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Results for “Lattice Green’s function”

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Interlayer coupling induced quasiparticles

In this work, we present an exact treatment of layered many-body electronic systems in the presence of interlayer coupling within the Schwinger functional derivative approach on the Keldysh contour. Our transparent approach allows us to clarify the definition of interlayer coupling by showing the independent roles hybridization and interactions play in generating new electronic and magnetic excitations. We find interlayer coupling to induce a variety of plasmons, magnons, and excitons, residing within a layer, traversing between layers, or propagating along the interface. Moreover, we predict interfacial excitations, including an electron-hole pairing pathway, facilitated by previously ignored layer nonconserving interactions. Finally, we briefly explore the consequence of interlayer coupling on a bilayer square lattice system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Natively Periodic Fast Multipole Method: Approximating the Optimal Green’s Function

The fast multipole method (FMM) obeys periodic boundary conditions "natively" if it uses a periodic Green's function for computing the multipole expansion in the interaction zone of each FMM oct-tree node. One can define the "optimal" Green's function for such a method that results in the numerical solution that converges to the equivalent particle-mesh (PM) solution in the limit of sufficiently high order of multipoles. A discrete functional equation for the optimal Green's function can be derived, but is not practically useful as methods for its solution are not known. Instead, this paper presents an approximation for the optimal Green's function that is accurate to better than 10 -3 in ${L}_{\mathrm{MAX}}$ norm and 10 -4 in L 2 norm for practically useful multipole counts. Such an approximately optimal Green's function offers a practical way for implementing the FMM with periodic boundary conditions natively, without the need to compute lattice sums or to rely on hybrid FMM-PM approaches.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Experimental confirmation of first-principles thermal conductivity in Zirconium-doped ThO 2

The degradation of thermal conductivity in advanced nuclear fuels due to the accumulation of fission products and irradiation-induced defects is inevitable, and must be considered as part of safety and efficiency analyses of nuclear reactors. Here, this study examines the thermal conductivity of a zirconium-doped ThO 2 crystal, synthesized via the hydrothermal method using a spatial domain thermoreflectance technique. Zirconium is one of the soluble fission products in oxide fuels that can effectively scatter heat-carrying phonons in the crystalline lattice of fuel. Thus, thermal property measurements of zirconium-doped ThO 2 single crystals provide insights into the effects of substitutional zirconium doping, isolated from extrinsic factors such as grain boundary scattering. The experimental results are compared with first-principles calculations of the lattice thermal conductivity of ThO 2 , employing an iterative solution of the Peierls-Boltzmann transport equation. Additionally, the non-perturbative Green's function methodology is utilized to compute phonon-point defect scattering rates, accounting for local distortions around point defects, including mass difference changes, interatomic force constants, and structural relaxation. The congruence between the predicted results from first-principles calculations and the measured temperature-dependent thermal conductivity validates the computational methodology. Furthermore, the methodologies employed in this study enable systematic investigations of thermal conductivity reduction by fission products, potentially leading to the development of more accurate fuel performance codes.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Generalized Green’s function Cluster Expansion: A Python package for simulating polarons

We present an efficient implementation of the Generalized Green’s function Cluster Expansion (GGCE), which is a new method for computing the ground-state properties and dynamics of polarons (single electrons coupled to lattice vibrations) in model electron-phonon systems. The GGCE works at arbitrary temperature and is well suited for a variety of electron-phonon couplings, including, but not limited to, site and bond Holstein and Peierls (Su-SchriefferHeeger) couplings, and couplings to multiple phonon modes with different energy scales and coupling strengths. Quick calculations can be performed efficiently on a laptop using solvers from NumPy and SciPy, or in parallel at scale using the PETSc sparse linear solver engine.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Form-factor dependence of neutrino-nucleus cross sections using microscopic methods

To achieve its design goals, the next generation of neutrino-oscillation accelerator experiments requires percent-level predictions of neutrino-nucleus cross sections supplemented by robust estimates of the theoretical uncertainties involved. The latter arise from both approximations in solving the nuclear many-body problem and in the determination of the single- and few-nucleon quantities taken as input by many-body methods. To gauge the sensitivity of realistic nuclear many body methods to these few-nucleon quantities, we compute flux-averaged double-differential cross sections using the Green’s function Monte Carlo and spectral function methods as well as different parameterizations of the nucleon axial form factors based on either deuterium bubble-chamber data or lattice quantum chromodynamics calculations. The cross-section results are compared with available experimental data from the MiniBooNE and T2K collaborations. We also discuss the uncertainties associated with N → Δ transition form factors that enter the two-body current operator. We quantify the relations between neutrino-nucleus cross section and nucleon form factor uncertainties. These relations enable us to determine the form factor precision targets required to achieve a given cross-section precision.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Electron Accelerator Lattice Design for LHeC with Permanent Magnets

We present a new ’green energy’ approach to the Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) the future Electron Ion Collider at LHeC using single beam line made of very strong focusing combined function permanent magnets and the Fixed Field Alternating Linear Gradient (FFA-LG) principle. We are basing our design on recent very successful commissioning results of the Cornell University and Brookhaven National Laboratory ERL Test Accelerator-CBETA.

Trbojevic, D.↗

First-principles determination of the phonon-point defect scattering and thermal transport due to fission products in ThO 2

This work presents the first-principles calculations of the lattice thermal conductivity degradation due to point defects in thorium dioxide using an iterative solution of the Pierels-Boltzmann transport equation. We have used the non perturbative Green’s function methodology to compute the phonon- point defect scattering rates that consider the local distortion around the point defect, including the mass difference changes, interatomic force constants, and structural relaxation near the point defects. The point defects considered in this work include the vacancy of thorium ($V$ $TH$ ) and oxygen ($V$ $O$ ), substitutions of helium ($He$ $Th$ ), krypton ($Kr$ $Th$ ), zirconium ($Zr$ $Th$ ), iodine ($I$ $Th$ ) and xenon ($Xe$ $Th$ ) in the thorium site, and the three different configurations of the Schottky defects. The results of the phonon-defect scattering rate reveal that, among all the considered intrinsic defects, the thorium vacancy and helium substitution in the thorium site scatter the phonon most due to the substantial changes in the force constant and structural distortions. The scattering of phonons due to the substitutional defects unveils that the zirconium atom scatters phonons the least, followed by xenon, iodine, krypton, and helium. This is contrary to the intuition that the scattering strength follows $He$ $Th$ > $Kr$ $Th$ > $Zr$ $Th$ > $I$ $Th$ > $Xe$ $Th$ based on the mass difference. This striking difference in the zirconium phonon scattering is due to the local chemical environment changes. Zirconium is an electropositive element with valency similar to thorium and, therefore, can bond with the oxygen atoms, thus creating less force constant variance compared to iodine, an electronegative element noble gas helium, xenon, and krypton. In conclusion, these results can serve as the benchmark for the analytical models and help the engineering-scale modeling effort for nuclear design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Continuous momentum dependence in the dynamical cluster approximation

The dynamical cluster approximation (DCA) is a quantum cluster extension to the single-site dynamical mean-field theory that incorporates spatially nonlocal dynamic correlations systematically and nonperturbatively. The DCA + algorithm addresses the cluster shape dependence of the DCA and improves the convergence with cluster size by introducing a lattice self-energy with continuous momentum dependence. However, we show that the DCA + algorithm is plagued by a fundamental problem when its self-consistency equations are formulated using the bare Green's function of the cluster. This problem is most severe in the strongly correlated regime at low doping, where the DCA + self-energy becomes overly metallic and local, and persists to cluster sizes where the standard DCA has long converged. In view of the failure of the DCA + algorithm, we propose to complement DCA simulations with a post-interpolation procedure for single-particle and two-particle correlation functions to preserve continuous momentum dependence and the associated benefits in the DCA. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this practical approach with results for the half-filled and hole-doped two-dimensional Hubbard model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Prediction of Feasibility of Polaronic OER on (110) Surface of Rutile TiO 2

The polaronic effects at the atomic level hold paramount significance for advancing the efficacy of transition metal oxides in applications pertinent to renewable energy. The lattice–distortion mediated localization of photoexcited carriers in the form of polarons plays a pivotal role in the photocatalysis. This investigation focuses on rutile TiO 2 , an important material extensively explored for solar energy conversion in artificial photosynthesis, specifically targeting the generation of green H 2 through photoelectrochemical (PEC) H 2 O splitting. By employing Hubbard-U corrected and hybrid density functional theory (DFT) methods, we systematically probe the polaronic effects in the catalysis of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the (110) surface of rutile TiO 2 . Theoretical understanding of polarons within the surface, coupled with simulations of OER at distinct titanium (Ti) and oxygen (O) active sites, reveals diverse polaron formation energies within the lattice sites with strong preference for bulk and surface bridge (O b ) oxygen sites. Moreover, we provide the evidence for the facilitative role of polarons in OER. Here, we find that hole polarons situated at the equatorial oxygen sites near the Ti–active site, along with bridge site hole polarons distal from the O b active site yield a small reduction in OER overpotential by ~0.06 eV and ~0.12 eV, respectively. However, subsurface, equatorial, and bridge site hole polarons significantly reduce the Ti-active site OER overpotential by ~0.4 eV through the peroxo–type oxygen pathway. We also observe that the presence of hole polarons stabilizes the *OH, *O, and *OOH intermediate species compared to the scenario without hole polarons. Overall, this study provides a detailed mechanistic insight into polaron–mediated OER, offering a promising avenue for improving the catalytic activity of transition metal oxide-based photocatalysts catering to renewable energy requisites.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Foundations of variational discrete action theory

Variational wave functions and Green's functions are two important paradigms for solving quantum Hamiltonians, each having their own advantages. Here we detail the variational discrete action theory (VDAT), which exploits the advantages of both paradigms in order to approximately solve the ground state of quantum Hamiltonians. VDAT consists of two central components: the sequential product density matrix (SPD) ansatz and a discrete action associated with the SPD. The SPD is a variational ansatz inspired by the Trotter decomposition and characterized by an integer $\mathscr{N}$, recovering many well-known variational wave functions, in addition to the exact solution for $\mathscr{N}$ = ∞. The discrete action describes all dynamical information of an effective integer time evolution with respect to the SPD. We generalize the path integral to our integer time formalism, which converts a dynamic correlation function in integer time to a static correlation function in a compound space. We also generalize the usual many-body Green's function formalism to integer time, which results in analogous but distinct mathematical structures, yielding integer time versions of the generating functional, Dyson equation, and Bethe-Salpeter equation. We prove that the SPD can be exactly evaluated in the multiband Anderson impurity model (AIM) by summing a finite number of diagrams. For the multiband Hubbard model, we prove that the self-consistent canonical discrete action approximation (SCDA), which is the integer time analog of the dynamical mean-field theory, exactly evaluates the SPD for d = ∞. VDAT within the SCDA provides an efficient yet reliable method for capturing the local physics of quantum lattice models, which will have broad applications for strongly correlated electron materials. More generally, VDAT should find applications in various many-body problems in physics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC) ZrB2 and HfB2 from Atomistic Simulations

Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) including ZrB2 and HfB2 are candidate materials for applications in extreme environments because of their high melting point, good mechanical properties and reasonable oxidation resistance. Unlike many ceramics, these materials have high thermal conductivity which can be advantageous, for example, to reduce thermal shock. Recently, we developed Tersoff style interatomic potentials for both ZrB2 and HfB2 appropriate for atomistic simulations. As an application, Green-Kubo molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the lattice thermal conductivity for single crystals of ZrB2 and HfB2. The atomic mass difference in these binary compounds leads to oscillations in the time correlation function of the heat current. Results at room temperature and at elevated temperatures will be reported.

Lawson, JOhn W.↗

Lattice Thermal Conductivity from Atomistic Simulations: ZrB2 and HfB2

Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) including ZrB2 and HfB2 have a number of properties that make them attractive for applications in extreme environments. One such property is their high thermal conductivity. Computational modeling of these materials will facilitate understanding of fundamental mechanisms, elucidate structure-property relationships, and ultimately accelerate the materials design cycle. Progress in computational modeling of UHTCs however has been limited in part due to the absence of suitable interatomic potentials. Recently, we developed Tersoff style parameterizations of such potentials for both ZrB2 and HfB2 appropriate for atomistic simulations. As an application, Green-Kubo molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the lattice thermal conductivity for single crystals of ZrB2 and HfB2. The atomic mass difference in these binary compounds leads to oscillations in the time correlation function of the heat current, in contrast to the more typical monotonic decay seen in monoatomic materials such as Silicon, for example. Results at room temperature and at elevated temperatures will be reported.

Lawson, John W.↗

Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC) ZrB2 and HfB2 from Atomistic Simulations

Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) including ZrB2 and HfB2 have a number of properties that make them attractive for applications in extreme environments. One such property is their high thermal conductivity. Computational modeling of these materials will facilitate understanding of fundamental mechanisms, elucidate structure-property relationships, and ultimately accelerate the materials design cycle. Progress in computational modeling of UHTCs however has been limited in part due to the absence of suitable interatomic potentials. Recently, we developed Tersoff style parameterizations of such potentials for both ZrB2 and HfB2 appropriate for atomistic simulations. As an application, Green-Kubo molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the lattice thermal conductivity for single crystals of ZrB2 and HfB2. The atomic mass difference in these binary compounds leads to oscillations in the time correlation function of the heat current, in contrast to the more typical monotonic decay seen in monoatomic materials such as Silicon, for example. Results at room temperature and at elevated temperatures will be reported.

Lawson, John W.↗

Phase-field modeling of dislocation–interstitial interactions

The mechanical behavior of body-centered cubic (BCC) materials can be dramatically affected by the presence of interstitial solute atoms. Here we present a new phase-field dislocation dynamics formulation to include the diffusion of interstitials. Short-range interactions are accounted for by a concentration-dependent lattice energy, and long-range interactions are accounted for by modifications to the elastic energy. The interstitial diffusion law introduces gradients that require methods for minimizing Gibbs oscillations, which is done via a modified Green’s function. The formulation is general to any solute-solvent system and is applied here to Nb-O as a model system, whose interstitial parameters are obtained from ab initio calculations. The effect of O on the core structures of Nb edge and screw dislocations is calculated. The diffusion of O to form interstitial atmospheres around dislocation cores is simulated, as well as the critical stresses required for dislocations to break away or cross slip from these atmospheres. Future applications of the method to simulate complex interstitial embrittlement mechanisms are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Numerically exact generalized Green's function cluster expansions for electron-phonon problems

We generalize the family of approximate momentum average methods to formulate a numerically exact, convergent hierarchy of equations whose solution provides an efficient algorithm to compute the Green's function of a particle dressed by bosons suitable in the entire parameter regime. We use this approach to extract ground-state properties and spectral functions. Our approximation-free framework, dubbed the generalized Green's function cluster expansion (GGCE), allows access to exact numerical results in the extreme adiabatic limit, where many standard methods struggle or completely fail. We showcase the performance of the method, specializing three important models of charge-boson coupling in solids and molecular complexes: the molecular Holstein model, which describes coupling between charge density and local distortions, the Peierls model, which describes modulation of charge hopping due to intersite distortions, and a more complex Holstein + Peierls system with couplings to two different phonon modes, paradigmatic of charge-lattice interactions in organic crystals. Furthermore, the GGCE serves as an efficient approach that can be systematically extended to different physical scenarios, thus providing a tool to model the frequency dependence of dressed particles in realistic settings.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Ab initio approaches to high-entropy alloys: a comparison of CPA, SQS, and supercell methods

In this work, we present a comparative study of different modeling approaches to the electronic properties of the Hf 0.05 Nb 0.05 Ta 0.8 Ti 0.05 Zr 0.05 high-entropy alloy. Common to our modeling is the methodology to compute the one-particle Green’s function in the framework of density functional theory. We demonstrate that the special quasi-random structures modeling and the supercell, i.e., the locally self-consistent multiple-scattering methods, provide very similar results for the ground state properties such as the spectral function (density of states) and the equilibrium lattice parameter. To reconcile the multiple-scattering single-site coherent potential approximation with the real space supercell methods, we included the effect of screening of the net charges of the alloy components. Based on the analysis of the total energy and spectral functions computed within the density functional theory, we found no signature for the long-range or local magnetic moments formation in the Hf 0.05 Nb 0.05 Ta 0.8 Ti 0.05 Zr 0.05 high-entropy alloy; instead, we find possible superconductivity below ~9K.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Impact of further-range exchange and cubic anisotropy on magnetic excitations in the fcc kagome antiferromagnet IrMn 3

Here, this work investigates the effects of further neighbor exchange and cubic anisotropy on the magnetic excitations of the fcc kagome antiferromagnet IrMn 3 . Spin wave frequencies are calculated using the torque equation and the dynamical structure factor S(Q,ω) is determined by a Green's function method as an extension of our previous work [LeBlanc et al. Phys. Rev. B 90, 144403 (2014)]. These spin wave calculations are compared with inelastic neutron scattering data of polycrystalline IrMn 3 , where magnetic Mn ions occupy lattice sites of ABC-stacked kagome planes. The data are best explained by a spin wave model including exchange interactions up to fourth nearest neighbor and strong cubic anisotropy, as previously predicted by density functional theory calculations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗