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At least 487 records · Page 27

Seedless nonresonant gas-flow velocimetry with single-shot coherent Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering

We demonstrate neutral gas-flow velocimetry by exploiting the optical dipole forces exerted by precisely tailored high-intensity laser fields on polarizable particles, in the form of single-shot coherent Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering (CRBS). This enables mapping of the velocity distribution function of the particles in a single laser shot of approximately 200 ns duration, allowing us to perform spectroscopic measurements in the time, rather than the frequency, domain. Importantly, CRBS results in a coherent signal beam, which renders the technique ideal for measurements in optically noisy environments. By correlating the time shift of the resulting spectrum to the Doppler shift caused by the bulk motion of particles, we perform neutral gas-flow velocimetry without the need to seed the flow, nondestructively, for a variety of gases, atomic or molecular. We demonstrate gas-flow velocimetry at flow velocities as low as 1 m ⁢s −1 , with similar velocity resolution, while temperature and gas density can also be estimated from the same single-shot spectra. To prove the effectiveness of the measurement technique, we benchmark it against Pitot tube measurements, which show excellent agreement.

Gerakis, Alexandros [Luxembourg Institute of Scien↗

Dynamics of coupled thermoacoustic modes: Noise and frequency spacing effects

Practical combustion systems consist of multiple thermoacoustic modes that are linearly stable or unstable at a wide range of frequencies. When coupled, the modal interactions are a strong function of the frequency spacing between them – having very significant implications on interpretation of linear stability or instability of modes from experimental data. Frequency spacing between the modes particularly influences the stability and existence of potential limit cycle solutions. In this paper, we extend earlier deterministic studies to include the effects of noise, studying how deterministic dynamics change with the addition of noise and the simultaneous impact of frequency spacing (i.e., closely, or widely spaced). Specifically, this paper characterizes three key effects of noise, which are (1) distribution of limit cycle amplitudes (“diffusion”), (2) shift in the average limit cycle amplitudes (“noise induced drift”), and (3) introduction of new bifurcations that are not present in the deterministic system. Key conclusions from this work are that in highly noisy practical environments, a deterministic/ low noise analysis will not be sufficient to explain even critical qualitative features of the system – such as existence of stable limit cycles or their amplitudes. Furthermore, the nature of noise-induced effects on nonlinear modal interactions can be fundamentally different for degenerate, closely spaced, and widely spaced modes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Fabrication of Large-Area Metal-on-Carbon Catalytic Condensers for Programmable Catalysis

Catalytic condensers stabilize charge on either side of a high-k dielectric film to modulate the electronic states of a catalytic layer for the electronic control of surface reactions. Here, carbon sputtering provided for fast, large-scale fabrication of metal–carbon catalytic condensers required for industrial application. Carbon films were sputtered on HfO 2 dielectric/p-type Si with different thicknesses (1, 3, 6, and 10 nm), and the enhancement of conductance and capacitance of carbon films was observed upon increasing the carbon thickness following thermal treatment at 400 °C. After Pt deposition on the carbon films, the Pt catalytic condenser exhibited a high capacitance of ∼210 nF/cm 2 that was maintained at a frequency ∼1000 Hz, satisfying the requirement for a dynamic catalyst to implement catalytic resonance. Temperature-programmed desorption of carbon monoxide yielded CO desorption peaks that shifted in temperature with the varying potential applied to the condenser (−6 or +6 V), indicating a shift in the binding energy of carbon monoxide on the Pt condenser surface. A substantial increase in capacitance (∼2000 nF/cm 2 ) of the Pt-on-carbon devices was observed at elevated temperatures of 400 °C that can modulate ∼10% of charge per metal atom when 10 V potential was applied. A large catalytic condenser of 42 cm 2 area Pt/C/HfO 2 /Si exhibited a high capacitance of 9393 nF with a low leakage current/capacitive current ratio (<0.1), demonstrating the practicality and versatility of the facile, large-scale fabrication method for metal–carbon catalytic condensers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A metastable tetragonal phase in two-dimensional halide perovskite lattices driven by a coherent Higgs mode

The optoelectronic properties of metal halide perovskites are defined by their coupled structural and photophysical properties, yet their lattice behaviour remains underexplored. Here, using impulsive stimulated Raman spectroscopy, we study light-induced phonon dynamics of two-dimensional butylammonium lead iodide ((BA) 2 PbI 4 ) films under varying excitation intensities, photon energies and temperatures. We reveal that, whereas (BA) 2 PbI 4 exhibits two thermally accessible orthorhombic phases, optically excited phonons transiently direct the lattice to a distinct, higher symmetry tetragonal phase. We show that bandgap oscillations arise from simultaneous distortions of in-plane and out-of-plane octahedral tilt angles with oscillations following a low-to-high symmetry pathway, marked by two vibrational frequencies independent of intensity—a signature of an optically excited Higgs mode. Notably, the Higgs mode at below-bandgap excitation induces a fourfold larger spectral shift than above-bandgap, where photogenerated charge carriers drive the system away from the optically induced tetragonal phase. This study illustrates how optomechanical coupling influences the optical properties of two-dimensional perovskites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Increasing precipitation whiplash in climate change hotspots

Abstract Throughout the world, the hydrologic cycle is projected to become more variable due to climate change, posing challenges in semi-arid regions with high water resource vulnerability. Precipitation whiplash results from hydrologic variability, and refers to interannual shifts between wet (⩾80th historical percentile) and dry (⩽20th historical percentile) years. Using five model large ensembles, we show that whiplash is projected to increase in frequency (25%–60%) and intensity (30%–100%) by 2100 across several semi-arid regions of the globe, including Western North America and the Mediterranean. These changes can be driven by increases in the frequency of wet years or dry years, or both, depending on the region. Moisture budget calculations in these regions illuminate the physical mechanisms behind increased whiplash. Thermodynamic changes generally dominate, with modulations by dynamics, evaporation, and eddies on regional or global scales. These findings highlight increasingly volatile hydrology in semi-arid regions as the 21st Century progresses.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Social Unit Organization in Three Wild Pig Populations

Wild pig (Sus scrofa) social unit organization was compared in three introduced populations in the southeastern United States. Group size, age and sex composition and types of social unit were recorded from field observations. Groups of two or more individuals were significantly more frequent than solitary animals in all three populations. Mixed adult/immature groups were the largest social unit of two or more individuals, followed by groups of immature animals and the various types of adult groups. In two of the populations, this same trend among these groups types was seen for the frequency of occurrence (i.e., with the adult/immature group being the most common). In the third population, the frequency of the adult/immature and immature-only groups were reversed. Size variation within all except the mixed-sex adult group type was similar among the three field sites. Adult males were the most frequently observed solitary category. Increased percentage of hardwood forest was significantly correlated with a decrease in the percent frequency of immature-only groups and an increase in adult/immature groups. Increasing annual harvest by man was significantly correlated with an increase in the frequency of immature-only groups and a decrease in those of adults/immatures. The biased removal of females through trapping would be consistent with the apparent shift from adult/immature groups to immature-only groups among the three field sites.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Spectroscopic methods and systems for isotopic analysis

Disclosed are spectroscopy systems and methods. A spectroscopy system can include a reference cell and a multi-pass sample cell. The reference arm can include an etalon and a reference cavity containing a reference gas. A system can include a fractional sublimation cold trap. Detectors of the reference and sample arms can detect both intensity and absorption spectra of impinging beams. A frequency calibration based on a reference absorption spectra can be used to analyze a sample absorption spectrum. The analysis can provide information regarding an absorption band shift of the sample absorption spectrum, said shift being related to the isotope concentration of the sample.

O'Rourke, Patrick E.↗

First observation of RMP ELM mitigation on MAST Upgrade

Abstract The first experimental attempts at controlling edge localised modes (ELMs) via the application of resonant magnetic perturbations on the MAST Upgrade tokamak are reported. Using the linear MHD model MARS-F, the phase shift between the upper and lower coil rows ΔΦ was optimised for toroidal mode number n = 1 and n = 2 fields, to provide forward guidance to experiments. In low β N discharges, the application of n = 1 3D fields caused the ELM frequency f E L M to increase by over a factor 20 relative to the reference, and also induced a locked mode, which did not cause a plasma termination nor an H-L back transition. However when β N was raised, this induced locked mode caused plasma termination which precluded mitigation access. Initially, applying a numerically optimised n = 2 field had no effect. However applying a rigid toroidal shift to this field caused a locked mode disruption, demonstrating the presence of a substantial n = 2 error field. Coil current ramps were conducted with ΔΦ set at 6 different values, resulting in either locked mode disruptions or no effect, but mitigation with n = 2 fields was not established.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Broadband cross polarization for ultra-wideline magic-angle spinning NMR

Over the past decade, there has been a sustained interest in using frequency-swept (FS) pulses for the efficient acquisition of wideline and ultra-wideline (UW) NMR powder patterns. Such experiments are typically conducted under static conditions, employing both direct- and indirect-excitation methods (i.e., WCPMG and BRAIN-CP/WCPMG, respectively). Recently, Koppe et al. demonstrated that the WCPMG pulse sequence can be used to efficiently acquire wideline and UW NMR spectra with spinning sideband (SSB) manifolds under magic-angle spinning (MAS) conditions, capitalizing on the increased signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) afforded by MAS. To date, there have been only a few instances of broadband cross-polarization (CP) experiments using FS pulses under MAS conditions and no applications to systems exhibiting wideline and/or ultra-wideline powder patterns, despite the clear advantages these experiments could offer. Herein, we demonstrate that FS pulses selectively applied to a single sideband of the S spin can be used for efficient 1 H-S polarization transfer to S = 1/2 nuclides with large anisotropic chemical shift interactions at slow to moderate MAS rates. The Hartmann–Hahn matching conditions in BRAIN-CP/WCPMG-MAS experiments bear similarity to those of standard CP sequences, yet operate over UW frequency ranges and only require low-amplitude RF pulses on the S channel. Crucial to the success of the BRAIN-CP/WCPMG-MAS experiment is careful calibration of the RF amplitude, transmitter offset, and effective frequency sweep of the FS pulse applied to the S spins at a given MAS rate. Thus, by means of numerical simulations and experimental testing, we provide recommendations for the parameterization and setup of BRAIN-CP/WCPMG-MAS experiments for their most efficient use. Results showcasing the capability of the BRAIN-CP/WCPMG-MAS pulse sequence are presented, including applications to 119 Sn, 195 Pt, and 103 Rh NMR.

Kimball, James J. [Florida State University, Talla↗

Analysis and Control of a Three-Port Converter with High-Frequency AC Link for Hybrid Unmanned/Autonomous Aerial Vehicles

In this study, a three-port resonant converter with a high-frequency isolation link for hybrid unmanned/autonomous aerial vehicle (UAV/AAV) applications is analyzed. The rectified engine-generator set output supplies the first input ports while the other is connected to a battery energy storage system. Input ports consist of half-bridge high-frequency inverters, whereas output port utilizes a semi-bridgeless active rectifier. This rectifier is formed by replacing rectifier low-side diodes with active switching devices. A phase-shift duty-cycle control is implemented for switching signals to regulate the power share and flow between ports. The proposed control system implemented achieves zero voltage switching (ZVS), reduces switching losses, and minimum current flow optimization ensures regulation in a wide range of output power. Compared to the existing bidirectional pulse width modulation (PWM) converters, the proposed system decreases the number of power conversion stages and provides centralized control without needing communications between the ports. The proposed control technique operating in closed-loop control achieves the power flow between ports under various load conditions. Finally, theoretical analysis demonstrates the proposed converter’s viability and laboratory experimental validations at 500 W full power.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Modeling of frequency-sweeping Alfvén modes in the TJ-II stellarator

Alfvénic activity has been observed in the TJ-II stellarator which resembles the frequency sweeping demonstrated by Alfvén cascade modes in tokamaks. A numerical validation study was conducted using a reduced magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to show that such modes could only have been observed in discharges where the rotational transform profile was non-monotonic. During experiments, coil current was varied which resulted in shifting of the minimum value of the rotational transform profile. To mimic this effect, we study the Alfvénic activity predicted by the reduced MHD model for a set of input rotational transform profiles with varying minima. A mode is found whose toroidal and poloidal mode numbers match those predicted in experiments which sweeps downward/upward in frequency as the minimum value of the rotational transform profile is increased/decreased. The results serve as a demonstration of the validity and utility of MHD spectroscopy.

Alfvén cascades↗

Sub-daily virus sampling at the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series reveals diel and depth-structured population dynamics without community-level shifts

Ocean microbes contribute to biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem function, but they do so under top-down pressure imposed by viruses. While viruses are increasingly understood spatially and beginning to be incorporated into predictive modeling, high-frequency ocean virus dynamics remain understudied due to methodological challenges. Here we sampled stratified Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) waters for 112 hours at sub-daily 4- (surface) or 12- (deep chlorophyll maximum) hour intervals, purified viral particles from these samples, sequenced their metagenomes, and used the resulting data to characterize high-frequency virus community dynamics. Aggregated community diversity metrics changed with depth, but were not statistically significant temporally at a fixed location. However, finer-scale population-level analyses revealed both depth and temporal change, including physicochemical depth-driven differences and, in surface waters, thousands of viral populations that exhibited statistically significant diel rhythms. Statistical analyses revealed three main archetypes of temporal dynamics that themselves differed in abundance patterns, host predictions, viral taxonomy, and gene functions. Among these, highlights include viruses resembling an archetype with a night peaking pattern in activity that include an over-representation of viruses that putatively infect Prochlorococcus, a phototrophic cyanobacteria. Together, these efforts provide baseline community- and population-scale short-time-frame observations relevant to future climate state modeling.

Carrillo, Alfonso [The Ohio State University, Colu↗

Influence of African Easterly Wave Suppression on Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity in a Convection-Permitting Model

African easterly waves (AEWs) are strongly linked to Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) on the synoptic timescale by serving as seedling disturbances for TC genesis. However, it is unclear whether climatological TC frequency is limited by AEWs. We investigated the impact of suppressing AEWs using a 3-member ensemble of convection-permitting regional model simulations, in which AEWs were either retained or removed through the lateral boundary conditions. Suppressing AEWs did not substantially change seasonal TC number, but did influence TC intensity, genesis time and location. Suppressing AEWs produced stronger TCs, shifted peak TC genesis from September to August, and reduced (increased) TC genesis in the eastern Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico). Without AEWs, TCs generated under more favorable large-scale atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, these results indicate that AEWs may not be reliable predictors of basin-wide seasonal TC frequency. However, simulations provide evidence that AEWs could influence the large-scale environment that is important for TCs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Arctic cyclones have become more intense and longer-lived over the past seven decades

Intense cyclones driving extreme Arctic weather and climate events have been more frequently observed during recent years, causing dramatic environmental and socioeconomic impacts. However, inconsistencies have emerged about long-term changes in Arctic cyclone activity. Here we analyze multiple reanalysis datasets covering a multidecadal period with improvements to the cyclone tracking algorithm and the integrated cyclone activity metric. The results indicate an intensification of Arctic cyclone activity over the last seven decades. There has been a long-term shift of the maximum cyclone counts from weaker to stronger cyclones and a pronounced lengthening of the duration of strong cyclones. Spatial analysis shows increased strong cyclone frequency over the Arctic, driven by enhanced lower troposphere baroclinicity, amplified winter jet stream waves over the subpolar North Atlantic, and a strengthened summer tropospheric vortex over the central Arctic. The stratospheric vortex has also intensified the tropospheric waves and vortex with distinct dynamics between winter and summer. Recently enhanced baroclinicity over large areas of the Arctic and midlatitudes suggests more complicated atmospheric dynamics than what is hypothesized with Arctic-amplification-induced decrease in meridional temperature gradients.

Atmospheric dynamics↗

Studies of a modulated Hall thruster

A typical Hall thruster is powered from a DC power supply and operates with a constant discharge voltage. In operation, the discharge current is subject to strong low frequency oscillations (so-called breathing oscillations). Recent studies have shown that not only can these breathing oscillations be correlated with improved performance, but these oscillations can be induced and controlled by modulating the anode voltage. In this work, a systematic experimental study of the plasma flow in a modulated cylindrical Hall thruster was performed to characterize the effect of natural and modulated breathing oscillations on thruster performance. Measurements suggest that modulating the anode voltage in resonance with the natural breathing frequency does increase the thrust, but a corresponding phase alignment of discharge current and discharge voltage causes the efficiency gains to be insignificant. In addition, the outward shift of the acceleration region causes the plasma plume divergence to increase at the resonance condition and thereby, limit the thrust increase. Further, mechanisms underlying the relative phase between discharge current, ion current, and discharge voltage are investigated experimentally and corroborated with one-dimensional hybrid simulations of the thruster discharge.

modelling↗

Antecedent conditions determine the biogeochemical response of coastal soils to seawater exposure

Coastal landscapes are increasingly exposed to seawater due to sea level rise and extreme weather events. The biogeochemical responses of these vulnerable ecosystems are poorly understood, limiting our ability to predict how their role in local and global biogeochemical cycles will shift under future conditions. Here we evaluate how antecedent conditions influence the biogeochemical response of soil to seawater inundation events based on a 42-day laboratory incubation experiment with soils collected from a natural salinity gradient across a coastal floodplain. We quantified influences of seawater inundation on intact soil cores through high-frequency carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) gas fluxes measurements as well as ultrahigh resolution characterization of organic matter chemistry and metabolites. Mean CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes were higher after inundation compared to control cores for soils that had low in situ salinity. Soils with low in situ salinity also exhibited significant shifts in organic matter profiles after inundation, with surficial soils (0-7.5 cm) becoming more enriched in phenolic compounds, compared to deeper soils (7.5-15 cm). The number of biochemical transformations inferred from mass spectrometry increased significantly after inundation for soils with low in situ salinity, and a trend of decreasing thermodynamic favorability with increasing salinity was observed, suggesting an increase in microbial activity following inundation. Our results suggest that seawater inundation of low-salinity terrestrial environments can lead to increased microbial activity, preferential depletion of more thermodynamically favorable compounds, and increased soil carbon release. Finally, we conclude that the biogeochemical impacts of future seawater exposure will be modulated by antecedent conditions associated with landscape position within coastal watersheds.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Calculated vibrational properties of pigments in protein binding sites 2: Semiquinones in photosynthetic proteins

[Q A – – Q A ] Fourier transform infrared difference spectra have previously been obtained using purple bacterial reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides with unlabeled, 18 O and 13 C isotope labeled phylloquinone (PhQ, also known as vitamin K 1 ) incorporated into the QA protein binding site (Breton, (1997), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94 11318–11323). The nature of the bands in these spectra and the isotope induced band shifts are poorly understood, especially for the phyllosemiquinone anion (PhQ – ) state. Here, to aid in the interpretation of the bands in these experimental spectra, ONIOM type QM/MM vibrational frequency calculations were undertaken. Calculations were also undertaken for PhQ – in solution. Surprisingly, both sets of calculated spectra are similar and agree well with the experimental spectra. This similarity suggests pigment-protein interactions do not perturb the electronic structure of the semiquinone in the Q A binding site. This is not found to be the case for the neutral PhQ species in the same protein binding site. PhQ also occupies the A 1 protein binding site in photosystem I, and the vibrational properties of PhQ – in the Q A and A 1 binding sites are compared and shown to exhibit considerable differences. These differences probably arise because of changes in the degree of asymmetry of hydrogen bonding of PhQ – in the A 1 and Q A binding sites.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Uniform field in microwave cavities through the use of effective magnetic walls

Wire medium (WM) resonators have emerged as a promising realization for plasma haloscopes—devices designed to detect axions, a potential component of dark matter. Key factors influencing the detection probability include cavity volume, resonance quality factor, and form factor. While the form factor has been explored for resonant frequency tuning, its optimization for axion detection remains unexplored. Here, in this work, we present an approach to significantly enhancing the form factor of WM plasma haloscopes. By shifting the metal walls of the resonator by a quarter wavelength, we effectively convert an electric wall boundary condition into a magnetic wall one, allowing for an almost uniform mode. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations confirm that this modification improves the electric field profile and boosts the form factor, while also slightly enhancing the quality factor. We validate these findings through experimental results from two prototype resonators: one with a standard geometry and another with a quarter-wave air gap between the WM and the walls. Additionally, our method provides a simple way to control the field profile within WM cavities, which can be explored for further applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗