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DOE OSTI2021

Harnessing the photonic local density of states in graphene moiré superlattices

In this work we investigate the electromagnetic local density of states (LDOS) near a twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) deposited over a general isotropic substrate. The band structure of the TBG is calculated within a tight-binding framework, and then used to determine the TBG's conductivity. The latter presents a nontrivial dependence upon the angle of twist, which shows up in the LDOS, allowing for a moiré pattern-dependent quantum emission. For some specific twist angles we show that it is possible to either enhance or decrease the LDOS by an order of magnitude at selected frequencies when compared to the monolayer. Furthermore, this impressive variation is explained in terms of the presence/absence of well defined surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Altogether our findings demonstrate that TBG is an alternative, versatile material platform for controlling spontaneous emission and enhancing light-matter interactions, and pave the way for further studies and applications of quantum emission in the emerging class of two-dimensional moiré materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2002

Overview of the High Performance Antiproton (HiPAT) Experiment

The annihilation of matter with antimatter represents the highest energy density of any known reaction, producing 10(exp 8) MJ/g, approximately 10 orders of magnitude more energy per unit mass than chemical based combustion. To take the first step towards using this energy for propulsion applications the NASA MSFC Propulsion Research Center (PRC) has initiated a research activity examining the storage of low energy antiprotons. Storage was identified as a key enabling technology since it builds the experience base necessary to understand the handling of antiprotons for virtually all utilization and high-density storage concepts. To address this need, a device referred to as the High Performance Antiproton Trap (HiPAT) is under development at the NASA MSFC PRC. The HiPAT is an electromagnetic system (Penning-Malmberg design) consisting of a 4 Tesla superconductor, a high voltage confinement electrode system (operation up to 20 KV), and an ultra high vacuum test section (operating in the 10(exp -12) torr range). The system was designed to be portable with an ultimate goal of maintaining 10(exp 12) charged particles with a half-life of 18 days. Currently, this system is being experimentally evaluated using normal matter ions which are cheap to produce and relatively easy to handle. These normal ions provide a good indication of overall trap behavior, with the exception of assessing annihilation losses. The ions are produced external to HiPAT using two hydrogen ion sources, with adjustable beam energy and current. Ion are transported in a beam line and controlled through the use of electrostatic optics. These optics serve to both focus and gate the incoming ions, providing microsecond-timed pulses that are dynamically captured by cycling the HiPAT electric containment field like a 'trap door'. The layout of this system more closely simulates the operations expected at an actual antiproton production facility where 'packets' of antiprotons with pulse widths measured in 100's of nanoseconds could be provided. Initial dynamic capture experiments have been performed with both trap and ton source system functioning at approximately 10% of maximum levels, minimizing the potential for extraneous effects. Dynamic trapping techniques demonstrated the successful capture of millions of hydrogen ions with good agreement with the predicted loading based on the timing sequence, trap electric field, and ion beam current. These techniques will be expanded to examine multiple shot capture or 'stacking' to increase the total number of ions stored within HiPAT.

Martin, James J.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Resolving femtosecond photoinduced energy flow: capture of nonadiabatic reaction pathway topography and wavepacket dynamics from photoexcitation through the conical intersection seam (Final Technical Report)

The dynamics that take place within just tens to hundreds of femtoseconds following the absorption of light by a molecule can play a critical role in how the absorbed energy is directed, allowing it to be used for a specific function or dissipated harmlessly. The form of chemical change that occurs rapidly in these molecules is called a “nonadiabatic electronic transition.” Such transitions are known to mediate energy flow in natural biological systems such as the ultraviolet photoprotection mechanism of DNA and the first step of the human vision response. Understanding how these mechanisms work precisely may help scientists achieve controlled manipulation of solar energy or optical control of a wide range of energy management functions in artificial systems. Experimental methods, however, have not yet allowed a precisely resolved and complete measurement of nonadiabatic electronic transitions. This constitutes a major obstacle to progress in the field. For progress to occur that would inform a wide body of research aiming to efficiently harness the energy of light for practical purposes, it is especially important to benchmark computational models of the molecules undergoing these rapid changes with experimental measurements, in order to learn which models are accurate. With Dept. of Energy funding, we have made strong progress towards establishing a new optical method for experimentally detecting the full nonadiabatic electronic transition. This requires having coordinated pulses of light covering the visible through the mid-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum that last only ten femtoseconds. We have developed a new, relatively simple approach for generating such pulses of laser light, and have incorporated them into a time-resolved spectrometer for measuring rapid changes in molecules. These tools can provide the greater precision and new types of data that are needed to benchmark computational models of molecular change and thus to make progress in the field. Our tools were tested on graphene, an excellent solid-state sample for verifying the capabilities and limitations of our instrumentation. The investment made in these tools by the Dept. of Energy Office of Science will allow new fundamental scientific understanding of energy dynamics in molecules in future studies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS1993

Advanced electromagnetic methods for aerospace vehicles

The Advanced Helicopter Electromagnetics (AHE) Industrial Associates Program has fruitfully completed its fourth year. Under the support of the AHE members and the joint effort of the research team, new and significant progress has been achieved in the year. Following the recommendations by the Advisory Task Force, the research effort is placed on more practical helicopter electromagnetic problems, such as HF antennas, composite materials, and antenna efficiencies. In this annual report, the main topics to be addressed include composite materials and antenna technology. The research work on each topic has been driven by the AHE consortium members' interests and needs. The remarkable achievements and progresses in each subject is reported respectively in individual sections of the report. The work in the area of composite materials includes: modeling of low conductivity composite materials by using Green's function approach; guidelines for composite material modeling by using the Green's function approach in the NEC code; development of 3-D volume mesh generator for modeling thick and volumetric dielectrics by using FD-TD method; modeling antenna elements mounted on a composite Comanche tail stabilizer; and antenna pattern control and efficiency estimate for a horn antenna loaded with composite dielectric materials.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Magneto-opto-phononic inverse Faraday effect

Nonlinear frequency conversion processes, such as optical rectification, difference-frequency generation, and sum-frequency generation, are fundamental for producing electromagnetic radiation at diverse frequencies. In this work, we demonstrate that coherently excited infrared-active phonons can act as transducers for generating nonlinear magnetizations through phonon-magnon interactions, analogous to nonlinear optical frequency conversion. We derive analytical solutions for the time-dependent magnetizations arising from the second-order response to the electric field component of an ultrashort laser pulse. These solutions enable us to define second-order nonlinear magneto-electric susceptibilities, which describe rectification, impulsive excitation, and sum-frequency excitation of coherent magnons. Our theoretical framework naturally incorporates the conventional magneto-optic and phonon inverse Faraday effects and predicts a hybrid magneto-opto-phononic inverse Faraday effect involving photon-phonon-magnon scattering. This work highlights nonlinear phononics as a pathway for controlling magnetization in solids.

Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation↗

DOE OSTI2023

Helfrich-Hurault elastic instabilities driven by geometrical frustration

Here, the Helfrich-Hurault (HH) elastic instability is a well-known mechanism behind patterns that form as a result of strain upon liquid crystal systems with periodic ground states. In the HH model, layered structures undulate and buckle in response to local, geometric incompatibilities in order to maintain the preferred layer spacing. Classic HH systems include cholesteric liquid crystals under electromagnetic field distortions and smectic liquid crystals under mechanical strains, where both materials are confined between rigid substrates. However, richer phenomena are observed when undulation instabilities occur in the presence of deformable interfaces and variable boundary conditions. Understanding how the HH instability is affected by deformable surfaces is imperative for applying the instability to a broader range of materials. In this review, the HH mechanism is reexamined and special focus is given to how the boundary conditions influence the response of lamellar systems to geometrical frustration. Lamellar liquid crystals confined within a spherical shell geometry are used as the model system. Made possible by the relatively recent advances in microfluidics within the past 15 years, liquid crystal shells are composed entirely of fluid interfaces and have boundary conditions that can be dynamically controlled at will. Past and recent work that exemplifies how topological constraints, molecular anchoring conditions, and boundary curvature can trigger the HH mechanism in liquid crystals with periodic ground states is examined. The review ends by identifying similar phenomena across a wide variety of materials, both biological and synthetic. The fact that the HH mechanism is a generic and often overlooked response of periodic materials to geometrical frustration is highlighted.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS1991

Containerless high temperature property measurements

Containerless processing in the low gravity environment of space provides the opportunity to increase the temperature at which well controlled processing of and property measurements on materials is possible. This project was directed towards advancing containerless processing and property measurement techniques for application to materials research at high temperatures in space. Containerless high temperature material property studies include measurements of the vapor pressure, melting temperature, optical properties, and spectral emissivities of solid boron. The reaction of boron with nitrogen was also studied by laser polarimetric measurement of boron nitride film growth. The optical properties and spectral emissivities were measured for solid and liquid silicon, niobium, and zirconium; liquid aluminum and titanium; and liquid Ti-Al alloys of 5 to 60 atomic pct. titanium. Alternative means for noncontact temperature measurement in the absence of material emissivity data were evaluated. Also, the application of laser induced fluorescence for component activity measurements in electromagnetic levitated liquids was studied, along with the feasibility of a hybrid aerodynamic electromagnetic levitation technique.

Nordine, Paul C.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Extension to the dynamic modeling of the large angle magnetic suspension test fixture

The Large Angle Magnetic Suspension Test Fixture (LAMSTF) is a laboratory scale proof-of-concept system. The configuration is unique in that the electromagnets are mounted in a circular planar array. A mathematical model of the system had previously been developed, but was shown to have inaccuracies. These inaccuracies showed up in the step responses. Eddy currents were found to be the major cause of the modeling errors. In the original system, eddy currents existed in the aluminum baseplate, iron cores, and the sensor support frame. An attempt to include the eddy current dynamics in the system model is presented. The dynamics of a dummy sensor ring were added to the system. Adding the eddy current dynamics to the simulation improves the way it compares to the actual experiment. Also presented is a new method of determining the yaw angle of the suspended element. From the coil currents the yaw angle can be determined and the controller can be updated to suspend at the new current. This method has been used to demonstrate a 360 degree yaw angle rotation.

Foster, Lucas E.↗

DOE OSTI2020

High-Frequency Signature-Based Fault Detection for Future MV Distribution Grids: Preprint

Increased deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and microgrids are significantly changing the operation of distribution grid. Increasing penetration of power electronics based DERs also raise several operational problems such as protection coordination issues, voltage raise, recloser synchronization, stability, and frequency control. Legacy systems are designed for unidirectional power flow. Bidirectional power flows, and varying short circuit levels are some of the major challenges in implementing these legacy protection schemes for future power grid with high penetration of power electronics based DERs. Inverter based DER’s can contribute to a maximum of 2 p.u. fault current. Interconnection standards might require even lower fault current contribution. If these protection related challenges are not addressed, it will result in limiting the penetration of DERs in distribution feeders. In this paper, the feasibility of high frequency signature generated by transients is evaluated to identify and locate faults in a distribution system. The paper will discuss the need for an accurate line modeling approach to accurately capture the high frequency signatures. These high frequency signatures are naturally occurring electromagnetic transients for events such as switching events in the network, faults events, etc. This is different than that implemented in transmission systems as the proposed approach utilizes advanced signal processing techniques to retrieve valuable information from the high frequency signatures generated during faults and does not just rely on time delay measurements between reflections of the high frequency signals. In the full paper, information of a modified IEEE distribution feeder test system to accurately model the high frequency signatures will be provided. The distribution lines will be modeled using universal line modeling (ULM) technique in an electromagnetic transients program (EMTP) modeling platform. Different test cases will be simulated and these test cases will include different fault types, multiple fault locations, capacitor bank switching, etc. The feeder system modeled for these simulations will also include power electronics based DERs. Additionally, experimental results demonstrating the high frequency signatures generated due to a transient event in a medium voltage (13.8 kV) distribution line will also be presented in the full paper. Furthermore, the analysis combined with simulation and experimental results in the full paper will help demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed protection scheme. The developed protection scheme will not just help solve problems generated by bidirectional current flow, varying short-circuit current capacity, but also help in proliferation of DERs in distribution systems.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗

DOE OSTI2018

Wave Diagnostics and Forcing

Physical possibilities of remote diagnostics and manipulation with the state of the propagation medium by the methods of wave tomosynthesis are considered. This refers to the electromagnetic and acoustic waves as well as waves of other nature. Important are multi-position measurements with retention of phase information at each point of the medium that allows the technology of synthesizing a wide aperture with focusing to be implemented. Processing of wave projections of hidden objects makes it possible to restore their three-dimensional images. In this way, the effect of multiple wave re-reflections is reduced. In addition, the tomographic approach allows one to manipulate with the properties of the media being sounded. Thus, an increase in the radiation power at a chosen focusing point causes hyperthermia that can be used, for example, to treat oncological diseases. And creation of a minimum field and a preset phase distribution in certain regions of the medium opens the possibility of control over the motion of microparticles being trapped. The last circumstance is important, for example, for targeted delivery of medical preparations in medicine.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2018

A per-cent-level determination of the nucleon axial coupling from quantum chromodynamics

The axial coupling of the nucleon, g A , is the strength of its coupling to the weak axial current of the standard model of particle physics, in much the same way as the electric charge is the strength of the coupling to the electromagnetic current. This axial coupling dictates the rate at which neutrons decay to protons, the strength of the attractive long-range force between nucleons and other features of nuclear physics. Precision tests of the standard model in nuclear environments require a quantitative understanding of nuclear physics that is rooted in quantum chromodynamics, a pillar of the standard model. The importance of g A makes it a benchmark quantity to determine theoretically—a difficult task because quantum chromodynamics is non-perturbative, precluding known analytical methods. Lattice quantum chromodynamics provides a rigorous, non-perturbative definition of quantum chromodynamics that can be implemented numerically. It has been estimated that a precision of two per cent would be possible by 2020 if two challenges are overcome: contamination of g A from excited states must be controlled in the calculations and statistical precision must be improved markedly. Here we use an unconventional method inspired by the Feynman–Hellmann theorem that overcomes these challenges. Furthermore, we calculate a g A value of 1.271 ± 0.013, which has a precision of about one per cent.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Charged particle reflection by a planar artificially structured boundary with electrostatic plugging

A classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulation is used to investigate an artificially structured boundary for confinement and control of charged particles. The artificially structured boundary considered here incorporates a planar sequence of conducting wires, where adjacent wires carry current in opposite directions. Such a configuration creates a sequence of magnetic cusps and was studied previously [C. A. Ordonez, J. Appl. Phys. 106, 024905 (2009)]. The effect of introducing a sequence of electrodes for electrostatic plugging of the cusps is investigated. The results of the simulations are used to identify regions of parameter space in which particle losses through the cusps may be negligible in the single particle limit. A trap based on a cylindrical generalization of the artificially structured boundary presented here may lead to a method for confining non-neutral and partially neutralized plasmas along the edge, such that the bulk of a confined plasma is effectively free of externally applied electromagnetic fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Analytical Models of Frequency and Voltage in Large-Scale All-Inverter Power Systems

Low-order frequency response models for power systems have a decades-long history in optimization and control problems such as unit commitment, economic dispatch, and wide-area control. With a few exceptions, these models are built upon the Newtonian mechanics of synchronous generators, assuming that the frequency dynamics across a system are approximately homogeneous, and assume the dynamics of nodal voltages for most operating conditions are negligible, and thus are not directly computed at all buses. As a result, the use of system frequency models results in the systematic underestimation of frequency minimum nadir and maximum RoCoF, and provides no insight into the reactive power-voltage dynamics. This paper proposes a low-order model of both frequency and voltage response in grid-forming inverter-dominated power systems. The proposed model accounts for spatial-temporal variations in frequency and voltage behavior across a system and as a result, demonstrates the heterogeneity of frequency response in future renewable power systems. Electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulations are used to validate the utility, accuracy, and computational efficiency of these models, setting the basis for them to serve as fast, scalable alternatives to EMT simulation, especially when dealing with very large-scale systems, for both planning and operational studies.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

NASA NTRS1978

Preliminary design for a standard 10 sup 7 bit Solid State Memory (SSM)

A modular concept with three separate modules roughly separating bubble domain technology, control logic technology, and power supply technology was employed. These modules were respectively the standard memory module (SMM), the data control unit (DCU), and power supply module (PSM). The storage medium was provided by bubble domain chips organized into memory cells. These cells and the circuitry for parallel data access to the cells make up the SMM. The DCU provides a flexible serial data interface to the SMM. The PSM provides adequate power to enable one DCU and one SMM to operate simultaneously at the maximum data rate. The SSM was designed to handle asynchronous data rates from dc to 1.024 Mbs with a bit error rate less than 1 error in 10 to the eight power bits. Two versions of the SSM, a serial data memory and a dual parallel data memory were specified using the standard modules. The SSM specification includes requirements for radiation hardness, temperature and mechanical environments, dc magnetic field emission and susceptibility, electromagnetic compatibility, and reliability.

Hayes, P. J.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Photostability of blue phosphorescent films on plasmonic surfaces

Organometallic phosphors are an important class of emissive materials used in high-efficiency organic light-emitting devices. However, problems of low photostability arise for blue-emitting phosphors due to chemical and environmental degradation and triplet quenching processes. Various approaches have been developed to improve the photostability of such phosphors, including the design of new organometallic molecules and control of host-dopant composition in thin films. Here, we demonstrate a different approach for improving the photostability of blue organometallic phosphors that uses localized surface plasmon resonances to increase the triplet recombination rate. The increased recombination rate improves the photostability of the phosphor due to the reduction in triplet quenching pathways. We show that the lifetime of phosphorescence is decreased significantly by nanoparticle-based plasmonic surfaces, which improves the photostability of the blue organometallic phosphor by up to a factor of 3.6. Other plasmonic surfaces are also tested and exhibit less significant photostability improvements due to a reduced spectral overlap of the plasmonic modes with the emitter and lower mode confinement. The use of plasmonic surfaces to improve phosphor photostability at blue wavelengths is distinct from other approaches because it involves modification to the local electromagnetic environment of the phosphor rather than modifications to the phosphor molecular structure or the emitting material composition.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Two-color-driven enhanced high-order harmonic generation in solids

We theoretically investigate the emission of high-harmonic (HH) radiation in model crystals by bichromatic few-cycle driving pulses that are composed as the phase-coherent superposition of a mid-infrared fundamental pulse and its second harmonic. Adjusting the model-crystal parameters to reproduce the lowest band gap of MgO, we examine the extent to which distinct domains of the HH spectrum can be controlled and enhanced by tuning the temporal profile of the bichromatic driving laser electric field. We change the driving-pulse shape by varying its fundamental-versus-second-harmonic pulse amplitude ratio and delay, while keeping the energy of the driving laser pulse fixed. For suitable amplitude ratios and delays, we find an up to fivefold enhancement of the spectral HH yield and significant shifts of the HH cutoff frequency.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2004

Assurance Technology Challenges of Advanced Space Systems

The initiative to explore space and extend a human presence across our solar system to revisit the moon and Mars post enormous technological challenges to the nation's space agency and aerospace industry. Key areas of technology development needs to enable the endeavor include advanced materials, structures and mechanisms; micro/nano sensors and detectors; power generation, storage and management; advanced thermal and cryogenic control; guidance, navigation and control; command and data handling; advanced propulsion; advanced communication; on-board processing; advanced information technology systems; modular and reconfigurable systems; precision formation flying; solar sails; distributed observing systems; space robotics; and etc. Quality assurance concerns such as functional performance, structural integrity, radiation tolerance, health monitoring, diagnosis, maintenance, calibration, and initialization can affect the performance of systems and subsystems. It is thus imperative to employ innovative nondestructive evaluation methodologies to ensure quality and integrity of advanced space systems. Advancements in integrated multi-functional sensor systems, autonomous inspection approaches, distributed embedded sensors, roaming inspectors, and shape adaptive sensors are sought. Concepts in computational models for signal processing and data interpretation to establish quantitative characterization and event determination are also of interest. Prospective evaluation technologies include ultrasonics, laser ultrasonics, optics and fiber optics, shearography, video optics and metrology, thermography, electromagnetics, acoustic emission, x-ray, data management, biomimetics, and nano-scale sensing approaches for structural health monitoring.

Chern, E. James↗

DOE OSTI2023

Chirality reversal of magnetic solitons in chiral Cr 1/3 TaS 2

Ferromagnetism in two-dimensional (2D) materials provides an ideal platform to study emergent electromagnetic phenomena in low dimensions for future spintronics. In magnetic-element intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides, topologically nontrivial spin textures, such as chiral helimagnetic spin states and chiral soliton lattices, are realized due to the chiral lattice distortions induced by intercalated magnetic ions. Consequently, the magnetic chirality is predictably determined by the sign of antisymmetric exchange interaction (or Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, DMI) vector that is coupled to the underlying crystal chirality. Here, using cryogenic Lorentz phase microscopy, we directly observed the chirality reversal behavior of the chiral soliton lattices in Cr 1/3 TaS 2 across the structural defects. We show that a partial 1 T stacking in 2H-TaS 2 locally reduces DMI, leading to magnetic chirality reversal with direct atomic resolution imaging. Furthermore, our experimental results show that manipulation of stacking sequence provides a viable way to control the chirality of topologically nontrivial soliton lattices in 2D magnets.

2D materials↗