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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Bistable and Multi-Domain States of α-Fe/(PrDy)(FeCo)B Ferromagnetic Microwires

In this paper, we obtained α-Fe(50 at %)(PrDy)(FeCo)B(48 at %) microwires by extraction of a hanging drop of the (PrDy)(FeCo)B melt in the electron beam. A single microwire with a diameter of 50 μm and a length of 0.8–6 mm and with an amorphous (PrDy)(FeCo)B content of ~48% and a polycrystalline α‑Fe phase of ~52% is shown to have a rectangular narrow magnetic hysteresis loop and, accordingly, a bistable state with a switching field of ~100 Oe. Shortening the wire to ~0.6 mm leads to a sharp deviation from the loop rectangularity and a decrease in the slope of the dependence of magnetization on the field and coercive force to 20 Oe. In the near-surface layers consisting of an amorphous phase (PrDy)(FeCo)B, oriented regions of reverse magnetization are observed. The role of the magnetic dipole interaction in the formation of the magnetic hysteresis loop of chaotic ensembles of microwires with various compositions is discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spectral characteristics of Pc 3 and Pc 4/5 magnetic pulsation bands observed near L = 6

The relationships among Pc 3, Pc 4, and Pc 5 activities observed at ground stations near L = 6 are clarified by comparing their dynamic spectral structures. It is found that there are two predominant spectral bands throughout the daytime with frequencies of about 20-80 mHz and about 3-10 mHz. At synchronous orbit, corresponding spectral bands are seen in the frequency-time spectra of the azimuthal component which generally show a clear harmonic structure when the satellite is located at the off-magnetic equator. The result strongly suggests that the 20-80 mHz band is the higher harmonics of standing shear Alfven waves and the 3-10 mHz band is the fundamental mode. Switching of activity between both bands is frequently observed on magnetically quiet days, indicating that the Pc 3 and Pc 4/5 bands are excited by different external driving sources.

Tonegawa, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Evaluation of Magnetoresistive RAM for Space Applications

Magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) is a non-volatile memory that exploits electronic spin, rather than charge, to store data. Instead of moving charge on and off a floating gate to alter the threshold voltage of a CMOS transistor (creating different bit states), MRAM uses magnetic fields to flip the polarization of a ferromagnetic material thus switching its resistance and bit state. These polarized states are immune to radiation-induced upset, thus making MRAM very attractive for space application. These magnetic memory elements also have infinite data retention and erase/program endurance. Presented here are results of reliability testing of two space-qualified MRAM products from Aeroflex and Honeywell.

Heidecker, Jason↗
DOE OSTI2015

Phase-dependent deterministic switching of magnetoelectric spin wave detector in the presence of thermal noise via compensation of demagnetization

The possibility of achieving phase-dependent deterministic switching of the magnetoelectric spin wave detector in the presence of thermal noise has been discussed. The proposed idea relies on the modification of the energy landscape by partially canceling the out-of-plane demagnetizing field and the resultant change in the intrinsic magnetization dynamics to drive the nanomagnet towards a preferential final magnetization state. The remarkable increase in the probability of successful switching can be accounted for by the shift in the location of the saddle point in the energy landscape and a resultant change in the nature of the relaxation dynamics of the magnetization from a highly precessional to a fairly damped one and an increased dependence on the initial magnetization values, a crucial requirement for phase-dependent spin wave detection.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

On the behavior of plasma with a negative current in the L-2M stellarator

The behavior of plasma with a negative current in the range of 5 kA ≤ vertical bar J vertical bar ≤ 16 kA in the L-2M stellarator is studied. Plasma is created and heated by means of electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH). Here, the definition “negative” stands for a toroidal current directed in such a way that it reduces the initial rotational transform µ in absolute value. It is shown that, only at relatively small values of the negative current ( vertical bar J vertical bar ∼ 6 kA), the increase in the shear leads to a reduction in electromagnetic turbulence. As vertical bar J vertical bar rises, the average level of magnetic fluctuations in the stationary phase of the discharge gradually increases. After ECRH is switched off (i.e., when plasma cools down), there is a time interval in which the amplitude of magnetic field fluctuations increases. No coherent three-dimensional modes (e.g., double tearing modes) that could accompany the penetration of the current into the plasma were observed. As for axisymmetric perturbations with m ≠ 0, analysis of the experimental data shows that they are absent at vertical bar J vertical bar ≤ 8 kA, appear in some discharges at vertical bar J vertical bar = 9 kA, and are observed in each discharge at vertical bar J vertical bar ≥ 10 kA. The frequency of these oscillations is on the order of 10 kHz, the poloidal mode number is m = 2, and the duration is 4–6 ms. The absence of oscillations with m = 1 and the small value of the external magnetic field for the m = 2 perturbation indicate that the radial size of the magnetic island is less than 1 cm. This, in turn, suggests that the radial profile of the plasma current changes with increasing vertical bar J vertical bar.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2005

Rotating Desk for Collaboration by Two Computer Programmers

A special-purpose desk has been designed to facilitate collaboration by two computer programmers sharing one desktop computer or computer terminal. The impetus for the design is a trend toward what is known in the software industry as extreme programming an approach intended to ensure high quality without sacrificing the quantity of computer code produced. Programmers working in pairs is a major feature of extreme programming. The present desk design minimizes the stress of the collaborative work environment. It supports both quality and work flow by making it unnecessary for programmers to get in each other s way. The desk (see figure) includes a rotating platform that supports a computer video monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The desk enables one programmer to work on the keyboard for any amount of time and then the other programmer to take over without breaking the train of thought. The rotating platform is supported by a turntable bearing that, in turn, is supported by a weighted base. The platform contains weights to improve its balance. The base includes a stand for a computer, and is shaped and dimensioned to provide adequate foot clearance for both users. The platform includes an adjustable stand for the monitor, a surface for the keyboard and mouse, and spaces for work papers, drinks, and snacks. The heights of the monitor, keyboard, and mouse are set to minimize stress. The platform can be rotated through an angle of 40 to give either user a straight-on view of the monitor and full access to the keyboard and mouse. Magnetic latches keep the platform preferentially at either of the two extremes of rotation. To switch between users, one simply grabs the edge of the platform and pulls it around. The magnetic latch is easily released, allowing the platform to rotate freely to the position of the other user

Riley, John Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1975

Automated parking garage system model

A one-twenty-fifth scale model of the key components of an automated parking garage system is described. The design of the model required transferring a vehicle from an entry level, vertically (+Z, -Z), to a storage location at any one of four storage positions (+X, -X, +Y, +Y, -Y) on the storage levels. There are three primary subsystems: (1) a screw jack to provide the vertical motion of the elevator, (2) a cam-driven track-switching device to provide X to Y motion, and (3) a transfer cart to provide horizontal travel and a small amount to vertical motion for transfer to the storage location. Motive power is provided by dc permanent magnet gear motors, one each for the elevator and track switching device and two for the transfer cart drive system (one driving the cart horizontally and the other providing the vertical transfer). The control system, through the use of a microprocessor, provides complete automation through a feedback system which utilizes sensing devices.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tuning the Curie temperature of a two-dimensional magnet/topological insulator heterostructure to above room temperature by epitaxial growth

Heterostructures of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnets and topological insulators (TI) are of substantial interest as candidate materials for efficient spin-torque switching, quantum anomalous Hall effect, and chiral spin textures. However, since many of the vdW magnets have Curie temperatures below room temperature, we want to understand how materials can be modified to stabilize their magnetic ordering to higher temperatures. In this work, we utilize molecular beam epitaxy to systematically tune the Curie temperature (T C ) in thin film Fe 3 GeTe 2 /Bi 2 Te 3 from bulklike values (~220 K) to above room temperature by increasing the growth temperature from 300°C to 375°C. For samples grown at 375°C, cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveals the spontaneous formation of different Fe m Ge n Te 2 compositions (e.g., Fe 5 Ge 2 Te 2 and Fe 7 Ge 6 Te 2 ) as well as intercalation in the vdW gaps, which are possible origins of the enhanced Curie temperature. Furthermore, this observation paves the way for developing various Fe m Ge n Te 2 /TI heterostructures with novel properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

NiSi: A New Venue for Antiferromagnetic Spintronics

Envisaging antiferromagnetic spintronics pivots on two key criteria of high transition temperature and tuning of underlying magnetic order using straightforward application of magnetic field or electric current. Here, it is shown that NiSi metal can provide suitable new platform in this quest. First, the study unveils high-temperature antiferromagnetism in single-crystal NiSi with Néel temperature, T N $\geqslant$ 700 K. Antiferromagnetic order in NiSi is accompanied by non-centrosymmetric magnetic character with small ferromagnetic component in the a–c plane. Second, it is found that NiSi manifests distinct magnetic and electronic hysteresis responses to field applications due to the disparity in two moment directions. While magnetic hysteresis is characterized by one-step switching between ferromagnetic states of uncompensated moment, electronic behavior is ascribed to metamagnetic switching phenomena between non-collinear spin configurations. Importantly, the switching behaviors persist to high temperature. In conclusion, the properties underscore the importance of NiSi in the pursuit of antiferromagnetic spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sn-InAs Nanowire Shadow-Defined Josephson Junctions

Hybrid superconductor–semiconductor platforms are foundational to advancing quantum information technologies, motivating the integration of materials with clean interfaces, robust superconductivity, and scalable architectures. Here, in this work, we report the synthesis and analysis of inclined InAs nanowires, conformally coated with β-Sn shells. These nanowires extend in opposite in-plane directions, forming a self-aligned, criss-cross network. This enables the deterministic formation of nanowire-shadow Josephson junctions through angle-controlled, low-temperature Sn deposition. Structural characterization shows uniform polycrystalline β-Sn shells forming a sharp, diffusion-free interface with InAs. Low-temperature transport measurements reveal a hard induced superconducting gap ≈ 600 μeV, switching currents up to ≈ 500 nA, and parallel magnetic field resilience beyond 1T. These results establish β-Sn/InAs nanowire networks as a promising platform for superconducting qubits, low-noise microwave devices, and the exploration of exotic superconducting phases including triplet pairing and topological superconductivity.

B-Sn↗
DOE OSTI2022

Direct Observation of Modulated Radical Spin States in Metal–Organic Frameworks by Controlled Flexibility

Owing to their switchable spin states and dynamic electronic character, organic-based radical species have been invoked in phenomena unique to a variety of fields. When incorporated in solid state materials, generation of organic radicals proves challenging due to aggregation. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for immobilization and stabilization of organic radicals because of the tunable spatial arrangement of organic linkers and metal nodes, which sequesters the reactive species. Herein, a flexible, redox-active tetracarboxylic acid linker bearing two imidazole units was chosen to construct a new Zr 6 -MOF, NU-910, with scu topology. By exploiting the structural flexibility of NU-910, we successfully modulate the dynamics between an isolated organic radical species and an organic radical π-dimer species in the MOF system. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that through solvent exchange from N,N-diethylformamide to acetone, NU-910 undergoes a structural contraction with interlinker distances decreasing from 8.32 Å to 3.20 Å at 100 K. Organic radical species on the bridging linkers are generated via UV light irradiation. Direct observation of temperature-induced spin switches from an isolated radical species to a magnetically silent radical π-dimer in NU-910 after irradiation in the solid state was achieved via variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction and variable-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Ultraviolet–visible–near infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations further substantiated the formation of a radical cation π-dimer upon irradiation. As a result, this work demonstrates the potential of using flexible MOFs as a platform to modulate radical spin states in the solid phase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Magnetic and magnetic inverse spin Hall effects in a non-collinear antiferromagnet

The spin Hall effect (SHE)1,2,3,4,5 achieves coupling between charge currents and collective spin dynamics in magnetically ordered systems and is a key element of modern spintronics6,7,8,9. However, previous research has focused mainly on non-magnetic materials, so the magnetic contribution to the SHE is not well understood. Here we show that antiferromagnets have richer spin Hall properties than do non-magnetic materials. We find that in the non-collinear antiferromagnet10 Mn3Sn, the SHE has an anomalous sign change when its triangularly ordered moments switch orientation. We observe contributions to the SHE (which we call the magnetic SHE) and the inverse SHE (the magnetic inverse SHE) that are absent in non-magnetic materials and that can be dominant in some magnetic materials, including antiferromagnets. We attribute the dominance of this magnetic mechanism in Mn3Sn to the momentum-dependent spin splitting that is produced by non-collinear magnetic order. This discovery expands the horizons of antiferromagnet spintronics and spin–charge coupling mechanisms.

phonons, thermal conductivity, thermoelectric, spi↗
DOE OSTI2023

Design and performance of parallel-channel nanocryotrons in magnetic fields

We introduce a design modification to conventional geometry of the cryogenic three-terminal switch, the nanocryotron (nTron). The conventional geometry of nTrons is modified by including parallel current-carrying channels, an approach aimed at enhancing the device's performance in magnetic field environments. The common challenge in nTron technology is to maintain efficient operation under varying magnetic field conditions. Here, we show that the adaptation of parallel channel configurations leads to an enhanced gate signal sensitivity, an increase in operational gain, and a reduction in the impact of superconducting vortices on nTron operation within magnetic fields up to 1 T. Contrary to traditional designs that are constrained by their effective channel width, the parallel nanowire channels permits larger nTron cross sections, further bolstering the device's magnetic field resilience while improving electro-thermal recovery times due to reduced local inductance. This advancement in nTron design not only augments its functionality in magnetic fields but also broadens its applicability in technological environments, offering a simple design alternative to existing nTron devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Non-volatile electric control of antiferromagnetic states on nanosecond timescales

Electrical manipulation of antiferromagnetic (AFM) states, a cornerstone of AFM spintronics, is a great challenge, requiring novel material platforms. Here we report the full control over AFM states by voltage pulses in the insulating Co 3 O 4 spinel well below its Néel temperature. We show that the strong linear magnetoelectric effect is fully governed by the orientation of the Néel vector. As a unique feature of Co 3 O 4 , the magnetoelectric energy can easily overcome the weak magnetocrystalline anisotropy, thus, the N´eel vector can be manipulated on demand, either rotated smoothly or reversed suddenly, by combined electric and magnetic fields. We achieve the non-volatile switching within a few tens of nanoseconds between time-reversed AFM states in macroscopic volumes by voltage pulses. These observations render quasi-cubic antiferromagnets, like Co 3 O 4 , an ideal platform for the ultrafast (pico- to nanosecond) manipulation of microscopic AFM domains and may pave the way for the realization of AFM spintronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Competition between domain walls and the reverse magnetization in the magnetic relaxation of a Pt/Co/Ir/Co/Pt spin switcher

A multilayer Pt/Co/Ir/Co/Pt/GaAs heterostructures demonstrates a long term (to several hours) magnetic relaxation between two stable states of the magnetization of the system. The magnetization reversal of the heterostructure layers occurs both due to the formation of nuclei of the reverse magnetization domains and as a result of their further growth by means of motion of domain walls. The competition between two these processes provides a nonexponential character of the magnetic relaxation. At 300 K, the contributions of these processes to the relaxation are commensurable, while, at temperatures lower than 200 K, the contribution of the nucleation is suppressed and the magnetic relaxation occurs as a result of motion of the domain walls.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

A High-Voltage High-Reliability Scalable Architecture for Electric Vehicle Power Electronics (Final Report)

This project developed and demonstrated new composite converter technologies that lead to high power density (> 20 kW/L) at power levels of 10s of kW, 100s of kW, or possibly higher, with fundamental advances in converter efficiency and Q that lead to substantial increases in mean time to failure (MTTF). These advantages were realized through development of new composite converter topologies that perform buck, boost, or other conversion functions and that are scalable to higher voltage and power levels through sharing of voltage and current stresses among multiple dissimilar partial-power converter modules. The project led to experimental demonstration of a125 kW multifunction electric vehicle power conversion system having in-creased dc bus voltage (950 V nominal, 1200 V peak) that interfaces a 200 V to 400 V battery pack, and that includes integrated level 2 wired charging and wireless charging functions. The project incorporated SiC MOSFET modules having switching frequencies in excess of 100 kHz, planar magnetics, a hierarchical control architecture that enables scaling to higher voltages and powers with additional converter modules, and a high-power density in excess of 20 kW/L. The research demonstrated how a more complex converter approach can increase mean-time-to-failure, even though the number of elements is increased. This is achieved through significant reduction of temperature rise through fundamentally superior converter circuit topologies. The research also demonstrated new high power planar magnetics that increase power density. The technology is appropriate to a variety of applications including EV power trains, EV charging, PV inverters, battery storage, and similar areas. These systems potentially can be manufactured in the U.S.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1974

Versatile, analog-to-digital, power-regulator controller

Power controller uses digital techniques to vary duty ratio of switching-type power regulators. Duty ratio is adjusted by comparing error signal with ramp voltage signal. As compared to previously-used switching regulators, controller uses fewer components and no magnetics and is readily adaptable to thick-film technology.

Mclyman, W. T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Radiation and temperature effects on electronic components investigated under the CSTI high capacity power project

The effects of nuclear radiation and high temperature environments must be fully known and understood for the electronic components and materials used in both the Power Conditioning and Control subsystem and the reactor Instrumentation and Control subsystem of future high capacity nuclear space power systems. This knowledge is required by the designer of these subsystems in order to develop highly reliable, long-life power systems for future NASA missions. A review and summary of the experimental results obtained for the electronic components and materials investigated under the power management element of the Civilian Space Technology Initiative (CSTI) high capacity power project are presented: (1) neutron, gamma ray, and temperature effects on power semiconductor switches, (2) temperature and frequency effects on soft magnetic materials; and (3) temperature effects on rare earth permanent magnets.

Schwarze, Gene E.↗