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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 757 records · Page 42

Study of interface correlation in W/C multilayer structure by specular and non-specular grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity measurements

W/C/W tri-layer thin film samples have been deposited on c-Si substrates in a home-built Ion Beam Sputtering system at 1.5 × 10{sup −3} Torr Ar working pressure and 10 mA grid current. The tri-layer samples have been deposited at different Ar{sup +} ion energies between 0.6 and 1.2 keV for W layer deposition and the samples have been characterized by specular and non-specular grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity (GIXR) measurements. By analyzing the GIXR spectra, various interface parameters have been obtained for both W-on-C and C-on-W interfaces and optimum Ar{sup +} ion energy for obtaining interfaces with low imperfections has been found. Subsequently, multilayer W/C samples with 5-layer, 7-layer, 9-layer, and 13-layer have been deposited at this optimum Ar{sup +} ion energy. By fitting the specular and diffused GIXR data of the multilayer samples with the parameters of each interface as fitting variables, different interface parameters, viz., interface width, in-plane correlation length, interface roughness, and interface diffusion have been estimated for each interface and their variation across the depth of the multilayers have been obtained. The information would be useful in realizing W/C multilayers for soft X-ray mirror application in the <100 Å wavelength regime. The applicability of the “restart of the growth at the interface” model in the case of these ion beam sputter deposited W/C multilayers has also been investigated in the course of this study.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Direct growth of nano-crystalline graphite films using pulsed laser deposition with in-situ monitoring based on reflection high-energy electron diffraction technique

We report an experimental method to overcome the long processing time required for fabricating graphite films by a transfer process from a catalytic layer to a substrate, as well as our study of the growth process of graphite films using a pulsed laser deposition combined with in-situ monitoring based on reflection high-energy electron diffraction technique. We monitored the structural evolution of nano-crystalline graphite films directly grown on AlN-coated Si substrates without any catalytic layer. We found that the carbon films grown for less than 600 s cannot manifest the graphite structure due to a high defect density arising from grain boundaries; however, the carbon film can gradually become a nano-crystalline graphite film with a thickness of approximately up to 5 nm. The Raman spectra and electrical properties of carbon films indicate that the nano-crystalline graphite films can be fabricated, even at the growth temperature as low as 850 °C within 600 s.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Three dimensional reflectance properties of superconductor-dielectric photonic crystal

In this present communication, we have studied the optical properties of Photonics Crystals with super conducting constituent using the TMM method for a stratified medium. We also studied the three dimensional reflectance property of superconductor-dielectric photonic crystal at different temperature and thickness. From above study we show that the superconductor-dielectric photonic crystal may be used as broad band reflector and omnidirectional reflector at low temperature below to the critical temperature. Such property may be applied to make of the reflector which can be used in low temperature region.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Reflection and extinction of light by self-assembled monolayers of a quinque-thiophene derivative: A coherent scattering approach

Scattering matrix theory is used to describe resonant optical properties of molecular monolayers. Three types of coupling are included: exciton-exciton, exciton-photon, and exciton-phonon coupling. We use the K-matrix formalism, developed originally to describe neutron scattering spectra in nuclear physics to compute the scattering of polaritons by phonons. This perturbation approach takes into account the three couplings and allows one to go beyond molecular exciton theory without the need of introducing additional boundary conditions for the polariton. We demonstrate that reflection, absorption, and extinction of light by 2D self-assembled monolayers of molecules containing quinque-thiophene chromophoric groups can be calculated. The extracted coherence length of the Frenkel exciton is discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Numerical simulation of optical vortex propagation and reflection by the methods of scalar diffraction theory

Using the equations of scalar diffraction theory we consider the formation of an optical vortex on a diffractive optical element. The algorithms are proposed for simulating the processes of propagation of spiral wavefronts in free space and their reflections from surfaces with different roughness parameters. The given approach is illustrated by the results of numerical simulations. (propagation of wave fronts)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Numerical modelling of a fibre reflection filter based on a metal–dielectric diffraction structure with an increased optical damage threshold

Numerical modelling demonstrates the possibility of fabricating an all-fibre multibeam two-mirror reflection interferometer based on a metal–dielectric diffraction structure in its front mirror. The calculations were performed using eigenmodes of a double-clad single-mode fibre. The calculation results indicate that, using a metallic layer in the structure of the front mirror of such an interferometer and a diffraction effect, one can reduce the Ohmic loss by a factor of several tens in comparison with a continuous thin metallic film. (laser crystals and braggg ratings)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

X-Ray reduction imaging of inclined reflective masks at critical angles

We have proposed and simulated optical schemes for producing reduced images by X-ray lasers or harmonic generators at a wavelength of ∼14 nm. The mask in this case is placed at a small angle to the optical axis, corresponding to the angle of total external reflection of the material. We have determined the optimal position of the detector (resist) and the corresponding spatial resolution. The results can be used to solve problems in nanotechnology and nanostructuring of surfaces. (x-ray optics)

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Aperiodic reflection diffraction gratings for soft X-ray radiation and their application

We briefly review the works concerned with the development and experimental use of the spectral instruments based on aperiodic reflection gratings whose spacing varies monotonically across the aperture according to a prescribed law (VLS gratings). The review considers the employment of VLS-grating instruments intended for the spectroscopy of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas, including the diagnostics of relativistic laser plasmas, for measuring X-ray laser linewidths, for recording the high-order harmonics of laser radiation, the radiation of fast electric discharges and other laboratory X-ray sources, as well as in reflectometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis and microscopy with the use of synchrotron radiation and laser-plasma radiation, and in emission spectroscopy combined with an electron microscope. Also discussed are achievements in the recently undertaken design and development of special-purpose VLS spectrometers intended for the investigation of the electronic structure of different materials and molecules by the spectroscopic technique of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering of synchrotron radiation. We describe flat-field grazing-incidence spectrometers with concave VLS gratings, which are compatible with modern CCD detectors, as well as plane VLS gratings, which are the key elements of scanning high- and ultrahigh-resolution spectrometers/monochromators with a constant deviation angle and stigmatic (imaging) spectrometers, which are also compatible with CCD detectors. (paper)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Structural phase transition and manifestation of eddy currents in IR reflection spectra of PbSnTe semiconductor films

Infrared reflection spectra of thin (∼60 nm) Pb{sub 1−x} Sn{sub x}Te (x = 0.25, 0.53, 0.59) films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs/CdTe hybrid substrates have been measured at frequencies from 20 to 5500 cm{sup −1} and temperatures from 5 to 300 K. The spectra have been used to determine temperature-dependent transverse phonon and plasmon frequencies in the films, which has made it possible to identify a structural phase transition at T{sub C} ≈ 50 K. The plasma frequency of the films has been shown to increase with decreasing band gap on cooling from 300 to 77 K. The increase in plasma frequency is mainly attributable to the increase in carrier concentration and a transition of the carriers from vortex states on the film surface to the valence band. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

POST ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH BIPOLAR REFLECTION NEBULAE: RESULT OF DYNAMICAL EJECTION OR SELECTIVE ILLUMINATION?

A model for post asymptotic giant branch bipolar reflection nebulae has been constructed based on a pair of evacuated cavities in a spherical dust envelope. Many of the observed features of bipolar nebulae, including filled bipolar lobes, an equatorial torus, searchlight beams, and a bright central light source, can be reproduced. The effects on orientation and dust densities are studied and comparisons with some observed examples are offered. We suggest that many observed properties of bipolar nebulae are the result of optical effects and any physical modeling of these nebulae has to take these factors into consideration.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DYNAMICS OF X-RAY-EMITTING EJECTA IN THE OXYGEN-RICH SUPERNOVA REMNANT PUPPIS A REVEALED BY THE XMM-NEWTON REFLECTION GRATING SPECTROMETER

Using the unprecedented spectral resolution of the reflection grating spectrometer (RGS) on board XMM-Newton, we reveal dynamics of X-ray-emitting ejecta in the oxygen-rich supernova remnant Puppis A. The RGS spectrum shows prominent K-shell lines, including O VII He{alpha} forbidden and resonance, O VIII Ly{alpha}, O VIII Ly{beta}, and Ne IX He{alpha} resonance, from an ejecta knot positionally coincident with an optical oxygen-rich filament (the so-called {Omega} filament) in the northeast of the remnant. We find that the line centroids are blueshifted by 1480 {+-} 140 {+-} 60 km s{sup -1} (the first and second term errors are measurement and calibration uncertainties, respectively), which is fully consistent with that of the optical {Omega} filament. Line broadening at 654 eV (corresponding to O VIII Ly{alpha}) is obtained to be {sigma} {approx}< 0.9 eV, indicating an oxygen temperature of {approx}< 30 keV. Analysis of XMM-Newton MOS spectra shows an electron temperature of {approx}0.8 keV and an ionization timescale of {approx}2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 10} cm{sup -3} s. We show that the oxygen and electron temperatures as well as the ionization timescale can be reconciled if the ejecta knot was heated by a collisionless shock whose velocity is {approx}600-1200 km s{sup -1} and was subsequently equilibrated due to Coulomb interactions. The RGS spectrum also shows relatively weak K-shell lines of another ejecta feature located near the northeastern edge of the remnant, from which we measure redward Doppler velocities of 650 {+-} 70 {+-} 60 km s{sup -1}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DIRECT NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF REFLECTION-DRIVEN, REDUCED MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC TURBULENCE FROM THE SUN TO THE ALFVÉN CRITICAL POINT

We present direct numerical simulations of inhomogeneous reduced magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD) turbulence between the Sun and the Alfvén critical point. These are the first such simulations that take into account the solar-wind outflow velocity and the radial inhomogeneity of the background solar wind without approximating the nonlinear terms in the governing equations. RMHD turbulence is driven by outward-propagating Alfvén waves (z {sup +} fluctuations) launched from the Sun, which undergo partial non-WKB reflection to produce sunward-propagating Alfvén waves (z {sup –} fluctuations). We present 10 simulations with different values of the correlation time τ{sub c{sub sun}{sup +}} and perpendicular correlation length L{sub ☉} of outward-propagating Alfvén waves at the coronal base. We find that between 15% and 33% of the z {sup +} energy launched into the corona dissipates between the coronal base and Alfvén critical point. Between 33% and 40% of this input energy goes into work on the solar-wind outflow, and between 22% and 36% escapes as z {sup +} fluctuations through the simulation boundary at r = r{sub A}. The z {sup ±} power spectra scale like k{sub perpendicular}{sup -α{sup ±}}, where k is the wavenumber in the plane perpendicular to B{sub 0}. In our simulation with the smallest value of τ{sub c{sub sun}{sup +}} (∼2 minutes) and largest value of L{sub ☉} (2 × 10{sup 4} km), we find that α{sup +} decreases approximately linearly with increasing ln (r), reaching a value of 1.3 at r = 11.1 R{sub ☉}. Our simulations with larger values of τ{sub c{sub sun}{sup +}} exhibit alignment between the contours of constant φ{sup +}, φ{sup –}, Ω{sub 0}{sup +}, and Ω{sub 0}{sup -}, where φ{sup ±} are the Elsässer potentials and Ω{sub 0}{sup ±} are the outer-scale parallel Elsässer vorticities.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

ON THE CONSERVATION OF CROSS HELICITY AND WAVE ACTION IN SOLAR-WIND MODELS WITH NON-WKB ALFVÉN WAVE REFLECTION

The interaction between Alfvén-wave turbulence and the background solar wind affects the cross helicity (∫d{sup 3}x v⋅B) in two ways. Non-WKB reflection converts outward-propagating Alfvén waves into inward-propagating Alfvén waves and vice versa, and the turbulence transfers momentum to the background flow. When both effects are accounted for, the total cross helicity is conserved. In the special case that the background density and flow speed are independent of time, the equations of cross-helicity conservation and total-energy conservation can be combined to recover a well-known equation derived by Heinemann and Olbert that has been interpreted as a non-WKB generalization of wave-action conservation. This latter equation (in contrast to cross-helicity and energy conservation) does not hold when the background varies in time.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Mechanistic aspects of plasma-enhanced catalytic methane decomposition by time-resolved operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy

To study mechanistic aspects of plasma-enhanced catalysis, methane is decomposed by a supported Ni catalyst assisted by an Ar/O 2 atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). Here, the time-resolved surface response of the Ni catalyst is investigated by operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) using various experimental settings. Catalyst temperatures of room temperature (RT) and 500 °C and nozzle-catalyst surface distances of 3, 5 and 8 mm were examined, and the amount of O 2 of the Ar/O 2 gas mixture flowing through the APPJ was either 0 or 0.5%. A synergistic effect of surface bonded C-O was observed during the exposure of the Ni catalyst to the APPJ for low oxygen operating conditions (pure Ar jet). Surface bonded C-O formed only when there was plasma present and the C-O signal was enhanced for higher catalyst temperature. When the supported Ni catalyst was subjected to the plasma-generated particle fluxes using highly oxidizing conditions, the presence of surface bonded C-O was suppressed. The plasma-catalytic CO and CO 2 production in the gas phase measured downstream mirrored the surface behavior of C-O bonds when the plasma source operating condition was changed from a low oxygen portion to a high oxygen portion at high catalyst temperature (500 °C). CH n (n =1, 2, ) species on the catalyst surface were also studied by DRIFTS, and CHn destruction was found to correlate with C-O formation. In particular, the time-resolved CH n response showed a possible conversion process of CH n to C-O when the Ni catalyst was exposed to the plasma source. This finding may indicate a plasma-mediated regeneration of the catalyst by plasma-catalyst surface interactions.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A tunneling current measurement scheme to observe Majorana-zero-mode-induced crossed Andreev reflection

We propose a scheme to observe the Majorana-zero-mode-induced crossed Andreev reflection by measuring tunneling current directly. In this scheme a metallic ring structure is utilized to separate electron and hole signals. Since tunneling electrons and holes have different propagating wave vectors, the conditions for them to be constructively coherent in the ring differ. We find that when the magnetic flux threading the ring varies, it is possible to observe adjacent positive and negative tunneling current peaks of about equal amplitudes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

On the vacuum Einstein equations along curves with a discrete local rotation and reflection symmetry

We discuss the possibility of a dimensional reduction of the Einstein equations in S{sup 3} black-hole lattices. It was reported in previous literature that the evolution of spaces containing curves of local, discrete rotation and reflection symmetry (LDRRS) can be carried out via a system of ODEs along these curves. However, 3+1 Numerical Relativity computations demonstrate that this is not the case, and we show analytically that this is due to the presence of a tensorial quantity which is not suppressed by the symmetry. We calculate the term analytically, and verify numerically for an 8-black-hole lattice that it fully accounts for the anomalous results, and thus quantify its magnitude in this specific case. The presence of this term prevents the exact evolution of these spaces via previously-reported methods which do not involve a full 3+1 integration of Einstein's equation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

PARTIAL REFLECTION AND TRAPPING OF A FAST-MODE WAVE IN SOLAR CORONAL ARCADE LOOPS

We report on the first direct observation of a fast-mode wave propagating along and perpendicular to cool (171 Å) arcade loops observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA). The wave was associated with an impulsive/compact flare near the edge of a sunspot. The EUV wavefront expanded radially outward from the flare center and decelerated in the corona from 1060 to 760 km s{sup −1} within ∼3–4 minutes. Part of the EUV wave propagated along a large-scale arcade of cool loops and was partially reflected back to the flare site. The phase speed of the wave was about 1450 km s{sup −1}, which is interpreted as a fast-mode wave. A second overlying loop arcade, orientated perpendicular to the cool arcade, is heated and becomes visible in the AIA hot channels. These hot loops sway in time with the EUV wave, as it propagated to and fro along the lower loop arcade. We suggest that an impulsive energy release at one of the footpoints of the arcade loops causes the onset of an EUV shock wave that propagates along and perpendicular to the magnetic field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Learning continuous scattering length density profiles from neutron reflectivities using convolutional neural networks

Interpreting neutron reflectivity (NR) data using ad hoc multi-layer models and physics-based models provides information about spatially resolved neutron scattering length density (NSLD) profiles. Recent improvements in data acquisition systems have allowed acquiring thousands of NR curves in a couple of hours, which has led to a need for automated data analysis tools to interpret NR measurements in real-time. Here, we present a machine learning analysis workflow that uses a series of models, based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), to learn the relation between the NSLDs and the NRs, and subsequently produce continuous NSLD profiles directly from NRs. The usefulness of our CNN-based models is demonstrated by constructing NSLDs from NRs of several films containing homopolymer polyzwitterions and diblock copolymers mixed with different types of salts. Comparisons of the NSLDs with those constructed using ad hoc multi-layer models reveal a very good agreement, suggesting the potential of CNN-based models for real-time automated data analysis of NRs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗