transition to a d-wave superconducting phase with larger NNN couplings. The emergence of the TSC is driven by geometrical frustrations and hole dynamics which suppress spin correlation and charge order, leading to a topological quantum phase transition.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Single-shot quantum error correction in intertwined toric codes

We construct a subsystem code in three dimensions that exhibits single-shot error correction in a user-friendly and transparent way. As this code is a subsystem version of coupled toric codes, we call it the intertwined toric code (ITC). Although previous codes share the property of single-shot error correction, the ITC is distinguished by its physically motivated origin, geometrically straightforward logical operators and errors, and a simple phase diagram. The code arises from three-dimensional (3D) stabilizer toric codes in a way that emphasizes the physical origin of the single-shot property. In particular, starting with two copies of the 3D toric code, we add check operators that provide for the confinement of pointlike excitations without condensing the loop excitations. Geometrically, the bare and dressed logical operators in the ITC derive from logical operators in the underlying toric codes, creating a clear relationship between errors and measurement outcomes. The syndromes of the ITC resemble the syndromes of the single-shot code by Kubica and Vasmer, allowing us to use their decoding schemes. We also extract the phase diagram corresponding to ITC and show that it contains the phases found in the Kubica-Vasmer code. Lastly, we suggest various connections to Walker-Wang models and measurement-based quantum computation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Photometry from Voyager 2 - Initial results from the Uranian atmosphere, satellites, and rings

The results of Voyager 2 photopolarimetry (PPS) surveys of Uranus, the ring system, occultation experiments and observations of the Uranian moons are reported. Dual-channel photometry and polarimetry data obtained of the atmosphere at various emission and phase angles are delineated and compared with characteristics of the Saturn and Jupiter atmospheres. The results of temperature, UV absorption and density profile calculations are also discussed. Extensive ring dimensional data, based on two occultation experiments, are provided in tabular form noting that the rings contain no dust. Finally, the geometric albedos of the five major moons and the phase curve of the moon Titania are presented. The latter data indicate that Titanian surface features are not the result of recent events such as volcanism or ice slurry outflows.

Lane, A. L.↗

Hund’s flat band in a frustrated spinel oxide

Electronic flat bands associated with quenched kinetic energy and heavy electron mass have attracted great interest for promoting strong electronic correlations and emergent phenomena such as high-temperature charge fractionalization and superconductivity. Intense experimental and theoretical research has been devoted to establishing the rich nontrivial metallic and heavy fermion phases intertwined with such localized electronic states. Here, in this study, we investigate the transition metal oxide spinel LiV 2 O 4 , an enigmatic heavy fermion compound lacking localized f orbital states. We use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and dynamical mean-field theory to reveal a kind of correlation-induced flat band with suppressed interatomic electron hopping arising from intra-atomic Hund’s coupling. The appearance of heavy quasiparticles is ascribed to a proximate orbital-selective Mott state characterized by fluctuating local moments as evidenced by complementary magnetotransport measurements. The spectroscopic fingerprints of long-lived quasiparticles and their disappearance with increasing temperature further support the emergence of a high-temperature “bad” metal state observed in transport data. This work resolves a long-standing puzzle on the origin of heavy fermion behavior and unconventional transport in LiV 2 O 4 . Simultaneously, it opens a path to achieving flat bands through electronic interactions in d-orbital systems with geometrical frustration, potentially enabling the realization of exotic phases of matter such as the fractionalized Fermi liquids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Impact of particle arrays on phase separation composition patterns

We examine the symmetry-breaking effect of fixed constellations of particles on the surface-directed spinodal decomposition of binary blends in the presence of particles whose surfaces have a preferential affinity for one of the components. Our phase-field simulations indicate that the phase separation morphology in the presence of particle arrays can be tuned to have a continuous, droplet, lamellar, or hybrid morphology depending on the interparticle spacing, blend composition, and time. In particular, when the interparticle spacing is large compared to the spinodal wavelength, a transient target pattern composed of alternate rings of preferred and non-preferred phases emerges at early times, tending to adopt the symmetry of the particle configuration. We reveal that such target patterns stabilize for certain characteristic length, time, and composition scales characteristic of the pure phase-separating mixture. To illustrate the general range of phenomena exhibited by mixture-particle systems, we simulate the effects of single-particle, multi-particle, and cluster–particle systems having multiple geometrical configurations of the particle characteristic of pattern substrates on phase separation. Our simulations show that tailoring the particle configuration, or substrate pattern configuration, a relative fluid-particle composition should allow the desirable control of the phase separation morphology as in block copolymer materials, but where the scales accessible to this approach of organizing phase-separated fluids usually are significantly larger. Limited experiments confirm the trends observed in our simulations, which should provide some guidance in engineering patterned blend and other mixtures of technological interest.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Full-Surface Phasing Of A Segmented Mirror

Techniques based on physical and on geometrical optics applied jointly. Proposed combination of measuring and computing techniques used to determine deviation of surface of large, segmented telescope from ideal surface figure and to compute adjustments in alignments of segments to obtain optimum available compensation for deviations.

Manhart, Paul K.↗

Fused filament fabrication of novel phase-change material functional composites

Additively manufactured polymer heat exchangers are of recent interest in the thermal sciences due to their lightweight and intricate heat-transfer-enhancing geometrical features. The goal of the present research is to directly encapsulate phase-change material (PCM) into polymer filament for the purpose of 3D printing polymer heat exchangers capable of latent heat thermal energy storage and management. PCMs have the ability to absorb large amounts of latent heat while undergoing a solid-to-liquid phase change at a nearly constant temperature. Encapsulation or containment of PCMs is necessary to prevent leaking since the material continuously cycles between a liquid and a solid state. An organic-based PCM and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were combined and extruded into a functional composite filament. For the first time, with the aid of a heated enclosure and HDPE build plates, it was demonstrated that these functional composite materials can be printed using fused filament fabrication (FFF). Printing HDPE is known to be difficult; however, based on what was observed in the current study, the PCM and HDPE composite was easier to print than pure HDPE. Thermal properties, such as latent heat of fusion, phase-change temperature, and thermal conductivity, of the composite filament and 3D printed samples were investigated and compared with compression-molded bulk material. Finally, the microstructures of the composite filament and 3D printed samples were visualized, and the basic structures of the HDPE and PCM within both the filament and 3D printed parts were clearly delineated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Geometrical-Based Navigation System Performance Assessment in the Space Service Volume Using a Multiglobal Navigation Satellite System Methodology

NASA is participating in the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) (ICG)'s efforts towards demonstrating the benefits to the space user in the Space Service Volume (SSV) when a multi-GNSS solution space approach is utilized. The ICG Working Group: Enhancement of GNSS Performance, New Services and Capabilities has started a three phase analysis initiative as an outcome of recommendations at the ICG-10 meeting, in preparation for the ICG-11 meeting. The first phase of that increasing complexity and fidelity analysis initiative is based on a pure geometrically-derived access technique. The first phase of analysis has been completed, and the results are documented in this paper.

Global Positioning System↗