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At least 37 records · Page 2

Laser-Induced Polarization for the Electron-Ion Collider

The use of an intense ultrashort laser pulse to induce electron polarization has been proposed in existing literature. Utilizing the Python programming language, a code has been developed to recreate the local constant crossed field approximation (LCFA) with the aim of determining values for transverse polarization given a nonzero initial polarization. It has been shown that over multiple laser shots, lower values of the quantum efficiency parameter are associated with higher transverse polarization output, yet require a greater number of shots to attain maximal polarization. Moreover, the quantum efficiency parameter has been rede fined as a function of intensity for Ti:sapphire laser necessary to induce polarization in the Electron-Ion Collider.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Spin polarization induced by magnetic field and the relativistic Barnett effect

First, I study the analogy between the magnetization of a material and the spin polarization of particles in a fluid. Using the relativistic version of the Barnett effect, i.e. the magnetization of a material induced by mechanical rotation, the spin polarization induced by thermal vorticity is obtained within a purely classical model, where spin is treated as an intrinsic magnetic moment and rotation is included as a non-inertial effect. I argue that since spin polarization induced by thermal vorticity can be obtained in a classical theory, it can not be dominated by quantum anomalies. Second, the spin polarization induced by magnetic field is obtained for a fluid at local thermal equilibrium using statistical quantum field theory. The obtained formula is valid beyond the weak field approximation and when contributions from the non-homogeneity of the magnetic field are small. The exact form of spin polarization is studied for a free Dirac field at global equilibrium, and, like magnetic susceptibility, it oscillates according to the de Haas - van Alphen effect. Finally, I briefly review how magnetic field contributes to the difference between the spin polarization of Λ and $\barΛ$ observed in heavy-ion collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements across a PFAS-contaminated source zone

There is a pressing need for the development of field-scale, in situ screening technologies for assessing variations in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) concentrations in soils at former fire training and storage sites. Field-scale Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) geophysical measurements were acquired on a transect crossing an AFFF source zone. Soil samples were acquired from ten locations and used to determine variations in poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in soils and soil texture. These samples were also used to create triplicate soil columns for laboratory-grade SIP measurements. Field and laboratory observations provide evidence that SIP measurements are sensitive to the concentration of AFFF constituents associated with the pore surface in soils. The phase of the SIP measurements on the laboratory samples was linearly correlated with total soil-sorbed PFAS concentration. The phase from the field SIP measurements was highest over the location of maximum PFAS concentration measured on the laboratory samples, although a significant correlation between field-measured phase and laboratory-measured total PFAS concentration was not established. The sensitivity of the SIP response to the removal of soil PFAS using a methanol wash procedure (total PFAS concentration drop of 366 ppb) adds evidence for the case for SIP characterization of AFFF source zones. The results of these studies suggest that SIP might be developed into a field-scale technology for rapid, indirect assessment of AFFF source zones. Such a technology could improve the effectiveness of AFFF source zone characterization at reduced costs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Finite-field Calculations of Molecular Polarizabilities Using Field-Induced Polarization Functions: Second- and Third-order Perturbation Correlation Corrections to the Coupled Hartree-Fock Polarizability of H2O

Ordinary Rayleigh-Schroudinger perturbation theory with Moller-Plesset (RSMP) partitioning is used to calculate second- and third-order correlation corrections to the CHF polarizability and dipole moment of the water molecule by a finite-field procedure. Pade approximants are found to be useful in accelerating the convergence of the property perturbation expansions. Field-induced polarization functions suitable for polarizability calculations are determined. The average polarizability calculated, neglecting vibrational averaging, with Dunning's (9s5p/4s-4s2p/2s) contracted GTO basis set augmented by field-induced lslp2d/lp polarization functions is within 3 per cent of the experimental result. Correlation corrections to the dipole moment and polarizability of the water molecule calculated by the finite-field RSMP and single + double excitation CI(SDCI) methods for the same basis set are found to be in close agreement. The RSMP approach has the advantages of being size-consistent and of being capable of greater efficiency than the SCDI method. Comparative calculations carried out using Epstein-Nesbet partitioning show that through third order RSEN correlation perturbation expansions for the dipole moment and polarizability are less rapidly convergent than RSMP expansions. However, reasonable accord with RSMP results can be achieved by using Pade approximants to accelerate the convergence of RSEN energy perturbation expansions. The convergence of RSMP property correlation expansions based on the zeroth-order uncoupled-Hartree-Fock (UCHF) and coupled-Hartree-Fock (CHF) approximations are compared through third order. Whereas the CHF + RSMP expansions are for practical purposes fully converged, the UCHF + RSMP expansions are not adequately converged.

Langhoff, S. R.↗

Apparatus and Method for Elimination of Polarization-Induced Fading in Fiber-optic Sensor System

The invention is an apparatus and method of eliminating polarization-induced fading in interferometric fiber-optic sensor system having a wavelength-swept laser optical signal. The interferometric return signal from the sensor arms are combined and provided to a multi-optical path detector assembly and ultimately to a data acquisition and processing unit by way of a switch that is time synchronized with the laser scan sweep cycle.

Chan, Hon Man↗

Detection of gravity-induced polarity of cytoplasmic streaming in Chara

Gravity induces a polarity of cytoplasmic streaming in vertically-oriented internodal cells of characean algae. The motive force that powers cytoplasmic streaming is generated at the ectoplasmic/endoplasmic interface. The velocity of streaming, which is about 100 micrometers/s at this interface, decreases with distance from the interface on either side of the cell to 0 micrometers/s near the middle. Therefore, when discussing streaming velocity it is necessary to specify the tangential plane through the cell in which streaming is being measured. This is easily done with a moderate resolution light microscope (which has a lateral resolution of 0.6 micrometers and a depth of field of 1.4 micrometers), but is obscured when using any low resolution technique, such as low magnification light microscopy or laser Doppler spectroscopy. In addition, the effect of gravity on the polarity of cytoplasmic streaming declines with increasing physiological age of isolated cells. Using a classical mechanical analysis, we show that the effect of gravity on the polarity of cytoplasmic streaming cannot result from the effect of gravity acting directly on individual cytoplasmic particles. We suggest that gravity may best be perceived by the entire cell at the plasma membrane-extracellular matrix junction.

Non-NASA Center↗

Geophysical signatures of soil AFFF contamination from spectral induced polarization and low field nuclear magnetic resonance methods

Few field methods are available for characterizing source zones contaminated with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). Non-invasive geophysical characterization of AFFF source zone contamination in situ could assist with the delineation and characterization of these sites, allowing for more informed sampling regimes aimed at quantifying subsurface poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. In this study, we present initial results from the investigation of the sensitivity of two existing surface and borehole-deployable geophysical technologies, spectral induced polarization (SIP), and low field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), to soils impacted with AFFF. To investigate the sensitivity of these methods to AFFF-impacted soil, bench-scale column experiments were conducted on samples consisting of natural and synthetic soils and groundwater. While our findings do not show strong evidence of NMR sensitivity to soil PFAS contamination, we do find evidence that SIP has sufficient sensitivity to detect PFAS sorption to soils. This finding is based on evidence that AFFF constituents associated with the pore surface produce a measurable polarization response in both freshly contaminated synthetic soils and in soils historically impacted with AFFF.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Revisiting the Relationship Between Induced Polarization and Surface Conductivity: Ratios From Laboratory to Field

Abstract Among the subsurface geophysical methods used in the critical zone investigations, induced polarization (IP) shows great vitality thanks to its unique ability to assess porosity via bulk conduction and estimate permeability through surface conduction and/or polarization. However, such an advantageous separation between bulk and surface is mostly implemented by multi‐salinity experiments in the laboratory, which is incredibly difficult to realize in the field. One promising approach to address such an obstinate issue is to gauge the surface conductivity ( σ s ) from the quadrature conductivity ( σ ″) or normalized chargeability ( M n ) with the ratios between ( l = σ ″/ σ s , l mn = M n / σ s ). While these ratios are known not to be universal, the underlying principles are not fully understood and relevant theoretical studies are rare, which makes quantitative IP applications difficult. Here we scrutinize the conduction and polarization mechanisms of geomaterials and pinpoint that the two ratios are inherently functions of salinities and frequencies rather than only determined by the properties of the electrical double layer (EDL), hence representative samples from the investigated field must be calibrated in the laboratory and a characteristic frequency should be chosen for their usage. Besides the macro‐scale ratios l and l mn , we define two micro‐scale ratios χ and χ mn directly from the EDL, such that the new ratios exclude the effect of salinity and frequency and offer the opportunity to characterize and monitor changes of the EDL. Our study demonstrates that the existing macro‐scale ratios converge toward the values of novel micro‐scale ratios at high water salinity.

Qi, Youzheng [Earth and Environmental Sciences Are↗

Permeability and Induced Polarization of Mudstones

Electrical measurements can be used to estimate hydraulic properties such as permeability ( k ) in sedimentary rocks. Previous work has focused on sandstones, siltstones, and carbonates, while investigations on mudstones have rarely been reported. In this study, we report on electrical geophysical measurements for 23 mudstone samples using an experimental approach designed to reliably saturate these low permeability mudstones. The modified Hagen-Poiseuille model linking permeability to the formation factor ( F ) and an effective pore radius ( r ) provides an excellent fit to the data set with a near-constant pore radius, indicating that the effective porosity (1/ F ) is the controlling factor on k . In these samples, the surface area normalized to pore volume ( S por ), frequently used in permeability estimation models, varies by 1–2 orders of magnitude and is thus not a reliable proxy of the inverse effective hydraulic radius. The formation factor also exerts the primary control on induced polarization (IP) parameters, whereas Spor shows no relation to the IP parameters. A strong linear relationship is found between IP parameters (imaginary conductivity and normalized chargeability) and surface conductivity, although the proportionality factor is significantly lower than those observed in more permeable rocks and sediments. Apparent relationships between the polarization strength-derived and time constant-derived geophysical length scales and the effective hydraulic radius appear to be driven by variations in the electrochemical parameters (i.e., specific polarizability and diffusion coefficient). Overall, these findings emphasize that predicting hydraulic properties from electrical measurements in fine-grained rocks remains challenging and requires further investigation into the electrochemical properties involved.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Bedrock architecture, soil texture, and hyporheic zone characterization combining electrical resistivity and induced polarization imaging

The shallow (<15 m depth) subsurface environment of a short reach along a bedrock stream was investigated with electrical resistivity and induced polarization (IP) to map details of bedrock and soil sediments. The bedrock is mostly comprised of limestone, and is generally resistive compared to the overlying soil. The soil-bedrock interface was determined through a trial and error approach using a sharp boundary feature in the inversion model. The inferred bedrock surface determined from the inversions exhibited undulating patterns with troughs and ridges. A near continuous trough ran alongside the stream within the floodplain, and is suggestive of a paleochannel among other interpretations of this feature. The structure of the electrical resistivity above the bedrock showed small-scale elongated features. The chargeability from the IP method showed larger scale features. High values of chargeability were associated with the sediments in the floodplain, and low values were associated with bedrock, stream, and soil on the elevated banks above the stream. If the chargeability is associated with membrane polarization characteristic of clayey soils, then IP seems to highlight the mere existence of clay, while the resistivity may be more discernable of the relative proportion of clay. Vegetation differences may also explain the chargeability distribution, where parts of the survey with high chargeability had dense pine with no understory making the soils more organically rich.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Spectral induced polarization signatures of smoldering remediation enhanced with colloidal activated carbon: An experimental study

Monitoring the remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by organic compounds remains highly challenging. The spectral induced polarization (SIP) method exhibits significant promise for monitoring changes to the electrical properties of soils that are undergoing remediation. Thermal treatments, such as smoldering combustion, have become established remediation techniques for destroying contaminants. Smoldering combustion is now being supported by colloidal activated carbon (CAC), with CAC able to adsorb contaminants and supplement the fuel source for destroying contaminants. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential of SIP for tracking the smoldering remediation of imitated field soils supplemented with CAC. SIP column experiments were first conducted to assess the response of SIP to varying concentrations of CAC in field soils that contain, or do not contain, organic material (OM). Here these results demonstrate that increasing OM and CAC contents increase both the real and imaginary components of the complex conductivity, with the imaginary conductivity also showing frequency dependence. Next, a suite of smoldering and SIP column experiments was conducted to investigate if SIP can detect changes in imitated field soils of varying OM and CAC contents that have been remediated by smoldering combustion. The SIP results on the examined soils both before and after smoldering show that SIP can detect changes in the real conductivity, and particularly the imaginary conductivity, between different soil compositions and different stages of the remediation process. High resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging was performed on all samples to validate the SIP and smoldering experiments, confirming significant reductions in carbon after smoldering. Overall, this study suggests that SIP has potential to detect changes in the electrical properties of field soils due to the addition of remedial fluids like CAC and contaminant destruction by smoldering remediation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Ensemble Kalman inversion of induced polarization data

SUMMARY This paper explores the applicability of ensemble Kalman inversion (EKI) with level-set parametrization for solving geophysical inverse problems. In particular, we focus on its extension to induced polarization (IP) data with uncertainty quantification. IP data may provide rich information on characteristics of geological materials due to its sensitivity to characteristics of the pore–grain interface. In many IP studies, different geological units are juxtaposed and the goal is to delineate these units and obtain estimates of unit properties with uncertainty bounds. Conventional inversion of IP data does not resolve well sharp interfaces and tends to reduce and smooth resistivity variations, while not readily providing uncertainty estimates. Recently, it has been shown for DC resistivity that EKI is an efficient solver for inverse problems which provides uncertainty quantification, and its combination with level set parametrization can delineate arbitrary interfaces well. In this contribution, we demonstrate the extension of EKI to IP data using a sequential approach, where the mean field obtained from DC resistivity inversion is used as input for a separate phase angle inversion. We illustrate our workflow using a series of synthetic and field examples. Variations with uncertainty bounds in both DC resistivity and phase angles are recovered by EKI, which provides useful information for hydrogeological site characterization. Although phase angles are less well-resolved than DC resistivity, partly due to their smaller range and higher percentage data errors, it complements DC resistivity for site characterization. Overall, EKI with level set parametrization provides a practical approach forward for efficient hydrogeophysical imaging under uncertainty.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

Transport properties of polarization-induced 2D electron gases in epitaxial AlScN/GaN heterojunctions

AlScN is attractive as a lattice-matched epitaxial barrier layer for incorporation in GaN high electron mobility transistors due to its large dielectric constant and polarization. The transport properties of polarization-induced two-dimensional (2D) electron gas of densities of ∼2×10 13 /cm 2 formed at the AlScN–GaN interface is studied by Hall-effect measurements down to cryogenic temperatures. The 2D electron gas densities exhibit mobilities limited to ∼300 cm 2 /V s down to 10 K at AlScN/GaN heterojunctions. The insertion of a ∼2 nm AlN interlayer boosts the room temperature mobility by more than five times from ∼300 cm 2 /V s to ∼1573 cm 2 /V s, and the 10 K mobility by more than 20 times to ∼6980 cm 2 /V s at 10 K. These measurements provide guidelines to the limits of electron conductivities of these highly polar heterostructures.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The effect of the external medium on the gravity-induced polarity of cytoplasmic streaming in Chara corallina (Characeae)

Gravity induces a polarity of cytoplasmic streaming in vertical internodal cells of Chara such that the downwardly directed stream moves faster than the upwardly directed stream. In order to determine whether the statolith theory (in which intracellular sedimenting particles are responsible for gravity sensing) or the gravitational pressure theory (in which the entire protoplast acts as the gravity sensor) best explain the gravity response in Chara internodal cells, we controlled the physical properties of the external medium, including density and osmolarity, with impermeant solutes and examined the effect on the polarity of cytoplasmic streaming. As the density of the external medium is increased, the polarity of cytoplasmic streaming decreases and finally disappears when the density of the external medium is equal to that of the cell (1015 kg/m3). A further increase in the density of the external medium causes a reversal of the gravity response. These results are consistent with the gravitational pressure theory of gravity sensing since the buoyancy of the protoplast is dependent on the difference between the density of the protoplast and the external medium, and are inconsistent with the statolith theory since the buoyancy of intracellular particles are unaffected by changes in the external medium.

Non-NASA Center↗

Toward AlGaN channel HEMTs on AlN: Polarization-induced 2DEGs in AlN/AlGaN/AlN heterostructures

Due to its high breakdown electric field, the ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor AlGaN has garnered much attention recently as a promising channel material for next-generation high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). A comprehensive experimental study of the effects of Al composition x on the transport and structural properties is lacking. We report the charge control and transport properties of polarization-induced 2D electron gases (2DEGs) in strained AlGaN quantum well channels in molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown AlN/Al x Ga 1-x N/AlN double heterostructures by systematically varying the Al content from x = 0 (GaN) to x = 0.74, spanning energy bandgaps of the conducting HEMT channels from 3.49 to 4.9 eV measured by photoluminescence. This results in a tunable 2DEG density from 0 to 3.7 × 10 13 cm 2 . The room temperature mobilities of x ≥ 0.25 AlGaN channel HEMTs were limited by alloy disorder scattering to below 50 cm 2 /(V.s) for these 2DEG densities, leaving ample room for further heterostructure design improvements to boost mobilities. A characteristic alloy fluctuation energy of ≥1.8 eV for electron scattering in AlGaN alloy is estimated based on the temperature dependent electron transport experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Polarization-induced 2D hole gases in pseudomorphic undoped GaN/AlN heterostructures on single-crystal AlN substrates

A high-conductivity two-dimensional (2D) hole gas is the enabler of wide-bandgap p-channel transistors. Compared to commonly used AlN template substrates with high dislocation densities, the recently available single-crystal AlN substrates are promising to boost the speed and power handling capability of p-channel transistors based on GaN/AlN 2D hole gases (2DHGs) thanks to the much lower dislocation densities and the absence of thermal boundary resistance. Using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, we report the observation of polarization-induced high-density 2DHGs in undoped pseudomorphic GaN/AlN heterostructures on the single-crystal AlN substrates with high structural quality and atomic steps on the surface. The high-density 2DHG persists down to cryogenic temperatures with a record high mobility exceeding 280 cm 2 /V s and a density of 2.2 × 10 13 /cm 2 at 10 K. These results shed light on aspects of improving 2D hole mobilities and indicate significant potential of GaN/AlN 2DHG grown on bulk AlN substrates for future high performance wide-bandgap p-channel transistors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Thermal Plumbing System of Stromboli Volcano, Aeolian Islands (Italy) Inferred From Electrical Conductivity and Induced Polarization Tomography

Abstract We performed the first 3D island‐scale tomography of the electrical conductivity of Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy) using 2D acquisition lines (37.2 km) and a total of 18,880 measurements and 2,402 unique electrode locations. This 3D data set was inverted using a Gauss‐Newton algorithm, parallel‐processing on an unstructured tetrahedral mesh containing 678,420 finite‐element nodes and 3,580,145 elements to account for the topography of the volcanic island. The tomogram exhibits a conductive body (10 −2 –1.0 S m −1 ) consistent with the location of CO 2 and temperature anomalies observed at the ground surface. It corresponds to the hydrothermal system with high electrical conductivity associated with alteration. In order to confirm this interpretation, a 2.5D large‐scale induced polarization tomography was performed crossing the volcano. The joint interpretation of the conductivity and normalized chargeability is done with a petrophysical model previously tested and verified at both shield‐ and strato‐volcanoes. This model implies that alteration (through the effect of the cation exchange capacity associated with clay minerals and zeolites) plays a strong role in both controlling the electrical conductivity and normalized chargeability at Stromboli volcano. A temperature tomogram, derived from the geoelectrical measurements, is consistent with surface temperature anomalies and the Very Long Period (VLP) seismicity related to the mild‐explosive activity. This survey displays at 600 m a.s.l. a lateral shift in the highest temperature location, also corresponding to the source of VLP seismicity. Structural boundaries have a major role in the hottest hydrothermal fluids rising below the active crater terrace of Stromboli volcano.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Two-dimensional electron systems in perovskite oxide heterostructures: Role of the polarity-induced substitutional defects

The discovery of a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) at the interfaces of perovskite oxides such as LaAlO 3 and SrTiO 3 has motivated enormous efforts in engineering interfacial functionalities with this type of oxide heterostructures. However, the fundamental origins of the 2DES are still not understood, e.g., the microscopic mechanisms of coexisting interface conductivity and magnetism. In this paper, we report a comprehensive spectroscopic investigation on the depth profile of 2DES-relevant Ti 3d interface carriers using depth- and element-specific techniques like standing-wave excited photoemission and resonant inelastic scattering. We found that one type of Ti 3d interface carriers, which give rise to the 2DES are located within three unit cells from the n-type interface in the SrTiO 3 layer. Unexpectedly, another type of interface carriers, which are polarity-induced Ti-on-Al antisite defects, reside in the first three unit cells of the opposing LaAlO3 layer (~10 Å). Our findings provide a microscopic picture of how the localized and mobile Ti 3d interface carriers distribute across the interface and suggest that the 2DES and 2D magnetism at the LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 interface have disparate explanations as originating from different types of interface carriers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗