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118 records · Page 5

A hybrid Monte Carlo-deterministic second moment method with efficient variance reduction

In this work, we present a hybrid method that combines Monte Carlo with deterministic finite element methods to solve a linear Boltzmann transport equation. Our hybrid method runs orders of magnitude faster than Monte Carlo, without sacrificing accuracy, for a proxy problem from radiative transfer that contains both optically-thick and optically-thin material. We believe that this is the first demonstration of a hybrid Second Moment Method in more than one spatial dimension, the first to consider more than one material, and the first to use variance reduction. Our variance reduction approach arises from an asymptotic analysis in which we show that the magnitude of the scattering source grows without bound. We transform the problem to compute the deviation of the radiation intensity from isotropy. The magnitude of the source in the transformed problem is bounded, and the quality of the hybrid method solution is dramatically improved by a substantial reduction in the variance.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

Dynamic control of quantum phases in two-dimensional materials via Floquet engineering

The dynamical engineering of quantum states through periodic optical driving, known as Floquet engineering, has emerged as a powerful frontier in condensed matter physics, offering a pathway to realize material properties inaccessible in static equilibrium. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent theoretical and experimental advances in the optical manipulation of two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials. We begin by systematically reviewing the evolution of the field from its pioneering applications in graphene and twisted moiré superlattices, highlighting the experimental realization of the light-induced anomalous Hall effect (AHE) to the complex spin-valley physics in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Furthermore, we briefly examine recent advances in 2D magnetic materials, demonstrating how optical driving can actively compete with intrinsic magnetism to dynamically switch magnetic orders and topological invariants. Moreover, we discuss the emerging frontiers of multi-frequency driving, quantum optimal control theory (QOCT), and ultrafast lightwave electronics. We highlight how tailored waveforms, such as bicircular light fields, and sub-cycle attosecond control can selectively break spatial symmetries to generate novel nonlinear photocurrents, mitigate dissipation, and extend the boundaries of quantum control well beyond the perturbative steady-state regime. Finally, we summarize the key experimental challenges for Floquet engineering, including effects such as heating and scattering, which limit coherent quantum control.

Wang, Wenpeng [Northeastern University, Shenyang,

Interface Evolutionand Long-Term Performance of NegativeCarbon Fiber Structural Electrodes

Abstract Laminated structural batteries present a transformative solution to reducing weight constraints in electric vehicles. These structural batteries are based on a multifunctional material that incorporates an energy storage function within a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. Despite the potential of this technology, the intricate morphology of fiber–matrix or electrode–electrolyte interfaces and the impact of long-term cycling at low current rates (C-rates) on these interfaces remain insufficiently understood. This study addresses these critical knowledge gaps by examining the influence of matrix composition on the long-term electrochemical performance of structural battery electrodes and exploring advanced techniques to investigate carbon fiber–matrix interfaces. Localized imaging and X-ray scattering techniques were used to characterize morphological changes at the electrode–electrolyte interfaces by analyzing negative structural electrodes. The findings revealed that the matrix composition influences long-term electrochemical behavior and fiber–matrix interface formation. While the intrinsic properties of carbon fibers largely remain unaffected by long-term cycling, cycling promotes debonding at fiber–matrix interfaces. Nonetheless, residual regions of adhesion persist, underscoring the potential for preserving multifunctionality even under prolonged cycling conditions. These insights advance the understanding of interface dynamics, which is critical for optimizing structural battery technologies.

Chemistry

Detecting Magnon-phonon coupling in yttrium iron garnet with variable temperature STEM-EELS

Magnons, quanta of spin wave excitations in magnetically ordered materials, have been identified as candidates for several potentially transformative technologies in recent years. Macroscopic techniques, such as neutron scattering or Raman spectroscopy, can be used to identify and analyze magnons, but provide relatively delocalized information about the sample. Understanding how the bonding and local structure of a material interacts with, and influences, the magnon population in a material is a crucial step toward the ability to produce any real-world application utilizing magnons. By leveraging the combined spatial resolution of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and the energy resolution of monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) nanoscale analysis of magnons can be performed. While the weak interaction of magnons with the electron beam makes magnon EELS challenging on reasonable timescales, magnon-phonon coupling can be leveraged to understand magnons through their effect on the more easily measured phonons. Here, we examine yttrium iron garnet (YIG) flakes, and demonstrate non-linear, temperature-dependent shifts in the phonon frequencies, consistent with previously described magnon-phonon coupling effects. The ability to measure the temperature-dependence of vibrational frequencies with high precision in individual nanoscale flakes, demonstrates the ability to study magnon-phonon coupling in the STEM with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Reifsnyder, Alexander [ORNL]

Spin-strain interactions under hydrostatic pressure in α-RuCl 3

We investigate the effects of hydrostatic pressure on 𝛼−RuCl 3 , a prototypical material for the Kitaev spin model on a honeycomb lattice with a possible spin-liquid ground state. Using ultrasound measurements at pressures up to 1.16 GPa, we reveal significant modifications of the acoustic properties and the 𝐻−𝑇 phase diagram of this material. Hydrostatic pressure suppresses the three-dimensional magnetic order and induces a dimerization transition at higher pressures. At low pressures, the sound attenuation exhibits a linear temperature dependence, while above 0.28 GPa, it becomes nearly temperature independent, suggesting a shift in the phonon scattering regime dominated by Majorana fermions. These findings provide new insights into spin-strain interactions in Kitaev magnets and deliver a detailed characterization of the 𝐻−𝑇 phase diagram of 𝛼−RuCl 3 under hydrostatic pressure.

Focused ion beam

Advanced Model Development for Large Eddy Simulation of Oxy-Combustion and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycles

A joint experimental and numerical study is performed to observe the characteristics of a supercritical carbon dioxide turbulent mixing layer in the presence of strong nonlinearities in the thermodynamic and transport properties. A bespoke experimental setup is designed and employed for this purpose and provides insight into macroscopic mixing behavior. The mixing is experimentally observed using two techniques: shadowgraphy and spontaneous Raman scattering. Qualitative and quantitative intensity fields obtained via these techniques yield instantaneous and mean density data. Spanwise temperature data is also collected using analogue resistance temperature detectors. These measurements are used to quantify the level of mixed material within the field. The experimental data are supplemented by a companion high-fidelity numerical study. The numerical results are obtained through fully resolved, three-dimensional direct numerical simulation. The numerical dataset permits observation of the near-field mixing characteristics, which are difficult to measure experimentally due to the rapid dynamics and sharp thermophysical gradients in this area. Qualitative field visualizations are presented, followed by quantitative mixed material results and observations regarding thermodynamic property trends at select locations within the field. One-dimensional spectra of the turbulent kinetic energy and solenoidal dissipation are provided to observe the spectral characteristics of the flow. Reynolds stress anisotropy is analyzed graphically through anisotropy invariance maps (Lumley triangles). The mixing quantification, spectral data and anisotropy analysis of a flow at these thermodynamic conditions represent the main outcomes of the work.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS

Quality and Loss Factor Characterization of YBCO Superconducting Transmission Lines for Axion Dark Matter Detection

Axion haloscope experiments aim to detect the conversion of axions into microwave photons under a strong magnetic field through resonant cavity techniques. The conversion produces an extremely small signal, requiring a cryogenic environment to reduce thermal noise, and low-loss superconducting transmission lines for minimal attenuation in the readout chain. Yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) cables are a promising candidate. Unlike commonly used low-loss cryogenic cables such as niobium (Nb) and niobium titanium (NbTi), which have low critical fields, YBCO is a high-temperature superconductor that can remain stable in strong magnetic fields. We characterized the quality and loss of five stripline resonators from the Brookhaven Technology Group: three YBCO, a copper reference, and a silver reference. Experimental methodology included collecting scattering parameter data on a vector network analyzer for the samples at 77 K along with room temperature baseline measurements, and employing both Lorentzian-fit and circle-fitting techniques to confirm the coupling regime and corroborate results. We achieved quality factors on the order of $10^3$ with corresponding loss factors on the order of $10^{-1}$ dB/m. Trends were comparable with literature data on Nb and NbTi at 4 K, which did have lower loss under these conditions, but suggested similar or perhaps better loss for YBCO when accounting for the temperature difference. We also developed a cryogenic probe for future measurements in a 14 T applied field at 30 mK. This will serve to directly evaluate YBCO's durability in magnetic fields, and we expect significantly improved performance at millikelvin temperatures.

Marinos, Z. [UCLA]

Cross-scale interaction between microturbulence and meso-scale reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes in DIII-D plasmas

Abstract This paper reports global nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations that couple meso-scale reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAEs) driven by energetic particles (EPs) and ion temperature gradient (ITG) microturbulence driven by thermal plasma, using equilibrium and profiles from DIII-D discharge #159243. In simulations focusing only on the ITG, electrostatic ITG drives a huge thermal ion heat transport, which is reduced by a factor of 10 to a level close to the experimental value in electromagnetic simulation due to finite β effect. In the simulations coupling the RSAE and ITG, ITG can scatter the resonant EP nonlinearly trapped by the RSAE and damp the zonal flows generated by the RSAE. The regulation of the RSAE by the ITG greatly reduces the initial saturation amplitude of the RSAE but increases the RSAE amplitude and associated EP transport to experimental levels in the quasi-steady state. The RSAE effects on the ITG, specifically the stronger zonal flows generated by the RSAE and the RSAE frequency modulation of the ITG-induced thermal ion heat transport, in turn, leads to a reduction of the thermal ion heat transport by more than a factor of 2 . For a stronger background ITG, the regulation of the RSAE by the ITG is stronger, while the RSAE effects on the ITG are weaker. This work highlights the importance of cross-scale coupling in the dynamics of the AE turbulence and EP transport.

Physics

Enhanced Optical Contrast and Switching in Near‐Infrared Electrochromic Devices by Optimizing Conjugated Polymer Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Sidechain Content and Gel Electrolyte Composition

Abstract A detailed investigation addressing the effects of functionalizing conjugated polymers with oligo(ethylene glycol) (EG n ) sidechains on the performance and polymer‐electrolyte compatibility of electrochromic devices (ECDs) is reported. The electrochemistry for a series of donor‐acceptor copolymers having near‐infrared (NIR)‐optical absorption, where the donor fragment is 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) or an EG n functionalized bithiophene (g2T) and the acceptor fragment is diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) functionalized with branched alkyl or EG n sidechains, is extensively probed. ECDs are next fabricated and it is found that EG n sidechain incorporation must be finely balanced to promote polymer‐electrolyte compatibility and provide efficient ion exchange. Proper electrolyte‐cation pairing and polymer structural tuning affords a 2x increase in optical contrast (from 12% to 24%) and >60x reduction in switching time (from 20 to 0.3 s). Atomic force microscopy (AFM)/grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) characterization of the polymer film morphology/microstructure reveals that an over‐abundance of EG n sidechains generates large polymer crystallites, which can suppress ion exchange. Lastly, time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) indicates sidechain/electrolyte identity does not influence the electrolyte penetration depth into the films, and EG n sidechain inclusion increases electrolyte cation uptake. The material structural design insight and guidelines regarding the polymer‐electrolyte ion insertion/expulsion dynamics reported here should be of significant utility for developing next‐generation mixed ionic‐electronic conducting materials.

Chemistry

Ultrafast low-temperature metal–insulator interface phonon dynamics and heat transport in a Pt/Gd 3 Fe 5 O 12 heterostructure

Interfacial thermal and acoustic phenomena have an important role in quantum science and technology, including in spintronic and spincaloritronic materials and devices. Simultaneous measurements of the low-temperature thermal and acoustic properties of a metal/insulator heterostructure reveal distinct dynamics in the characteristic phonon frequency ranges of acoustic and thermal transport. The measurements probed a heterostructure consisting of a thin film of Pt on the ferrimagnetic insulator gadolinium iron garnet (Gd 3 Fe 5 O 12 , GdIG) grown epitaxially on a gadolinium gallium garnet substrate. Ultrafast structural dynamics within the Pt layer were tracked using time-resolved ultrafast x-ray diffraction and analyzed to probe interfacial acoustic and thermal properties. The rapid heating of the Pt layer by a 400 nm wavelength femtosecond-duration optical pulse produced transient structural changes that provided the stimulus for these measurements. Rapid heating produced a broadband acoustic pulse that was partially reflected by the Pt/GdIG interface. Temporal frequencies up to 740 GHz, corresponding to angular frequencies of several THz, were detected in a wavelet analysis of the acoustic oscillations of the strain in the Pt layer. The structural results were analyzed to determine (i) the acoustic damping coefficient and phonon mean free path in Pt at frequencies of hundreds of GHz and (ii) the Grüneisen anharmonicity parameter. The thermal conductance of the Pt/GdIG interface was tracked using the slower, tens-of-picosecond-scale, dynamics of the initial cooling of the heated Pt layer. Analysis using a model based on the Boltzmann transport equation shows that the phonon transmission is lower at the phonon frequencies relevant to thermal transport than for subterahertz regime acoustics.

Acoustic phenomena

A multi-region approach for the analysis of porous materials and gas-solid reactions using USAXS-SAXS-WAXS: application to CaO carbonation

The reaction rate of gas-solid non-catalytic reactions is typically investigated using reactant conversion data over time and ex-situ measurements of the porous solid reactant textural properties; these data enable the experimental estimation of the initial intrinsic reaction rate, whereas the evolution of the textural properties and the reaction rate over time are evaluated theoretically using reaction models. In this work, a different methodology is presented, based on: a) in-situ time-resolved USAXS-SAXS-WAXS measurements of the solid sample, and b) a multi-region modeling approach; this methodology allows for the estimation of the textural properties and the intrinsic reaction rate at any time during the reaction. Referring to a reaction in which a solid product is obtained from a solid reactant and a gaseous reactant, the porous particle is described as consisting of several distinct regions with different microstructural properties, and both a gas-solid reaction model and a SAXS model are derived and applied to the carbonation of porous CaO. The proposed reaction model highlights the role of the inaccessible reactant and accurately predicts the solid reactant conversion versus time profile. The SAXS model accurately predicts the measured linear trends of the Porod invariant and of the pre-factor of the power law scattering profile versus CaO mass fraction; in the absence of chemical reactions, the proposed equations extend classical SAXS theory to porous materials containing macropores and nonporous solid phases in addition to standard nanoscale inhomogeneous regions.

CO2 solid sorbents

Activation dynamics of a water-soluble human mu-opioid receptor

The mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a class A G protein-coupled receptor mediates opioid analgesia and remains a central target for pain therapeutics. While crystal structures of MOR exist, they provide limited insight into the receptor’s dynamic conformational landscape underlying function. Here, we engineered a thermostable water-soluble MOR variant (wsMOR) that retains native-like ligand-binding and activation dynamics. This variant enables high-yield production and detailed solution-phase structural studies that are challenging with membrane-embedded MOR, providing a valuable tool for studying receptor activation and aqueous-phase drug screening. Using a combined computational and experimental approach, we performed long-timescale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations together with neutron scattering and single-molecule FRET, revealing a structurally stable receptor with a diverse ensemble of conformations at different temporal resolutions. In the ligand-free state, wsMOR displayed high conformational flexibility, which decreased upon agonist binding, particularly in transmembrane helix 6, a hallmark of G protein-coupled receptor activation. Positive allosteric modulation and G protein binding further stabilized active-like states. These findings highlight wsMOR’s conformational plasticity across picosecond to millisecond timescales and provide a foundation for structure-guided development of next-generation opioid ligands with improved efficacy and safety.

E, Agyemang [University of Tennessee Knoxville]

Design Trade-Offs in Composite Fuel Cell Membranes: Effects of Reinforcement and Chemical Additives

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes are critical components in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, where performance depends on balancing ionic conductivity, mechanical durability, and chemical stability. This study characterizes a composite membrane (NC700) featuring PFSA-impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) reinforcement and cerium-based radical scavengers, benchmarked against unreinforced NR211. Complementary techniques, including electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis, identify the structural and compositional strategies employed in NC700. Water sorption isotherms reveal lower water uptake for NC700 across all conditions, attributed to reinforcement and cerium incorporation. Reinforcement reduces in-plane swelling from 11% to 2.1% at 90% RH, confirming strong swelling anisotropy, while maintaining mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. While the ionic conductivity of NC700 is approximately 10% lower than that of NR211, the reduced thickness yields a 40% decrease in calculated area-specific resistance, suggesting the composite architecture can favorably shift the conductivity-stability trade-off. The composite structure also reduces gas permeability, indicating potential for improved separator function alongside favorable transport properties. Systematic deconvolution of reinforcement and additive contributions shows that conductivity losses from cerium incorporation are largely offset by gains from the lower equivalent-weight polymer, providing quantitative relationships that may guide composite membrane design for fuel cells and other electrochemical applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE

Optimal binning of correlated measurements

Experimental measurements are commonly represented on a discrete grid, requiring a balance between granularity and statistical noise. Two strategies have traditionally been used to improve such representations: selecting an appropriate bin width to control discretization error and applying kernel-based smoothing to suppress fluctuations. Despite their shared goal, these approaches have largely developed independently, without a unified statistical description of how discretization and correlation jointly determine measurement precision. Here, we extend the discussion of optimal interval averaging to a correlation-aware setting by Gaussian process regression, which explicitly accounts for correlations among neighboring bins. Starting from first principles, we derive the mean-squared error of discretized measurements and obtain closed-form asymptotic expressions for the optimal bin width and correlation length. When recast in reduced variables, the theory reveals distinct universal scaling laws governing the error in the correlation-free and correlation-controlled regimes. Characterized by intrinsically smooth intensity profiles and counting-based statistics, neutron scattering measurements are well suited for demonstrating the enhanced error contraction enabled by inter-bin correlations. We show that such improvement is achievable over the experimentally accessible Q-range and across multiple instruments and material systems. These results show that explicitly accounting for correlations systematically reshapes the limits of precision in discretized, noise-limited measurements. More broadly, the framework provides a transferable statistical foundation for optimizing data representation, inference, and experimental design across the physical and data sciences.

Tung, Chi-Huan [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000221972074)

Charm and bottom hadrons in hot hadronic matter

Heavy quarks, and the hadrons containing them, are excellent probes of the QCD medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions, as they provide essential information on the transport properties of the medium and how quarks color-neutralize into hadrons. Large theoretical and phenomenological efforts have been dedicated thus far to assess the diffusion of charm and bottom quarks in the quark–gluon plasma and their subsequent hadronization into heavy-flavor (HF) hadrons. However, the fireball formed in heavy-ion collisions also features an extended hadronic phase, and therefore any quantitative analysis of experimental observables needs to account for the rescattering of charm and bottom hadrons. This is further reinforced by the presence of a QCD cross-over transition and the notion that the interaction strength is maximal in the vicinity of the pseudo-critical temperature. We review existing approaches for evaluating the interactions of open HF hadrons in a hadronic heat bath and the pertinent results for scattering amplitudes, spectral functions and transport coefficients. While most of the work to date has focused on D -mesons, we also discuss excited states as well as HF baryons and the bottom sector. Both the HF hadro-chemistry and bottom observables will play a key role in future experimental measurements. We also conduct a survey of transport calculations in heavy-ion collisions that have included effects of hadronic HF diffusion and assess its impact on various observables.

effective field theories

Trace benzene capture by decoration of structural defects in metal–organic framework materials

Abstract Capture of trace benzene is an important and challenging task. Metal–organic framework materials are promising sorbents for a variety of gases, but their limited capacity towards benzene at low concentration remains unresolved. Here we report the adsorption of trace benzene by decorating a structural defect in MIL-125-defect with single-atom metal centres to afford MIL-125-X (X = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; MIL-125, Ti 8 O 8 (OH) 4 (BDC) 6 where H 2 BDC is 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid). At 298 K, MIL-125-Zn exhibits a benzene uptake of 7.63 mmol g −1 at 1.2 mbar and 5.33 mmol g −1 at 0.12 mbar, and breakthrough experiments confirm the removal of trace benzene (from 5 to <0.5 ppm) from air (up to 111,000 min g −1 of metal–organic framework), even after exposure to moisture. The binding of benzene to the defect and open Zn(II) sites at low pressure has been visualized by diffraction, scattering and spectroscopy. This work highlights the importance of fine-tuning pore chemistry for designing adsorbents for the removal of air pollutants.

Chemistry

Surface science insight note: A linear algebraic approach to elucidate native films on Fe 3 O 4 surface

Standard materials are often used to obtain spectra that can be compared to those from unknown samples. Spectra measured from these known substances are also used as a means of computing sensitivity factors to allow quantification by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of less well-defined materials. Spectra from known materials also provide line shapes suitable for inclusion in spectral models which, when fitted to spectra, permit the chemical state for a sample to be assessed. Both types of information depend on isolating photoemission signals from the inelastically scattered signal. In this Insight note, technical issues associated with the use of XPS of as received Fe 3 O 4 powder sample surface are discussed. The Insight note is designed to show how linear algebraic techniques applied to data collected from a sample marketed as pure Fe 3 O 4 powder are used to verify that XPS has been performed on chemistry representative of the sample. The methods described in this Insight note can further be utilized in elucidating complex XPS data obtained from thin films formed or evolved during cyclic/non-steady use of complex (electro)catalyst surfaces, especially in the presence of contaminants.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Enhanced Catalytic Dechlorination of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and H2 Production Enabled by Synergistic Gaδ+/Ga0 Active Sites in Liquid Metal Particles

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is ubiquitous yet challenging to recycle due to its tendency to thermally decompose above 250 °C, releasing toxic, corrosive chlorinated compounds, and its inability to melt. Here, we report a catalytic strategy for PVC upcycling at 160 °C using gallium liquid metal particles (Ga-LMP) featuring a dynamic Ga-GaOOH core–shell architecture. These catalysts enable concurrent dechlorination and hydrogen evolution, yielding up to 7% H2 (based on initial hydrogen atoms in PVC) along with a highly dechlorinated (>95%) carbonaceous solid and aqueous HCl. Mechanistic investigations combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, solid-state NMR, inelastic neutron scattering, and ab initio molecular dynamics reveal a synergistic interplay between Gaδ+ sites in the GaOOH shell and metallic Ga0 in the core. Cationic Ga initiates C–Cl bond activation and HCl formation, while progressive reduction of the shell exposes Ga0 sites that promote C–H activation and H2 evolution. Control experiments with a Ga salt and bulk Ga liquid metal confirmed that neither oxidation state alone can achieve both transformations efficiently. This work establishes a dynamic dual-site paradigm for liquid metal catalysis, in which the in situ evolution and coexistence of oxidized and metallic species enable sequential and cooperative bond activation pathways. These findings provide a general design principle for novel liquid metal catalysts that target challenging polymer transformations under mild conditions.

Zingg, Benjamin [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000914530153)