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At least 685 records · Page 38

Non-thermal electron acceleration from magnetically driven reconnection in a laboratory plasma

Magnetic reconnection rapidly converts magnetic energy into some combination of plasma flow energy, thermal energy and non-thermal energetic particles. Various reconnection acceleration mechanisms have been theoretically proposed and numerically studied in different collisionless and low-β environments, where β refers to the plasma-to-magnetic pressure ratio. These mechanisms include Fermi acceleration, betatron acceleration, parallel electric field acceleration along magnetic fields and direct acceleration by the reconnection electric field. However, none of them have been experimentally confirmed, as the direct observation of non-thermal particle acceleration in laboratory experiments has been difficult due to short Debye lengths for in situ measurements and short mean free paths for ex situ measurements. Here we report the direct measurement of accelerated non-thermal electrons from magnetically driven reconnection at low β in experiments using a laser-powered capacitor coil platform. We use kilojoule lasers to drive parallel currents to reconnect megagauss-level magnetic fields in a quasi-axisymmetric geometry. The angular dependence of the measured electron energy spectrum and the resulting accelerated energies, supported by particle-in-cell simulations, indicate that the mechanism of direct electric field acceleration by the out-of-plane reconnection electric field is at work. Scaled energies using this mechanism show direct relevance to astrophysical observations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Reduction in the interface-states density of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors fabricated on high-index Si (114) surfaces by using an external magnetic field

After fabrication of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) devices on high-index silicon (114) surfaces, their threshold voltage (Vth) and interface-states density (Dit) characteristics were measured under the influence of an externally applied magnetic field of B = 6 μT at room temperature. The electron flow of the MOSFET's channel presents high anisotropy on Si (114), and this effect is enhanced by using an external magnetic field B, applied parallel to the Si (114) surface but perpendicular to the electron flow direction. This special configuration results in the channel electrons experiencing a Lorentzian force which pushes the electrons closer to the Si (114)-SiO{sub 2} interface and therefore to the special morphology of the Si (114) surface. Interestingly, Dit evaluation of n-type MOSFETs fabricated on Si (114) surfaces shows that the Si (114)-SiO{sub 2} interface is of high quality so that Dit as low as ∼10{sup 10 }cm{sup −2}·eV{sup −1} are obtained for MOSFETs with channels aligned at specific orientations. Additionally, using both a small positive Vds ≤ 100 mV and B = 6 μT, the former Dit is reduced by 35% in MOSFETs whose channels are aligned parallel to row-like nanostructures formed atop Si (114) surfaces (channels having a 90° rotation), whereas Dit is increased by 25% in MOSFETs whose channels are aligned perpendicular to these nanostructures (channels having a 0° rotation). From these results, the special morphology of a high-index Si (114) plane having nanochannels on its surface opens the possibility to reduce the electron-trapping characteristics of MOSFET devices having deep-submicron features and operating at very high frequencies.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Study of non-linear Hall effect in nitrogen-grown ZnO microstructure and the effect of H{sup +}-implantation

We report magnetotransport studies on microstructured ZnO film grown by pulsed laser deposition in N{sub 2} atmosphere on a-plane Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} substrates and the effect of low energy H{sup +}-implantation. Non-linearity has been found in the magnetic field dependent Hall resistance, which decreases with temperature. We explain this effect with a two-band model assuming the conduction through two different parallel channels having different types of charge carriers. Reduced non-linearity after H{sup +}-implantation in the grown film is due to the shallow-donor effect of hydrogen giving rise to an increment in the electron density, reducing the effect of the other channel.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Evidence for an interstellar dust filament in the outer heliosheath

A recently discovered filament of polarized starlight that traces a coherent magnetic field is shown to have several properties that are consistent with an origin in the outer heliosheath of the heliosphere: (1) the magnetic field that provides the best fit to the polarization position angles is directed toward ℓ = 357.°3, b = 17.°0 (±11.°2); this direction is within 6.°7 ± 11.°2 of the observed upwind direction of the flow of interstellar neutral helium gas through the heliosphere. (2) The magnetic field is ordered; the component of the variation of the polarization position angles that can be attributed to magnetic turbulence is ±9.°6. (3) The axis of the elongated filament can be approximated by a line that defines an angle of 80° ± 14° with the plane that is formed by the interstellar magnetic field (ISMF) vector and the vector of the inflowing neutral gas (the BV plane). We propose that this polarization feature arises from aligned interstellar dust grains in the outer heliosheath where the interstellar plasma and magnetic field are deflected around the heliosphere. This interpretation suggests that the polarization is seen where stream lines of the flow and the draped ISMF lines are approximately parallel to each other and perpendicular to the sightline. An ordered magnetic field is required so that grain alignment is not disrupted during the interaction. The filament location is consistent with dust plumes previously predicted to form around the heliosphere. The proposed outer heliosheath location of the polarizing grains can be tested with three-dimensional models that track torques on asymmetric dust grains as they propagate through the heliosheath plasma, and using these models to evaluate grain alignment and the asymmetric extinction of the grains.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Influence of flowability, casting time and formwork geometry on fiber orientation and mechanical properties of UHPFRC

In this study, fiber orientation in ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced-concrete (UHPFRC) with different formwork geometry was evaluated using visualization model concrete and via analysis involving 3D visualization based on X-ray computed tomography (CT). Differences in fiber orientation in the height direction were first reviewed. Furthermore, the influence of flowability and casting time on the fiber orientation and mechanical properties of UHPFRC were examined. The results indicated that flowability dictates eventual fiber orientation in parts close to the surfaces of formwork. The use of UHPFRC with superior flowability results in more fibers being oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of slabs in comparison to UHPFRC with inferior flowability. It was also found that flowability and casting time can have strong influences on the mechanical properties of UHPFRC. Residual flexural strength after initial cracking exhibited perfect linear dependence on the effective number of fibers at fracture planes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Loading direction dependence of asymmetric response of pyramidal slip in rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy

Textured magnesium alloys usually exhibit anisotropic mechanical behavior due to the asymmetric activation of different twinning and slipping modes. This work focuses on the pyramidal slip responses of rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy under two loading conditions, compressive and tensile loading along the normal direction. Under the condition where the compressive loading direction is closely parallel to the c-axis of the unit cell, tensile twinning and basal slips are prohibited, dislocations then active and tend to accumulate at grain boundaries and form dislocation walls. Meanwhile, these dislocations exhibit zigzag morphologies, which result from the cross-slip from {$10\bar{1}1$} first-order pyramidal plane to {$11\bar{2}2$} second-order pyramidal plane, then back to {$10\bar{1}1$} first-order pyramidal plane. Under the condition where tensile twins are prevalent, {$10\bar{1}1$} first-order and {$11\bar{2}2$} second-order pyramidal dislocations are favorable to be activated. Both types of dislocations behave climb-like dissociations onto the basal plane, forming zigzag dislocations. first-order pyramidal plane to second-order pyramidal plane, then back to first-order pyramidal plane. Under the condition where tensile twins are prevalent, first-order and second-order pyramidal dislocations are favorable to be activated. Both types of dislocations behave climb-like dissociations onto the basal plane, forming zigzag dislocations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermoelectric properties of IV–VI-based heterostructures and superlattices

Doping in a manner that introduces anisotropy in order to reduce thermal conductivity is a significant focus in thermoelectric research today. By solving the semiclassical Boltzmann transport equations in the constant scattering time (τ) approximation, in conjunction with ab initio electronic structure calculations, within Density Functional Theory, we compare the Seebeck coefficient (S) and figure of merit (ZT) of bulk PbTe to PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructures and PbTe doping superlattices (SLs) with periodically doped planes. Bismuth and Thallium were used as the n- and p-type impurities, respectively. The effects of carrier concentration are considered via chemical potential variation in a rigid band approximation. The impurity bands near the Fermi level in the electronic structure of PbTe SLs are of Tl s- and Bi p-character, and this feature is independent of the doping concentration or the distance between impurity planes. We observe the impurity bands to have a metallic nature in the directions perpendicular to the doping planes, yet no improvement on the values of ZT is found when compared to bulk PbTe. For the PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructures, the calculated S presents good agreement with recent experimental data, and an anisotropic behavior is observed for low carrier concentrations (n<10{sup 18} cm{sup −3}). A large value of ZT{sub ||} (parallel to the growth direction) of 3.0 is predicted for n=4.7×10{sup 18} cm{sup −3} and T=700 K, whereas ZT{sub p} (perpendicular to the growth direction) is found to peak at 1.5 for n=1.7×10{sup 17} cm{sup −3}. Both electrical conductivity enhancement and thermal conductivity reduction are analyzed. - Graphical abstract: Figure of merit for PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructure along the [0 0 1] direction, P.D. Borges, J.E. Petersen, L. Scolfaro, H.W. Leite Alves, T.H. Myers, Improved thermoelectric properties of IV–VI-based heterostructures and superlattices. - Highlights: • Thermoelectric properties of IV–VI-based heterostructures and superlattices. • High figure of merit is predicted for the PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructure. • Nanotechnology has an important role for the development of thermoelectric devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Large-Scale Welding Process Simulation by GPU Parallelized Computing

The computational design of industrially relevant welded structures is extremely time consuming due to coupled physics and high nonlinearity. Previously, most welding distortion and residual stress simulations have been limited to small coupons and reduced order (from three-dimensional [3D] to two-dimensional [2D]), or inherent strain approximations were used for large structures. In this current study, an explicit finite element code based on a graphics processing unit was utilized to perform 3D transient thermomechanical simulation of structural components during welding. Laser brazing of aluminum alloy panels as representative of automotive manufacturing scenarios was simulated to predict out-of-plane distortion under different clamping conditions. The predicted deformation pattern and magnitude were validated by laser scanning data of physical assemblies. In addition, the code was used to investigate residual stresses developed during multipass arc welding of a nuclear industry pressurizer surge nozzle and subsequent welding repair where a 3D simulation was necessary. Taking the experimental data as reference, the 3D model predicted better residual stress distribution than a typical 2D asymmetrical model. Stress evolution in welding repair was also presented and discussed in this study. Furthermore, the efficient numerical model made it feasible to use integrated computational welding engineering to simulate welding processes for large-scale structures.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Deterministic Domain Wall Motion Orthogonal To Current Flow Due To Spin Orbit Torque

Spin-polarized electrons can move a ferromagnetic domain wall through the transfer of spin angular momentum when current flows in a magnetic nanowire. Such current induced control of a domain wall is of significant interest due to its potential application for low power ultra high-density data storage. In previous reports, it has been observed that the motion of the domain wall always happens parallel to the current flow – either in the same or opposite direction depending on the specific nature of the interaction. In contrast, here we demonstrate deterministic control of a ferromagnetic domain wall orthogonal to current flow by exploiting the spin orbit torque in a perpendicularly polarized Ta/CoFeB/MgO heterostructure in presence of an in-plane magnetic field. Reversing the polarity of either the current flow or the in-plane field is found to reverse the direction of the domain wall motion. Notably, such orthogonal motion with respect to current flow is not possible from traditional spin transfer torque driven domain wall propagation even in presence of an external magnetic field. Therefore the domain wall motion happens purely due to spin orbit torque. These results represent a completely new degree of freedom in current induced control of a ferromagnetic domain wall.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Forces and stress in second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory for condensed phase systems within the resolution-of-identity Gaussian and plane waves approach

The forces acting on the atoms as well as the stress tensor are crucial ingredients for calculating the structural and dynamical properties of systems in the condensed phase. Here, these derivatives of the total energy are evaluated for the second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation energy (MP2) in the framework of the resolution of identity Gaussian and plane waves method, in a way that is fully consistent with how the total energy is computed. This consistency is non-trivial, given the different ways employed to compute Coulomb, exchange, and canonical four center integrals, and allows, for example, for energy conserving dynamics in various ensembles. Based on this formalism, a massively parallel algorithm has been developed for finite and extended system. The designed parallel algorithm displays, with respect to the system size, cubic, quartic, and quintic requirements, respectively, for the memory, communication, and computation. All these requirements are reduced with an increasing number of processes, and the measured performance shows excellent parallel scalability and efficiency up to thousands of nodes. Additionally, the computationally more demanding quintic scaling steps can be accelerated by employing graphics processing units (GPU’s) showing, for large systems, a gain of almost a factor two compared to the standard central processing unit-only case. In this way, the evaluation of the derivatives of the RI-MP2 energy can be performed within a few minutes for systems containing hundreds of atoms and thousands of basis functions. With good time to solution, the implementation thus opens the possibility to perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in various ensembles (microcanonical ensemble and isobaric-isothermal ensemble) at the MP2 level of theory. Geometry optimization, full cell relaxation, and energy conserving MD simulations have been performed for a variety of molecular crystals including NH{sub 3}, CO{sub 2}, formic acid, and benzene.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Theoretical and Experimental Insight into the Mechanism for Spontaneous Vertical Growth of ReS 2 Nanosheets

We report that rhenium disulfide (ReS 2 ) differs fundamentally from other group-VI transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) due to its low structural symmetry, which results in its optical and electrical anisotropy. Although vertical growth is observed in some TMDs under special growth conditions, vertical growth in ReS 2 is very different in that it is highly spontaneous and substrate-independent. In this study, the mechanism that underpins the thermodynamically favorable vertical growth mode of ReS 2 is uncovered. It is found that the governing mechanism for ReS 2 growth involves two distinct stages. In the first stage, ReS 2 grows parallel to the growth substrate, consistent with conventional TMD growth. However, subsequent vertical growth is nucleated at points on the lattice where Re atoms are “pinched” together. At such sites, an additional Re atom binds with the cluster of pinched Re atoms, leaving an under-coordinated S atom protruding out of the ReS 2 plane. This under-coordinated S is “reactive” and binds to free Re and S atoms, initiating growth in a direction perpendicular to the ReS 2 surface. Lastly, the utility of such vertical ReS 2 arrays in applications where high surface-to-volume ratio and electric-field enhancement are essential, such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, field emission, and solar-based disinfection of bacteria, is demonstrated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Systematic study of flow vector fluctuations in $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

Measurements of the 𝑝 T -dependent flow vector fluctuations in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV using azimuthal correlations with the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are presented. A four-particle correlation approach [ALICE Collaboration, Phys. Rev. C 107, L051901 (2023)] is used to quantify the effects of flow angle and magnitude fluctuations separately. This paper extends previous studies to additional centrality intervals and provides measurements of the 𝑝 T -dependent flow vector fluctuations at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with two-particle correlations. Significant 𝑝 T -dependent fluctuations of the $\vec{𝑉}$ 2 flow vector in Pb–Pb collisions are found across different centrality ranges, with the largest fluctuations of up to ∼15% being present in the 5% most central collisions. In parallel, no evidence of significant 𝑝 T -dependent fluctuations of $\vec{𝑉}$ 3 or $\vec{𝑉}$ 4 is found. Additionally, evidence of flow angle and magnitude fluctuations is observed with more than 5⁢𝜎 significance in central collisions. These observations in Pb–Pb collisions indicate where the classical picture of hydrodynamic modeling with a common symmetry plane breaks down. This has implications for hard probes at high 𝑝 T , which might be biased by 𝑝 T -dependent flow angle fluctuations of at least 23% in central collisions. Given the presented results, existing theoretical models should be reexamined to improve our understanding of initial conditions, quark–gluon plasma properties, and the dynamic evolution of the created system.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Unraveling the Determinant Mechanisms in Flow-Mediated Crystal Growth and Phase Behaviors

To uncover the critical mechanisms responsible for mesoscopic level development during flow-mediated crystal growth, we develop a semi-two-way hydrodynamic coupled structural phase-field crystal formalism (HXPFC-s2). The new formalism, inspired by previous attempts at coupling hydrodynamic and phase-field crystal (PFC) equations, allows for studying mesoscopic flow-mediated crystallization at diffusive timescales pertinent to industrial applications. Unlike previous efforts, the devised coupling to the structural PFC (XPFC) equations allows generalization to more complex crystal structures through explicit parameterization of the direct correlation function (DCF). Utilizing the HXPFC-s2 formalism, we seek to uncover the determinant physical mechanisms in crystallization under simple shear flows by comparing temperature-driven crystallization to flow-mediated crystallization under varying flow-strengths. Parallels and deviations of under-cooling and flow-strength effects on crystal growth are drawn using the crystal cluster-size and system ordering time evolutions. In doing so, we identify scaling behaviors with a Peclet-like number, Pe∼, a critical Peclet-like number, Pe∼*, and flow-field-crystal plane-dependent interactions. Our findings may be relevant for controlling crystal growth and phase behaviors in flow applications.

Willis, L. Connor (ORCID:0009000961321848)↗

Laterally patterned spin-valve superlattice: Magnetometry and polarized neutron scattering study

The magnetization reversal of magnetic multilayers with spin-valve like characteristics, patterned into an array of parallel stripes, was structurally and magnetically analyzed, in detail, via x-ray scattering, magnetometry, and polarized neutron reflectivity. Each stripe contains a multiple repetition of the layer sequence [Fe/Cr/Co/Cr]. X-ray and neutron scattering maps of the patterned multilayer show rich details resulting from the superposition of Bragg peaks representing the lateral in-plane periodicity and the out-of-plane multilayer period. Detailed analysis of specular and off-specular polarized neutron intensity was used to ascertain the antiparallel alignment of the Co and Fe magnetization within the kink region of their combined hysteresis loop between the coercive fields of Fe and Co layers. This includes also an examination of domain formation and inter- as well as intra-stripe correlation effects upon magnetization reversal. Our combined study shows that the shape induced anisotropy via patterning is capable of overriding the four-fold crystal anisotropy but is unable to eliminate the ripple domain state of the Co layers, already present in the continuous multilayer.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

First Global Images of Ion Energization in the Terrestrial Foreshock by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission provides global energetic neutral atom (ENA) observations from the heliosphere and the Earth's magnetosphere, including spatial, temporal, and energy information. IBEX views the magnetosphere from the sides and almost always perpendicular to noon-midnight plane. We report the first ENA images of the energization process in the Earth's ion foreshock and magnetosheath regions. We show ENA flux and spectral images of the dayside magnetosphere with significant energization of ENA plasma sources (above ~2.7 keV) in the region magnetically connected to the Earth's bow shock (BS) in its quasi-parallel configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We also show that the ion energization increases gradually with decreasing IMF-BS angle, suggesting more efficient suprathermal ion acceleration deeper in the quasi-parallel foreshock.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Magnetoresistance effects and spin-valve like behavior of an arrangement of two MnAs nanoclusters

We report on magnetotransport measurements on a MnAs nanocluster arrangement consisting of two elongated single-domain clusters connected by a metal spacer. The arrangement was grown on GaAs(111)B-substrates by selective-area metal organic vapor phase epitaxy. Its structural properties were investigated using scanning-electron microscopy and atomic-force microscopy, while its magnetic domain structure was analyzed by magnetic-force microscopy. The magnetoresistance of the arrangement was investigated at 120 K for two measurement geometries with the magnetic field oriented in the sample plane. For both geometries, discrete jumps of the magnetoresistance of the MnAs nanocluster arrangement were observed. These jumps can be explained by magnetic-field induced switching of the relative orientation of the magnetizations of the two clusters which affects the spin-dependent scattering in the interface region between the clusters. For a magnetic field orientation parallel to the nanoclusters' elongation direction a spin-valve like behavior was observed, showing that ferromagnetic nanoclusters may be suitable building blocks for planar magnetoelectronic devices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Simultaneous Multi-Bragg Peak Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging

The simultaneous measurement of two Bragg reflections by Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction is demonstrated on a twinned Au crystal, which was prepared by the solid-state dewetting of a 30 nm thin gold film on a sapphire substrate. The crystal was oriented on a goniometer so that two lattice planes fulfill the Bragg condition at the same time. The Au 111 and Au 200 Bragg peaks were measured simultaneously by scanning the energy of the incident X-ray beam and recording the diffraction patterns with two two-dimensional detectors. While the former Bragg reflection is not sensitive to the twin boundary, which is oriented parallel to the crystal–substrate interface, the latter reflection is only sensitive to one part of the crystal. The volume ratio between the two parts of the twinned crystal is about 1:9, which is also confirmed by Laue microdiffraction of the same crystal. The parallel measurement of multiple Bragg reflections is essential for future in situ and operando studies, which are so far limited to either a single Bragg reflection or several in series, to facilitate the precise monitoring of both the strain field and defects during the application of external stimuli.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗