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At least 577 records · Page 32

Fabrication of low-cost, large-area prototype Si(Li) detectors for the GAPS experiment

A Si(Li) detector fabrication procedure has been developed with the aim of satisfying the unique requirements of the GAPS (General Antiparticle Spectrometer) experiment. Si(Li) detectors are particularly well-suited to the GAPS detection scheme, in which several planes of detectors act as the target to slow and capture an incoming antiparticle into an exotic atom, as well as the spectrometer and tracker to measure the resulting decay X-rays and annihilation products. These detectors must provide the absorption depth, energy resolution, tracking efficiency, and active area necessary for this technique, all within the significant temperature, power, and cost constraints of an Antarctic long-duration balloon flight. We report here on the fabrication and performance of prototype 2"-diameter, 1–1.25 mm-thick, single-strip Si(Li) detectors that provide the necessary X-ray energy resolution of ~4 keV for a cost per unit area that is far below that of previously-acquired commercial detectors. Lastly, this fabrication procedure is currently being optimized for the 4"-diameter, 2.5 mm-thick, multi-strip geometry that will be used for the GAPS flight detectors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Predicting Outcomes of Nanoparticle Attachment by Connecting Atomistic, Interfacial, Particle, and Aggregate Scales

Predicting nanoparticle aggregation and attachment phenomena requires a rigorous understanding of the interplay among crystal structure, particle morphology, surface chemistry, solution conditions, and interparticle forces, yet no comprehensive picture exists. We used an integrated suite of experimental, theoretical, and simulation methods to resolve the effect of solution pH on the aggregation of boehmite nanoplatelets, a case study with important implications for the environmental management of legacy nuclear waste. Real-time observations showed that the particles attach preferentially along the (010) planes at pH 8.5 and the (101) planes at pH 11. To rationalize these results, we established the connection between key physicochemical phenomena across the relevant length scales. Starting from molecular-scale simulations of surface hydroxyl reactivity, we developed an interfacial-scale model of the corresponding electrostatic potentials, with subsequent particle-scale calculations of the resulting driving forces allowing successful prediction of the attachment modes. Finally, we scaled these phenomena to understand the collective structure at the aggregate-scale . Here, our results indicate that facet-specific differences in surface chemistry produce heterogeneous surface charge distributions that are coupled to particle anisotropy and shape-dependent hydrodynamic forces, to play a key role in controlling aggregation behavior.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

General Approach to Solving Spin Moiré Superstructures

Recently, a host of exciting magnetic textures such as topologically protected skyrmion lattices has been discovered in several bulk metallic lanthanide compounds. In addition to hosting skyrmion phases, a hallmark of this class of materials is the appearance of numerous spin textures characterized by superposition of multiple magnetic modulations: spin moiré superlattices. In order to understand the multitude of complex phases often present in these materials, we require a general-purpose experimental and theoretical framework. Here, we demonstrate such an approach in EuAg4⁢Sb2 by comprehensively characterizing and modeling its three complex zero-field magnetic textures. Systematic symmetry-breaking experiments using uniaxial strain determine that the ground-state incommensurate magnetic phase (ICM1) is single 𝑞, meaning the magnetic moments modulate along one magnetic propagation vector. In contrast, ICM2 and ICM3 are both double 𝑞, meaning they are formed from the superposition of two sinusoidal spin modulations, i.e., spin moiré superlattices. Further, through application of polarized small-angle neutron scattering and spherical neutron polarimetry, we demonstrate that ICM1 is a single-𝑞 cycloid and ICM2 and ICM3 are double-𝑞 vortex lattices. Despite the quasi-two-dimensional nature of EuAg4⁢Sb2, the modulations propagate out of the ab plane, leading to a shift of the spin texture between triangular lattice planes. Further, the ICM3 to ICM2 transition includes an unusual 45° rotation of the magnetic vortex lattice. Motivated by the coexistence of such drastically different phases in this compound, we conclude by developing a phenomenological model that sheds light on the energetic origins of these varied phases. Our experimental probes and theoretical modeling definitively characterize three different and tunable phases in one material and provide insight for the design of topological spin-texture materials.

Neves, Paul [Massachusetts Institute of Technology↗

Stochastic and mixed density functional theory within the projector augmented wave formalism for simulation of warm dense matter

Stochastic density functional theory (DFT) and mixed stochastic-deterministic DFT are burgeoning approaches for the calculation of the equation of state and transport properties in materials under extreme conditions. In the intermediate warm dense matter regime, a state between correlated condensed matter and kinetic plasma, electrons can range from being highly localized around nuclei to delocalized over the whole simulation cell. The plane-wave basis pseudopotential approach is thus the typical tool of choice for modeling such systems at the DFT level. Unfortunately, stochastic DFT methods scale as the square of the maximum plane-wave energy in this basis. To reduce the effect of this scaling and improve the overall description of the electrons within the pseudopotential approximation, we present stochastic and mixed DFT approaches developed and implemented within the projector augmented wave formalism. In conclusion, we compare results between the different DFT approaches for both single-point and molecular dynamics trajectories and present calculations of self-diffusion coefficients of solid density carbon from 1 to 50 eV.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Challenges in Continuous In-Field Critical Current Testing of High-Temperature Superconducting Tapes: Thermal and Mechanical Perspectives

High-temperature superconductors (HTS) are essential for ultra-high-field applications requiring exceptional current-carrying capacity under extreme conditions. However, systematic characterization of critical current in long-length conductors remains challenging due to complex thermal, electromag netic, and mechanical interactions during continuous testing. This study reports the development of a continuous in-field magnetization testing system for position-dependent critical current measurement in HTS tapes at 20 K under 7.5 T fields applied normal to the tape plane, enabling identification of performance-limiting regions that could compromise magnet stability. Here, the system addresses two fundamental challenges inherent to cryogenic reel to-reel testing. First, thermal management requires continuous cooling of a moving conductor to 20 K, achieved through liquid nitrogen precooling combined with a 100 W@20 K Gifford McMahon cryocooler. Second, screening currents in high fields generate Lorentz forces that induce twisting, bowing, and potential delamination. To mitigate these risks, we propose mechanical reinforcement and active current density suppression strategies. Numerical simulations using the stream function formulation reveal four primary failure modes: frictional heating at guide interfaces, unstable equilibria causing deformation, transverse current-induced stresses at guide transitions, and unsupported forces in vertical spans. Our mitigation strategies include PTFE coated guides to minimize friction, spring-loaded stabilization mechanisms to maintain tape alignment, controlled pre-heating using the liquid nitrogen thermal jacket to suppress critical current at stress points, and optimized guide positioning to minimize force accumulation. The experimental system is nearing completion, with testing planned to commence within two months. Preliminary validation at 65 K under 0.5 T demonstrates strong correlation between simulation-predicted mechanical instabilities and observed critical current variations during conductor tran sitions through the measurement region. These findings establish a robust foundation for quality assurance protocols essential to next-generation superconducting magnet applications.

Chen, Siwei [Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (↗

Evolution of the Solar Wind Speed with Heliocentric Distance and Solar Cycle. Surprises from Ulysses and Unexpectedness from Observations of the Solar Corona

An extensive analysis of Ulysses observations of the solar wind speed V from 1990 to 2008 is undertaken. It is shown that the evolution of V with heliocentric distance r depends substantially on both the heliolatitude and the solar activity cycle. Deviations from the predicted Parker’s profile of V(r) are so considerable that cannot be explained by a scarcity of measurements or other technical effects. In particular, the expected smooth growth of the solar wind speed with r is typical only for the solar activity maximum and for low heliolatitudes (lower than ±40°), while at high latitudes, there are two V(r) branches: growing and falling. In the solar activity maximum, V increases toward the solar pole in the North hemisphere only; however, in the South hemisphere, it decreases with heliolatitude. In the minimum of solar activity, the profile of V(r) at low heliolatitudes has a local minimum between 2 and 5 AU. This result is confirmed by the corresponding data from other spacecraft (Voyager 1 and Pioneer 10). Unexpected spatial variations in V at low heliolatitudes can be explained by the impact of coronal hole flows on the V(r) profile since the flows incline to the ecliptic plane. To reproduce the impact of spatial variations of V in the polar corona on the behavior of V at low heliolatitudes, a stationary one-fluid ideal MHD-model is developed with account of recent results on imagery of the solar wind speed in the corona up to 5.5 solar radii obtained on the basis of combined observations from SOHO/UVCS, LASCO, and Mauna Loa.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Physics Considerations for a Harp System Design at the Second Target Station of the Spallation Neutron Source

A harp system is being developed for monitoring proton beam profile direct upstream of the proton beam window at the Second Target Station of the Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It consists of two sensor planes which have arrays of thin conducting wires aligned vertically and horizontally, respectively. It monitors beam profiles in two transverse directions to the beam axis by measuring the net-charge depositions in the sensor wires, which are caused by ejection of secondary electrons and delta rays driven by electromagnetic interactions with high energy protons. The net charge deposition in a sensing wire linearly correlates with the number of incident protons on it. This correlation is perturbed when the wire interacts with secondary electrons and delta rays originating from beam matter interactions in neighboring wires, PBW and residual gases. In this paper, we analyze the physical phenomena that affects the measurement uncertainties of the harp using particle transport simulations.

Lee, Yong Joong [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000298381723)↗

Pixel color magnitude diagrams for semi-resolved stellar populations: the star formation history of regions within the disk and bulge of M31

The analysis of stellar populations has, by and large, been developed for two limiting cases: spatially resolved stellar populations in the color–magnitude diagram, and integrated light observations of distant systems. In between these two extremes lies the semi-resolved regime, which encompasses a rich and relatively unexplored realm of observational phenomena. Here we develop the concept of pixel color–magnitude diagrams (pCMDs) as a powerful technique for analyzing stellar populations in the semi-resolved regime. pCMDs show the distribution of imaging data in the plane of pixel luminosity versus pixel color. A key feature of pCMDs is that they are sensitive to all stars, including both the evolved giants and the unevolved main sequence stars. An important variable in this regime is the mean number of stars per pixel, N{sub pix}. Simulated pCMDs demonstrate a strong sensitivity to the star formation history (SFH) and have the potential to break degeneracies between age, metallicity and dust based on two filter data for values of N{sub pix} up to at least 10{sup 4}. We extract pCMDs from Hubble Space Telescope optical imaging of M31 and derive SFHs with seven independent age bins from 10{sup 6} to 10{sup 10} year for both the crowded disk and bulge regions (where N{sub pix}≈30--10{sup 3}). From analyzing a small region of the disk we find a SFH that is smooth and consistent with an exponential decay timescale of 4 Gyr. The bulge SFH is also smooth and consistent with a 2 Gyr decay timescale. pCMDs will likely play an important role in maximizing the science returns from next generation ground and space-based facilities.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Generation of Turbulence in Colliding Reconnection Jets

The collision of magnetic reconnection jets is reported on by means of a three-dimensional numerical simulation at the kinetic scale, in the presence of a strong guide field. We demonstrate that turbulence develops due to the collision of jets, producing several current sheets in reconnection outflows, aligned with the guide field direction. The turbulence is mainly two-dimensional, with stronger gradients in the plane perpendicular to the guide field and low wave-like activity in the parallel direction. First, we provide a numerical method to isolate the central turbulent region. Second, we analyze the spatial second-order structure function and prove that turbulence is confined in this region. Lastly, we compute local magnetic and electric frequency spectra, finding a trend in the subion range that differs from typical cases for which the Taylor hypothesis is valid, as well as wave activity in the range between ion and electron cyclotron frequencies. Our findings are relevant to understand observed collisions of reconnection jets in space plasmas.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

RAY-UI: A powerful and extensible user interface for RAY

The RAY-UI project started as a proof-of-concept for an interactive and graphical user interface (UI) for the well-known ray tracing software RAY [1]. In the meantime, it has evolved into a powerful enhanced version of RAY that will serve as the platform for future development and improvement of associated tools. The software as of today supports nearly all sophisticated simulation features of RAY. Furthermore, it delivers very significant usability and work efficiency improvements. Beamline elements can be quickly added or removed in the interactive sequence view. Parameters of any selected element can be accessed directly and in arbitrary order. With a single click, parameter changes can be tested and new simulation results can be obtained. All analysis results can be explored interactively right after ray tracing by means of powerful integrated image viewing and graphing tools. Unlimited image planes can be positioned anywhere in the beamline, and bundles of image planes can be created for moving the plane along the beam to identify the focus position with live updates of the simulated results. In addition to showing the features and workflow of RAY-UI, we will give an overview of the underlying software architecture as well as examples for use and an outlook for future developments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

SU-E-T-265: Development of Dose-To-Water Conversion Models for Pre-Treatment Verification with the New AS1200 Imager

Purpose: To develop and evaluate models for dose verification of flattened (FF) and flattening filter free (FFF) beams for the new Varian aS1200 backscatter-shielded electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Methods: The model converts EPID images to incident energy fluence using deconvolution of EPID scatter kernels and fluence to dose in water using convolution with dose-to-water kernels. Model parameters were optimized using non-transmission EPID images of varying jaw defined field sizes for energies of 6 and 10 MV FF and FFF beams. Energy fluence was obtained from the Acuros planning system and reference dose profiles and output factors were measured at depths of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm in a water phantom. Images for 34 IMRT fields acquired at 6 and 10 MV FF energy were converted to dose at 10 cm depth in water and compared to treatment planning system dose plane calculations using gamma criteria. Results: Gamma evaluations for the IMRT fields had mean (1 standard deviation) pass rates of 99.4% (0.8%) and mean gamma scores of 0.32 (0.06) with 2%, 2 mm criteria and 10% of maximum dose threshold. Conclusion: The developed model has been shown to be highly accurate for pre-treatment verification with the new aS1200 imager which does not display support-arm backscatter artefact and has improved dosimetric properties. Further investigation of FFF modes is in progress. The model is currently being evaluated at sites for potential clinical release.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Rossby wave radiation by an eddy on a beta-plane: Experiments with laboratory altimetry

Results from the laboratory experiments on the evolution of vortices (eddies) generated in a rotating tank with topographic β-effect are presented. The focus of the experiments is on the far-field flow which contains Rossby waves emitted by travelling vortices. The surface elevation and velocity fields are measured by the altimetric imaging velocimetry. The experiments are supplemented by shallow water numerical simulations as well as a linear theory which describes the Rossby wave radiation by travelling vortices. The cyclonic vortices observed in the experiments travel to the northwest and continuously radiate Rossby waves. Measurements show that initially axisymmetric vortices develop a dipolar component which enables them to perform translational motion. A pattern of alternating zonal jets to the west of the vortex is created by Rossby waves with approximately zonal crests. Energy spectra of the flows in the wavenumber space indicate that a wavenumber similar to that introduced by Rhines for turbulent flows on the β-plane can be introduced here. The wavenumber is based on the translational speed of a vortex rather than on the root-mean-square velocity of a turbulent flow. The comparison between the experiments and numerical simulations demonstrates that evolving vortices also emit inertial waves. While these essentially three-dimensional non-hydrostatic waves can be observed in the altimetric data, they are not accounted for in the shallow water simulations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Future SDN-HPON Control Plane Architecture and Protocol for On-Demand Terabit End-to-End Extreme-Scale Science Applications

The UC Davis team conducted architecture, algorithm and experimental studies for next generation ultra-high-bandwidth optical networks in support of extreme-scale science applications. In particular, over the course of this 3-year project, the UC Davis team achieved the following main accomplishments: Designed a network architecture for automated multi-domain service provisioning: Designed information exchange schemes between autonomous systems (domains) Designed application programming interfaces to orchestrate resource reservation in data centers, high performance computation facilities, and communication networks belonging to different autonomous systems Experimentally assessed the multi-domain network architecture in a distributed field trial set-up connecting premises in three continents Designed a broker-based orchestrated multi-domain optical networking framework supporting observe-analyze-act cycle based cognitive inter-domain service provisioning: Designed an inter-domain operation mechanism, e.g., topology abstraction, for the broker plane and domain managers to collaboratively accomplish inter-domain service provisioning while respecting the autonomy of each administrative domain Designed an alien wavelength monitoring scheme and an artificial neural network based optical signal-to-noise ratio estimator for quality-of-transmission aware inter-domain service provisioning Developed a deep neural network based multi-domain traffic predictor and a cognitive routing and spectrum assignment algorithm to realize knowledge-based autonomous traffic engineering in multi-domain networks Implemented an optical signal-to-noise ratio estimator and traffic predictor with Google’s Tensor flow and assessed their performance using experimental and synthetic data Demonstrated the benefits of the proposed cognitive schemes with experiments ona two-domain elastic optical network testbed and evaluations on a six-domain simulation framework Built a two-domain software-defined networking control plane testbed using the ONOS platform and demonstrated the workflow of broker and domain manager cooperation, including hierarchical performance monitoring, topology abstraction and cognitive resource allocation. Designed self-learning cognitive service provisioning schemes using advanced machine learning technologies: Designed a self-taught anomaly detection framework for optical networks, including an unsupervised data clustering module for pattern recognition, a supervised data regression and classification module for online anomaly detection, and the system operation principle Experimentally validated the effectiveness of the self-taught anomaly detection framework with various failure/anomaly scenarios. Designed a self-learning autonomic routing, modulation and spectrum assignment (RMSA) provisioning framework for elastic optical networks with deep reinforcement learning. Designed effective modeling and training mechanisms for the self-learning RMSA framework Conducted extensive numerical simulations with various traffic patterns and topologies to verify the advantage of the self-learning RMSA framework.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Failure strength predictions for closed-cell polyvinyl chloride foams

This paper describes an effort to model mechanical strength of closed-cell polyvinyl chloride foams under static loading. The study presented here is a continuation of an earlier study to model elastic stiffness of closed-cell polyvinyl chloride foams as effective transversely isotropic materials. An engineering approach is used in the study and governing equations are developed for predicting the strength of polyvinyl chloride foams. To account for foam microstructure and cell-shape anisotropy on foam strength, a unit cell representation of the polyvinyl chloride foam microstructure is used to derive equations to assess tensile and shear strengths of polyvinyl chloride foams. The differential stretching of polyvinyl chloride foam cell walls (in the rise direction and in the in-plane directions) on the strength of the foam-matrix polymer is also taken into account in modeling the mechanical strength of polyvinyl chloride closed-cell foams. The behavior of closed-cell polyvinyl chloride foams under compression is different from that under tension. In the paper, the equations for predicting compressive strength of closed-cell polyvinyl chloride foams are based on an approximate theory developed in an earlier study of compressive strength of unidirectional composites. The validity of the foam strength predictive equations, derived in the paper, is first demonstrated through comparison of the predictions with the results on Divinycell H (DIAB) foams obtained from a systematic in-house test program. A comparison is also carried out between the strength predictions and the test results published by two polyvinyl chloride foam manufacturers for different density polyvinyl chloride foams. Good agreements are found for all the different density foams studied.

Lo, King H.↗

Through‐Plane Conductive Hydrophobic Electrodes for CO 2 Electrolysis to Ethylene

Copper catalyst gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) have demonstrated unique electrochemical selectivity converting CO 2 to C 2 -hydrocarbons such as ethylene and ethanol but have been challenged by their hydrophobic chemical stability and internal electrical resistance leading to low energy efficiency. Carbon-supported GDEs have low electrical resistance but lack sufficient stability at industrially relevant current densities. While polymer-supported GDEs have improved hydrophobicity, they also display high in-plane electrical resistance, particularly at industrial scales. Here, in this work, we demonstrate a composite gas diffusion layer that combines hydrophobic porous polymers with an electrically conductive backbone addressing these core gas diffusion electrode (GDE) scaling challenges. We investigate the material properties of standalone porous perfluoropolyether (PFPE) polymers, including porosity and surface morphology, under varying processing conditions and then incorporate these polymers into a porous copper foam. This composite enhances the mechanical rigidity necessary for cell assembly and provides a through-plane electrical conduction path to reduce electrical resistive losses. This enhanced PFPE composite GDE displays efficient CO 2 reduction, achieving 15% ethylene energy efficiency at 100 cm 2 . These findings contribute to the development of advanced catalyst materials and electrode architectures and promote scalable strategies for electrochemical conversion of CO 2 into high-value carbon products.

Chemistry↗

Compact perturbative expressions for neutrino oscillations in matter

We further develop and extend a recent perturbative framework for neutrino oscillations in uniform matter density so that the resulting oscillation probabilities are accurate for the complete matter potential versus baseline divided by neutrino energy plane. This extension also gives the exact oscillation probabilities in vacuum for all values of baseline divided by neutrino energy. The expansion parameter used is related to the ratio of the solar to the atmospheric $\Delta m^2$ scales but with a unique choice of the atmospheric $\Delta m^2$ such that certain first-order effects are taken into account in the zeroth-order Hamiltonian. Using a mixing matrix formulation, this framework has the exceptional feature that the neutrino oscillation probability in matter has the same structure as in vacuum, to all orders in the expansion parameter. It also contains all orders in the matter potential and $\sin\theta_{13}$. It facilitates immediate physical interpretation of the analytic results, and makes the expressions for the neutrino oscillation probabilities extremely compact and very accurate even at zeroth order in our perturbative expansion. Furthermore, the first and second order results are also given which improve the precision by approximately two or more orders of magnitude per perturbative order.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Percutaneous Treatment of Intrahepatic Biliary Leak: A Modified Occlusion Balloon Technique

PurposeTo report a novel modified occlusion balloon technique to treat biliary leaks.MethodsA 22-year-old female patient underwent liver transplantation with biliary-enteric anastomosis. She developed thrombosis of the common hepatic artery and extensive ischemia in the left hepatic lobe. Resection of segments II and III was performed and a biliary-cutaneous leak originating at the resection plane was identified in the early postoperative period. Initial treatment with percutaneous transhepatic drainage was unsuccessful. Therefore, an angioplasty balloon was coaxially inserted within the biliary drain and positioned close to the leak.ResultsThe fistula output abruptly decreased after the procedure and stopped on the 7th day. At the 3-week follow-up, cholangiography revealed complete resolution of the leakage.ConclusionThis novel modified occlusion balloon technique was effective and safe. However, greater experience and more cases are necessary to validate the technique.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

In situ, 3D characterization of the deformation mechanics of a superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy single crystal under multiscale constraint

Microstructural elements in NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) – precipitates, phase boundaries, inclusions, grain boundaries – can be viewed as sources of multiscale constraint that influence their deformation response. In this paper, we characterized in situ, and in 3D, the deformation and the evolution of microstructure during a tension test in a superelastic NiTi specimen containing some of these sources of constraint. The method used was far-field high-energy X-ray diffraction microscopy (ff-HEDM), complemented by electron microscopy. We simulated the local stress state in the specimen using a microstructural model informed by the experimental data. Using these combined microstructure, deformation, and stress data, we report three phenomena, and relate them to specific sources of constraint. During initial elastic loading, axial lattice strain in austenite increased monotonically. On partial stress-induced phase transformation to martensite, the stress redistributed to both phases leading to a stress relaxation in austenite. The specimen contained a dense distribution of inclusions, which led to the activation of martensite habit plane variants that produce less than theoretical maximum transformation strain. Large Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitates potentially contributed to the poor transformation response. Under load, proportional gradients in local rotation and elastic stretch developed in the martensite phase, because of the constraint at phase interfaces. Finally, this combined ff-HEDM, electron microscopy, microstructural simulation toolbox provides a versatile method to understand the effect of constraint on inelastic deformation in other alloys with hierarchical microstructure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗