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

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At least 343 records · Page 19

Phase-field simulations of intragranular fission gas bubble evolution in UO2 under post-irradiation thermal annealing

Fission gas bubble is one of evolving microstructures, which affect thermal mechanical properties such as thermo-conductivity, gas release, volume swelling, and cracking, in operating nuclear fuels. Therefore, fundamental understanding of gas bubble evolution kinetics is essential to predict the thermodynamic property and performance changes of fuels. In this work, a generic phasefield model was developed to describe the evolution kinetics of intra-granular fission gas bubbles in UO2 fuels under post-irradiation thermal annealing conditions. Free energy functional and model parameters are evaluated from atomistic simulations and experiments. Critical nuclei size of the gas bubble and gas bubble evolution were simulated. A linear relationship between logarithmic bubble number density and logarithmic mean bubble diameter is predicted which is in a good agreement with experimental data.

Intra-granular gas bubbles evolution↗

Search for gluino mediated bottom- and top-squark production in multijet final states in pp collisions at 8 TeV

A search for supersymmetry is presented based on events with large missing transverse energy, no isolated electron or muon, and at least three jets with one or more identified as a bottom-quark jet. A simultaneous examination is performed of the numbers of events in exclusive bins of the scalar sum of jet transverse momentum values, missing transverse energy, and bottom-quark jet multiplicity. The sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.4 inverse femtobarns, consists of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2012. The observed numbers of events are found to be consistent with the standard model expectation, which is evaluated with control samples in data. The results are interpreted in the context of two simplified supersymmetric scenarios in which gluino pair production is followed by the decay of each gluino to an undetected lightest supersymmetric particle and either a bottom or top quark-antiquark pair, characteristic of gluino mediated bottom- or top-squark production. Using the production cross section calculated to next-to-leading-order plus next-to-leading-logarithm accuracy, and in the limit of a massless lightest supersymmetric particle, we exclude gluinos with masses below 1170 GeV and 1020 GeV for the two scenarios, respectively.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

On the effective theory of neutrino-electron and neutrino-quark interactions

We determine the four Fermi effective theory of neutrino interactions within the Standard Model including one-loop electroweak radiative corrections, in combination with the measured muon lifetime and precision electroweak data. Including two-loop matching and three-loop running corrections, we determine lepton coefficients accounting for all large logarithms through relative order $\cal{O}(\alpha \alpha_s)$ and quark coefficients accounting for all large logarithms through ${\cal{O}}(\alpha)$. We present four-fermion coefficients valid in $n_f=3$ and $n_f=4$ flavor quark theories, as well as in the extreme low-energy limit. We relate the coefficients in this limit to neutrino charge radii governing matter effects via forward neutrino scattering on charged particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Flow in additively manufactured super-rough channels

Metal additive manufacturing has enabled geometrically complex internal cooling channels for turbine and heat exchanger applications, but the process gives rise to large-scale roughness whose size is comparable to the channel height (which is 500 $\mathrm {\mu }$ m). These super-rough channels pose previously unseen challenges for experimental measurements, data interpretation and roughness modelling. First, it is not clear if measurements at a particular streamwise and spanwise location still provide accurate representation of the mean (time- and plane-averaged) flow. Second, we do not know if the logarithmic layer survives. Third, it is unknown how well previously developed rough-wall models work for these large-scale roughnesses. To answer the above practical questions, we conduct direct numerical simulations of flow in additively manufactured super-rough channels. Three rough surfaces are considered, all of which are obtained from computed tomography scans of additively manufactured surfaces. The roughness’ trough to peak sizes are 0.1 $h$ , 0.3 $h$ and 0.8 $h$ , respectively, where $h$ is the intended half-channel height. Each rough surface is placed opposite a smooth wall and the other two rough surfaces, leading to six rough-wall channel configurations. Two Reynolds numbers are considered, namely $Re_\tau =180$ and $Re_\tau =395$ . We show first that measurements at one streamwise and spanwise location are insufficient due to strong mean flow inhomogeneity across the entire channel, second that the logarithmic law of the wall survives despite the mean flow inhomogeneity and third that the established roughness sheltering model remains accurate.

Altland, Samuel↗

Structure of the thermal boundary layer in turbulent channel flows at transcritical conditions

Enhanced fluctuations, steep gradients, and intensified heat transfer are characteristics of wall-bounded turbulence at transcritical conditions. Although such conditions are prevalent in numerous technical applications, the structure of the thermal boundary layer under realistic density gradients and heating conditions remains poorly understood. Specifically, statistical descriptions of the temperature field in such flows are provided inconsistently using existing models. To address this issue, direct numerical simulations are performed by considering fully developed transcritical turbulent channel flow at pressure and temperature conditions that cause density changes of a factor of up to $O(20)$ between the hot and cold walls. As a consequence of the proximity of the Widom line to the hot wall, significant asymmetries are observed when comparing regions near the cold wall and near the hot wall. Previous transformations that attempt to collapse the near-wall mean temperature profiles among different cases to a single curve are examined. By addressing model deficiencies of these transformations, a formulation for an improved mean temperature transformation is proposed, with appropriate considerations for real fluid effects that involve strong variations in thermodynamic quantities. Our proposed transformation is shown to perform well in collapsing the slope of the logarithmic region to a single universal value with reduced uncertainty. Coupled with a predictive framework to estimate the non-universal shift parameter of the logarithmic region using a priori information, our transformation provides an analytic profile to model the near-wall mean temperature. These results thus provide a framework to guide the development of models for wall-bounded transcritical turbulence.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The Kinetics of the Coherent Stage of Hydroxide Corrosion on Li 2 O-Covered LiH

The capability to model LiOH growth on vacuum-baked LiH is a necessary precursor to making kinetic predictions of undesirable hydrogen outgassing from corroded LiH materials when placed in sealed-system applications. Here, in this work, LiH samples with initial LiOH surface corrosion layers less than 1.1 μm were outgassed by vacuum baking at high temperature to convert LiOH to Li 2 O. Diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was used to measure the subsequent LiOH regrowth during exposure to 25–375 ppm of H 2 O vapor at room temperature. Logarithmic kinetics best model the growth of this coherent hydroxide corrosion layer (up to 1.5 μm) on previously vacuum-baked LiH samples. The logarithmic kinetics are attributed to the dissociation of H 2 O on the corrosion layer and the establishment of a H + /OH – electric field across the thickening LiOH corrosion layer. A time-dependent model of LiOH corrosion growth as a function of both initial LiOH thickness before vacuum baking and moisture partial pressures during re-exposure was developed to help researchers better assess the unwanted hydrogen outgassing potential from LiH/LiD materials.

Matt, Sarah M. [Lawrence Livermore National Labora↗

Effect of Strength of Soluble and Solid Acid Catalysts on Selectivity in Aldol Reactions

Aldol reactions can follow the classical condensation path and produce an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound and water, however in some cases, aldol chemistry may be steered towards a fission that gives an olefin and a carboxylic acid. This investigation examines how the strength of Brønsted acid sites—both in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis—controls these two pathways and their kinetics. The cross-aldol reaction between benzaldehyde and 3-pentanone served as test case. Batch reactions, conducted in toluene as solvent at a temperature of 140 °C under autogenous pressure, were analyzed by GC and in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to determine product distributions and rate constants for condensation and fission pathways. A series of soluble acids including a family of sulfonic acids mostly favored the condensation pathway, with formic acid as the weakest in the series by its pKa being inactive for aldol chemistry. Significant amounts of fission products were rare except for the known selectivity of phosphoric acid, and the circumstances were difficult to delineate. For the sulfonic acid family, the logarithm of the first-order condensation rate constants scaled only roughly with pKa (water) values, whereas a good correlation was obtained with calculated deprotonation Gibbs energies in toluene. A series of H-forms of isomorphously substituted beta zeolites, HESiBEA with E = Al, Ga, Fe, or B, favored the fission pathway. Site density and site strength were characterized by calorimetric measurements of the heats of adsorption of isopropylamine, which decreased in the order Al > Ga, Fe > B. The logarithm of the site-normalized first-order fission rate constants scaled roughly with the heats of adsorption and correlated excellently with reported deprotonation energies. In conclusion, acid strength mainly affects activity and can be seen as a pre-requisite for either aldol condensation or fission chemistry, whereas additional, yet to be full clarified catalyst properties and reaction conditions are required to steer aldol chemistry towards fission selectivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Reversible Heterolytic Cleavage of the H-H Bond by Molybdenum Complexes: Controlling the Dynamics of Exchange Between Proton and Hydride

Controlling the heterolytic cleavage of the H-H bond of dihydrogen is critically important in catalytic hydrogenations and in the catalytic oxidation of H2. We show how the rate of reversible heterolytic cleavage of H2 can be controlled over nearly four orders of magnitude at 25 °C, from 2.1 × 103 s-1 to ≥107 s-1. Bifunctional Mo complexes, [CpMo(CO)(κ3-P2N2)]+ (P2N2 = 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane with alkyl/aryl groups on N and P), have been developed for heterolytic cleavage of H2 into a proton and a hydride, akin to Frustrated Lewis Pairs. The H-H bond cleavage is enabled by the basic amine in the second coordination sphere. The products of heterolytic cleavage of H2, Mo hydride complexes bearing protonated amines, [CpMo(H)(CO)(P2N2H)]+, were characterized by spectroscopic studies and by X-ray crystallography. Variable temperature 1H, 15N and 2-D 1H-1H ROESY NMR spectra indicated rapid exchange of the proton and hydride. The exchange rates are in the order [CpMo(H)(CO)(PPh2NPh2H)]+ > [CpMo(H)(CO)(PtBu2NPh2H)]+ > [CpMo(H)(CO)(PPh2NBn2H)]+ > [CpMo(H)(CO)(PtBu2NBn2H)]+ > [CpMo(H)(CO)(PtBu2NtBu2H)]+. The pKa values determined in acetonitrile range from 9.3 to 17.7, and show a linear correlation with the logarithm of the exchange rates. Thus the exchange dynamics are controlled through the relative acidity of the [CpMo(H)(CO)(P2N2H)]+ and [CpMo(H2)(CO)(P2N2)]+ isomers, providing a design principle for controlling heterolytic cleavage of H2.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A model for the fragmentation kinetics of crumpled thin sheets

As a confined thin sheet crumples, it spontaneously segments into flat facets delimited by a network of ridges. Despite the apparent disorder of this process, statistical properties of crumpled sheets exhibit striking reproducibility. Experiments have shown that the total crease length accrues logarithmically when repeatedly compacting and unfolding a sheet of paper. Here, we offer insight to this unexpected result by exploring the correspondence between crumpling and fragmentation processes. We identify a physical model for the evolution of facet area and ridge length distributions of crumpled sheets, and propose a mechanism for re-fragmentation driven by geometric frustration. This mechanism establishes a feedback loop in which the facet size distribution informs the subsequent rate of fragmentation under repeated confinement, thereby producing a new size distribution. We then demonstrate the capacity of this model to reproduce the characteristic logarithmic scaling of total crease length, thereby supplying a missing physical basis for the observed phenomenon.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Investigating the Cuprates as a platform for high-order Van Hove singularities and flat-band physics

Abstract Beyond the two-dimensional saddle-point Van Hove singularities (VHSs) with logarithmic divergences in the density of states, recent studies have identified higher-order VHSs with faster-than-logarithmic divergences that can amplify electron correlation effects. Here we show that the cuprate high-Tc superconductors harbor high-order VHSs in their electronic spectra and unveil a new correlation that the cuprates with high-order VHSs display higher T c ’s. Our analysis indicates that the normal and higher-order VHSs can provide a straightforward new marker for identifying propensity of a material toward the occurrence of correlated phases such as the excitonic insulators and supermetals. Our study suggests cuprates and related high-T c superconductors as materials for exploring the interplay between high-order VHSs, superconducting transition temperatures, and electron correlation effects.

Markiewicz, Robert S. (ORCID:0000000207470713)↗

Electronic transport in two-dimensional high dielectric constant nanosystems

There has been remarkable recent progress in engineering high-dielectric constant two dimensional (2D) materials, which are being actively pursued for applications in nanoelectronics in capacitor and memory devices, energy storage, and high-frequency modulation in communication devices. Yet many of the unique properties of these systems are poorly understood and remain unexplored. Here we report a numerical study of hopping conductivity of the lateral network of capacitors, which models two-dimensional insulators, and demonstrate that 2D long-range Coulomb interactions lead to peculiar size effects. We find that the characteristic energy governing electronic transport scales logarithmically with either system size or electrostatic screening length depending on which one is shorter. Our results are relevant well beyond their immediate context, explaining, for example, recent experimental observations of logarithmic size dependence of electric conductivity of thin superconducting films in the critical vicinity of superconductor-insulator transition where a giant dielectric constant develops. Our findings mark a radical departure from the orthodox view of conductivity in 2D systems as a local characteristic of materials and establish its macroscopic global character as a generic property of high-dielectric constant 2D nanomaterials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Gate-tunable electron interaction in high-κ dielectric films

The two-dimensional (2D) logarithmic character of Coulomb interaction between charges and the resulting logarithmic confinement is a remarkable inherent property of high dielectric constant (high-k) thin films with far reaching implications. Most and foremost, this is the charge Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition with the notable manifestation, low-temperature superinsulating topological phase. Here we show that the range of the confinement can be tuned by the external gate electrode and unravel a variety of electrostatic interactions in high-k films. Lastly, our findings open a unique laboratory for the in-depth study of topological phase transitions and a plethora of related phenomena, ranging from criticality of quantum metal- and superconductor-insulator transitions to the effects of charge-trapping and Coulomb scalability in memory nanodevices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Entropy and complexity analysis of hydrogenic Rydberg atoms

The internal disorder of hydrogenic Rydberg atoms as contained in their position and momentum probability densities is examined by means of the following information-theoretic spreading quantities: the radial and logarithmic expectation values, the Shannon entropy, and the Fisher information. As well, the complexity measures of Cramer-Rao, Fisher-Shannon, and Lopez Ruiz-Mancini-Calvet types are investigated in both reciprocal spaces. The leading term of these quantities is rigorously calculated by use of the asymptotic properties of the concomitant entropic functionals of the Laguerre and Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomials which control the wavefunctions of the Rydberg states in both position and momentum spaces. The associated generalized Heisenberg-like, logarithmic and entropic uncertainty relations are also given. Finally, application to linear (l= 0), circular (l=n- 1), and quasicircular (l=n- 2) states is explicitly done.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Dynamical properties of non-ideal plasma on the basis of effective potentials

In this work, stopping power has been calculated on the basis of the Coulomb logarithm using the effective potentials. Calculations of the Coulomb logarithm and stopping power for different interaction potentials and degrees of ionization are compared. The comparison with the data of other theoretical and experimental works was carried out.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Toroidal momentum transport in a tokamak due to profile shearing

The effect of profile shearing on toroidal momentum transport is studied in linear and non-linear gyro-kinetic simulations. Retaining the radial dependence of both plasma and geometry parameters leads to a momentum flux that has contributions both linear in the logarithmic gradients of density and temperature, as well as contributions linear in the derivatives of the logarithmic gradients. The effect of the turbulence intensity gradient on momentum transport is found to be small for the studied parameters. Linear simulations at fixed normalized toroidal wave number predict a weak dependence of the momentum flux on the normalized Larmor radius ρ{sub *}=ρ/R. Non-linear simulations, however, at sufficiently small ρ{sub *} show a linear scaling of the momentum flux with ρ{sub *}. The obtained stationary rotation gradients are in the range of, although perhaps smaller than, current experiments. For a reactor plasma, however, a rather small rotation gradient should result from profile shearing.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Transport on the surface of a topological insulator

We study theoretically dc and ac transport on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator when its time-reversal symmetry is broken. Starting with a Kubo formula, we derive an explicit expression for the dc Hall conductivity, valid for finite temperatures. At zero temperature this expression gives the dc half-quantum Hall conductivity, provided the Fermi level lies in the gap. Corrections when the Fermi level is outside the gap and scattering by impurities are quantified. The longitudinal conductivity is also examined. At finite frequencies, we find a modified Drude term in σ{sub xx}(ω) and logarithmic, frequency-dependent corrections in σ{sub yx}(ω). The ac Hall conductivity exhibits a robust logarithmic singularity for excitation energies equal to the gapwidth. For these energies, we also find that the power spectrum, which is pertinent to optical experiments, exhibits drastic increase. The Hall conductivity remains almost unaffected for temperatures up to approximately 300 K.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Enhanced stabilisation of trapped electron modes by collisional energy scattering in tokamaks

The collisional stabilisation via energy scattering and pitch-angle scattering of micro-instabilities in tokamak plasmas is investigated by means of gyrokinetic simulations with a special emphasis on the often neglected energy scattering operator. It is shown that in the linear regime energy scattering has a negligible effect on Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) modes but enhances the stabilisation of Trapped Electron Modes (TEM) in presence of nonzero ion temperature and density gradients. This stabilisation is sensitive to the model used for the energy restoring term in the collision operator. The contributions of parallel and drift motion to the total growth rate in velocity space are used to characterize the complex stabilisation mechanisms behind pitch-angle and energy scattering for a range of relevant parameters such as the magnetic shear, the collisionality, the logarithmic density gradient, and the logarithmic ion temperature gradient. It is shown that depending on these parameters, energy scattering stabilisation of TEM can be either due to a decrease of the contribution from drifting trapped electrons or to an increase of the contribution from the parallel motion of passing electrons. Finally, for a standard ITG/TEM case, the effect of energy scattering on the nonlinear heat and particle fluxes is investigated.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗