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At least 433 records · Page 24

Periodic Korteweg–de Vries soliton potentials generate quasisymmetric magnetic field strength in a finite plasma- β equilibrium

Quasisymmetry (QS) is a hidden symmetry of the magnetic field strength, B , that enables effective confinement of charged particles in a fully three-dimensional (3D) toroidal plasma equilibrium. Such equilibria are typically modeled by the ideal magnetohydrostatic (MHS) equations. The nonlinear, overdetermined nature of the QS MHS equations severely complicates our understanding of the interplay between 3D shaping, equilibrium properties such as pressure and rotational transform, and B . Progress has been made through expansions near the magnetic axis; however, a more comprehensive theory is desirable. Using a combination of analysis and regression on a large dataset of numerically optimized quasisymmetric stellarators, we demonstrate that there is a hidden lower dimensionality of B on a magnetic flux surface with connections to the theory of periodic solitons. We show that B on a flux surface is determined by three or at most four flux functions, each of which determines a critical value of the derivative of B along the field line. While being consistent with the near-axis models, our results are global and hold even on the last closed flux surface.

Differential geometry↗

Weak collisionless shocks mediated by ion gyroviscosity

Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical plasmas, and they are essential dynamical features of these systems. Lacking Coulomb collisions, these shocks are mediated by the anomalous dissipation provided by nonlinear plasma instabilities. By numerically resolving the structure of a steady-state, ion gyroviscous shock, we show that ion gyroviscosity, alone, can produce weak (M≲1.1, where M is the sonic Mach number) shocks in a collisionless, magnetized plasma. We emphasize that this effect does not require an appeal to plasma microturbulence. Moreover, while most collisionless systems may be unsuitable to support purely gyroviscous shocks, we argue that gyro-viscous heating may be an overlooked mechanism, generally; and it may be a key driver within magnetohydrodynamic shocks at large. In conclusion, representative examples include the plasma environments produced on the plasma liner experiment and the magnetized liner inertial fusion platforms.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Investigating Cu-Site Doped Cu–Sb–S Nanoparticles Using Photoelectron and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Tetrahedrite (Cu 12 Sb 4 S 13 ) and famatinite (Cu 3 SbS 4 ) are good candidates for green energy applications because they possess promising thermoelectric and photovoltaic properties as well as contain earth-abundant and nontoxic constituents. Herein, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) methods examined inherent electronic properties and interatomic magnetic interactions of Cu-site doped tetrahedrite and famatinite nanomaterials. An energy-efficient modified polyol method was utilized for the synthesis of tetrahedrite and famatinite nanoparticles doped on the Cu-site with Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn, and Co. This is the first parallel study of tetrahedrite and famatinite nanomaterials with XPS, UPS, and EPR methods alongside a systematic analysis of dopant-dependent effects on the electronic structure and magnetic interactions for each material. XPS showed that the Cu and Sb species in tetrahedrite and famatinite possess different oxidation states, while UPS characterization reveals larger dopant-dependent shifts in the work function for tetrahedrite nanoparticles (4.21 to 4.79 eV) than for famatinite nanoparticles (4.57 to 4.77 eV). Finally, all famatinite nanoparticles display an EPR signal, indicating trace amounts of paramagnetic Cu(II) present below the detection limit of XPS. For tetrahedrite, EPR signatures were observed only for the Zn-doped and Mn-doped nanoparticles, suggesting signal broadening from Cu–Cu spin exchange or spin–lattice relaxation. This study demonstrates the complementary nature of XPS and EPR techniques for studying the oxidation states of metals in solid-state nanomaterials. Comparing the electronic and magnetic properties of tetrahedrite and famatinite while studying the impact of dopant incorporation will guide future endeavors in designing sustainable, high-performance materials for renewable energy applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Burn propagation in magnetized high-yield inertial fusion

Recent experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have demonstrated ignition for the first time in an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiment, a major milestone allowing the possibility of high energy gain through burn propagation. Use of external magnetic fields, applied primarily to reduce thermal losses, could increase hotspot temperature and ease requirements for ignition, opening up the capsule design space for high energy gain. However, this same restriction of thermal transport has the potential to inhibit burn propagation, which is vital in the attainment of high gain. In this work, radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations carried out using the code Chimera are used to investigate the effect of a pre-imposed magnetic field on ignition and burn propagation. This paper studies the propagation of burn using both an idealized planar model and in fully integrated 2D MHD simulations of an igniting NIF capsule. A study of magnetized burn propagation in the idealized planar model identifies three regimes of magnetized burn propagation: (1) thermal conduction driven; (2) alpha transport driven; and (3) fully suppressed burn. Simulations of NIF shot N210808 with an applied 40 T axial field show clear indication of burn suppression perpendicular to field lines, with rapid burn observed along field lines. Implosion shape is altered by the field, and anisotropic conduction causes significant modification to the rate of ablation during stagnation. These results highlight the fundamental changes to implosion dynamics in high-yield magnetized ICF and motivate further study to better optimize future magnetized target designs for high gain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

ParaStell: parametric modeling and neutronics support for stellarator fusion power plants

The three-dimensional variation inherent to stellarator geometries and fusion sources motivates three-dimensional modeling to obtain accurate results from computational modeling in support of design and analysis of first wall, blanket, and shield (FWBS) systems. Manually constructing stellarator fusion power plant geometries in computer-aided design (CAD) and defining the corresponding fusion source can be cumbersome and challenging. The open-source parametric modeling toolset ParaStell has been developed to automate construction of such geometries in low-fidelity. Low-fidelity modeling is useful during the conceptual phase of engineering design as a means of rapidly exploring the design space of a given device. The modeling capability of ParaStell includes in-vessel components and magnets, for any given stellarator configuration, using a parametric definition and plasma equilibrium data. Furthermore, the toolset automates the generation of detailed, tetrahedral neutron source definitions and DAGMC geometries for use in neutronics modeling. ParaStell assists rapid design iteration, parametric study, and design optimization of stellarator fusion cores. As a demonstration of the design iteration capability, the effect of the three-dimensional parameter space on tritium breeding and magnet shielding is investigated, using the WISTELL-D configuration as a design basis. Blanket and shield thicknesses are varied in three dimensions, using the space available between the plasma edge and magnet coils as a constraint. The corresponding effects on tritium breeding ratio and magnet heating are tallied using the open-source Monte Carlo particle transport code OpenMC. The inclusion of additional and higher-fidelity modeling capabilities is planned for ParaStell’s future, as well as its implementation in machine-driven optimization.

Moreno, Connor↗

Time evolution of a pumped molecular magnet—A time-resolved inelastic neutron scattering study

Introducing an experimental technique of time-resolved inelastic neutron scattering (TRINS), we explore the time-dependent effects of resonant pulsed microwaves on the molecular magnet Cr 8 F 8 Piv 16 . The octagonal rings of magnetic Cr 3+ atoms with antiferromagnetic interactions form a singlet ground state with a weakly split triplet of excitations at 0.8 meV. A 4.6 tesla field was applied to tune the splitting between two members of the triplet excited level |1$\rangle$ ↔ |2$\rangle$ to resonance with 105 GHz (0.434 meV) microwaves. The time-dependent occupations of the ground state |0$\rangle$, lower lying levels |1$\rangle$ and |2$\rangle$, and higher energy states |λ ≥ 3$\rangle$ were extracted during and after 20 s long microwave pulses incident along the (101) direction of a Cr 8 F 8 Piv 16 crystal held at 1.9 K. At significantly elevated spin temperatures, we found underpopulation relative to thermal equilibrium of |2$\rangle$ and spin-lattice thermalization time scales ranging from 1.6(2) s to 5.7(2) s depending on the power level. This contrasts with the relaxation time τ 1 (T → 0) = 27(5) 𝛍 s inferred for |2$\rangle$ from in situ Electron Spin Resonance measurements. By probing a broad range of excited states during intense microwave pumping, TRINS thus provides a first view of long lived excited states in a molecular antiferromagnet.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Simulating Magnetic Reconnection in ‘Two Ribbon’ Type Solar Flares

Magnetic reconnection is an astrophysical process where neighboring magnetic field lines, facing anti-parallel, are reconfigured. This reconfiguration results in built up magnetic energy being explosively released as it is being converted to plasma kinetic and thermal energies. There are various kinds of simulations used to simulation reconnection; our work begins with Athena++, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation code typically used for astrophysical problems, and a reconnection specific code file. The resistive MHD equations are solved with Riemann solvers. There was an initial test run without modifying the code to understand the dynamics of the simulation. We expand on the original reconnection problem file by implementing a radiative cooling term specific to the corona. The radiative cooling is theorized to have an effect on solar coronal plasma and magnetic reconnection dynamics. The cooling term will be tested with various parameters and compared to the case without cooling to study these dynamics. The condensation found in only the with cooling case emphasizes the importance of implementing this feature and will be later tested with a thermal conduction term. We want to determine the parameter regime where non-equilibrium cooling will be important for the reconnection dynamics.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Probing topological phases in a perturbed Kane-Mele model via RKKY interaction: Application to monolayer jacutingaite Pt 2 ⁢HgSe 3

Quantum spin Hall insulators (QSHIs) leverage strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) for efficient spin manipulation, making them promising for spintronics. Here, in this study, we investigate the noncollinear Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction between two magnetic impurities in a perturbed Kane-Mele model with strong SOC, relevant to monolayer jacutingaite Pt 2 ⁢HgSe 3 as a prominent QSHI. Following the previous studies that mainly focused on the model and its general applications, we provide a systematic examination of the effects of various perturbations and strong spin-orbit hybridizations, which drive phase transitions that have not been extensively explored before. By incorporating these perturbations into the model and accurately accounting for spin-orbit hybridizations through spin-space Green's functions and the RKKY interactions, we uncover distinct, relative (rather than absolute) signatures of different phase transitions. These phase transitions are induced by both static and dynamic perturbations on the magnetic impurities. Notably, we identify additional phases emerging from the interplay with the magnetic substrate. All these influence the switching between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic, as well as clockwise and counterclockwise magnetic interactions. Our results provide a practical way to track topological phases through magnetic properties, offering new insights into phase control and spin manipulation in QSHIs.

Kane-Mele model↗

Dynamical correlations and nonequilibrium sum rules in photodoped Hubbard ladders

Using matrix product state techniques we study the nonequilibrium dynamical response of the half-filled Hubbard ladder when subject to an optical pump. Optical pumping offers a way of producing and manipulating new strongly correlated phenomena by suppressing existing magnetic correlations. The ladder allows the effects of pump directionality to be investigated, and compared to a single chain it has strong spin-charge coupling and a fully gapped excitation spectrum, promising different nonequilibrium physics. We compute time-dependent correlations, including the nonequilibrium dynamical structure factors for spin and charge. By deriving a combined spin-charge sum rule that applies both in and out-of-equilibrium, we show that spectral weight is pumped directly from the antiferromagnetic spin response into a low energy 𝜔 ∼ 0 charge response below the Mott gap. The transfer of weight is pump direction dependent: pumping directed along the legs disrupts magnetic correlations more than pumping in the rung-direction, even if the post-pump energy density is similar. The charge correlation length is dramatically enhanced by the pump, whilst the spin correlations are most strongly suppressed at nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor spacings. After the pump the system is in a nonthermal correlated metallic state, with gapless charge excitations and approximately equal spin and charge correlation lengths, emphasizing the importance of treating these degrees of freedom on an equal footing in nonequilibrium systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Design and modeling of indirectly driven magnetized implosions on the NIF

The use of magnetic fields to improve the performance of hohlraum-driven implosions on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is discussed. The focus is on magnetically insulated inertial confinement fusion, where the primary field effect is to reduce electron-thermal and alpha-particle loss from the compressed hotspot (magnetic pressure is of secondary importance). We summarize the requirements to achieve this state. The design of recent NIF magnetized hohlraum experiments is presented. These are close to earlier shots in the three-shock, high-adiabat (BigFoot) campaign, subject to the constraints that magnetized NIF targets must be fielded at room-temperature, and use ≲1 MJ of laser energy to avoid the risk of optics damage from stimulated Brillouin scattering. We present results from the original magnetized hohlraum platform, as well as a later variant that gives a higher hotspot temperature. In both platforms, imposed fields (at the capsule center) of up to 28 T increase the fusion yield and hotspot temperature. Integrated radiation-magneto-hydrodynamic modeling with the Lasnex code of these shots is shown, where laser power multipliers and a saturation clamp on cross-beam energy transfer are developed to match the time of peak capsule emission and the P2 Legendre moment of the hotspot x-ray image. The resulting fusion yield and ion temperature agree decently with the measured relative effects of the field, although the absolute simulated yields are higher than the data by 2.0−2.7×. The tuned parameters and yield discrepancy are comparable for experiments with and without an imposed field, indicating the model adequately captures the field effects. Self-generated and imposed fields are added sequentially to simulations of one BigFoot NIF shot to understand how they alter target dynamics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Role of stacking defects on the magnetic behavior of CrCl 3

Here, in the study of van der Waals–layered magnetic materials, the properties of CrCl 3 continue to attract attention. This compound is reported to undergo antiferromagnetic ordering below ~14 K, with a ferromagneticlike region proposed to exist between 14 and 17 K. Ideally, the crystal structure is rhombohedral (R) below ~235 K, separated from a higher-temperature monoclinic (M) phase by a layer-sliding structural phase transition. However, the structural transition is often inhibited even in bulk single crystals, allowing M-type layer stacking, reported to have a 10-fold greater interlayer magnetic coupling than R-type stacking, to be present at low temperature. To clarify the effect of stacking defects on CrCl 3 , we report magnetization measurements on samples of varying crystalline quality. At low applied magnetic field, some crystals predominantly show the T N = 14 K peak, but other crystals show hysteretic behavior and a magnetization enhancement at a slightly higher temperature (14 < T ≲ 17 K.) Samples with anomalous behavior exhibit a transition around ~2 T in isothermal magnetization-field data, evidence that M-type stacking defects are the source of these anomalies. Ground powder samples are especially likely to show strongly anomalous behavior. We suggest that the anomalous behavior arises from few-layer magnetic domains that form just above T N in an environment of mixed interlayer magnetic coupling strength. We argue that the influence of M-type stacking boundaries on sublattice magnetization is already observable in reported neutron scattering data, and may be responsible for an enhancement near 17 K in reported specific heat data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Pressure induced modification of electronic and magnetic properties of MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl

Spin-gapless semiconductor (SGS) is a new class of material that has been studied recently for potential applications in spintronics. This material behaves as an insulator for one spin channel, and as a gapless semiconductor for the opposite spin. In this work, we present results of a computational study of two quaternary Heusler alloys, MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl that have been recently reported to exhibit spin-gapless semiconducting electronic structure. In particular, using density functional calculations we analyze the effect of external pressure on electronic and magnetic properties of these compounds. It is shown that while these two alloys exhibit nearly SGS behavior at optimal lattice constants and at negative pressure (expansion), they are half-metals at equilibrium, and magnetic semiconductors at larger lattice constant. At the same time, reduction of the unit cell volume has a detrimental effect on electronic properties of these materials, by modifying the exchange splitting of their electronic structure and ultimately destroying their half-metallic/semiconducting behavior. Thus, our results indicate that both MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl may be attractive for practical device applications in spin-based electronics, but a potential compression of the unit cell volume (e.g. in thin-film applications) should be avoided.

Materials Science↗

Selective capture and recovery of uranium oxide colloids from aqueous soil suspensions using high gradient magnetic filtration

High Gradient Magnetic Filtration (HGMF) is a promising method for the selective capture and recovery of uranium oxide from surface soils. To date, however, magnetic filtration of uranium oxide has only been demonstrated at a proof-of-principle scale using relatively small filters (<5 cm 3 ) at low flowrates (<60 mL/min). Here, to explore the efficacy of magnetic filtration of uranium oxide at a larger scale, a newly designed HGMF apparatus that is more than an order of magnitude larger than our earlier filters (106 cm 3 ) was designed, fabricated, and tested at relatively high flowrates. Filtration experiments were performed using aqueous uranium oxide particle suspensions with Arizona Road Dust (ARD) as a soil simulant. At a flowrate of 125 mL/min, the apparatus’ uranium capture rate was exceptionally high (96 %), but selectivity was poor due to the high rate of capture for diamagnetic soil constituents (e.g., 77 % for silicon). All particles were captured at a lower rate when the flowrate was increased to 250 mL/min, but uranium selectivity was significantly increased due to the more substantial reduction in diamagnetic particle capture (i.e., capture rate of 77 % and 15 % for uranium and silicon, respectively). When backwashing the apparatus at the same flowrates used during filtration experiments, the rate of uranium recovery tended to be fairly low. Nevertheless, higher flowrates (1 L/min) and sonication were both shown to be highly effective methods of increasing uranium recovery. Magnetic field simulations were also performed to investigate potential optimizations to the design of the apparatus. These simulations showed that the intensity of the applied magnetic field could be increased by increasing the thickness of the steel magnetic housing. Additionally, stochastic trajectory simulations were performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of particle capture.

HGMF↗

Microscopic origin of temperature-dependent magnetism in spin-orbit-coupled transition metal compounds

A few 4 d and 5 d transition metal compounds with various electron fillings were recently found to exhibit magnetic susceptibilities χ and magnetic moments that deviate from the well-established Kotani model. This model has been considered for decades to be the canonical expression for descriing the temperature dependence of magnetism in systems with nonnegligible spin-orbit coupling effects. In this paper, we uncover the origin of such discrepancies and determine the applicability and limitations of the Kotani model by calculating the temperature dependence of the magnetic moments of a series of 4 d (Ru-based) and 5 d (W-based) systems at different electron fillings. For this purpose, we perform exact diagonalization of -derived relativistic multiorbital Hubbard models on finite clusters and compute their magnetic susceptibilities. Comparison with experimentally measured magnetic properties indicates that contributions such as a temperature-independent χ 0 background, crystal field effects, Coulomb and Hund's couplings, and intersite interactions—not included in the Kotani model—are especially crucial for correctly describing the temperature dependence of χ and magnetic moments at various electron fillings in these systems. Based on our results, we propose a generalized approach beyond the Kotani model to accurately describe their magnetism. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Correlation between complex spin textures and the magnetocaloric and Hall effects in Eu⁢(Ga 1−𝑥 ⁢Al 𝑥 ) 4 (𝑥=0.9, 1)

Determining the electronic phase diagram of a quantum material as a function of temperature (𝑇) and applied magnetic field (𝐻) forms the basis for understanding the microscopic origin of transport properties, such as the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) and topological Hall effect (THE). For many magnetic quantum materials, including Eu⁢Al 4 , a THE arises from a topologically protected magnetic skyrmion lattice with a nonzero scalar spin chirality. We identified a square skyrmion lattice (sSkL) peak in Eu⁢(Ga 1−𝑥 ⁢Al 𝑥 ) 4 (𝑥=0.9) identical to the peak previously observed in Eu⁢Al 4 by performing neutron-scattering measurements throughout the phase diagram. Here, comparing these neutron results with transport measurements, we found that in both compounds the maximal THE does not correspond to the sSkL area. Instead of the maximal THE, the maximal magnetocaloric-effect boundaries better identify the sSkL lattice phase observed by neutron-scattering measurements. The maximal THE therefore arises from interactions of itinerant electrons with frustrated spin fluctuations in a topologically trivial magnetic state.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Permanent magnets for ELM suppression in tokamaks: feasibility and operational compatibility

Permanent magnets can provide static magnetic fields without power supplies or feed lines, offering a simpler alternative to conventional electromagnets in tokamaks. This work examines permanent magnet arrays (PMAs) for edge localized mode (ELM) control in double-null (DN) configurations, where traditional RMP coils exhibit limited effectiveness. Linear plasma response calculations using IPEC assess high-field-side (HFS) permanent magnet placement, benchmarking performance against DIII-D low-field-side (LFS) internal coils (I-coils) while evaluating engineering constraints. Modeling results demonstrate that HFS permanent magnet configurations generate HFS plasma response amplitudes more than 5 times larger than conventional I-coil systems. While other resonant response metrics show comparable or reduced response relative to I-coils, the combination of conventional RMP systems and permanent magnets is expected to provide enhanced performance. Operational impact assessments of persistent magnetic fields, including sideband field effects and startup/ramp-up compatibility, reveal acceptable performance within established operational boundaries. This analysis establishes PMAs as a technically viable approach for DN ELM control with reductions in system complexity, motivating further experimental validation on existing tokamak facilities.

3D magnetic perturbation↗

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

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

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

Selected magnetoelectrical phonon stiffening in Cr 2 ⁢O 3

A thorough understanding of lattice dynamics, particularly how they couple with spin through spin-phonon interactions, is crucial for pioneering new spin-caloritronic applications. Here, despite extensive studies on Cr 2 ⁢O 3 , the origin of nonlinear thermal expansions and the unusual stiffening of optical phonon modes is still elusive. Through inelastic neutron scattering and atomistic calculations, we found that these behaviors can be attributed to the renormalization of electron states owing to the magnetic transition, and we ruled out the effects from thermal expansion, phonon anharmonicity, magnetostriction, or electron-phonon interactions. Importantly, our quantitative modeling suggests that the common belief that dynamic spin-phonon interactions are the origin of anomalous phonon energy stiffening in magnetic compounds does not apply in Cr 2 ⁢O 3 .

DFT+U↗