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At least 1,261 records · Page 70

Scaling soft matter physics to thousands of graphics processing units in parallel

We describe a multi-graphics processing unit (GPU) implementation of the Ludwig application, which specialises in simulating a variety of complex fluids via lattice Boltzmann fluid dynamics coupled to additional physics describing complex fluid constituents. We describe our methodology in augmenting the original central processing unit (CPU) version with GPU functionality in a maintainable fashion. We present several optimisations that maximise performance on the GPU architecture through tuning for the GPU memory hierarchy. We describe how we implement particles within the fluid in such a way to avoid a major diversion of the CPU and GPU codebases, whilst minimising data transfer at each time step. We detail our halo-exchange communication phase for the code, which exploits overlapping to allow efficient parallel scaling to many GPUs. We present results showing that the application demonstrates excellent scaling to at least 8192 GPUs in parallel, the largest system tested at the time of writing. The GPU version (on NVIDIA K20X GPUs) is around 3.5–5 times faster that the CPU version (on fully utilised AMD Opteron 6274 16-core CPUs), comparing equal numbers of CPUs and GPUs.

Computer Science↗

DEEP Solar: Data DrivEn Modeling and Analytics for Enhanced System Layer ImPlementation

Realizing the SETO 2030 mission of reducing solar energy costs to 3-5 c/kWh will require innovative enabling research on effective, cost-efficient integration of local PV within distribution systems. However, the intermittent and variable nature of PVs compels operators to impose conservative hosting capacity constraints. Given the extremely high variability of (intermittent and unpredictable) solar energy generation, relaxing the capacity constraints (which are currently around 15%) and achieving 100% or greater integration of renewables will require a fundamental transformation of the power grid via the utilization of exponentially larger amounts of AMI enabled fine-grained data. To address the challenges in increasing the penetration of renewable energy based DERs, this project envisions an Enhanced System Layer (ESL) at the distribution network level that is reliable, cost-effective and scalable to millions of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)/devices. This includes developing: 1) Transformative and highly scalable machine learning based predictive analytics tools that plug into distribution system planning and provide real-time situational awareness at the distribution level for short and long-term operational planning. The tools will be built using novel data-driven energy models of millions of active nodes with AMI, 2) Adaptive stochastic analysis and optimization algorithms for real-time grid operations, 3) Dynamic Scenario Analysis using parallel Cloudenabled implementations with < 1 minute computational cycle times.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

High-Fidelity Velocity and Concentration Measurements of Turbulent Buoyant Jets

Accurate models of turbulent buoyant flows are essential for the design of the cooling circuit of nuclear reactors and passive safety systems. However, available models fail to fully capture the physics of turbulent mixing when buoyancy becomes predominant with respect to momentum. Therefore, high-fidelity experiments of well-controlled fundamental flows are needed to develop and validate more accurate models. We analyze experiments of positive and negative turbulent buoyant jets, both in uniform and stratified environments, with the aim of understanding the thermal hydraulics of turbulent mixing with variable density and providing high-fidelity data for the development and validation of turbulence models. Non-intrusive, simultaneous particle image velocimetry and laser-induced fluorescence measurements were carried out to acquire instantaneous velocity and concentration fields on a vertical section parallel to the axis of a jet in the self-similar region. The refractive index matching method was applied to measure high-resolution buoyant jets with up to 8.6% density difference. These data are free of the typical errors that characterize optical measurements of buoyancy-driven flows (e.g. natural and mixed convection) where the refractive index of the fluid is inhomogeneous throughout the measurement domain. Turbulent statistics and entrainment of buoyant jets in uniform and stratified environments are presented. These data are compared with non-buoyant jets in a uniform environment, as a reference to investigate the effects of buoyancy and stratification on turbulent mixing. The results will be used for the assessment of current turbulence models and as a basis for the development of a new model that captures turbulent mixing.

laser induced fluorescence↗

PASTA: A Parallel Sparse Tensor Algorithm Benchmark Suite

Tensor methods have gained increasingly attention from various applications, including machine learning, quantum chemistry, healthcare analytics, social network analysis, data mining, and signal processing, to name a few. Sparse tensors and their algorithms become critical to further improve the performance of these methods and enhance the interpretability of their output. This work presents a sparse tensor algorithm benchmark suite (PASTA) for single- and multi-core CPUs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first benchmark suite for sparse tensor world. PASTA targets on: 1) helping application users to evaluate different computer systems using its representative computational workloads; 2) providing insights to better utilize existed computer architecture and systems and inspiration for the future design. This benchmark suite will be publicly released.

HPC, sparse tensor, benchmark↗

Argo Observations of the Deep Mixing Band in the Southern Ocean: A Salinity Modeling Challenge

The Southern Ocean plays an important role in mediating oceanic uptake of CO 2 and heat due to a strong meridional overturning circulation. Gridded Argo float data for 2004–2017 were used to evaluate subsurface processes at the mixed layer depth (MLD) that occur in a narrow deep mixing band. Shifts in the value of the Turner Angle at the MLD indicate that early in the season the MLD deepens slowly as it encounters and is stabilized by a subsurface salt maximum. By September mixing has penetrated this salinity feature and the rate of deepening is faster once the MLD is deeper than the depth where the maximum salinity occurs (~150–200 m). This distinctive salinity layer is the result of surface Ekman transport of fresh water from the south and subsurface advection of high-salinity water from the north. Two configurations of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) ocean-ice forced hindcast experiments—one with 1° and the other with 0.1° horizontal resolution (Parallel Ocean Program low and high resolutions [POP-LR and POP-HR], respectively)—are compared with the Argo data for 2005–2009. POP-LR has a shallow MLD bias common to many Fifth Coupled Models Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) models, while POP-HR has a mix of deep and shallow MLD biases. While both models were able to replicate the large-scale processes leading to formation of a high-salinity layer, the salinity feature in POP-HR is too strong and deep. Neither model was able to replicate the vertical mixing processes leading to penetration of the subsurface salt maximum.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Linking big models to big data: efficient ecosystem model calibration through Bayesian model emulation

Data-model integration plays a critical role in assessing and improving our capacity to predict ecosystem dynamics. Similarly, the ability to attach quantitative statements of uncertainty around model forecasts is crucial for model assessment and interpretation and for setting field research priorities. Bayesian methods provide a rigorous data assimilation framework for these applications, especially for problems with multiple data constraints. However, the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques underlying most Bayesian calibration can be prohibitive for computationally demanding models and large datasets. We employ an alternative method, Bayesian model emulation of sufficient statistics, that can approximate the full joint posterior density, is more amenable to parallelization, and provides an estimate of parameter sensitivity. Analysis involved informative priors constructed from a meta-analysis of the primary literature and specification of both model and data uncertainties, and it introduced novel approaches to autocorrelation corrections on multiple data streams and emulating the sufficient statistics surface. We report the integration of this method within an ecological workflow management software, Predictive Ecosystem Analyzer (PEcAn), and its application and validation with two process-based terrestrial ecosystem models: SIPNET and ED2. In a test against a synthetic dataset, the emulator was able to retrieve the true parameter values. A comparison of the emulator approach to standard brute-force MCMC involving multiple data constraints showed that the emulator method was able to constrain the faster and simpler SIPNET model's parameters with comparable performance to the brute-force approach but reduced computation time by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The emulator was then applied to calibration of the ED2 model, whose complexity precludes standard (brute-force) Bayesian data assimilation techniques. Both models are constrained after assimilation of the observational data with the emulator method, reducing the uncertainty around their predictions. Performance metrics showed increased agreement between model predictions and data. Our study furthers efforts toward reducing model uncertainties, showing that the emulator method makes it possible to efficiently calibrate complex models.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Ferroelectricity in high-density H{sub 2}O ice

The origin of longstanding anomalies in experimental studies of the dense solid phases of H{sub 2}O ices VII, VIII, and X is examined using a combination of first-principles theoretical methods. We find that a ferroelectric variant of ice VIII is energetically competitive with the established antiferroelectric form under pressure. The existence of domains of the ferroelectric form within anti-ferroelectric ice can explain previously observed splittings in x-ray diffraction data. The ferroelectric form is stabilized by density and is accompanied by the onset of spontaneous polarization. The presence of local electric fields triggers the preferential parallel orientation of the water molecules in the structure, which could be stabilized in bulk using new high-pressure techniques.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Domain-decomposition nonlinear manifold reduced order model

This software combines nonlinear-manifold reduced order models (NM-ROMs) with domain decomposition (DD) techniques. NM-ROMs, which utilize a shallow, sparse autoencoder trained with full order model (FOM) snapshot data, approximate the FOM state on a nonlinear manifold. These models offer advantages over linear-subspace ROMs (LS-ROMs) particularly in scenarios with slowly decaying Kolmogorov n-width. However, the training of NM-ROMs involves a number of parameters that scale with the size of the FOM, and storing high-dimensional FOM snapshots can significantly increase the cost of ROM training for extreme-scale problems. To mitigate these costs, the software employs DD to partition the FOM into smaller subdomains, computes NM-ROMs for each, and then integrates these to form a global NM-ROM. This strategy offers multiple benefits: it enables parallel training of subdomain NM-ROMs, reduces the number of parameters needed, decreases the dimensional requirements of subdomain FOM training data, and allows for customization to the unique characteristics of each FOM subdomain. The use of a shallow, sparse autoencoder architecture in each subdomain NM-ROM facilitates the application of hyper-reduction (HR), simplifying the nonlinear complexities and enhancing computational speed. This software marks the inaugural application of NM-ROM combined with HR to a DD problem. It features an algebraic DD reformulation of the FOM, training of NM-ROMs with HR for each subdomain, and employs a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) solver for the evaluation of the coupled global NMROM. The effectiveness of the DD NM-ROM with HR is numerically demonstrated on the 2D steady-state Burgers' equation, showing an order of magnitude improvement in accuracy over the DD LS-ROM with HR.

Diaz, AlejandroN↗

Automation of Data Collection Methods for Online Monitoring of Nuclear Power Plants

Maintenance activities in the United States nuclear power industry are mainly centered on preventive and corrective maintenance. Predictive maintenance, which is a variable time basis maintenance strategy that is dependent on the condition of the equipment, is less utilized but potentially more effective. In the current maintenance practices, the nuclear power plants rely on manual processes to supply information to a human decision making process. The plants have several processes that generate information that is not typically used beyond the intended target for collecting that information. This information is a source of data that is manually collected by labor intensive tasks. The data is therefore expensive to collect, yet limited in use. The industry has realized the opportunity present in reducing the labor intensive tasks by automating them and increasing the uses of the data collected by either developing advanced predictive maintenance methods using data-driven decision making that could span from trending to machine learning and artificial intelligence. This shift in maintenance strategy may result in high cost saving impact. In addition to reducing labor requirements and frequency of maintenance activities, this shift in strategy will reduce the materials portion of the operations and maintenance cost as well. The aim of this specific effort is to focus on the automation of data collection process. It is part of a series of planned efforts to target multiple elements of migrating the current preventive maintenance approach in nuclear power plants to a data-driven approach. These elements include data collection, management, analysis, visualization, in addition to value analysis and change enabling. The other five elements of migration were not considered because they are planned to be explicitly studied in multiple parallel efforts. Challenges including regulations requirements or limitations are planned in a future effort that focuses on change enabling. The risk and benefit/cost of the approach shift is planned in another effort targeted towards value. The storage, communication, computational power, data architecture, and protection are part of the information infrastructure and are planned in dedicated data management effort. The best means to present the data for assisted human decision making is planned in a data visualization effort. The data interpretation and patterns recognition for machine decision making is planned through multiple efforts in data analytics over the following years. This work identified seventeen data sources collection methods in nuclear power plants that could be automated for an integrated data platform that enables comprehensive and informed decision making. For each of the identified seventeen data sources, the base, modern, and state of the art states were described. The current state of data collection used by most utilities was identified as the "base state". The current achievable state was identified as the "modern state", a state that has either been achieved by at least some US utilities or in other industries. The future state that requires research and development to reach was identified as the "state of the art" state. The described states used an out-of-the-box thinking approach. This effort found that there is a hug potential for task automation and data fidelity improvements by evolving the current industry data collection methods. The majority of the processes analyzed were found to be manual and labor intensive and fell in the base state. As a result, the modern state often targeted reducing the manual logging efforts by using electronic and semi-intelligent means or complementing the work with sensors and mobile or fixed technologies that can reduce the demand of labor activities. The state of the art state involved applications advanced methods of data correlation, data mining, and machine learning along with increasing the spatial distribution and fidelity of data, coupling multiple data sources, and enabling the use of sophisticated mobile devices and machine comprehension methods.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Development of the HyStEP Device

With the introduction of more fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) on U.S. roadways, especially in California, the need for available hydrogen refueling stations is growing. While funding from the California Energy Commission is helping to solve this problem, solutions need to be developed and implemented to help reduce the time to commission a hydrogen station. The current practice of hydrogen station acceptance can take months because each vehicle manufacturer conducts their own testing and evaluation. This process is not practical or sufficient to support the timely development of a hydrogen fueling station network. To address this issue, as part of the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) Project Sandia National Laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory along with a team of stakeholders and contractor Powertech Labs has developed the Hydrogen Station Equipment Performance (HyStEP) Device. The HyStEP Device is intended to be a surrogate for FCEVs that can be used to collect data on hydrogen station fueling performance. The device includes three Type IV 70 MPa tanks capable of storing a total of 9 kg H2 that are instrumented with pressure and temperature sensors. The tanks can be used individually or in parallel to simulate small, medium, and large fuel systems. The tanks are connected to a 70 MPa receptacle equipped with pressure and temperature sensor as well as infrared communications integrated with a data acquisition, analysis, and control system. The HyStEP Device is capable of performing tests defined in the test method standard CSA HGV 4.3 and providing the data needed to ensure that hydrogen stations meet the fueling protocol standard SAE J2601-2014. These include IrDA communication tests, fault detection tests, and communication and non-communication fueling.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

MAPPRAISER: A massively parallel map-making framework for multi-kilo pixel CMB experiments

Forthcoming cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarized anisotropy experiments have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the Universe and fundamental physics. The sought-after, tale-telling signatures will be however distributed over voluminous data sets which these experiments will collect. These data sets will need to be efficiently processed and unwanted contributions due to astrophysical, environmental, and instrumental effects characterized and efficiently mitigated in order to uncover the signatures. This poses a significant challenge to data analysis methods, techniques, and software tools which will not only have to be able to cope with huge volumes of data but to do so with unprecedented precision driven by the demanding science goals posed for the new experiments. A keystone of efficient CMB data analysis is solvers of very large linear systems of equations. Such systems appear in very diverse contexts throughout CMB data analysis pipelines, however they typically display similar algebraic structures and can therefore be solved using similar numerical techniques. Linear systems arising in the so-called map-making problem are one of the most prominent and common ones. In this work we present a massively parallel, flexible and extensible framework, comprised of a numerical library, MIDAPACK, and a high level code, MAPPRAISER, which provide tools for solving efficiently such systems. Here, the framework implements iterative solvers based on conjugate gradient techniques: enlarged and preconditioned using different preconditioners. We demonstrate the framework on simulated examples reflecting basic characteristics of the forthcoming data sets issued by ground-based and satellite-borne instruments, executing it on as many as 16,384 compute cores. The software is developed as an open source project freely available to the community at: https://github.com/B3Dcmb/midapack.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Process–Property–Performance Mapping of Additively Manufactured 316H Stainless Steel Components

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Program is focused on accelerating the development of advanced materials and components fabricated via additive manufacturing, and is using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of 316H stainless steel as an initial case study. In the previous fiscal year, miniature high-throughput specimens were printed on multiple LPBF systems to provide initial processing windows to minimize porosity and limit epitaxial grain growth during prints. This fiscal year, scaled builds were completed on three different LPBF systems at ORNL: a GE Concept Laser M2, a Renishaw AM400, and an EOS M290. Builds on the Concept Laser were conducted on multiple powder lots and processing parameter ranges to provide microstructure effects on time-independent and time-dependent mechanical properties. Builds on the Renishaw were produced using Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)-optimized printing parameters and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)-optimized printing parameters to compare outcomes of parallel process optimization efforts at different national laboratories on the same LPBF system. Similarly, the build completed on the EOS M290 replicated the processing parameters of builds completed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction characterization was completed on all builds. In addition to the general round robin characterization, this work-package generated time-independent data, including tensile and fracture toughness test data on scaled Concept Laser builds as a function of processing parameters and post-build heat treatment. This analysis is complimentary to work in parallel work packages aiming to establish heat treatment and processing effects on time-dependent properties. It was found that although the stress-relief heat treatment provides the highest strength at lower-temperatures, tensile strength begins to converge at higher temperatures regardless of heat treatment condition. In addition, the more rigorous solution annealing and hot-isostatic pressing post-build heat treatments result in higher fracture toughness than the stress-relieved condition. The root-causes of the lower fracture toughness of the stress-relieved LPBF 316H material was informed via a stress-relief optimization study on a scaled concept laser print, where it was found that although dislocation recovery was largely complete after only a couple hours at 650°C, the extended hold of the current 24h heat treatment employed on scaled builds likely caused increased carbide volume fractions along the LPBF 316H grain boundaries, thereby deteriorating crack propagation resistance. This trend was seen to become more deleterious with additional increases of stress-relief temperature to 750°C or 850°C. These results have helped inform a new optimal stress-relief annealing condition for LPBF 316H for future campaign testing (650°C for 2h).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Process–Property–Performance Mapping of Additively Manufactured 316H Stainless Steel Components

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Program is focused on accelerating the development of advanced materials and components fabricated via additive manufacturing, and is using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of 316H stainless steel as an initial case study. In the previous fiscal year, miniature high-throughput specimens were printed on multiple LPBF systems to provide initial processing windows to minimize porosity and limit epitaxial grain growth during prints. This fiscal year, scaled builds were completed on three different LPBF systems at ORNL: a GE Concept Laser M2, a Renishaw AM400, and an EOS M290. Builds on the Concept Laser were conducted on multiple powder lots and processing parameter ranges to provide microstructure effects on time-independent and time-dependent mechanical properties. Builds on the Renishaw were produced using Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)-optimized printing parameters and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)-optimized printing parameters to compare outcomes of parallel process optimization efforts at different national laboratories on the same LPBF system. Similarly, the build completed on the EOS M290 replicated the processing parameters of builds completed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction characterization was completed on all builds. In addition to the general round robin characterization, this work-package generated time-independent data, including tensile and fracture toughness test data on scaled Concept Laser builds as a function of processing parameters and post-build heat treatment. This analysis is complimentary to work in parallel work packages aiming to establish heat treatment and processing effects on time-dependent properties. It was found that although the stress-relief heat treatment provides the highest strength at lower-temperatures, tensile strength begins to converge at higher temperatures regardless of heat treatment condition. In addition, the more rigorous solution annealing and hot-isostatic pressing post-build heat treatments result in higher fracture toughness than the stress-relieved condition. The root-causes of the lower fracture toughness of the stress-relieved LPBF 316H material was informed via a stress-relief optimization study on a scaled concept laser print, where it was found that although dislocation recovery was largely complete after only a couple hours at 650°C, the extended hold of the current 24h heat treatment employed on scaled builds likely caused increased carbide volume fractions along the LPBF 316H grain boundaries, thereby deteriorating crack propagation resistance. This trend was seen to become more deleterious with additional increases of stress-relief temperature to 750°C or 850°C. These results have helped inform a new optimal stress-relief annealing condition for LPBF 316H for future campaign testing (650°C for 2h).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

X-composer: enabling cross-environments in-situ workflows between HPC and cloud

As large-scale scientific simulations and big data analyses become more popular, it is increasingly more expensive to store huge amounts of raw simulation results to perform post-analysis. To minimize the expensive data I/O, "in-situ" analysis is a promising approach, where data analysis applications analyze the simulation generated data on the fly without storing it first. However, it is challenging to organize, transform, and transport data at scales between two semantically different ecosystems due to the distinct software and hardware difference. To tackle these challenges, we design and implement the X-Composer framework. X-Composer connects cross-ecosystem applications to form an "in-situ" scientific workflow, and provides a unified approach and recipe for supporting such hybrid in-situ workflows on distributed heterogeneous resources. X-Composer reorganizes simulation data as continuous data streams and feeds them seamlessly into the Cloud-based stream processing services to minimize I/O overheads. For evaluation, we use X-Composer to set up and execute a cross-ecosystem workflow, which consists of a parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation running on HPC, and a distributed Dynamic Mode Decomposition analysis application running on Cloud. Our experimental results show that X-Composer can seamlessly couple HPC and Big Data jobs in their own native environments, achieve good scalability, and provide high-fidelity analytics for ongoing simulations in real-time.

Wang, Dali↗

2017 publication guidelines for structural modelling of small-angle scattering data from biomolecules in solution: an update

In 2012, preliminary guidelines were published addressing sample quality, data acquisition and reduction, presentation of scattering data and validation, and modelling for biomolecular small-angle scattering (SAS) experiments. Biomolecular SAS has since continued to grow and authors have increasingly adopted the preliminary guidelines. In parallel, integrative/hybrid determination of biomolecular structures is a rapidly growing field that is expanding the scope of structural biology. For SAS to contribute maximally to this field, it is essential to ensure open access to the information required for evaluation of the quality of SAS samples and data, as well as the validity of SAS-based structural models. To this end, the preliminary guidelines for data presentation in a publication are reviewed and updated, and the deposition of data and associated models in a public archive is recommended. These guidelines and recommendations have been prepared in consultation with the members of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Small-Angle Scattering and Journals Commissions, the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) Small-Angle Scattering Validation Task Force and additional experts in the field.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Chip-scale frequency combs for data communications in computing systems

Recent developments in chip-based frequency-comb technology demonstrate that comb devices can be implemented in applications where photonic integration and power efficiency are required. The large number of equally spaced comb lines that are generated make combs ideal for use in communication systems, where each line can serve as an optical carrier to allow for massively parallel wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission. In this review, we summarize the developments in integrated frequency-comb technology for use as a WDM source for communication systems in data centers and high-performance computing systems. We highlight the following three approaches for chip-scale comb generation: semiconductor modelocked lasers, electro-optic combs, and Kerr frequency combs.

Okawachi, Yoshitomo (ORCID:0000000196390549)↗

The Monte Carlo estimation of an effect of uncertainties in initial data on solving the transport equation by means of the MCU code

A new version of the tally module of the MCU software package is developed in which the approach for taking directly into account the uncertainty in initial data is implemented that is recommended by the international standard on estimating the uncertainty in results of measuring (ISO 13005). The new module makes it possible to evaluate the effect of uncertainty in initial data (caused by technological tolerances in fabrication of structural members of the core) on neutronic characteristics of the reactor. The developed software is adapted to parallel computing with the use of multiprocessor computers, which significantly reduces the computation time: the parallelization coefficient is almost equal to 1. Testing is performed by examples of solving the problem on criticality for the Godiva benchmark experiment and also for the infinite lattice of fuel assemblies of the VVER-440, VVER-1000, and VVER-1200. The results of calculations of the uncertainty in neutronic characteristics (effective multiplication factor, fission reaction rate), which is caused by uncertainties in initial data due to technological tolerances, are compared (in the first case) to the published results obtained using the precision MCNP5 code and (in the second case) to those obtained by means of the RADAR engineering program. A good agreement of results is achieved for all cases.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

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

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

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗