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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 487 records · Page 27

Quantum critical collapse abhors a naked singularity

Classical critical collapse yields naked singularities from smooth initial data, challenging cosmic censorship, and shaping the spectrum of primordial black holes. We show that one-loop vacuum polarization near the threshold qualitatively changes this outcome by dressing the singularity with a horizon within a controlled semiclassical regime. In analytically tractable Einstein-scalar critical spacetimes, a one-loop $s$-wave treatment linearized around self-similar backgrounds shows that regularity uniquely selects an asymptotically Minkowskian, vacuum-polarization state. Its renormalized stress tensor carries a universal quantum growing mode that competes with the classical unstable mode, shifts the critical point, and generates a trapped surface along with a finite mass gap at the new threshold, thereby enforcing horizon formation even under arbitrary fine-tuning. In primordial collapse, the threshold shift enters exponentially into the formation fraction, while the mass gap truncates the low-mass tail, suggesting potentially important consequences for the predicted mass spectrum. Furthermore, these results provide a self-consistent semiclassical treatment of critical collapse and yield sharp predictions within the one-loop, near-critical, linearized regime.

Anomalies↗

Magnetic semiconductors from functionalized Cr 2 ⁢C MXenes

Here, we report an ab initio investigation of functionalized and 3⁢𝑑-electron-doped Cr 2 ⁢C MXenes. Upon functionalization, the Cr 2⁢ C becomes chemically, dynamically, and mechanically stable, and it exhibits magnetic semiconducting behavior. Cr 2 ⁢CF 2 stands out as a wide band gap semiconductor, possessing superexchange interaction mediated by F atoms within the layer; however, the applied strain transforms it from an indirect to a direct band gap semiconductor. Strong spin-phonon coupling found in Cr 2 ⁢CH 2 is supported by the distorted Cr spin density due to the hydrogen environment. Two magnon branches, associated with two sublattice spins, are found in the ferromagnetic Cr 2 ⁢CO 2 and antiferromagnetic Cr 2 ⁢CF 2 . Depending on the types of 3⁢𝑑-electron dopants and functionalization, Cr 2 ⁢C MXenes (except for Cr 2 ⁢CO 2 ) change from an indirect band gap magnetic semiconductor to different states of electronic and magnetic matter, including an exotic direct band gap magnetic bipolar semiconductor. In addition, we reveal a band inversion between the two highest valence bands in the Fe-doped Cr 2 ⁢CCl 2 .

2D materials↗

Kinematic Flow and the Emergence of Time

Perhaps the most basic question we can ask about cosmological correlations is how their strength changes as we smoothly vary kinematic parameters. The answer is encoded in differential equations that govern this evolution in kinematic space. In this Letter, we introduce a new perspective on these differential equations. We show that, in the simplified setting of conformally coupled scalars in power-law Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetimes, the equations for arbitrary tree-level processes can be obtained from a small number of simple combinatorial rules. While this “kinematic flow” is defined purely in terms of boundary data, it reflects the physics of bulk time evolution. The unexpected regularity of the equations suggests the existence of an autonomously defined mathematical structure from which cosmological correlations and the time evolution of the associated spacetime emerge.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Microscopic Imprints of Learned Solutions in Tunable Networks

In physical networks trained using supervised learning, physical parameters are adjusted to produce desired responses to inputs. An example is an electrical contrastive local learning network of nodes connected by edges that adjust their conductances during training. When an edge conductance changes, it upsets the current balance of every node. In response, physics adjusts the node voltages to minimize the dissipated power. Learning in these systems is therefore a coupled double-optimization process, in which the network descends both a cost landscape in the high-dimensional space of edge conductances and a physical landscape—the power dissipation—in the high-dimensional space of node voltages. Because of this coupling, the physical landscape of a trained network contains information about the learned task. Here, we derive a structure-function relation for trained tunable networks and demonstrate that all the physical information relevant to the trained input-output relation can be captured by a tuning susceptibility, an experimentally measurable quantity. We supplement our theoretical results with simulations to show that the tuning susceptibility is correlated with functional importance and that we can extract physical insight into how the system performs the task from the conductances of highly susceptible edges. Our analysis is general and can be applied directly to mechanical networks, such as networks trained for protein-inspired function such as allostery.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nonconservation of Lepton Numbers in the Neutrino Sector Could Change the Prospects for Core Collapse Supernova Explosions

We show that interactions violating the conservation of lepton numbers in the neutrino sector could significantly alter the standard low entropy picture for the presupernova collapsing core of a massive star. A rapid neutrino-antineutrino equilibration leads to entropy generation and enhanced electron capture and, hence, a lower electron fraction than in the standard model. This would affect the downstream core evolution, the prospects for a supernova explosion, and the emergent neutrino signal. If realized by lepton-number-violating neutrino self-interactions (LNV 𝜈⁢SI), the relevant mediator mass and coupling ranges can be probed by future accelerator-based experiments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Enhancement of microwave to optical spin-based quantum transduction via a magnon mode

We propose a method for converting single microwave photons to single optical sideband photons based on spinful impurities in magnetic materials. This hybrid system is advantageous over previous proposals because (i) the implementation allows much higher transduction rates (10 3 times faster at the same optical pump Rabi frequency) than state-of-the-art devices, (ii) high-efficiency transduction is found to happen in a significantly larger space of device parameters (in particular, over 1 GHz microwave detuning), and (iii) it does not require mode volume matching between optical and microwave resonators. We identify the needed magnetic interactions as well as potential materials systems to enable this speed up using erbium dopants for telecom compatibility. This is an important step towards realizing high-fidelity entangling operations between remote qubits and will provide additional control of the transduction through perturbation of the magnet.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Nonequilibrium universality of the nonreciprocally coupled 𝑂⁡(𝑛 1 ) × 𝑂⁡(𝑛 2 ) model

Nonequilibrium dynamics play an important role in all contexts of physics, both classical and quantum as well as living and nonliving, so it is crucial to develop a foundational understanding of nonequilibrium phase transitions. In this work we investigate an important class of nonequilibrium dynamics in the form of nonreciprocal interactions. In particular we study how nonreciprocal coupling between two 𝑂⁡(𝑛𝑖) order parameters (with 𝑖 = 1,2) affects the universality at a multicritical point, extending the analysis of J. T. Young et al. [Phys. Rev. X 10, 011039 (2020)], which considered the case 𝑛 1 = 𝑛 2 = 1, i.e., a ℤ 2 × ℤ 2 model. We show that nonequilibrium fixed points (NEFPs) emerge for a broad range of 𝑛 1 ,𝑛 2 and exhibit intrinsically nonequilibrium critical phenomena, namely a violation of fluctuation-dissipation relations at all scales and underdamped oscillations near criticality in contrast to the overdamped relaxational dynamics of the corresponding equilibrium models. Furthermore, the NEFPs exhibit an emergent discrete scale invariance in certain physically relevant regimes of 𝑛 1 ,𝑛 2 , but not others, depending on whether the critical exponent 𝜈 is real or complex. The boundary between these two regions is described by an exceptional point in the renormalization group (RG) flow, leading to distinctive features in correlation functions and the phase diagram. Another contrast with the previous work is the number and stability of the NEFPs as well as the underlying topology of the RG flow. Lastly, we investigate an extreme form of nonreciprocity where one order parameter is independent of the other order parameter but not vice versa. Unlike the ℤ 2 × ℤ 2 model, which becomes nonperturbative in this case, we identify a distinct nonequilibrium universality class whose dependent field similarly violates fluctuation-dissipation relations but does not exhibit discrete scale invariance or underdamped oscillations near criticality.

Critical phenomena↗

Azimuthal angular correlation of J/ψ plus jet production at the electron-ion collider

By investigating the soft gluon radiation in the J/ψ plus jet photoproduction at the electron-ion collider (EIC), we demonstrate that the azimuthal angular correlations between the leading jet and heavy quarkonium provide a unique probe to the production mechanism of the latter. In particular, a significant cos⁡(φ) asymmetry is found for the color-singlet channel, whereas it vanishes or has an opposite sign for color-octet production, depending on the jet transverse momentum. Numerical results of cos⁡(φ) and cos⁡(2⁢φ) asymmetries employing both the color-singlet model and the nonrelativistic QCD approach are presented for typical kinematics at the future EIC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Probing New Bosons and Nuclear Structure with Ytterbium Isotope Shifts

In this Letter, we present mass-ratio measurements on highly charged Yb 42+ ions with a precision of 4 ×10 -12 and isotope-shift measurements on Yb + on the 2 S 1/2 → 2 D 5/2 and 2 S 1/2 → 2 F 7/2 transitions with a precision of 4 ×10 -9 for the isotopes 168,170,172,174,176 Yb. We present a new method that allows us to extract higher-order changes in the nuclear charge distribution along the Yb isotope chain, benchmarking ab initio nuclear structure calculations. Additionally, we perform a King plot analysis to set bounds on a fifth force in the keV/c 2 to MeV/c 2 range coupling to electrons and neutrons.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Magnetic evolution induced by freezing of Ag + fluctuations in an intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide

Here, we present a comprehensive study on the magnetic evolution processes in AgCrSe 2 using both neutron scattering and theoretical calculations. Additionally, the development of magnetic short-range correlation with decoupled interlayer interactions is confirmed between 55 and 200 K. Significant magneto-crystalline anisotropy energy around 0.1 meV of Cr 3+ is identified that mainly contributes to the robust existence of the in-plane magnetic correlations in the magnetic short-order regime. Furthermore, the indirect superexchange interactions through Cr-Se-Ag-Se-Cr path between the adjacent CrSe 6 octahedral layers is also demonstrated. In combination with the mutual coupling among multiple degrees of freedom (spin, phonon, lattice, and dipole), we reveal the key role of the freezing of Ag + fluctuations in preventing interlayer exchange interactions from decoupling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magneto-opto-phononic inverse Faraday effect

Nonlinear frequency conversion processes, such as optical rectification, difference-frequency generation, and sum-frequency generation, are fundamental for producing electromagnetic radiation at diverse frequencies. In this work, we demonstrate that coherently excited infrared-active phonons can act as transducers for generating nonlinear magnetizations through phonon-magnon interactions, analogous to nonlinear optical frequency conversion. We derive analytical solutions for the time-dependent magnetizations arising from the second-order response to the electric field component of an ultrashort laser pulse. These solutions enable us to define second-order nonlinear magneto-electric susceptibilities, which describe rectification, impulsive excitation, and sum-frequency excitation of coherent magnons. Our theoretical framework naturally incorporates the conventional magneto-optic and phonon inverse Faraday effects and predicts a hybrid magneto-opto-phononic inverse Faraday effect involving photon-phonon-magnon scattering. This work highlights nonlinear phononics as a pathway for controlling magnetization in solids.

Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation↗

Neutron stars and the dense matter equation of state

The past two decades have witnessed tremendous progress in understanding the properties of neutron stars, their maximum mass and radii, and the properties of the dense matter in their cores, made possible by electromagnetic observations of neutron stars and the detection of gravitational waves from their mergers. These observations have provided novel constraints on neutron-star structure that are intimately related to the properties of dense neutron-rich matter described by the nuclear equation of state. Nevertheless, constraining the equation of state over the wide range of densities probed by astrophysical observations is still challenging, as the physics involved is broad and the system spans many orders of magnitude in density. Here, theoretical approaches to calculate and model the neutron-star equation of state in various regimes of densities are reviewed, and the related consequent properties of neutron stars are discussed. How the equation of state at low densities can be calculated from nuclear interactions that are constrained and benchmarked by nuclear experiments is described. Neutron-star observations, with a particular emphasis on information provided by gravitational-wave signals and electromagnetic observations, are reviewed. Finally, future challenges and opportunities in the field are discussed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Stability, electronic quantum states, and magnetic interactions of Er 3+ ions in Ga 2 ⁢O 3

Here, we report an ab initio study of phase stability, defect formation, electronic structure, and multiple magnetic, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya, optical, hyperfine, and crystal field interactions in erbium (Er)-doped wide band gap 𝛼- and 𝛽-gallium oxides (Ga 2 ⁢O 3 ), critically important to make a foundation for both optoelectronic and quantum information applications. The chemical, structural, mechanical, and dynamical stabilities of the pristine phases are confirmed from respective negative formation energies, negative cohesive energies, favorable elastic constants, and positive phonon frequencies. The phonon dispersions indicate that the Ga-O bonds are uniform in the 𝛼-phase, while they vary in the 𝛽-phase due to the anisotropic polyhedral movement. The defect formation energy analysis confirms that both Er-doped 𝛼- and 𝛽−Ga 2 ⁢O 3 prefer Er 3+ (neutral) state. The underestimated band gaps of the pristine phases from standard density functional theory (DFT) calculations as compared to experimental values are corrected by employing the hybrid functional calculations, resulting in the indirect band gaps of 5.21 eV in 𝛼−Ga 2 ⁢O 3 and 4.94 eV in 𝛽−Ga 2 ⁢O 3 . The site preference energy analysis indicates partial occupation of Er in the octahedral site of Ga. The anisotropic nature of hyperfine tensor coefficients of Er is similar in both phases, which may be due to the occupation of Er in the same octahedral Ga site. On the other hand, the calculated magnetic exchange interaction between two Er dopants is negative for 𝛼 and positive for 𝛽, indicating an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state in the former and a ferromagnetic (FM) ground state in the latter. Large values of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMIs) are obtained along the 𝑥 direction in the 𝛼 and along the 𝑦 direction in the 𝛽. The large DMI may support exotic magnetic textures, a promising direction for spintronic applications. The analysis of dielectric constants and refractive indices of both pristine and Er-doped phases shows a good agreement with available experimental values. The calculated optical anisotropy is slightly higher in 𝛽 than those in 𝛼, which is due to the involvement of lower symmetry in 𝛽. The crystal field coefficients (CFCs) calculated from DFT are used to analyze 4⁢𝑓 multiplets and 4⁢𝑓 −4⁢𝑓 transitions. Thus calculated lowest energy level of the first excited state to the lowest energy level of the ground state is about 1.53 µ⁢m, which is in a good agreement with available experiments, and it falls within the quantum telecommunication wavelength range.

3-dimensional systems↗

Nonequilibrium dynamics of two-level systems directly after cryogenic alternating bias

Two-level systems (TLSs) are a dominant decoherence mechanism in superconducting qubits, microwave kinetic inductance detectors, and quantum dots. TLSs are tunneling states commonly found in amorphous materials and interfaces, which interact electromechanically, leading to energy loss. Fluctuations in the frequency of the TLSs are a significant problem for qubit operation and force recalibration every few hours. In this study, we probe the effect of alternating bias at cryogenic temperatures on TLSs in a purpose-built LC oscillator. When an in situ alternating bias is applied, the steady-state spectra of the TLSs disappear. Spectroscopy reveals transient behavior, in which the TLS frequency fluctuates on the order of minutes. Thermal cycling above 10 K reverses these effects, restoring the TLS spectrum to its original state. Importantly, the intrinsic loss tangent of the LC oscillator remains unchanged before and after the application of the alternating bias. We propose that the disappearance of the steady-state spectrum is caused by nonequilibrium energy buildup from strain in the oxide film introduced by the pulsed voltage-bias sequence. Understanding this nonequilibrium energy could shed light on TLS fluctuations and reduce the calibration requirements for qubits.

general physics↗

A New UV Spot Test for Quality Control

Here, we present a fast, low-cost ultraviolet (UV) spot test to screen photovoltaic modules for UV-induced degradation (UVID). The measurement is based on a fiber-coupled arc lamp that delivers a highly accelerated local UV dose-approximately five years of equivalent field exposure in less than a day. Spot-exposed areas are evaluated using electroluminescence imaging. We test a “known bad” product, which was observed to experience UVID in the field, and a “known good” product which did not exhibit UVID in the field. Results indicate that the method may be useful as a quick and relatively inexpensive quality control screening tool for customers and manufacturers.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Surface Stress Characterization and Trends in Thermally Strengthened Photovoltaic Module Glass

Simultaneous changes in photovoltaic (PV) module architecture-such as increased area, replacing the polymeric backsheet with a glass backsheet, and reducing glass thickness from 3.2 to 2.0 mm-have resulted in a novel failure called spontaneous glass breakage. Spontaneous glass breakage results in front and/or rear glass failure without any obvious cause. The resulting low-energy fracture patterns have raised concerns about the thermal strengthening in 2.0-mm glass. We present validation of a nondestructive method for measuring the glass surface stress in PV modules. We use a scattered light polariscope to examine the glass properties of 11 modules from 6 solar fields, with and without spontaneous glass breakage. Based on a Mann-Whitney test p-value of 1.4 x 10-6, we conclude that there is a correlation between lower surface stress and susceptibility to spontaneous breakage. A Kendall's Tau test p-value of 2.0 x 10-4 indicates a correlation between increased module area and lower surface stress. We find that 2.0-mm glass can be, and often is, fully tempered (surface stress ≥69 MPa), but inspecting the fracture pattern is not a reliable way to assess the amount of thermal strengthening. A combination of factors, not just surface stress, influences glass breakage.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Dual Representations and H ∞ -Optimal Control of Partial Differential Equations

We consider H ∞ -optimal state-feedback control of the class of linear Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) which admit a Partial Integral Equation (PIE) representation. While linear matrix inequalities are commonly used for optimal control of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), the absence of a universal state-space representation and suitable dual form prevents such methods from being applied to optimal control of PDEs. Specifically, for ODEs, the controller synthesis problem is defined in state-space, and duality is used to resolve the bilinearity of that synthesis problem. Recently, the PIE representation was proposed as a universal state-space representation for linear PDE systems. In this paper, we show that any PDE system represented by a PIE admits a dual PIE with identical stability and I/O properties. This result allows us to reformulate the stabilizing and optimal state-feedback control problems as convex optimization over the cone of positive Partial Integral (PI) operators. Operator inversion formulae then allow us to construct feedback gains for the original PDE system. The results are verified through application to several canonical problems in optimal control of PDEs and indicate the resulting bounds on H ∞ norm are not conservative.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Host Species–Microbiome Interactions Contribute to Sphagnum Moss Growth Acclimation to Warming

Sphagnum moss is the dominant plant genus in northern peatlands responsible for long-term carbon accumulation. Sphagnum hosts diverse microbial communities (microbiomes), and its phytobiome (plant host + constituent microbiome + environment) plays a key role in nutrient acquisition along with carbon cycling. Climate change can modify the Sphagnum -associated microbiome, resulting in enhanced host growth and thermal acclimation as previously shown in warming experiments. However, the extent of microbiome benefits to the host and the influence of host–microbe specificity on Sphagnum thermal acclimation remain unclear. Here, we extracted Sphagnum microbiomes from five donor species of four peatland warming experiments across a latitudinal gradient and applied those microbiomes to three germ-free Sphagnum species grown across a range of temperatures in the laboratory. Using this experimental system, we test if Sphagnum 's growth response to warming depends on the donor and/or recipient host species, and we determine how the microbiome's growth conditions in the field affect Sphagnum host growth across a range of temperatures in the laboratory. After 4 weeks, we found that the highest growth rate of recipient Sphagnum was observed in treatments of matched host–microbiome pairs, with rates approximately 50% and 250% higher in comparison to maximum growth rates of non-matched host–microbiome pairs and germ-free Sphagnum , respectively. We also found that the maximum growth rate of host–microbiome pairs was reached when treatment temperatures were close to the microbiome's native temperatures. Our study shows that Sphagnum's growth acclimation to temperature is partially controlled by its constituent microbiome. Strong Sphagnum host–microbiome species specificity indicates the existence of underlying, unknown physiological mechanisms that may drive Sphagnum 's ability to acclimatize to elevated temperatures. Together with rapid acclimation of the microbiome to warming, these specific microbiome–plant associations have the potential to enhance peatland resilience in the face of climate change.

acclimation↗