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Results for “MAGNETIC SWITCHING”

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 OSTI2021

Characterization of carrier behavior in photonically excited 6H silicon carbide exhibiting fast, high voltage, bulk transconductance properties

Abstract Unabated, worldwide trends in CO 2 production project growth to > 43-BMT per year over the next two decades. Efficient power electronics are crucial to fully realizing the CO 2 mitigating benefits of a worldwide smart grid (~ 18% reduction for the United States alone). Even state-of-the-art SiC high voltage junction devices are inefficient because of slow transition times (~ 0.5-μs) and limited switching rates at high voltage (~ 20-kHz at ≥ 15-kV) resulting from the intrinsically limited charge carrier drift speed (< 2 × 10 7 -cm-s −1 ). Slow transition times and limited switch rates waste energy through transition loss and hysteresis loss in external magnetic components. Bulk conduction devices, where carriers are generated and controlled nearly simultaneously throughout the device volume, minimize this loss. Such devices are possible using below bandgap excitation of semi-insulating (SI) SiC single crystals. We explored carrier dynamics with a 75-fs single wavelength pump/supercontinuum probe and a modified transient spectroscopy technique and also demonstrated a new class of efficient, high-speed, high-gain, bi-directional, optically-controlled transistor-like power device. At a performance level six times that of existing devices, for the first time we demonstrated prototype operation at multi-10s of kW and 20-kV, 125-kHz in a bulk conduction transistor-like device using direct photon-carrier excitation with below bandgap light.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Topological charge analysis of ultrafast single skyrmion creation

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically nontrivial spin textures of potential interest for future information storage applications, and for such purposes, the control and understanding of single skyrmion creation is required. As such, a scheme is analyzed to create single N&#233el-type and Bloch-type skyrmions in helimagnetic thin films utilizing the dynamical excitations induced by the Oersted field and the spin transfer torque given by a vertically injected spin-polarized current. A topological charge analysis using a lattice version of the topological charge provides insight into the locally triggered transition from a trivial to a nontrivial topological spin texture of the N&#233el or Bloch type skyrmion. The topological protection of the magnetic skyrmion is determined by the symmetric Heisenberg exchange energy. The critical switching current density is ~107 A/cm 2 , which decreases with the easy-plane type uniaxial anisotropy and thermal fluctuations. The in-plane spin polarization of the injected current performs better than out-of-plane polarization, and it provides ultrafast switching times (within 100 ps) and reliable switching outcomes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Binding a hopfion in a chiral magnet nanodisk

Hopfions are three-dimensional (3D) topological textures characterized by the integer Hopf invariant $Q_H$. In this article, we present the realization of a zero-field, stable hopfion spin texture in a magnetic system consisting of a chiral magnet nanodisk sandwiched by two films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The preimages of the spin texture and numerical calculations of $Q_H$ show that the hopfion has $Q_H$ = 1. Furthermore, another nontrivial state that includes a monopole-antimonopole pair (MAP) is also stabilized in this system. By applying an external magnetic field, hopfion and MAP states with the same polarization can be switched between each other. The topological transition between the hopfion and the MAP state involves a creation (annihilation) of the MAP and twist of the preimages. Our work paves the way to study nontrivial 3D topological spin textures and stimulates more investigations in the field of 3D spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Formation of ncl-Si in the Amorphous Matrix a-SiO{sub x}:H Located near the Anode and on the Cathode, Using a Time-Modulated DC Plasma with the (SiH{sub 4}–Ar–O{sub 2}) Gas Phase (C{sub O{sub 2}} = 21.5 mol %)

The formation of ncl-Si in the amorphous matrix a-SiO{sub x}:H using a time-modulated DC plasma at an elevated oxygen content of C{sub O{sub 2}} = 21.5 mol % in a gas mixture of (SiH{sub 4}–Ar–O{sub 2}) is investigated. Plasma modulation implies the repeated (n = 180) switching on (for t{sub on} = 5, 10, 15 s) and switching off (for t{sub off} = 5, 10, 15 s) of the magnet coil of the DC magnetron. The effect of self-induction is used to enhance the processes of SiH{sub 4} dissociation, the formation of Si nanoparticles, and the ionization of oxygen and ncl-Si flows towards the electrodes. The samples are located both on an electrically isolated substrate holder near the anode and on the cathode (beyond its erosion zone). These experiments show that the shape of the dependences of the photoluminescence intensity I{sub PL}{sup ncl−Si} on the wavelength Λ are identical for all pairs of samples on the anode and cathode. When the t{sub on} value is small (t{sub on} = 5 s), the difference in the sample location only slightly affects the infrared (IR) spectra. At longer times t{sub on} (≥10 s) and a short time t{sub off} (5 s), the amorphous matrix located on the cathode is enriched with oxygen (as compared with that near the anode). The optimal plasma-modulation parameters are found to be t{sub off}/t{sub on} = 5, 10, 15/10 and t{sub off}/t{sub on} = 5, 10/15; under these conditions, the amorphous matrix has a “perfect structure” and is transparent to radiation, and the I{sub PL}{sup ncl−Si} value is the largest in the range λ ≈ 0.75–0.9 μm.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reliable, High Power Density Inverters for Heavy Equipment Applications

With this final report, the combined team of the University of Arkansas (UA), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Wolfspeed, Caterpillar, and Ampaire have successfully met all of their project objectives. Noteworthy for the heavy equipment portion of the project with Caterpillar is that the team made its project milestones two years into the project by designing a power dense motor drive for a permanent magnet synchronous machine. Upon finding out that Caterpillar had pivoted to switched-reluctance machines (SRMs), the team subsequently redesigned and implemented the SRM drive with a coolant temperature of 105°C! The other major task that the UA, UIUC, and Wolfspeed teams took on was the design of a PMSM drive for a hybrid aircraft that was flown on Feb. 20, 2023 by Ampaire after extensive testing and evaluation. While there were also technical objectives in thermal management, integrated gate drivers, reliability studies, and high temperature capacitors with integrated bussing, each of these have been fully reported on in quarterly reports. In brief, advances in thermal management and high temperature capacitors were utilized in order to achieve a 105°C motor drive. The integrated gate driver work resulted in a higher density drive with no loss of efficiency. Most of the last year, during a no-cost extension, was spent waiting for the Ampaire motor drive to be tested (outside of our project). Many months passed with the device just sitting in California while the company dealt with battery-related issues. This delayed the integration and testing activities until Fall 2022. Once those began, then the process took about 4-5 months to complete culminating in the test flight in Feb. 2023. By providing technical advances and integration into final platforms, the barrier to economic impact has been lowered. This project benefits the public by overcoming key technical barriers to electrified and hybrid electric heavy equipment and aircraft. This, in turn, leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a cleaner environment. This final report summarizes the integrated gate driver work and the Ampaire hybrid electric aircraft integration and test flight efforts. All other information has been previously reported in quarterly reports. A summary of the motor drives created during this project is provided along with a listing of publications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Design of a high efficiency 30 kW boost composite converter

An experimental 30 kW boost composite converter is described in this paper. The composite converter architecture, which consists of a buck module, a boost module, and a dual active bridge module that operates as a DC transformer (DCX), leads to substantial reductions in losses at partial power points, and to significant improvements in weighted efficiency in applications that require wide variations in power and conversion ratio. A comprehensive loss model is developed, accounting for semiconductor conduction and switching losses, capacitor losses, as well as dc and ac losses in magnetic components. Based on the developed loss model, the module and system designs are optimized to maximize efficiency at a 50% power point. Experimental results for the 30 kW prototype demonstrate 98.5%peak efficiency, very high efficiency over wide ranges of power and voltage conversion ratios, as well as excellent agreements between model predictions and measured efficiency curves.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Spin current devices and methods of fabrication thereof

Pure spin current devices are provided. The devices include sandwich structures of metal/magnetic insulator/metal. A first current injected in a first metal layer generates a pure spin current. The spin current can be switched between “on” and “off” states by controlling an in-plane magnetization orientation of the magnetic insulator. In the “on” state, the pure spin current is transmitted from the first metal layer to the second metal layer, through the magnetic insulator layer. The pure spin current in the second metal layer induces generation of a second charge current. In the “off” state, the pure spin current is absorbed at the interface between the first metal layer and the metal insulator. Such structures can serve as pure spin current valve devices or provide analog functionality, as rotating the in-plane magnetization provides analog sinusoidal modulation of the spin current.

Shi, Jing↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electrical-field and spin-transfer torque effects in CoFeB/MgO-based perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction

The electric-field (E) dependence of the magnetoresistance (RH) loops for top-pinned perpendicular CoFeB/MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) in the presence of a spin-transfer torque (STT)-current was measured. The E effects were distinguished from the STT-current effects using a micromagnetic simulation. The coercive field (H{sub c}) decreased and the RH loop shifted as both the positive and negative bias E increased owing to the STT current. Furthermore, E-assisted switching for an MTJ with a diameter of 20 nm, which exhibited a nearly coherent magnetization reversal, was demonstrated using micromagnetic simulation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electric‐Field‐Driven Reversal of Ferromagnetism in (110)‐Oriented, Single Phase, Multiferroic Co‐Substituted BiFeO 3 Thin Films

Abstract While multiferroic materials are attractive systems for the promise of ultra‐low‐power‐consumption computational technologies, electric‐field‐induced magnetization reversal is a key challenge for realizing devices at scale. Though significant research efforts have been working toward the realization of a material which couples ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism, there are few, even composite, systems which are practical for device scale applications at room temperature. Co‐substituted multiferroic BiFe 0.9 Co 0.1 O 3 is a promising candidate system, due to coupled ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism at room temperature. Here, it is theoretically indicated that the ferroic orders in this material are statically coupled, where an in‐plane 109° ferroelectric switching event can result in the reversal of this out‐of‐plane component of magnetization, and the electric field‐induced magnetization reversal is experimentally observed. Such an in‐plane poling configuration is particularly desirable for device applications.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2013

Reversible Single Spin Control of Individual Magnetic Molecule by Hydrogen Atom Adsorption

The reversible control of a single spin of an atom or a molecule is of great interest in Kondo physics and a potential application in spin based electronics. Here we demonstrate that the Kondo resonance of manganese phthalocyanine molecules on a Au(111) substrate have been reversibly switched off and on via a robust route through attachment and detachment of single hydrogen atom to the magnetic core of the molecule. As further revealed by density functional theory calculations, even though the total number of electrons of the Mn ion remains almost the same in the process, gaining one single hydrogen atom leads to redistribution of charges within 3d orbitals with a reduction of the molecular spin state from S 5 3/2 to S 5 1 that directly contributes to the Kondo resonance disappearance. This process is reversed by a local voltage pulse or thermal annealing to desorb the hydrogen atom.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Effects of the magnetic field variation on the spin wave interference in a magnetic cross junction

This article reports results of the investigation of the effect of the external magnetic field variation on the spin wave interference in a magnetic cross junction. The experiments were performed using a micrometer scale Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 cross structure with a set of micro-antennas fabricated on the edges of the cross arms. Two of the antennas were used for the spin wave excitation while a third antenna was used for detecting the inductive voltage produced by the interfering spin waves. It was found that a small variation of the bias magnetic field may result in a significant change of the output inductive voltage. The effect is most prominent under the destructive interference condition. The maximum response exceeds 30 dB per 0.1 Oe at room temperature. It takes a relatively small bias magnetic field variation of about 1 Oe to drive the system from the destructive to the constructive interference conditions. The switching is accompanied by a significant, up to 50 dB, change in the output voltage. The obtained results demonstrate a feasibility of the efficient spin wave interference control by an external magnetic field, which may be utilized for engineering novel type of magnetometers and magnonic logic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Piezomagnetic switching and complex phase equilibria in uranium dioxide

Abstract Actinide materials exhibit strong spin–lattice coupling and electronic correlations, and are predicted to host new emerging ground states. One example is piezomagnetism and magneto-elastic memory effect in the antiferromagnetic Mott-Hubbard insulator uranium dioxide, though its microscopic nature is under debate. Here, we report X-ray diffraction studies of oriented uranium dioxide crystals under strong pulsed magnetic fields. In the antiferromagnetic state a [888] Bragg diffraction peak follows the bulk magnetostriction that expands under magnetic fields. Upon reversal of the field the expansion turns to contraction, before the [888] peak follows the switching effect and piezomagnetic ‘butterfly’ behaviour, characteristic of two structures connected by time reversal symmetry. An unexpected splitting of the [888] peak is observed, indicating the simultaneous presence of time-reversed domains of the 3-k structure and a complex magnetic-field-induced evolution of the microstructure. These findings open the door for a microscopic understanding of the piezomagnetism and magnetic coupling across strong magneto-elastic interactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ferromagnetic resonance of a YIG film in the low frequency regime

An improved method for characterizing the magnetic anisotropy of films with cubic symmetry is described and is applied to an yttrium iron garnet (111) film. Analysis of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra performed both in-plane and out-of-plane from 0.7 to 8 GHz yielded the magnetic anisotropy constants as well as the saturation magnetization. The field at which FMR is observed turns out to be quite sensitive to anisotropy constants (by more than a factor ten) in the low frequency (<2 GHz) regime, and when the orientation of the magnetic field is nearly normal to the sample plane; the restoring force on the magnetization arising from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy fields is then comparable to that from the external field, thereby allowing the anisotropy constants to be determined with greater accuracy. In this region, unusual dynamical behaviors are observed such as multiple resonances and a switching of FMR resonance with only a 1° change in field orientation at 0.7 GHz.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Analysis of self-heating of thermally assisted spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory

Thermal assistance has been shown to significantly reduce the required operation power for spin torque transfer magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM). Proposed heating methods include modified material stack compositions that result in increased self-heating or external heat sources. Here, we analyze the self-heating process of a standard perpendicular magnetic anisotropy STT-MRAM device through numerical simulations in order to understand the relative contributions of Joule, thermoelectric Peltier and Thomson, and tunneling junction heating. A 2D rotationally symmetric numerical model is used to solve the coupled electro-thermal equations including thermoelectric effects and heat absorbed or released at the tunneling junction. We compare self-heating for different common passivation materials, positive and negative electrical current polarity, and different device thermal anchoring and boundaries resistance configurations. The variations considered are found to result in significant differences in maximum temperatures reached. Average increases of 3 K, 10 K, and 100 K for different passivation materials, positive and negative polarity, and different thermal anchoring configurations, respectively, are observed. Furthermore, the highest temperatures, up to 424 K, are obtained for silicon dioxide as the passivation material, positive polarity, and low thermal anchoring with thermal boundary resistance configurations. Interestingly it is also found that due to the tunneling heat, Peltier effect, device geometry, and numerous interfacial layers around the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), most of the heat is dissipated on the lower potential side of the magnetic junction. We have observed this asymmetry in heating and is important as thermally assisted switching requires heating of the free layer specifically and this will be significantly different for the two polarity operations, set and reset.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

HYPERCRITICAL ACCRETION ONTO A NEWBORN NEUTRON STAR AND MAGNETIC FIELD SUBMERGENCE

We present magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations of the late post-supernova hypercritical accretion to understand its effect on the magnetic field of the newborn neutron star. We consider as an example the case of a magnetic field loop protruding from the star's surface. The accreting matter is assumed to be non-magnetized, and, due to the high accretion rate, matter pressure dominates over magnetic pressure. We find that an accretion envelope develops very rapidly, and once it becomes convectively stable, the magnetic field is easily buried and pushed into the newly forming neutron star crust. However, for low enough accretion rates the accretion envelope remains convective for an extended period of time and only partial submergence of the magnetic field occurs due to a residual field that is maintained at the interface between the forming crust and the convective envelope. In this latter case, the outcome should be a weakly magnetized neutron star with a likely complicated field geometry. In our simulations we find the transition from total to partial submergence to occur around M-dot {approx}10 M{sub sun} yr{sup -1}. Back-diffusion of the submerged magnetic field toward the surface, and the resulting growth of the dipolar component, may result in a delayed switch-on of a pulsar on timescales of centuries to millennia.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

High-power nano- and picosecond optoelectronic switches based on high-voltage silicon structures with p–n junctions: II. Energy efficiency

The energy efficiency of optoelectronic switches based on high-voltage silicon photodiodes, phototransistors, and photothyristors controlled by picosecond laser pulses during the formation of voltage pulses on resistive load R{sub L} is studied for the first time. It is shown that at the given values of the resistive load R{sub L}, pulse amplitude U{sub R} and duration t{sub R}, there exist optimum device areas, energies, and absorbances of control radiation providing a maximum total switch efficiency of ~0.92. All three switch types feature almost the same efficiency at short t{sub R}; at longer t{sub R}, photothyristors have a noticeable advantage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Stabilization of weak ferromagnetism by strong magnetic response to epitaxial strain in multiferroic BiFeO 3

Multiferroic BiFeO 3 exhibits excellent magnetoelectric coupling critical for magnetic information processing with minimal power consumption. Thus, the degenerate nature of the easy spin axis in the (111) plane presents roadblocks for real world applications. Here, we explore the stabilization and switchability of the weak ferromagnetic moments under applied epitaxial strain using a combination of first-principles calculations and group-theoretic analyses. We demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic moment vector can be stabilized along unique crystallographic directions ([110] and [-110]) under compressive and tensile strains. A direct coupling between the anisotropic antiferrodistortive rotations and Dzyaloshinskii-Moria interactions drives the stabilization of weak ferromagnetism. Furthermore, energetically competing C- and G-type magnetic orderings are observed at high compressive strains, suggesting that it may be possible to switch the weak ferromagnetism on and off under application of strain. These findings emphasize the importance of strain and antiferrodistortive rotations as routes to enhancing induced weak ferromagnetism in multiferroic oxides.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Dynamic control of spin wave spectra using spin-polarized currents

We describe a method of controlling the spin wave spectra dynamically in a uniform nanostripe waveguide through spin-polarized currents. A stable periodic magnetization structure is observed when the current flows vertically through the center of nanostripe waveguide. After being excited, the spin wave is transmitted at the sides of the waveguide. Numerical simulations of spin-wave transmission and dispersion curves reveal a single, pronounced band gap. Moreover, the periodic magnetization structure can be turned on and off by the spin-polarized current. The switching process from full rejection to full transmission takes place within less than 3 ns. Thus, this type magnonic waveguide can be utilized for low-dissipation spin wave based filters.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗