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At least 289 records · Page 16

How do magnetized HED flows transition to collimated plasma jets? (Final Report)

We present results from a pulsed-power experiment designed to generate accretion-like flows in the laboratory that may be used to study the dynamics of astrophysical accretion-driven outflows. To emulate systems like Young Stellar Object (YSO) outflows, we create radially converging plasma flows in a short disk that transition into much longer bipolar outflows. Our experiment uses a ~1 MA pulsed-power driver to generate plasma from an array of thin aluminum wires mounted to a 3D-printed current path that controls the angular momentum and magnetic field topology. In this paper, we show that experimental data scale favorably to observed properties of YSO jets. This set of experiments tests the simplest version of our possible plasma dynamics, where outflows are generated without rotation or axial magnetic field present. The temperature, velocity and density of the disk and outflows are characterized using interferometry, gated optical and ultraviolet imaging, and Thomson scattering diagnostics. We discuss the Reynolds number, magnetic Reynolds number and Mach numbers calculated in three different stages of the experiment, and compare our results to 3D numerical simulations in the PERSEUS magnetohydrodynamics code. This report is a summary of the work done by the graduate students who were supported by the project.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Intrinsic topological Weyl phase transition induced by a magnetostructural transformation in a kagome magnet

Topological phase transitions provide a unique window into the interplay between structure, magnetism, and Weyl physics in magnetic Weyl semimetals. However, realizing an intrinsic Weyl phase transition between two distinct Weyl states near room temperature remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that a magnetostructural transition effectively induces such a transition in the kagome magnet Mn3Ga. High-resolution neutron diffraction, magnetization characterizations and first-principles calculations reveal that Mn3Ga undergoes a chiral antiferromagnetic transition below 485 K, followed by a magnetostructural transition to a monoclinic structure with highly canted antiferromagnetic order near room temperature. These cooperative changes in lattice and magnetic symmetries reorganize Weyl nodes, driving a transition from a primary type-II Weyl state to a distinct Weyl state, accompanied by dramatic variations in the anomalous Hall effect and appearance of topological Hall effect. Our findings open a new pathway for discovering novel topological Weyl states and advancing potential spintronic applications.

Yang, Tsung-Han [ORNL] (ORCID:000000030186302X)↗

Coupling of magnetism, crystal lattice, and transport in EuCuP and EuCuAs

EuCuP and EuCuAs are members of a family of materials with candidates for realizing magnetically tuned electronic topology. Here, in this work, the magnetic phase transitions and magnetoelastic coupling of EuCuP and EuCuAs have been investigated. Around the Curie temperature, the thermal expansion coefficient and specific-heat capacity of EuCuP are found to have two closely spaced features, at approximately 30 and 31.3 K, which may indicate a cascading magnetic transition or perhaps an electronic transition closely coupled to the magnetic ordering. The zero-field magnetoelastic coupling appears to be stronger in EuCuP than in EuCuAs, and field-dependent measurements suggest this is due to the dominant ferromagnetic interaction in EuCuP as opposed to antiferromagnetic order in EuCuAs below T N =13.5 K. Thermal expansion is anisotropic around T N in EuCuAs, with a maximum expansion along [001] occurring above T N prior to a stiffening of this c -axis component on cooling through T N ; the expansion of the basal plane has a lambda-like peak centered slightly above T N . Matching these behaviors, the ac susceptibility data for EuCuAs suggest the presence of strong ferromagnetic correlations above T N in the vicinity where the c-axis expansion peaks. Both compounds possess similar electrical and thermoelectric transport behaviors, with short-range magnetic order likely playing an important role above T C or T N . Transport properties suggest these are predominantly hole doped due to intrinsic defects, and narrow-gap semiconducting or semimetallic behavior may be achievable if the underlying defects can be tuned.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Skyrmion fluctuations at a first-order phase transition boundary

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures with promising prospects for applications in data storage. They can form a lattice state due to competing magnetic interactions and are commonly found in a small region of the temperature—magnetic field phase diagram. Recent work has demonstrated that these magnetic quasi-particles fluctuate at the μeV energy scale. Here, we use a coherent x-ray correlation method at an x-ray free-electron laser to investigate these fluctuations in a magnetic phase coexistence region near a first-order transition boundary where fluctuations are not expected to play a major role. Surprisingly, we find that the relaxation of the intermediate scattering function at this transition differs significantly compared to that deep in the skyrmion lattice phase. The observation of a compressed exponential behavior suggests solid-like dynamics, often associated with jamming. We assign this behavior to disorder and the phase coexistence observed in a narrow field-window near the transition, which can cause fluctuations that lead to glassy behavior.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Theory and simulation of gap distance transitions in planar magnetically insulated transmission lines

Magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs) are critical components for efficiently transporting power from pulsed power sources to a diverse range of loads, including magneto-inertial confinement fusion and radiation production. This study investigates the behavior of planar MITLs, taking into account the source voltage and source and load impedances, using two-dimensional theory and simulations. Self-limited behavior, where the MITL operating impedance (voltage divided by current) is insensitive to the value of load impedance, is extended to small-to-large gap distance MITL transitions. Load-limited behavior, in which the load impedance is below the self-limited impedance, causes the MITL operating impedance to adjust to match the load impedance and can be extended to describe large-to-small transitions. In both cases, the operating impedance of the larger MITL section changes to match the self-limited operating impedance of the smaller section. This behavior extends to multiple transitions and to both low and high impedance loads. Assuming equilibration occurs (pulse duration larger than MITL transit time), the entire MITL operating impedance becomes the self-limited impedance of the smallest-gap MITL section or the load impedance, whichever is lower.

Darr, Adam M. [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-N↗

Magnetoelectric effect arising from a field-induced pseudo Jahn-Teller distortion in a rare-earth magnet

Magnetoelectric materials are attractive for several applications, including actuators, switches, and magnetic field sensors. Typical mechanisms for achieving a strong magnetoelectric coupling are rooted in transition metal magnetism. In sharp contrast, here we identify CsEr(MoO 4 ) 2 as a magnetoelectric material without magnetic transition metal ions, thus ensuring that the Er ions play a key role in achieving this interesting property. Our detailed study includes measurements of the structural, magnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of this material. Bulk characterization and neutron powder diffraction show no evidence for structural phase transitions down to 0.3 K and therefore CsEr(MoO 4 ) 2 maintains the room temperature P2/c space group over a wide temperature range without external magnetic field. These same measurements also identify collinear antiferromagnetic ordering of the Er 3+ moments below T N =0.87K. Complementary dielectric constant and pyroelectric current measurements reveal that a ferroelectric phase with a maximum polarization P~0.6 nC/cm 2 emerges when applying a modest external magnetic field, which indicates that this material has a strong magnetoelectric coupling. Finally, we argue that the magnetoelectric coupling in this system arises from a pseudo Jahn-Teller distortion induced by the magnetic field.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Layer pseudospin magnetism in a transition metal dichalcogenide double-moiré system

Spontaneous order of layer pseudospins in two-dimensional bilayers is common in quantum Hall systems, where it is responsible for hysteretic responses to gate fields in states with Ising order and giant drag voltages in states with XY (spontaneous interlayer phase coherence) order. In this article we predict that layer pseudospin order will also occur in double-moiré strongly correlated two-dimensional electron systems. Here, we comment on similarities and differences in the competition between the two types of order in quantum Hall and double-moiré systems, and relate our findings to previous work on Falicov-Kimball models of electronic ferroelectrics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Possible Quantum Paramagnetism in Compressed Sr 2 IrO 4

The result of compression on the magnetic ground state of Sr 2 IrO 4 is studied with x-ray resonant techniques in the diamond anvil cell. The weak interlayer exchange coupling between square-planar 2D IrO 2 layers is easily modified upon compression, with a crossover between magnetic structures around 7 GPa mimicking the effect of an applied magnetic field at ambient pressure. Higher pressures drive an order-disorder magnetic phase transition with no magnetic order detected above 17–20 GPa. The persistence of strong exchange interactions between J eff = 1 / 2 magnetic moments within the insulating IrO 2 layers up to at least 35 GPa points to a highly frustrated magnetic state in compressed Sr 2 IrO 4 , opening the door for realization of novel quantum paramagnetic phases driven by extended 5 d orbitals with entangled spin and orbital degrees of freedom.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structure transition and zigzag magnetic order in Ir/Rh-substituted honeycomb lattice α - RuCl 3

Here, we report magnetization and neutron diffraction studies on crystal and magnetic structures of Ir- and Rh-substituted honeycomb lattice α-RuCl 3 . The iridium or rhodium atoms are distributed at the Ru site with little structural modification. Both systems undergo a room-temperature monoclinic C2/m to low-temperature trigonal $R\bar{3}$ phase transformation with a large recoverable hysteresis. At low temperature, a zigzag spin order is observed with the same characteristic wave vector (0,0.5,1) as in the parent α-RuCl 3 . Detailed magnetic structure refinement reveals an ordered moment of 0.32(5)µB/Ru and an upper boundary of canting angle of 15(4)º away from the basal plane at 5 K for the 10% Ir-substituted α-RuCl 3 , which is different from the 0.45–0.73 µB/Ru and 32°–48° canting angle reported in the parent compound α-RuCl 3 . The observation of unchanged RuCl 6 local octahedral environment, reduced ordered magnetic moment size and canting angle compared to previously reported highlights the potential to study quantum spin-liquid behavior through nonmagnetic ion doping.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Shock-loading meteoritic b.c.c. metal above the pressure transition - Remanent-magnetization stability and microstructure

The paper describes the remanent-magnetization stability and microstructure associated with samples of b.c.c. Fe-Ni from the Odessa meteorite which were shock loaded at 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 kbar. The samples include those which were transformation hardened as well as those which were altered by varying thermal levels associated only with the shock levels themselves. Demagnetization curves for an unshocked Odessa sample and for samples shocked at each level are presented along with saturation isothermal remanence demagnetization curves for samples shocked at 600 and 1000 kbar. It is found that: (1) the 200-kbar sample was shock-hardened with no significant thermal effects; (2) stability to demagnetization decreased in the 400- and 600-kbar specimens, indicating that recovery took place; and (3) the specimens shocked at 800 and 100 kbar had the greatest demagnetization stability. These three levels of shock effects are shown to be delimited by discrete levels of microhardness, microstructure, and stability of remanence to demagnetization. It is concluded that the first level is simply a consequence of antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic reversal and that the other two levels contain a thermal component.

Wasilewski, P.↗

Property and microstructural nonuniformity in the yttrium-barium-copper-oxide superconductor determined from electrical, magnetic, and ultrasonic measurements

The purpose of this dissertation was the following: (1) to characterize the effect of pore fraction on a comprehensive set of electrical and magnetic properties for the yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO) high temperature ceramic superconductor; and (2) to determine the viability of using a room-temperature, nondestructive characterization method to aid in the prediction of superconducting (cryogenic) properties. The latter involved correlating ultrasonic velocity measurements at room temperature with property-affecting pore fraction and oxygen content variations. The use of ultrasonic velocity for estimating pore fraction in YBCO is presented, and other polycrystalline materials are reviewed, modeled, and statistically analyzed. This provides the basis for using ultrasonic velocity to interrogate microstructure. The effect of pore fraction (0.10-0.25) on superconductor properties of YBCO samples was characterized. Spatial (within-sample) variations in microstructure and superconductor properties were investigated, and the effect of oxygen content on elastic behavior was examined. Experimental methods used included a.c. susceptibility, electrical, and ultrasonic velocity measurements. Superconductor properties measured included transition temperature, magnetic transition width, transport and magnetic critical current density, magnetic shielding, a.c. loss, and sharpness of the voltage-current characteristics. An ultrasonic velocity image constructed from measurements at 1mm increments across a YBCO sample revealed microstructural variations that correlated with variations in magnetic shielding and a.c. loss behavior. Destructive examination using quantitative image analysis revealed pore fraction to be the varying microstructural feature.

Roth, Don J.↗