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At least 289 records · Page 16

Distortion of Magnetic Fields in a Starless Core II: 3D Magnetic Field Structure of FeSt 1-457

Three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field information on molecular clouds and cores is important for revealing their kinematical stability (magnetic support) against gravity, which is fundamental for studying the initial conditions of star formation. In the present study, the 3D magnetic field structure of the dense starless core FeSt 1-457 is determined based on the near-infrared polarimetric observations of the dichroic polarization of background stars and simple 3D modeling. With an obtained angle of line-of-sight magnetic inclination axis θ{sub inc} of 45{sup ∘}±10{sup ∘} and previously determined plane-of-sky magnetic field strength B{sub pol} of 23.8 ± 12.1 μG, the total magnetic field strength for FeSt 1-457 is derived to be 33.7 ± 18.0 μG. The critical mass of FeSt 1-457, evaluated using both magnetic and thermal/turbulent support is M{sub cr}=3.70±0.92 M{sub ⊙}, which is identical to the observed core mass, M{sub core}=3.55±0.75 M{sub ⊙}. We thus conclude that the stability of FeSt 1-457 is in a condition close to the critical state. Without infalling gas motion and no associated young stars, the core is regarded to be in the earliest stage of star formation, i.e., the stage just before the onset of dynamical collapse following the attainment of a supercritical condition. These properties could make FeSt 1-457 one of the best starless cores for future studies of the initial conditions of star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Magnetic Reconnection in Strongly Magnetized Regions of the Low Solar Chromosphere

Magnetic reconnection in strongly magnetized regions around the temperature minimum region of the low solar atmosphere is studied by employing MHD-based simulations of a partially ionized plasma within a reactive 2.5D multi-fluid model. It is shown that in the absence of magnetic nulls in a low β plasma, the ionized and neutral fluid flows are well-coupled throughout the reconnection region. Yet, non-equilibrium ionization–recombination dynamics play a vital role in determining the structure of the reconnection region, leading to much lower temperature increases and a faster magnetic reconnection rate as compared to simulations that assume plasma to be in ionization–recombination equilibrium. The rate of ionization of the neutral component of the plasma is always faster than recombination within the current sheet region even when the initial plasma β is as high as ${\beta }_{0}=1.46$. When the reconnecting magnetic field is in excess of a kilogauss and the plasma β is lower than 0.0145, the initially weakly ionized plasmas can become fully ionized within the reconnection region and the current sheet can be strongly heated to above $2.5\times {10}^{4}$ K, even as most of the collisionally dissipated magnetic energy is radiated away. The Hall effect increases the reconnection rate slightly, but in the absence of magnetic nulls it does not conclude in significant asymmetries or change the characteristics of the reconnection current sheet down to meter scales.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Electron and Proton Acceleration in Trans-relativistic Magnetic Reconnection: Dependence on Plasma Beta and Magnetization

Nonthermal electron acceleration via magnetic reconnection is thought to play an important role in powering the variable X-ray emission from radiatively inefficient accretion flows around black holes. The trans-relativistic regime of magnetic reconnection—where the magnetization σ, defined as the ratio of magnetic energy density to enthalpy density, is ~1—is frequently encountered in such flows. By means of a large suite of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we investigate electron and proton acceleration in the trans-relativistic regime. Additionally, we focus on the dependence of the electron energy spectrum on σ and the proton β (the ratio of proton thermal pressure to magnetic pressure). We find that the electron spectrum in the reconnection region is nonthermal and can be modeled as a power law. At low β, the slope, p, is independent of β and hardens with increasing σ as $p\simeq 1.8+0.7/\sqrt{\sigma }$. Electrons are primarily accelerated by the nonideal electric field at X-points, either in the initial current layer or in current sheets generated between merging magnetic islands. At higher values of β, the electron power law steepens, and the electron spectrum eventually approaches a Maxwellian distribution for all values of σ. At values of β near β max ≈ 1/4σ, when both electrons and protons are relativistically hot prior to reconnection, the spectra of both species display an additional component at high energies, containing a few percent of particles. Finally, these particles are accelerated via a Fermi-like process by bouncing between the reconnection outflow and a stationary magnetic island

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Ab Initio Study of Structural, Electronic, and Magnetic Properties of A{sub 1−x}{sup III}Mn{sub x}B{sup VI}: In{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}S-Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor

First-principles density functional calculations on the new class of diluted magnetic semiconductor A{sub 1−x}{sup III}Mn{sub x}B{sup VI} In{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}S for x = 0.25 and 0.5 are investigated to study the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties, employing the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. Electronic band structures and density of states revealed a half-metallic character of In{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}S and show the stability of anti-ferromagnetic states as compared with ferromagnetic states. The calculated exchange constants J{sub dd} are in good agreement with experimental and theoretical results on magnetic properties of single crystalline A{sub 1−x}{sup III}Mn{sub x}B{sup VI} in the anti-ferromagnetic case. Our predicated calculations on the s,p-d exchange constants N{sub 0}α and N{sub 0}β show that they are lower than in A{sub 1−x}{sup II}Mn{sub x}B{sup VI} DMS. The local environment is found tetrahedral as in the II–VI DMS and other (III,Mn) VI compounds. The total magnetic moment for In{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}S for different concentrations is in accordance with the exact value 5 μ{sub B} and comes mainly from impurity Mn. The local magnetic moments of Mn ions are reduced from their free space charges values due to the p-d hybridization which produces small magnetic moments on the nonmagnetic In and S sites. The Curie temperature of In{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}S is calculated within the mean field approximation and compared with other DMS systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Evolution of Intrinsic and Magnetic Field-Induced Magnetic Anisotropies in Strongly Phase-Separated Manganite Thin Films

Single crystalline thin film (∼ 100 nm) of La{sub 0.18}Pr{sub 0.40}Ca{sub 0.42}MnO{sub 3} is grown on (001) oriented LaAlO{sub 3} substrates and the evolution of anisotropy associated with the supercooling behaviour of the magnetic liquid is studied as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The angle-dependent magnetization measurements ascertain that the easy magnetic axis lies in the plane of the film while the hard axis is along the plane normal. The ratio of the easy and hard axes magnetizations (M{sub ||} and M{sub ⊥}) measured at 10 K, viz., M{sub ||}/M{sub ⊥} (10 K) = 2.6, confirms the strongly anisotropic nature of the film. The easy axis ferromagnetic (FM) transition temperature (T{sub C}) is smaller than that along the hard axis. The giant hysteresis in FCC–FCW M–T, which manifests the magnetic liquid behaviour of the strongly phase-separated manganites is appreciably narrowed along the hard axis. The strain glass state is also less dominant along the easy axis. The analysis of the M–H data brings out that the easy axis remanence (M{sub r||}) shows a nonlinear temperature dependence, while the one corresponding to the hard axis (M{sub r⊥}) shows a nearly linear behaviour. The coercivity (H{sub C}) follows a law of the type H{sub C}(T)=H{sub C}(0)(1−AT{sup b}). The value of exponent b ∼ 0.5 for single-domain particles, but in the present case, the best fit to the experimental data yields the exponent b ≈ 0.25 for both H{sub C||} and H{sub C⊥}. The smaller value of the exponent is attributed to the non-canonical nature of the ferromagnetic state and the associated strongly phase-separated nature of the LPCMO thin film.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Separating hyperfine from spin-orbit interactions in organic semiconductors by multi-octave magnetic resonance using coplanar waveguide microresonators

Separating the influence of hyperfine from spin-orbit interactions in spin-dependent carrier recombination and dissociation processes necessitates magnetic resonance spectroscopy over a wide range of frequencies. For this, we have designed compact and versatile coplanar waveguide resonators for continuous-wave electrically detected magnetic resonance and tested these on organic light-emitting diodes. By exploiting both the fundamental and higher-harmonic modes of the resonators, we cover almost five octaves in resonance frequency within a single setup. The measurements with a common π-conjugated polymer as the active material reveal small but non-negligible effects of spin-orbit interactions, which give rise to a broadening of the magnetic resonance spectrum with increasing frequency.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Investigation of a Spin Transition in a LaCoO 3 Single Crystal by the Method of X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism at the Cobalt K - and L 2,3 -Edges

Here, the spin transitions of cobalt ions in LaCoO 3 single crystals have been studied by the method of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the K - and L 2,3 -edges of Co 3+ ions. The orbital momentum of cobalt ions obtained for the K -edge at the 3d level in the region of the spin transition in the temperature range from 25 to 120 K increases by a factor of approximately 1.6, whereas the slope of the magnetization curve value in the same temperature range and magnetic field increases by a factor of more than 10. XMCD experiments at the cobalt L 2,3 )-edges demonstrate gradual growth of the ratio of the orbital momentum to the spin one L/S from 0.48 to 0.53 in the temperature range from 60 K to 120 K.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

COMPARISON OF MAGNETIC PROPERTIES IN A MAGNETIC CLOUD AND ITS SOLAR SOURCE ON 2013 APRIL 11–14

In the context of the Sun–Earth connection of coronal mass ejections and magnetic flux ropes (MFRs), we studied the solar active region (AR) and the magnetic properties of magnetic cloud (MC) event during 2013 April 14–15. We use in situ observations from the Advanced Composition Explorer and source AR measurements from the Solar Dynamics Observatory . The MCs magnetic structure is reconstructed from the Grad–Shafranov method, which reveals a northern component of the axial field with left handed helicity. The MC invariant axis is highly inclined to the ecliptic plane pointing northward and is rotated by 117° with respect to the source region PIL. The net axial flux and current in the MC are comparatively higher than from the source region. Linear force-free alpha distribution (10{sup −7}–10{sup −6} m{sup −1}) at the sigmoid leg matches the range of twist number in the MC of 1–2 au MFR. The MFR is nonlinear force-free with decreasing twist from the axis (9 turns/au) toward the edge. Therefore, a Gold–Hoyle (GH) configuration, assuming a constant twist, is more consistent with the MC structure than the Lundquist configuration of increasing twist from the axis to boundary. As an indication of that, the GH configuration yields a better fitting to the global trend of in situ magnetic field components, in terms of rms, than the Lundquist model. These cylindrical configurations improved the MC fitting results when the effect of self-similar expansion of MFR was considered. For such twisting behavior, this study suggests an alternative fitting procedure to better characterize the MC magnetic structure and its source region links.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Nonthermal Particle Acceleration in 3D Relativistic Magnetic Reconnection in Pair Plasma

As a fundamental process converting magnetic to plasma energy in high-energy astrophysical plasmas, relativistic magnetic reconnection is a leading explanation for the acceleration of particles to the ultrarelativistic energies that are necessary to power nonthermal emission (especially X-rays and gamma-rays) in pulsar magnetospheres and pulsar wind nebulae, coronae and jets of accreting black holes, and gamma-ray bursts. An important objective of plasma astrophysics is therefore the characterization of nonthermal particle acceleration (NTPA) effected by reconnection. Reconnection-powered NTPA has been demonstrated over a wide range of physical conditions using large 2D kinetic simulations. However, its robustness in realistic 3D reconnection—in particular, whether the 3D relativistic drift-kink instability (RDKI) disrupts NTPA—has not been systematically investigated, although pioneering 3D simulations have observed NTPA in isolated cases. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of NTPA in 3D relativistic reconnection in collisionless electron–positron plasmas, characterizing NTPA as the strength of 3D effects is varied systematically via the length in the third dimension and the strength of the guide magnetic field. We find that, while the RDKI prominently perturbs 3D reconnecting current sheets, it does not suppress particle acceleration, even for zero guide field; fully 3D reconnection robustly and efficiently produces nonthermal power-law particle spectra closely resembling those obtained in 2D. This finding provides strong support for reconnection as the key mechanism powering high-energy flares in various astrophysical systems. We also show that strong guide fields significantly inhibit NTPA, slowing reconnection and limiting the energy available for plasma energization, yielding steeper and shorter power-law spectra.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Magnetic ground state of the one-dimensional ferromagnetic chain compounds M (NCS) 2 (thiourea) 2 (M=Ni,Co)

The magnetic properties of the two isostructural molecule-based magnets— Ni ( NCS ) 2 ( thiourea ) 2 , S = 1 [ thiourea = SC ( NH 2 ) 2 ] and Co ( NCS ) 2 ( thiourea ) 2 , S = 3 / 2 —are characterized using several techniques in order to rationalize their relationship with structural parameters and to ascertain magnetic changes caused by substitution of the spin. Zero-field heat capacity and muon-spin relaxation measurements reveal low-temperature long-range ordering in both compounds, in addition to Ising-like ( D < 0 ) single-ion anisotropy ( D Co ~ - 100 K, D Ni ~ - 10 K). Crystal and electronic structure, combined with dc-field magnetometry, affirm highly quasi-one-dimensional behavior, with ferromagnetic intrachain exchange interactions J Co ≈ + 4 K and J Ni ~ + 100 K and weak antiferromagnetic interchain exchange, on the order of J ' ~ - 0.1 K. Furthermore, electron charge- and spin-density mapping reveals through-space exchange as a mechanism to explain the large discrepancy in J -values despite, from a structural perspective, the highly similar exchange pathways in both materials. Both species can be compared to the similar compounds M Cl 2 ( thiourea ) 4 , M = Ni(II) (DTN) and Co(II) (DTC), where DTN is known to harbor two magnetic-field-induced quantum critical points. Direct comparison of DTN and DTC with the compounds studied here shows that substituting the halide Cl - ion for the NCS - ion results in a dramatic change in both the structural and magnetic properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Comprehensive study of the magnetic phase transitions in Tb 3 Co combining thermal, magnetic and neutron diffraction measurements

A comprehensive study of the magnetic phase transitions in Tb 3 Co has been undertaken combining different techniques. Using single crystal neutron diffraction in the paramagnetic state a weak crystal structure distortion from the room temperature orthorhombic structure of the Fe 3 C type described with the Pnma space group toward structure with lower symmetry has been observed with cooling below 100 K. At 81 K there is a second order phase transition to an antiferromagnetic incommensurate phase with the propagation vector k = (0.155, 0, 0). As derived from thermal diffusivity measurements, the critical exponents for this transition are very close to the 3D-Heisenberg universality class, proving that the magnetic interactions are short-range but with a deviation from perfect isotropy due to crystal field effects. At T 2 ≈ 70 K there is another magnetic phase transition to a ferromagnetic state whose character is shown to be weakly first order. The low temperature magnetic state has a non-coplanar ferromagnetic structure with strong ferromagnetic components of Tb magnetic moments along the crystallographic c-axis. The application of an external magnetic field B = 2 T along the crystallographic c-axis suppresses the incommensurate antiferromagnetic phase and gives rise to the ferromagnetic phase. The magnetic entropy peak change as well as the refrigerant capacity indicate that Tb 3 Co is a competitive magnetocaloric material in this temperature range.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Multi-scale dynamics of magnetic flux tubes and inverse magnetic energy transfer

Here, we report on an analytical and numerical study of the dynamics of a three-dimensional array of identical magnetic flux tubes in the reduced-magnetohydrodynamic description of the plasma. We propose that the long-time evolution of this system is dictated by flux-tube mergers, and that such mergers are dynamically constrained by the conservation of the pertinent (ideal) invariants, viz. the magnetic potential and axial fluxes of each tube. We also propose that in the direction perpendicular to the merging plane, flux tubes evolve in a critically balanced fashion. These notions allow us to construct an analytical model for how quantities such as the magnetic energy and the energy-containing scale evolve as functions of time. Of particular importance is the conclusion that, like its two-dimensional counterpart, this system exhibits an inverse transfer of magnetic energy that terminates only at the system scale. We perform direct numerical simulations that confirm these predictions and reveal other interesting aspects of the evolution of the system. We find, for example, that the early time evolution is characterized by a sharp decay of the initial magnetic energy, which we attribute to the ubiquitous formation of current sheets. We also show that a quantitatively similar inverse transfer of magnetic energy is observed when the initial condition is a random, small-scale magnetic seed field.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Evolution of an arched magnetized laboratory plasma in a sheared magnetic field

Arched magnetized structures are a common occurrence in space and laboratory plasmas. Results from a laboratory experiment on spatio-temporal evolution of an arched magnetized plasma ( $\beta \approx 10^{-3}$ , Lundquist number $\approx 10^{4}$ , plasma radius/ion gyroradius $\approx 20$ ) in a sheared magnetic configuration are presented. The experiment is designed to model conditions relevant to the formation and destabilization of similar structures in the solar atmosphere. The magnitude of a nearly horizontal overlying magnetic field was varied to study its effects on the writhe and twist of the arched plasma. In addition, the direction of the guiding magnetic field along the arch was varied to investigate its role in the formation of either forward- or reverse-S shaped plasma structures. The electrical current in the arched plasma was well below the current required to make it kink unstable. A significant increase in the writhe of the arched plasma was observed with larger magnitudes of overlying magnetic field. A forward-S shaped arched plasma was observed for a guiding magnetic field oriented nearly antiparallel to the initial arched plasma current, while the parallel orientation yielded the reverse-S shaped arched plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Spin and Orbital Effects on Asymmetric Exchange Interaction in Polar Magnets: M(IO 3 ) 2 (M = Cu and Mn)

We report magnetic polar materials feature an astonishing range of physical properties, such as magnetoelectric coupling, chiral spin textures, and related new spin topology physics. This is primarily attributable to their lack of space inversion symmetry in conjunction with unpaired electrons, potentially facilitating an asymmetric Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) exchange interaction supported by spin–orbital and electron–lattice coupling. However, engineering the appropriate ensemble of coupled degrees of freedom necessary for enhanced DM exchange has remained elusive for polar magnets. Here, we study how spin and orbital components influence the capability of promoting the magnetic interaction by studying two magnetic polar materials, α-Cu(IO 3 ) 2 ( 2 D) and Mn(IO 3 ) 2 ( 6 S), and connecting their electronic and magnetic properties with their structures. The chemically controlled low-temperature synthesis of these complexes resulted in pure polycrystalline samples, providing a viable pathway to prepare bulk forms of transition-metal iodates. Rietveld refinements of the powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction data reveal that these materials exhibit different crystal structures but crystallize in the same polar and chiral P2 1 space group, giving rise to an electric polarization along the b-axis direction. The presence and absence of an evident phase transition to a possible topologically distinct state observed in α-Cu(IO 3 ) 2 and Mn(IO 3 ) 2 , respectively, imply the important role of spin–orbit coupling. Neutron diffraction experiments reveal helpful insights into the magnetic ground state of these materials. While the long-wavelength incommensurability of α-Cu(IO 3 ) 2 is in harmony with sizable asymmetric DM interaction and low dimensionality of the electronic structure, the commensurate stripe AFM ground state of Mn(IO 3 ) 2 is attributed to negligible DM exchange and isotropic orbital overlapping. The work demonstrates connections between combined spin and orbital effects, magnetic coupling dimensionality, and DM exchange, providing a worthwhile approach for tuning asymmetric interaction, which promotes evolution of topologically distinct spin phases.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Investigation of a Structural Phase Transition and Magnetic Structure of Na 2 BaFe(VO 4 ) 2 : A Triangular Magnetic Lattice with a Ferromagnetic Ground State

The structural and magnetic properties of a glaserite-type Na 2 BaFe(VO 4 ) 2 compound, featuring a triangular magnetic lattice of Fe 2+ (S = 2), are reported. Temperature dependent X-ray single crystal studies indicate that at room temperature the system adopts a trigonal P$\bar{3}$ m 1 structure and undergoes a structural phase transition to a C2/c monoclinic phase slightly below room temperature (T s = 288 K). This structural transition involves a tilting of Fe–O–V bond angles and strongly influences the magnetic correlation within the Fe triangular lattice. The magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal a ferromagnetic transition near 7 K. Single crystal neutron diffraction confirms the structural distortion and the ferromagnetic spin ordering in Na 2 BaFe(VO 4 ) 2 . The magnetic structure of the ordered state is modeled in the magnetic space group C2'/c' that implies a ferromagnetic order of the a and c moment components and antiferromagnetic arrangement for the b components. Altogether, the Fe magnetic moments form ferromagnetic layers that are stacked along the c-axis, where the spins point along one of the (111) facets of the FeO 6 octahedron.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Voltage-controlled interlayer coupling in perpendicularly magnetized magnetic tunnel junctions

Magnetic interlayer coupling is one of the central phenomena in spintronics. It has been predicted that the sign of interlayer coupling can be manipulated by electric fields, instead of electric currents, thereby offering a promising low energy magnetization switching mechanism. Here we present the experimental demonstration of voltage-controlled interlayer coupling in a new perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction system with a GdO x tunnel barrier, where a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a sizable tunnelling magnetoresistance have been achieved at room temperature. Owing to the interfacial nature of the magnetism, the ability to move oxygen vacancies within the barrier, and a large proximity-induced magnetization of GdO x , both the magnitude and the sign of the interlayer coupling in these junctions can be directly controlled by voltage. Lastly, these results pave a new path towards achieving energy-efficient magnetization switching by controlling interlayer coupling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Inkjet Printing of Magnetic Particles Toward Anisotropic Magnetic Properties

Unique properties of one-dimensional assemblies of particles have attracted great attention during the past decades, particularly with respect to the potential for anisotropic magnetism. Patterned films can be created using inkjet printing; however, drying of particle-laden colloidal droplets on solid surfaces is usually accompanied by the well-known coffee-ring effect, deteriorating both the uniformity and resolution of the printed configurations. Here, we examine the effect of externally applied magnetic field on particle deposition patterns. Ferromagnetic Gd 5 Si 4 particles were formulated in terpineol oil and directly deposited via magnetic field-assisted inkjet printing on a photopaper to generate patterned films with suppressed coffee-ring effect. The particle deposition morphology is determined by both solvent imbibition and particle-magnetic field interactions. Three characteristic times are considered, namely, the critical time for solvent imbibition into the substrate (t im ), the time it takes for particles to form chains in the presence of the magnetic field (t ch ), and the time in which the particles reach the substrate in the direction normal to the substrate (t pz ). The characteristic time ratios (t pz /t im ) and (t pz /t ch ) determine the final deposition morphology in the presence of magnetic field. Finally, the ability to control particle deposition and assembly, thus tuning the magnetic anisotropic properties of nanostructured materials is a promising approach for many engineering applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗