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At least 649 records · Page 36

Measurement of top quark pair production in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at s$$ \sqrt{\mathrm{s}} $$ = 13 TeV

A measurement of the inclusive cross section of top quark pair production in association with a Z boson using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC is performed. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 77.5 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS experiment during 2016 and 2017. The measurement is performed using final states containing three or four charged leptons (electrons or muons), and the Z boson is detected through its decay to an oppositely charged lepton pair. The production cross section is measured to be σ($ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{Z} $) = 0.95 ± 0.05 (stat) ± 0.06 (syst) pb. For the first time, differential cross sections are measured as functions of the transverse momentum of the Z boson and the angular distribution of the negatively charged lepton from the Z boson decay. The most stringent direct limits to date on the anomalous couplings of the top quark to the Z boson are presented, including constraints on the Wilson coefficients in the framework of the standard model effective field theory.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Transmission coefficient of super-Janus solution

We calculate the transmission coefficient of the super-Janus interface conformal field theory, both at weak and at strong coupling, where latter is described holographically as a domain-wall solution on AdS 2 × S 2 × M 4 × Σ. Surprisingly we find perfect agreement between the free and strong coupling answer, mirroring a similar unexpected equivalence previously found for the entanglement entropy.

AdS-CFT correspondence↗

On the existence and origin of sluggish diffusion in chemically disordered concentrated alloys

Concentrated single phase solid solutions, including medium- and high-entropy alloys, represent a new class of materials that have recently attracted significant interest due to exceptional functional and structural properties. Their fascinating properties are mainly attributed to the sluggish atomic-level diffusion and transport, but its controlling mechanisms are largely unknown and there is certain skepticism about its very existence. By using microsecond-scale molecular dynamics, on-the-fly and conventional kinetic Monte Carlo, we reveal the governing role of percolation effects and composition dependence of the vacancy migration energy in diffusion. Surprisingly, an increase of concentration of faster species (Fe) in face-centered cubic Ni-Fe alloy may decrease the overall atomic diffusion. Consequently, the composition dependence of tracer diffusion coefficient has a minimum near the site percolation threshold, ~20 at.%Fe. We argue that this coupled percolation and composition-dependent barriers for vacancy jumps within different subsystems in medium- and high-entropy alloys leads, indeed, to the sluggish diffusion. A fast method for preselecting materials with potentially desired properties is suggested.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Additive manufacturing as a processing route for steel-aluminum bimetallic structures

Here we present results on the fabrication of steel-aluminum bi-metallic structures using directed energy deposition additive manufacturing. The challenges associated with the fabrication of a sharp transition from steel to aluminum are uncovered using ex-situ characterization techniques and thermo-mechanical modeling of the deposition process. It was found that the fabrication of a sharp steel-aluminum transition is challenging with extensive cracking observed at the interface. The cracking was attributed to the combined effect of residual stress development due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatch and the presence of ordered intermetallics with low ductility at the interface. Using a coupled thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical modeling approach, potential pathways to enable the fabrication of steel-aluminum bi-metallic structures using additive manufacturing are proposed. The results presented here can lay the foundation for future work on the fabrication of bi-metallic steel-aluminum structures using directed energy deposition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Towards QCD-assisted hydrodynamics for heavy-ion collision phenomenology

Heavy-ion collisions are well described by a dynamical evolution with a long hydrodynamical phase. In this phase the properties of the strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma are reflected in the equation of state (EoS) and the transport coefficients, most prominently by the shear and bulk viscosity over entropy density ratios η/s( T ) and ς/s( T ), respectively. While the EoS is by now known to a high accuracy, the transport coefficients and in particular their temperature and density dependence are not well known from first-principle computations yet, as well as the possible influence they can have once used in hydrodynamical simulations. In this work, the most recent QCD-based parameters are provided as input to the MUSIC framework. A ratio η/s( T ) computed with a QCD based approach is used for the first time [1, 2]. The IP-Glasma model is used to describe the initial energy density distribution, and UrQMD for the dilute hadronic phase. Simulations are performed for Pb–Pb collisions at √ s NN = 2.76 TeV, for different centrality intervals. The resulting kinematic distributions of the particles produced in the collisions are compared to data from the LHC, for several experimental observables. Furthermore, the high precision of the experimental results and the broad variety of observables considered allow to critically verify the quality of the description based on first-principle input to the hydrodynamic evolution.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Advances in rapid compression machine studies of low- and intermediate-temperature autoignition phenomena

Rapid compression machines (RCMs) are widely-used to acquire experimental insights into fuel autoignition and pollutant formation chemistry, especially at conditions relevant to current and future combustion technologies. RCM studies emphasize important experimental regimes, characterized by low- to intermediate-temperatures (600–1200 K) and moderate to high pressures (5–80 bar). At these conditions, which are directly relevant to modern combustion schemes including low temperature combustion (LTC) for internal combustion engines and dry low emissions (DLE) for gas turbine engines, combustion chemistry exhibits complex and experimentally challenging behaviors such as the chemistry attributed to cool flame behavior and the negative temperature coefficient regime. Challenges for studying this regime include that experimental observations can be more sensitive to coupled physical-chemical processes leading to phenomena such as mixed deflagrative/autoignitive combustion. Experimental strategies which leverage the strengths of RCMs have been developed in recent years to make RCMs particularly well suited for elucidating LTC and DLE chemistry, as well as convolved physical-chemical processes. Specifically, this work presents a review of experimental and computational efforts applying RCMs to study autoignition phenomena, and the insights gained through these efforts. A brief history of RCM development is presented towards the steady improvement in design, characterization, instrumentation and data analysis. Novel experimental approaches and measurement techniques, coordinated with computational methods are described which have expanded the utility of RCMs beyond empirical studies of explosion limits to increasingly detailed understanding of autoignition chemistry and the role of physical-chemical interactions. Fundamental insight into the autoignition chemistry of specific fuels is described, demonstrating the extent of knowledge of low-temperature chemistry derived from RCM studies, from simple hydrocarbons to multi-component blends and full-boiling range fuels. In conclusion, emerging needs and further opportunities are suggested, including investigations of under-explored fuels and the implementation of increasingly higher fidelity diagnostics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Mechanism, Thermochemistry, and Kinetics for the CH + N 2 Reaction Leading to Prompt NO Formation in Combustion

Here, the reaction of CH + N 2 forming H + NCN is a remarkable example of activation of the nitrogen triple bond and is an important source of prompt NO in combustion. The reaction pathway is complex and proceeds through two competing mechanisms: a cyclic addition channel initiated by c-HC(NN) and a chain-addition channel initiated by HCNN, both of which eventually form HNCN prior to dissociation to H + NCN. This work reinvestigates this reaction with composite coupled cluster protocols, including a novel spin-flip equation of motion coupled cluster scheme, combined with pragmatic two-dimensional master equation simulations of the resulting rate coefficients. These improved calculations predict the CH + N 2 rate coefficient between the two more recent previous theoretical results and reduce the uncertainties of the best theoretical models of this reaction to less than a factor of 1.3. Additionally, we provide a closer theoretical investigation of the simultaneous dependence of the CH + N 2 rate coefficient on pressure and temperature, and affirm that collisionally stabilized HNCN, another potential source of prompt NO, emerges as an appreciable product of this reaction under conditions relevant to automotive internal combustion engines and aircraft gas turbine engines.

Nguyen, Thanh Lam [Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, ↗

Phase Stability and Diffusion in Lateral Heterostructures of Methyl Ammonium Lead Halide Perovskites

Mixed-halide hybrid organic inorganic perovskites have band gaps that span the visible spectrum making them candidates for optoelectronic devices. Diffusion of the halide atoms in methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) and its alloys with bromine has been observed in both dark and under illumination. While halide transport upon application of electric fields has received much attention, less is known regarding bromide and iodide interdiffusion down concentration gradients. This work provides an upper bound on the bromide-iodide interdiffusion coefficient $D_i$, in thin films of (MAPbBr x I 1-x ) 3 using a diffusion couple of a lateral heterostructure. The upper bound of $D_i$ was extracted from changes in the interface profiles of the heterostructures upon exposure to heat. The stability of thoroughly-heated interfacial profiles suggests that the miscibility gap extends to higher temperatures and to a higher fractional composition of bromine than predicted by theory. The results of this work provide guidance for compositions of thermally stable heterostructures of hybrid halide perovskites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Se diffusion in CdTe thin films for photovoltaics

Manipulating CdSeTe bandgrading to enhance photocurrent and carrier lifetime is an essential part of high-performance CdTe photovoltaics (PVs). Here, we examine Se diffusion kinetics in single-crystal and polycrystalline CdTe during deposition, thermal annealing, and CdCl 2 treatments. Se distributions are determined by dynamic secondary-ion-mass spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling and coupled with electron backscatter diffraction images of the crystalline structure. Effective bulk and grain boundary diffusion coefficients are determined by analytical models and discussed in the context of processing and film morphology. Se is found to diffuse in CdTe at much higher rates during CdCl 2 treatments than with thermal processing alone. GB diffusion also occurs at a significantly faster rate than bulk diffusion. As a result of these two effects, the near interface bulk and GB Se diffusion during CdCl 2 treatments dominates the bandgrading profiles in CdTe PVs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Search for charged-lepton-flavor violating μ τ q t interactions in top-quark production and decay in p p collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

A search for charged-lepton-flavor violating μ τ q t (q = u, c) ) interactions is presented, considering both top-quark production and decay. The data analyzed correspond to 140 fb -1 of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis targets events containing two muons with the same electric charge, a hadronically decaying $\tau$ -lepton and at least one jet, with exactly one b -tagged jet, produced by a μ τ q t interaction. Agreement with the Standard Model expectation within 1.6 standard deviations is observed, and limits are set at the 95% confidence level (CL) on the charged-lepton-flavor violation branching ratio of $\mathcal{B}$(t → μ$\tau$q) < 8.7 x 10 -7 . An effective field theory interpretation is performed yielding 95% CL limits on Wilson coefficients, dependent on the flavor of the associated light quark and the Lorentz structure of the coupling. These range from |c$^{3(2313)}_{lequ}$|Λ 2 < 0.10 TeV -2 for μ$\tau$ut to |c$^{1(2323)}_{lequ}$| /Λ 2 < 1.8 TeV -2 for μ$\tau$ct. An additional interpretation is performed for scalar leptoquark production inducing charged-lepton-flavor violation, with fixed intergenerational couplings. Upper limits on leptoquark coupling strengths are set at the 95% CL, ranging from $\lambda$ LQ = 1.3 to $\lambda$ LQ =3.7 for leptoquark masses between 0.5 and 2.0 TeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Electrochemical Reactivity of Hydrogen Storage Materials: Exploring Borohydride and Hydrazinium Salt Mixtures

Electrochemical characterization of hydrogen storage materials was conducted in a non-aqueous environment to investigate the direct electrochemical release and consumption of hydrogen and the potential for regeneration. We first address the challenge of minimal solubility of the synthetic precursors, sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) and hydrazinium bromide (N 2 H 5 Br), in both organic and inorganic solvents. We next determine and calibrate a reference electrode formulation compatible with our non-aqueous media and analytes that demonstrates a stable reference potential. We employ cyclic voltammetry (CV) to characterize the precursors and mixtures thereof. Each CV peak is assigned to a corresponding electrochemical reaction. Using the rate-dependent CV method and Randles–Ševčík equation, we calculate the diffusion coefficient of each chemical (NaBH 4 and N 2 H 5 Br). Analysis of the CVs, coupled with 11B NMR analysis, reveals a room temperature chemical transformation of NaBH 4 and N 2 H 5 Br mixtures into hydrazine borane (N 2 H 4 BH 3 ). These results are particularly significant, considering the limited information available on the electrochemical characterization of metal borohydride and hydrazinium salt in non-aqueous media. This work establishes a foundation for adapting a non-aqueous electrochemical system to further study the borohydride family of chemistries and to design and develop electrochemical devices for direct electrical and chemical energy interconversion with hydrogen storage materials.

08 HYDROGEN↗

The Cosmological Bootstrap: Spinning correlators from symmetries and factorization

We extend the cosmological bootstrap to correlators involving massless spinning particles, focusing on spin-1 and spin-2. In de Sitter space, these correlators are constrained both by symmetries and by locality. In particular, the de Sitter isometries become conformal symmetries on the future boundary of the spacetime, which are reflected in a set of Ward identities that the boundary correlators must satisfy. We solve these Ward identities by acting with weight-shifting operators on scalar seed solutions. Using this weight-shifting approach, we derive three- and four-point correlators of massless spin-1 and spin-2 fields with conformally coupled scalars. Four-point functions arising from tree-level exchange are singular in particular kinematic configurations, and the coefficients of these singularities satisfy certain factorization properties. We show that in many cases these factorization limits fix the structure of the correlators uniquely, without having to solve the conformal Ward identities. The additional constraint of locality for massless spinning particles manifests itself as current conservation on the boundary. We find that the four-point functions only satisfy current conservation if the s, t, and u-channels are related to each other, leading to nontrivial constraints on the couplings between the conserved currents and other operators in the theory. For spin-1 currents this implies charge conservation, while for spin-2 currents we recover the equivalence principle from a purely boundary perspective. For multiple spin-1 fields, we recover the structure of Yang--Mills theory. Finally, we apply our methods to slow-roll inflation and derive a few phenomenologically relevant scalar-tensor three-point functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Quantum mechanical theory of a structured atom-diatom collision system - A + BC/1-Sigma/

The problem of a 2-p state atom colliding with a singlet sigma state diatom, which involves multiple potential surfaces, is investigated. Within a diabatic representation for the electronic degrees of freedom (plus spin-orbit interaction), coupled scattering equations are derived in both space-fixed and body-fixed coordinate systems. Coefficients, analogous to Percival-Seaton coefficients, are obtained. Approximations to the exact equations, including angular momenta decoupling approximations, are discussed for both the space-fixed and body-fixed formalisms.

Devries, P. L.↗

Experimental evaluation of chromium-carbide-based solid lubricant coatings for use to 760 C

A research program is described which further developed and investigated chromium carbide based self-lubricating coatings for use to 760 C. A bonded chromium carbide was used as the base stock because of the known excellent wear resistance and the chemical stability of chromium carbide. Additives were silver and barium fluoride/calcium fluoride eutectic. The three coating components were blended in powder form, applied to stainless steel substrates by plasma spraying and then diamond ground to the desired coating thickness. A variety of coating compositions was tested to determine the coating composition which gave optimum tribological results. Coatings were tested in air, helium, and hydrogen at temperatures from 25 to 760 C. Several counterface materials were evaluated with the objective of discovering a satisfactory metal/coating sliding combination for potential applications, such as piston ring/cylinder liner couples for Stirling engines. In general, silver and fluoride additions to chromium carbide reduced the friction coefficient and increased the wear resistance relative to the unmodified coating. The lubricant additives acted synergistically in reducing friction and wear.

Dellacorte, Christopher↗

An investigation of the optical constants and band gap of chromium disilicide

Optical properties of polycrystalline thin films of CrSi2 grown by the diffusion couple method on silicon substrates were investigated. An analysis of the energy dependence of the absorption coefficient indicates that the material is an indirect forbidden gap semiconductor with a band-gap value of slightly less than 0.35 eV. This result was confirmed by measurements of the temperature dependence of the intrinsic conductivity. The value of the bandgap corresponds well to an important window of transparency in the earth's atmosphere (3-5 microns), which makes the material of potential interest for IR detector applications.

Bost, M. C.↗

Cosmic-ray-modified stellar winds. II - A perturbation approach

A perturbation method is developed to describe the modification of a stellar wind flow with termination shock by the Galactic cosmic rays. The perturbation parameter epsilon used in the analysis is the ratio of the galactic cosmic-ray pressure to the thermal gas pressure at a large distance from the star. The positive galactic cosmic-ray pressure gradient serves to brake the outflowing stellar wind gas, particularly just upstream of the termination shock of the wind. A one-fluid polytropic model is used to describe the thermal stellar wind gas, with the coupling between the cosmic rays and the thermal gas being determined by an average hydrodynamical diffusion coefficient kappa describing the scattering of cosmic rays by magnetohydrodynamic waves traveling in the background flow. The analysis takes into account cosmic-ray modifications of the critical point of the wind, the thermal gas entropy constants on both sides of the shock, and the fluid velocity profile.

Ko, C. M.↗

Modeling of the SiC chemical vapor deposition process and comparison with experimental results

A model of the NASA Lewis SiC CVD process is described, and the results presented. A key feature of the model is the direct coupling of gas-phase chemical kinetics with diffusion. A deposition chemistry model using reactive sticking coefficients for each gas-phase species provides the diffusion boundary conditions. SiC deposition rates predicted by the model agree reasonably well with experimentally observed rates.

Annen, K. D.↗

Turbulent transport of a passive-scalar field by using a renormalization-group method

A passive-scalar field is considered to evolve under the influence of a turbulent fluid governed by the Navier-Stokes equation. Turbulent-transport coefficients are calculated by small-scale elimination using a renormalization-group method. Turbulent processes couple both the viscosity and the diffusivity. In the absence of any correlation between the passive-scalar fluctuations and any component of the fluid velocity, the renormalized diffusivity is essentially the same as if the fluid velocity were frozen, although the renormalized equation does contain higher-order nonlinear terms involving viscosity. This arises due to the nonlinear interaction of the velocity with itself. In the presence of a finite correlation, the turbulent diffusivity becomes coupled with both the velocity field and the viscosity. There is then a dependence of the turbulent decay of the passive scalar on the turbulent Prandtl number.

Hossain, Murshed↗