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At least 325 records · Page 18

A Clustering-based biased Monte Carlo Approach to Protein Titration Curve Prediction

We develop and implement a novel approach to computing the ensemble averages in systems characterized by pair-wise interactions between the entities. Methods involving full enumeration of the configuration space result in exponential complexity. Sampling methods such as Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms have been proposed to tackle the exponential complexity of these problems. In certain scenarios where significant energetic coupling exists between the entities, the accuracy of the such algorithms can be diminished. We propose a strategy to improve the accuracy of the MCMC runs by taking advantage of the cluster structure in the interaction energy matrix. We propose two different schemes for performing the biased MCMC runs on the partitioned systems and show that they are valid MCMC schemes. We then apply these algorithms to the problem of computing the protonation fractions and hence the titration curves of titratable protein residues that constitute a given protein. We leverage both synthesized and real-world systems and show the improved performance of our biased MCMC methods when compared to the regular MCMC method.

Visweswara Sathanur, Arun↗

Implementation of a System of Gamma Imagers for Measuring Plutonium Holdup

The Surplus Plutonium Disposition (SPD) project is an effort to dilute and dispose of many tonsof weapons grade plutonium. This work will take place in a shielded glovebox to protect workers fromradiological dose. Accurate measurements of the holdup, or material left behind, in the gloveboxes is im-portant for Nuclear Material Control and Accountancy, worker dose minimization, criticality safety, andprocess monitoring. Shielding around the gloveboxes presents an obstacle for the traditional GeneralizedGamma Holdup (GGH) method. The uncertainties associated with that method, at around 28%, arealso detrimental since the amount of holdup must be kept below an established limit with a high level ofconfidence.Passive gamma-ray imaging provides a more complete depiction of the distribution of radioactivematerials. Recent refinement of the method has demonstrated that quantitative information can beextracted from the images with a well-characterized system. A permanently installed system of gamma-ray imagers is currently being developed to measure plutonium holdup in the SPD gloveboxes. Thispaper will report on progress with the development of this system.This application requires that the features of current commercially available instruments from H3Dand PHDS, optimized for measurement performance in a mobile application, be translated into theconstraints of the operational environment with fixed installations. The interaction between facilityconstraints and measurement capabilities will be addressed.A series of measurements with plutonium sources in a mocked-up glovebox geometry with imagersmounted above the ceiling of the glovebox have been taken. Imager performance with respect to angularresolution, minimum measurement time for quantification, and signal-to-noise ratio with a multitudeof sources will be evaluated for those measurements. A series of prototypes of user interfaces will bepresented for display of the data to its various consumers for the purposes of Nuclear Material Controland Accountancy, worker dose minimization, criticality safety, and process monitoring.

Schmitt, Kyle↗

Removal of ordering ambiguity for a class of position dependent mass quantum systems with an application to the quadratic Liénard type nonlinear oscillators

We consider the problem of removal of ordering ambiguity in position dependent mass quantum systems characterized by a generalized position dependent mass Hamiltonian which generalizes a number of Hermitian as well as non-Hermitian ordered forms of the Hamiltonian. We implement point canonical transformation method to map one-dimensional time-independent position dependent mass Schrödinger equation endowed with potentials onto constant mass counterparts which are considered to be exactly solvable. We observe that a class of mass functions and the corresponding potentials give rise to solutions that do not depend on any particular ordering, leading to the removal of ambiguity in it. In this case, it is imperative that the ordering is Hermitian. For non-Hermitian ordering, we show that the class of systems can also be exactly solvable and is also shown to be iso-spectral using suitable similarity transformations. We also discuss the normalization of the eigenfunctions obtained from both Hermitian and non-Hermitian orderings. We illustrate the technique with the quadratic Liénard type nonlinear oscillators, which admit position dependent mass Hamiltonians.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ten questions concerning energy flexibility in buildings

Demand side energy flexibility is increasingly being viewed as an essential enabler for the swift transition to a low-carbon energy system that displaces conventional fossil fuels with renewable energy sources while maintaining, if not improving, the operation of the energy system. Building energy flexibility may address several challenges facing energy systems and electricity consumers as society transitions to a low-carbon energy system characterized by distributed and intermittent energy resources. For example, by changing the timing and amount of building energy consumption through advanced building technologies, electricity demand and supply balance can be improved to enable greater integration of variable renewable energy. Although the benefits of utilizing energy flexibility from the built environment are generally recognized, solutions that reflect diversity in building stocks, customer behavior, and market rules and regulations need to be developed for successful implementation. In this paper, we pose and answer ten questions covering technological, social, commercial, and regulatory aspects to enable the utilization of energy flexibility of buildings in practice. In particular, we provide a critical overview of techniques and methods for quantifying and harnessing energy flexibility. We discuss the concepts of resilience and multi-carrier energy systems and their relation to energy flexibility. We argue the importance of balancing stakeholder engagement and technology deployment. Finally, we highlight the crucial roles of standardization, regulation, and policy in advancing the deployment of energy flexible buildings.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Detecting Uniform Areas for Vicarious Calibration using Landsat TM Imagery: A Study using the Arabian and Saharan Deserts

This paper discusses a method for detecting spatially uniform sites need for radiometric characterization of remote sensing satellites. Such information is critical for scientific research applications of imagery having moderate to high resolutions (<30-m ground sampling distance (GSD)). Previously published literature indicated that areas with the African Saharan and Arabian deserts contained extremely uniform sites with respect to spatial characteristics. We developed an algorithm for detecting site uniformity and applied it to orthorectified Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery over eight uniform regions of interest. The algorithm's results were assessed using both medium-resolution (30-m GSD) Landsat 7 ETM+ and fine-resolution (<5-m GSD) IKONOS multispectral data collected over sites in Libya and Mali. Fine-resolution imagery over a Libyan site exhibited less than 1 percent nonuniformity. The research shows that Landsat TM products appear highly useful for detecting potential calibration sites for system characterization. In particular, the approach detected spatially uniform regions that frequently occur at multiple scales of observation.

Hilbert, Kent↗

Tracking radioactivity content in the spent fuel pool in PWRS - 15150

Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in managing radioisotopes generated in the PWR primary systems. These include limiting the use of cobalt containing materials, along with improved fuel performance and zinc injection to passivate the corrosion layers to limit the accumulation of Co-58 and Co-60 on primary coolant surfaces. Attention here is directed to the spent fuel pool where accumulation of spent fuel and activated material represents a growing source of mobile radioactivity supplemented with periodic exchanges of water from the reactor cooling system. Characterization of this source is increasingly important to effective management of disposal options. This paper examines the radioactive resin source term as determined from routine sampling of the coolant and fuel pool liquids. Targeted resin stream sampling and radiochemical analyses conducted at Diablo Canyon serve to inform and provide context for this examination. This examination is supplemented with computer modelling using the DW James Consulting computer program, 3R-SCAN. At most operating plants daily reactor coolant samples are counted using gamma spectroscopy and recorded. These samples serve to track fuel performance and maintain water chemistry. A secondary use for this data is to maintain a day to day tracking of releases of radioisotopes important to waste disposal. Given the coolant concentrations, plant operating history, and corroborative mathematical models and sampling, accumulation of these radioisotopes in coolant cleanup system ion-exchangers can be predicted. Fuel pool sampling is less frequent, but at the same time, things change more slowly there. The fuel pool contains about ten times the volume of the reactor coolant but its cleanup system process rate is comparable to reactor coolant letdown, i.e. 5.047 - 8.833 liters per second [lps] (80-140 gallons per minute [gpm]). A spent fuel pool clean-up demineralizer flow rate is typically about 5.047 lps (80 gpm). Concentrations of longer lived radioisotopes in the spent fuel pool can be comparable to those in reactor coolant. Releases of corrosion products and fission products from the stored fuel occur at a low rate but given the overall inventory can be significant. Recognized scaling factor ratios, particularly those to Co-60, are skewed by the aging of the material in the pool. An additional consideration stems from refueling operations themselves. Prior to refueling, it is common practice to conduct a forced oxidation of the corrosion films within the reactor. This spikes the activity within the reactor coolant. Most of this activity is removed by the reactor coolant purification system prior to removing the reactor head. This paper examines the accumulation of activity in the fuel pool purification ion exchange resins and how it impacts the overall classification of those ion exchange resins. The following discussion focuses on the transport of nickel and cobalt isotopes particularly as it relates to determination of Ni-63 which has become increasingly prominent in disposal classification. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Turbulence and the Stabilization Principle

Further results of research, reported in several previous NASA Tech Briefs articles, were obtained on a mathematical formalism for postinstability motions of a dynamical system characterized by exponential divergences of trajectories leading to chaos (including turbulence). To recapitulate: Fictitious control forces are introduced to couple the dynamical equations with a Liouville equation that describes the evolution of the probability density of errors in initial conditions. These forces create a powerful terminal attractor in probability space that corresponds to occurrence of a target trajectory with probability one. The effect in ordinary perceived three-dimensional space is to suppress exponential divergences of neighboring trajectories without affecting the target trajectory. Con sequently, the postinstability motion is represented by a set of functions describing the evolution of such statistical quantities as expectations and higher moments, and this representation is stable. The previously reported findings are analyzed from the perspective of the authors Stabilization Principle, according to which (1) stability is recognized as an attribute of mathematical formalism rather than of underlying physics and (2) a dynamical system that appears unstable when modeled by differentiable functions only can be rendered stable by modifying the dynamical equations to incorporate intrinsic stochasticity.

Zak, Michail↗

Validation of Multisystem Countermeasures Protocol for Spaceflight during Antarctica Winter-over at Palmer Station (Palmer Countermeasures)

Exploration-class missions beyond the Van Allen belt to the Moon and then Mars will begin soon. Low-Earth orbital spaceflight results in the persistent perturbation of the human immune system, characterized by reductions in T and NK cell function, altered cytokine profiles, and the reactivation of latent herpesviruses. While these alterations have not caused widespread clinical issues, some crewmembers experience immune-related adverse events, including manifestations of symptomatic herpes viral reactivation, allergy, and respiratory distress. Because future deep-space exploration missions will be of unprecedented duration, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the immune perturbations observed aboard International Space Station (ISS) will intensify during longer missions in deep space, thereby placing crewmembers at elevated clinical risk. Thus, it is imperative to preserve the immune vigilance of astronauts by developing a countermeasure strategy. Of all the Earth analogs studied to date, an Antarctica winter-over (AWO) mission most closely reproduces the spaceflight experience: prolonged deployment, extreme environment, circadian misalignment, isolation, station lifestyle, and personal risk. The US maintains three primary stations in Antarctica: South Pole Station, McMurdo, and Palmer. Previous studies suggest that stations located near the interior of Antarctica (South Pole, McMurdo) have confounding effects on the immune system due to persistent hypobaric hypoxia. Thus, it was hypothesized that winter-over at a coastal station (Palmer) would be more akin to spaceflight due to its normoxic but still extreme environment. Therefore, AWO at Palmer Station was chosen as the platform for testing and validating the effectiveness of a NASA multi-system countermeasures protocol designed for deep space missions. The array of countermeasure protocols and monitoring methods deployed for each AWO will consist of diet modifications, nutritional supplementation, prescribed aerobic and resistive exercise, and a protocol of stress relieving virtual reality exercises. A multitude of biological sample types, including blood, saliva, and hair will be collected in tandem with the countermeasures in order to examine the combined effectiveness of the countermeasures. Samples and logs from subjects will be transported from Palmer Station to Johnson Space Center for further processing and distribution to co-investigators at the end of each winter-over. Extracted samples will be analyzed by appropriate testing platforms (Multiplex, qPCR, ELISA, etc.) to monitor alterations in leukocyte distribution, T cell and NK function, cytokine profiles, reactivation of latent herpesviruses, and nutritional factors. The data collected will be compared to a control year in which no countermeasures were deployed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the analog and to validate the candidate immune countermeasure strategy. With the completion of the Antarctica Winter-Over (WO) 2022 control year, samples for 13 subjects have been successfully returned from Antarctica to NASA/JSC for further processing and distribution to Co-Investigators. WO 2023, the first countermeasure year, has also commenced with 11 subject consenting and performing their base line data collections (BDC) held in Chile. Another 5 subjects, who were already stationed at Palmer Station, Antarctica, joined as participates in the investigation. These 5 subjects were consented, but no BDC was able to be collected due to their joining in-mission. Therefore, there will be a total of 16 subjects participating in Antarctica's 2023 Winter-Over.

Cody L Gutierrez↗

Linear and Nonlinear Solvers for Simulating Multiphase Flow within Large-Scale Engineered Subsurface Systems

Simulation of multiphase flow in the subsurface is well-known to be computationally challenging. While there have been many studies that have explored approaches to overcoming these challenges, they often utilize relatively simple case studies. In this paper, we focus on the unique numerical challenges posed by modeling large-scale engineered subsurface systems, characterized by discrete features embedded in a heterogeneous natural subsurface setting. The man-made features such as shafts, tunnels, and barriers often cause multiple challenges in modeling the domain for multiphase porous media flow. This flow scenario can have a wide range of applications such as nuclear waste repositories, enhanced recovery of a petroleum reservoir, geothermal engineering, and carbon sequestration. An example of these severe numerical challenges is the case of performance assessment (PA) for Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the only operating deep geological repository in the US, which simulates extreme material properties of bedded salt rock formation and extreme contrast due to open excavation next to the formation. The models have extremes not only of permeability and porosity but also of the constitutive models needed for multiphase flow; additionally, they have process models like salt creep closure reducing porosity over time, fracturing in clay and anhydrite interbeds of the bedded salt, gas generation from the waste materials, and unintentional human borehole intrusions in some scenarios. Numerical simulations require the solution of coupled systems of nonlinear PDEs; in our work, we use the open-source simulator PFLOTRAN which is based on Finite Volume discretization. The solution of the nonlinear equations requires use of the Newton-Raphson iteration at each time step, which entails the solution of the linearized Jacobian system at each iteration. The effects of all the processes (i.e., large number of unknowns, highly nonlinear constitutive relations, large contrasts in material properties in short distances) lead to an ill-conditioned Jacobian matrix that severely challenges traditional linear solver, i.e., stabilized biconjugate gradient with block Jacobi incomplete LU preconditioner (BCGS-ILU) leading to non-convergence for traditional Newton-Raphson nonlinear solver causing unacceptably long computation time for each model. This paper presents linear solvers such as constrained pressure residual (CPR) two-stage preconditioner with alternate-block-factorization (ABF) and quasi- implicit pressure and explicit saturation (QIMPES) decouplers and flexible generalized residual solver (FGMRES). The new general-purpose nonlinear solver, Newton trust-region dogleg Cauchy (NTRDC), is also introduced to resolve extreme nonlinearities in the models. We demonstrate the effectiveness of each method relative to the default BCGS-Newton solver. The two best cases had nearly 50 times speed-up and achieved completion of a simulation in 14 hours that never completed due to non-convergence with the default solver. We also investigate the strong scalability of each method and discuss some of the deficiencies found for Block Jacobi preconditioner using parallel domain decomposition, and node packing effects of modern processor architecture.

Preconditioner, Nonlinear, Porous media, Multiphas↗

Higher-order Van Hove singularities in kagome topological bands

Motivated by the growing interest in band structures featuring higher-order Van Hove singularities (HOVHS), we investigate a spinless fermion kagome system characterized by nearest-neighbor (NN) and next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) hopping amplitudes. While NN hopping preserves time-reversal symmetry, NNN hopping, akin to chiral hopping on the Haldane lattice, breaks time-reversal symmetry and leads to the formation of topological bands with Chern numbers ranging from 𝐶 = ±1 to ±4. We perform analytical and numerical analysis of the energy bands near the high-symmetry points Γ, ±𝐊, and 𝐌 𝑖 (𝑖 = 1, 2, and 3), which uncover a rich and complex landscape of HOVHS, controlled by the magnitude and phase of the NNN hopping. We observe power-law divergences in the density of states (DOS), 𝜌⁡(𝜀)∼|𝜀| −𝜈 , with exponents 𝜈 = 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, which can significantly affect the anomalous Hall response at low temperatures when the Fermi level crosses the HOVHS. Additionally, the NNN hopping induces the formation of higher Chern number bands 𝐶 = ±2, ±4 in the middle of the spectrum obeying a sublattice interference whereupon electronic states are maximally localized in each of the sublattices when the momentum approaches the three high-symmetry points 𝐌 𝑖 (𝑖 = 1, 2, and 3) on the Brillouin zone boundary. Finally, this classification of HOVHS in kagome systems provides a platform to explore unconventional electronic orders induced by electronic correlations.

Chern insulators↗

Generation and healing of porosity in high purity copper by high-pressure torsion

Highlights: • Direct characterization of severe plastic deformation induced and healed porosities. • HPT process of disk with pre-fabricated holes reveals healing of porosity. • Ultrafine grains coexisting with shear bands and pores exhibit high stability. • Excess vacancies and pores cause drag effect on the grain boundary motion. • Accelerated vacancy diffusion leads to the generation and growth of pores. - Abstract: Generation and healing of pores in metals under loading or during processing have long been important research topics, and their mechanisms are still debatable. In recent years, unexpected percolating networks of pores acting as ultra-fast diffusion paths were found in ultrafine-grained metals processed by severe plastic deformation. Herein, we conducted a systematic study of the mechanisms of generation and healing of pores in ultrahigh-purity copper (99.9995 wt%) during high-pressure torsion (HPT). In addition to a solid Cu disk, the disk with holes that were drilled before processing, resulting in nominal initial porosity of 4.48%, was processed by HPT. After HPT, the percolating porosities of 0.07 ± 0.01% and 0.04 ± 0.01% were found in the solid disk, and in the disk with pre-fabricated holes, respectively. Thus, higher initial porosity resulted in lower percolating porosity in the HPT-processed disk. Systemic characterization using scanning electron microscopy revealed that in both cases shear bands and ultra-fine grains are located in the regions with induced and healed pores. We discussed the mechanisms of porosity evolution in both cases. In the end, to verify the possibility of pores nucleation and growth by vacancy agglomeration, vacancy diffusivity during HPT processing was estimated. This work sheds a new light on the mechanisms of pores nucleation and evolution during severe plastic deformation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids for the Exploration of Small Solar System Bodies: Final Report: NASA NIAC - Phase II Study

This study investigated a mission architecture that allows the systematic and affordable in-situ exploration of small solar system bodies, such as asteroids, comets, and Martian moons (Figure 1). The architecture relies on the novel concept of spacecraft/rover hybrids,which are surface mobility platforms capable of achieving large surface coverage (by attitude controlled hops, akin to spacecraft flight), fine mobility (by tumbling), and coarse instrument pointing (by changing orientation relative to the ground) in the low-gravity environments(micro-g to milli-g) of small bodies. The actuation of the hybrids relies on spinning three internal flywheels. Using a combination of torques, the three flywheel motors can produce a reaction torque in any orientation without additional moving parts. This mobility concept allows all subsystems to be packaged in one sealed enclosure and enables the platforms to be minimalistic. The hybrids would be deployed from a mother spacecraft, which would act as a communication relay to Earth and would aid the in-situ assets with tasks such as localization and navigation (Figure 1). The hybrids are expected to be more capable and affordable than wheeled or legged rovers, due to their multiple modes of mobility (both hopping and tumbling), and have simpler environmental sealing and thermal management (since all components are sealed in one enclosure, assuming non-deployable science instruments). In summary, this NIAC Phase II study has significantly increased the TRL (Technology Readiness Level) of the mobility and autonomy subsystems of spacecraft/rover hybrids, and characterized system engineering aspects in the context of a reference mission to Phobos. Future studies should focus on improving the robustness of the autonomy module and further refine system engineering aspects, in view of opportunities for technology infusion.

mobility platforms↗

Giant Electrocaloric Effect in Ferroelectrics with Tailored Polaw-Nanostructures

Electrocaloric effect (ECE) is the temperature and/or entropy change in a dielectric material caused by an electric field induced polarization change. Although ECE has been studied since 1930s, the very small ECE observed in earlier studies in bulk materials before 2007 makes it not attractive for practical cooling applications. The objectives of this DOE program are to carry out a systematical scientific research on the entropy change and ECE in polar-dielectrics, especially ferroelectrics based on several fundamental hypotheses and to search for answers on a few scientific questions. Especially, this research program developed a series of polar-dielectric materials with controlled nano- and meso-structures and carried out studies on how these structures affect the polar-ordering, correlations, energy landscapes, and consequently the entropy states at different phases and ECE. The key hypotheses of the program include: (i) Whether a large ECE can be obtained near the ferroelectric-paraelectric (FE-PE) transition in properly designed ferroelectrics which possess large polarization P and large ß (the coefficient in the thermodynamic Landau theory where the Gibbs free energy G = G = G 0 + ½ a P 2 +1/4 b P 4 + 1/6 c P 6 – EP, and a = ß (T-T c ), where b,c,ß and Tc are constants)? (ii) What determines/determine ß? Whether a ferroelectric material with built-in disorders, which disrupt the polar-correlations and enabling a large number of local polar-states, such as a properly designed ferroelectric relaxor, can achieve a large ECE? (iii) How to design a ferroelectric material which has flat energy landscape so that the energy barriers for switching among different phases are vanishingly small? What are the necessary conditions to maximize the number of coexisting phases? (iv) How to design ferroelectric materials with a large tunable dielectric response? That is, at zero electric field, the material possesses very low polar-correlation and hence a very small dielectric constant, under the application of electric field, the material develops long range polar-correlation and hence a high dielectric response. Studying and developing these materials will deepen our understanding on the polarization responses in strongly coupled materials and the roles of molecular and nano, meso-, and micro-scale defects and structures on the polarization responses. On the application front, besides ECE, these dielectrics will also have great impact on micro-electronics and communications. (v) The multi-field effect, besides the electric, elastic and even magnetic effects, could be made use of to tune the energy landscape of polar-materials and hence enhance the ECE. Hence the question is what are the suitable material systems to develop and maximize the multi-field effects? (vi) Besides solid dielectric, liquid dielectrics with properly designed molecular structures and dipolar coupling can also exhibit a large ECE near the dipolar order-disorder transition. The study of order-disorder transition and their influence on entropy change and ECE will provide additional avenue to study dielectrics and understand relationship between the polar-ordering and dipolar entropy in dielectrics. (vii) Besides the regular ECE in which applying an electric field will induce dipolar ordering, there are dielectric material systems which can exhibit negative ECE in which the applied field will reduce the dipolar ordering and anomalous ECE in which applying an electric field pulse will generate cooling only. The question is how to control and balance the nano- and meso-scale polar coupling in dielectrics to achieve such effects? ECE in dielectrics provides an interesting and effective avenue to probe the polar-correlation in dielectrics. Thus the study of ECE in polar-dielectrics, besides the application values, will also deepen our understanding of strongly coupled materials systems, phase transitions, and materials systems with nano- and meso-scale disorders. Through the efforts of this DoE program, we have developed understandings for many questions and materials approaches for many hypotheses listed above. The major accomplishments include: (i) The first one to show that a giant ECE can be obtained in bulk materials of ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer, which has a large ß coefficient and high polarization, near FE-PE transition.[1,3,12] (ii) The first who developed the theoretical analyses on the upper bound of dipolar entropy change in polar-materials and the general approach to maximize the coexisting phases with vanishingly small switching fields among the coexisting phases[10,23] Experimental results confirm these theoretical predictions.[24] (iii) The first to show that the relaxor ferroelectrics, due to built-in defects structures at nano- and meso scale, exhibit a giant ECE over a broad temperature range.[1,3,7,14] (iv) The first to show that a large ECE can be obtained near order-disorder transition in dielectric fluids such as liquid crystals with large dielectric anisotropy. Also the study developed a general approach for developing dielectric fluids to achieve a large electric field induced entropy change.[26] (v) We are starting to explore the multi-field effect (multiferroic effect) in nanocomposites in which there exist large dielectric contrasts between the matrix and nanofilelrs and showed that a significantly enhanced ECE compared with polymer matrix.[36] (vi) By facially tuning the nano- and meso-scale dipolar coupling, we are the first to show that an anomalous ECE can be obtained in a relaxor/normal ferroelectric blend.[39] (vii) Introduced and demonstrated that the internal bias field approach can be effective in enhancing the EC response at low electric field. The result is significant since for practical applications, a low applied field is highly desired. (viii) A high sensitivity ECE characterization system has been developed. This program has made major contributions to the advancement of the EC materials and understandings of EC phenomena. To reflect the advancement in the EC materials development and scientific understandings on ECE through in this time period (from Sept. 1, 2007 to May 2015), this final report is written based on the reports complied each year through the program. Some early works on the ECE which were obtained using the indirect method are not included in this report.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Persistence of Methionine Side Chain Mobility at Low Temperatures in a Nine‐Residue Low Complexity Peptide, as Probed by 2 H Solid‐State NMR

Abstract Methionine side chains are flexible entities which play important roles in defining hydrophobic interfaces. We utilize deuterium static solid‐state NMR to assess rotameric inter‐conversions and other dynamic modes of the methionine in the context of a nine‐residue random‐coil peptide (RC9) with the low‐complexity sequence GGKGMGFGL. The measurements in the temperature range of 313 to 161 K demonstrate that the rotameric interconversions in the hydrated solid powder state persist to temperatures below 200 K. Removal of solvation significantly reduces the rate of the rotameric motions. We employed 2 H NMR line shape analysis, longitudinal and rotation frame relaxation, and chemical exchange saturation transfer methods and found that the combination of multiple techniques creates a significantly more refined model in comparison with a single technique. Further, we compare the most essential features of the dynamics in RC9 to two different methionine‐containing systems, characterized previously. Namely, the M35 of hydrated amyloid‐β 1–40 in the three‐fold symmetric polymorph as well as Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (FMOC)‐methionine amino acid with the bulky hydrophobic group. The comparison suggests that the driving force for the enhanced methionine side chain mobility in RC9 is the thermodynamic factor stemming from distributions of rotameric populations, rather than the increase in the rate constant.

Vugmeyster, Liliya↗

An Exact Expression for Multidimensional Spectroscopy of a Spin‐Boson Hamiltonian

Multidimensional coherent spectroscopy is a powerful tool to characterize nonlinear optical response functions. Typically, multidimensional spectra are interpreted via a perturbative framework that straightforwardly provides intuition into the density matrix dynamics that give rise to specific spectral features. When the goal is to characterize system coupling to a thermal bath however, the perturbative formalism becomes unwieldy and yields less intuition. Here, an approach developed by Vagov et al. is extended to provide an exact expression for multidimensional spectra of a spin-boson Hamiltonian up to arbitrary order of electric field interaction. Furthermore, the utility of this expression is demonstrated by modeling polaron formation and coherent exciton-phonon coupling in quantum dots, which strongly agree with experiment.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗