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At least 1,459 records · Page 81

A MUSCL-SCNI approach for meshfree modeling of shock waves in fluids

Here, a stable and nodally integrated meshfree formulation for modeling shock waves in fluids is developed. The reproducing kernel approximation is employed to discretize the conservation equations for compressible flow, and a flux vector splitting approach is applied to allow proper numerical treatments for the advection and pressure parts, respectively, based on the characteristics of each flux term. To capture the essential shock physics in fluids, including the Rankine–Hugoniot jump conditions and the entropy condition, local Riemann enrichment is introduced under the stabilized conforming nodal integration (SCNI) framework. Meanwhile, numerical instabilities associated with the advection flux are eliminated by adopting a modified upwind scheme. To further enhance accuracy, a MUSCL-type method is introduced in conjunction with an oscillation limiter to avoid Gibbs phenomenon and ensure monotonic piecewise linear reconstruction in the smooth region. The present meshfree formulation is free from tunable artificial parameters and is capable of capturing shock and rarefaction waves without over/undershoots. Finally, several numerical examples are analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MUSCL-SCNI approach in meshfree modeling of complex shock phenomena, including shock diffraction, shock–vortex interaction, and high energy explosion processes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Assessment of electronic structure methods for the determination of the ground spin states of Fe( ii ), Fe( iii ) and Fe( iv ) complexes

Our ability to understand and simulate the reactions catalyzed by iron depends strongly on our ability to predict the relative energetics of spin states. In this work, we studied the electronic structures of Fe 2+ ion, gaseous FeO and 14 iron complexes using Kohn–Sham density functional theory with particular focus on determining the ground spin state of these species as well as the magnitudes of relevant spin-state energy splittings. The 14 iron complexes investigated in this work have hexacoordinate geometries of which seven are Fe(II), five are Fe(III) and two are Fe(IV) complexes. These are calculated using 20 exchange–correlation functionals. In particular, we use a local spin density approximation (LSDA) – GVWN5, four generalized gradient approximations (GGAs) – BLYP, PBE, OPBE and OLYP, two non-separable gradient approximations (NGAs) – GAM and N12, two meta-GGAs – M06-L and M11-L, a meta-NGA – MN15-L, five hybrid GGAs – B3LYP, B3LYP*, PBE0, B97-3 and SOGGA11-X, four hybrid meta-GGAs – M06, PW6B95, MPW1B95 and M08-SO and a hybrid meta-NGA – MN15. The density functional results are compared to reference data, which include experimental results as well as the results of diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) calculations and ligand field theory estimates from the literature. For the Fe 2+ ion, all functionals except M11-L correctly predict the ground spin state to be quintet. However, quantitatively, most of the functionals are not close to the experimentally determined spin-state splitting energies. For FeO all functionals predict quintet to be the ground spin state. For the 14 iron complexes, the hybrid functionals B3LYP, MPW1B95 and MN15 correctly predict the ground spin state of 13 out of 14 complexes and PW6B95 gets all the 14 complexes right. Here, the local functionals, OPBE, OLYP and M06-L, predict the correct ground spin state for 12 out of 14 complexes. Two of the tested functionals are not recommended to be used for this type of study, in particular M08-SO and M11-L, because M08-SO systematically overstabilizes the high spin state, and M11-L systematically overstabilizes the low spin state.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effects of operator splitting and low Mach-number correction in turbulent mixing transition simulations

In this paper, transition and turbulence decay with the Taylor–Green vortex have been effectively used to demonstrate emulation of high Reynolds-number ( R e ) physical dissipation through numerical convective effects of various non-oscillatory finite-volume algorithms for implicit large eddy simulation (ILES), e.g. using the Godunov-based Eulerian adaptive mesh refinement code xRAGE. The inverse-chevron shock tube experiment simulations have been also used to assess xRAGE based ILES for shock driven turbulent mixing, compared with available simulation and laboratory data. The previous assessments are extended to evaluate new directionally-unsplit high-order algorithms in xRAGE, including a correction to address the well-known issue of excessive numerical diffusion of shock-capturing (e.g., Godunov-type) schemes for low Mach numbers. The unsplit options for hydrodynamics in xRAGE are discussed in detail, followed by fundamental tests with representative shock problems. Basic issues of transition to turbulence and turbulent mixing are discussed, and results of simulations of high- R e turbulent flow and mixing in canonical test cases are reported. Finally, compared to the directional-split cases, and for each grid resolution considered, unsplit results exhibit transition to turbulence with much higher effective R e —and significantly more so with the low Mach number correction.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Electronic structure and topology across T c in the magnetic Weyl semimetal Co 3 Sn 2 S 2

Co 3 Sn 2 S 2 is a magnetic Weyl semimetal, in which ferromagnetic ordering at 177 K is predicted to stabilize Weyl points. We perform temperature and spatial dependent angle--resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements through the Curie temperature (T c ), which show large band shifts and renormalization concomitant with the onset of magnetism. We argue that Co 3 Sn 2 S 2 evolves from a Mott ferromagnet below T c to a correlated metallic state above T c . To understand the magnetism, we derive a tight-binding model of Co-3d x 2 -y 2 orbitals on the kagome lattice. At the filling obtained by first-principles calculations, this model reproduces the ferromagnetic ground state, and results in the reduction of Coulomb interactions due to cluster effects. Using a disordered local moment simulation, we show how this reduced Hubbard U leads to a collapse of the bands across the magnetic transition, resulting in a correlated state which carries associated characteristic photoemission signatures that are distinct from those of a simple lifting of exchange splitting. Finally, the behavior of topology across T c is discussed in the context of this description of the magnetism.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Temporal evolution of the light emitted by a thin, laser-ionized plasma source

We present an experimental and simulation-based investigation of the temporal evolution of light emission from a thin, laser-ionized helium plasma source. We demonstrate an analytic model to calculate the approximate scaling of the time-integrated, on-axis light emission with the initial plasma density and temperature, supported by the experiment, which enhances the understanding of plasma light measurement for plasma wakefield accelerator (PWFA) plasma sources. Our model simulates the plasma density and temperature using a split-step Fourier code and a particle-in-cell code. A fluid simulation is then used to model the plasma and neutral density, and the electron temperature as a function of time and position. We then show the numerical results of the space-and-time-resolved light emission and that collisional excitation is the dominant source of light emission. We validate our model by measuring the light emitted by a laser-ionized plasma using a novel statistical method capable of resolving the nanosecond-scale temporal dynamics of the plasma light using a cost-effective camera with microsecond-scale timing jitter. This method is ideal for deployment in the high radiation environment of a particle accelerator that precludes the use of expensive nanosecond-gated cameras. Our results show that our models can effectively simulate the dynamics of a thin, laser-ionized plasma source. In addition, this work provides a detailed understanding of the plasma light measurement, which is one of the few diagnostic signals available for the direct measurement of PWFA plasma sources.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A subvortex technique for the close approach to a discretized vortex sheet

The close-approach problem associated with flow calculation methods based on vortex-lattice theory was examined numerically using two-dimensional discretized vortex sheets. The analysis first yields a near-field radius of approximately the distance apart of the vortices in the lattice; only within this distance from the sheet are the errors arising from the discretization significant. Various modifications to the discrete vortices are then considered with the objective of reducing the errors. This leads to a near-field model in which a vortex splits into an increasing number of subvortices as it is approached. The subvortices, whose strengths vary linearly from the vortex position, are evenly distributed along an interpolated curve passing through the basic vortices. This subvortex technique can be extended to the three-dimensional case and is efficient because the number of vortices is effectively increased, but only where and when needed.

Maskew, B.↗

A First-Principles Calculation of Electronic Structure and dHvA Simulation of the Novel Superconductor Re{sub 6}Hf

In this paper, we performed a density functional theory calculation study on the newly discovered superconductor Re{sub 6}Hf containing anti-symmetric spin-orbit coupling (ASOC) properties. The calculated densities of electronic states demonstrate that the d–d interaction of Re{sub 6}Hf is much stronger than that in Re{sub 6}Zr. A fully relativistic DFT study shows a special performance of densities of states for the spin-up and spin-down electrons. Band structure calculations indicate that the lifting at several high symmetric k points and plenty of splits in band structures yield significant topological transitions in the Fermi surfaces of Re{sub 6}Hf. The energy splitting of bands caused by ASOC are estimated to be 34 and 44 meV, respectively. The de Hass-van Alphen effect simulation is demonstrated and analyzed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

First-Principles Modeling in Heterogeneous Electrocatalysis

The last decade has witnessed tremendous progress in the development of computer simulation based on quantum mechanical description of the interactions between electrons and between electrons and atomic nuclei with electrode potentials taken into account–promoting the possibility to model electrocatalytic reactions. The cornerstone of this development was laid by the widely used computational hydrogen electrode method which involves a posteriori correction of standard constant charge first principles studies in solvent environment. The description of this technique and its contribution to our effort to understand electrocatalytic reactions on the active sites of metal-based nanoparticles are reviewed. The pathways and energetics of the relevant elementary reactions are presented. We also discussed a recent attempt in the literature to account for the inflow and outflow of electrons from the electrode as electrochemical reactions proceed, which has been greatly assisted by the development of density functional theory within the grand canonical framework. Going beyond the computational hydrogen electrode method by explicit incorporation of electrode potential within the calculations permits access to more detailed insights without requiring extra computational burden.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of Microscopic Damage Events on Static and Ballistic Impact Strength of Triaxial Braid Composites

In previous work, the ballistic impact resistance of triaxial braided carbon/epoxy composites made with large flat tows (12k and 24k) was examined by impacting 2 X2 X0.125" composite panels with gelatin projectiles. Several high strength, intermediate modulus carbon fibers were used in combination with both untoughened and toughened matrix materials. A wide range of penetration thresholds were measured for the various fiber/matrix combinations. However, there was no clear relationship between the penetration threshold and the properties of the constituents. During some of these experiments high speed cameras were used to view the failure process, and full-field strain measurements were made to determine the strain at the onset of failure. However, these experiments provided only limited insight into the microscopic failure processes responsible for the wide range of impact resistance observed. In order to investigate potential microscopic failure processes in more detail, quasi-static tests were performed in tension, compression, and shear. Full-field strain measurement techniques were used to identify local regions of high strain resulting from microscopic failures. Microscopic failure events near the specimen surface, such as splitting of fiber bundles in surface plies, were easily identified. Subsurface damage, such as fiber fracture or fiber bundle splitting, could be identified by its effect on in-plane surface strains. Subsurface delamination could be detected as an out-of-plane deflection at the surface. Using this data, failure criteria could be established at the fiber tow level for use in analysis. An analytical formulation was developed to allow the microscopic failure criteria to be used in place of macroscopic properties as input to simulations performed using the commercial explicit finite element code, LS-DYNA. The test methods developed to investigate microscopic failure will be presented along with methods for determining local failure criteria that can be used in analysis. Results of simulations performed using LS-DYNA will be presented to illustrate the capabilities and limitations for simulating failure during quasi-static deformation and during ballistic impact of large unit cell size triaxial braid composites.

Littell, Justin D.↗

Coronal Magnetic Field Measurement Using CME-Driven Shock Observations

Collisionless shocks form ahead of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) when the CME speed exceeds the Alfven speed of the ambient plasma in the corona and interplanetary medium. The shock stands at a distance from the CME flux rope that depends on the shock Mach number, the geometry of the driver, and the adiabatic index. While the shock ahead of the CME has been observed for a long time in the in situ data, it has been identified recently near the Sun in the coronagraphic and EUV images. Unlike in situ observations, the imaging observations are two dimensional, so one can better discern the CME-shock relationship near the Sun. Gopalswamy and Yashiro demonstrated that the coronal magnetic field can be derived from the shock standoff distance measured in coronagraphic images. The method involves measuring the standoff distance, the radius of curvature of the flux rope, and assuming the value of the adiabatic index and deriving the Alfvenic Mach number. The next step is to derive the Alfvenic Mach number from the measured shock speed and an estimate of the local solar wind speed. The final step involves deriving the magnetic field from the Alfven speed by measuring the local plasma density either from coronagraphic (polarized brightness) images or from the band-splitting of type II radio bursts. In this paper, we derive the combined magnetic field profile from near the Sun to the edge of the LASCO field of view (1.5 to 30 solar radii) and compare it with the current model profiles.

Gopalswarmy, Nat↗

Charge Recombination with Fractional Reaction Orders in Water-Splitting Dye-sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells

In water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs), charge recombination competes with catalytic water oxidation to determine the overall efficiency of the system. The kinetics of these processes have been difficult to understand because transient absorbance (TA) experiments typically show nearly complete charge recombination on the sub-millisecond timescale; in contrast, electrochemical measurements such as open circuit photovoltage decay suggest a charge recombination timescale that is 2-3 orders of magnitude longer. Here we explore these processes with dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO 2 and TiO 2 /Ta 2 O 5 core-shell photoanodes in aqueous electrolytes using TA spectroscopy, intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), and photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS). The fast recombination rates measured by TA result from strong laser excitation that leads to high electron occupancy in TiO 2 , whereas IMVS modulates the concentration of charge-separated states near solar irradiance levels. The recombination processes measured by electrochemical methods such as IMVS, PEIS, and transient photovoltage are the discharging of injected electrons in TiO 2 , as evidenced by the close agreement betweeen the nearly first-order recombination rates probed by IMVS and the RC time constants derived from PEIS data. However, IMVS measurements at variable probe light intensity reveal that the reaction orders for the recombination of injected electrons with oxidized sensitizer molecules are far from unity. In conclusion, this kinetic analysis is relevant to understanding steady-state recombination rates in full WS-DSPECs in which molecular and nanoparticle catalysts are used to oxidize water.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

System and method for improving ultrasound image acquisition and replication for repeatable measurements of vascular structures

High resolution B-mode ultrasound images of the common carotid artery are obtained with an ultrasound transducer using a standardized methodology. Subjects are supine with the head counter-rotated 45 degrees using a head pillow. The jugular vein and carotid artery are located and positioned in a vertical stacked orientation. The transducer is rotated 90 degrees around the centerline of the transverse image of the stacked structure to obtain a longitudinal image while maintaining the vessels in a stacked position. A computerized methodology assists operators to accurately replicate images obtained over several spaced-apart examinations. The methodology utilizes a split-screen display in which the arterial ultrasound image from an earlier examination is displayed on one side of the screen while a real-time live ultrasound image from a current examination is displayed next to the earlier image on the opposite side of the screen. By viewing both images, whether simultaneously or alternately, while manually adjusting the ultrasound transducer, an operator is able to bring into view the real-time image that best matches a selected image from the earlier ultrasound examination. Utilizing this methodology, measurement of vascular dimensions such as carotid arterial IMT and diameter, the coefficient of variation is substantially reduced to values approximating from about 1.0% to about 1.25%. All images contain anatomical landmarks for reproducing probe angulation, including visualization of the carotid bulb, stacking of the jugular vein above the carotid artery, and initial instrumentation settings, used at a baseline measurement are maintained during all follow-up examinations.

Selzer, Robert H.↗

A Local Macroscopic Conservative (LoMaC) Low Rank Tensor Method for the Vlasov Dynamics

Abstract In this paper, we propose a novel Local Macroscopic Conservative (LoMaC) low rank tensor method for simulating the Vlasov-Poisson (VP) system. The LoMaC property refers to the exact local conservation of macroscopic mass, momentum and energy at the discrete level. This is a follow-up work of our previous development of a conservative low rank tensor approach for Vlasov dynamics ( arXiv:2201.10397 ). In that work, we applied a low rank tensor method with a conservative singular value decomposition to the high dimensional VP system to mitigate the curse of dimensionality, while maintaining the local conservation of mass and momentum. However, energy conservation is not guaranteed, which is a critical property to avoid unphysical plasma self-heating or cooling. The new ingredient in the LoMaC low rank tensor algorithm is that we simultaneously evolve the macroscopic conservation laws of mass, momentum and energy using a flux-difference form with kinetic flux vector splitting; then the LoMaC property is realized by projecting the low rank kinetic solution onto a subspace that shares the same macroscopic observables by a conservative orthogonal projection. The algorithm is extended to the high dimensional problems by hierarchical Tuck decomposition of solution tensors and a corresponding conservative projection algorithm. Extensive numerical tests on the VP system are showcased for the algorithm’s efficacy.

Guo, Wei↗

A continuum dislocation-based model of wedge microindentation of single crystals

Recent Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) experiments have revealed the emergence of heterogeneous dislocation microstructures forming under a wedge indenter in fcc crystals, where micro-meter dislocation patterns challenge the predictions of traditional models of plasticity. In order to explain the formation of these features and develop a relationship between the force-displacement curve and the dislocation substructure, here we present a model of wedge indentation based on the continuum theory of dislocations. The model accounts for large deformation kinematics through the multiplicative split of the deformation gradient tensor, where the incompatible plastic component of deformation results from the flux of dislocations on different and interacting slips systems. Constitutive equations for dislocation fluxes are determined from a dissipative variational principle. As a result, each dislocation density satisfies an initial-boundary value problem with convective-diffusive character, which is coupled to the macroscopic stress and displacement fields governing the deformation process. Solution to the self-consistent continuum formulation is found using the finite element method. Computer simulations mimic the experimental conditions of wedge micro-indentation experiments into Ni single-crystals used by Kysar et al. (2010a). A comparison of overall dislocation density distribution and macroscopic mechanical response shows good overall agreement with the experimental results in terms of the detailed features of dislocation patterns and lattice rotations as well as the macroscopic force-displacement response.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowire arrays: fine tuning by precursor supersaturation

In this paper, we develop a technique that fine tunes the hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowires to address the difficulties in controlling their growth in a conventional one-pot hydrothermal method. In our technique, precursors are separately and slowly supplied with the assistance of a syringe pump, through the entire course of the growth. Compared to the one-pot method, the significantly lowered supersaturation of precursors helps eliminating competitive homogeneous nucleation and improves the reproducibility. The supersaturation degree can be readily tuned by the precursor quantity and injection rate, thus forming ZnO nanowire arrays of various geometries and packing densities in a highly controllable fashion. The precise control of ZnO nanowire growth enables systematic studies on the correlation between the material's properties and its morphology. Finally, in this work, ZnO nanowire arrays of various morphologies are studied as photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting photoanodes, in which we establish clear correlations between the water splitting performance and the nanowires' size, shape, and packing density.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Efficient reactive Brownian dynamics

We develop a Split Reactive Brownian Dynamics (SRBD) algorithm for particle simulations of reaction-diffusion systems based on the Doi or volume reactivity model, in which pairs of particles react with a specified Poisson rate if they are closer than a chosen reactive distance. In our Doi model, we ensure that the microscopic reaction rules for various association and dissociation reactions are consistent with detailed balance (time reversibility) at thermodynamic equilibrium. The SRBD algorithm uses Strang splitting in time to separate reaction and diffusion and solves both the diffusion-only and reaction-only subproblems exactly, even at high packing densities. To efficiently process reactions without uncontrolled approximations, SRBD employs an event-driven algorithm that processes reactions in a time-ordered sequence over the duration of the time step. A grid of cells with size larger than all of the reactive distances is used to schedule and process the reactions, but unlike traditional grid-based methods such as reaction-diffusion master equation algorithms, the results of SRBD are statistically independent of the size of the grid used to accelerate the processing of reactions. We use the SRBD algorithm to compute the effective macroscopic reaction rate for both reaction-limited and diffusion-limited irreversible association in three dimensions and compare to existing theoretical predictions at low and moderate densities. We also study long-time tails in the time correlation functions for reversible association at thermodynamic equilibrium and compare to recent theoretical predictions. Finally, we compare different particle and continuum methods on a model exhibiting a Turing-like instability and pattern formation. Our studies reinforce the common finding that microscopic mechanisms and correlations matter for diffusion-limited systems, making continuum and even mesoscopic modeling of such systems difficult or impossible. We also find that for models in which particles diffuse off lattice, such as the Doi model, reactions lead to a spurious enhancement of the effective diffusion coefficients.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Analytical and phenomenological studies of rotating turbulence

A framework, which combines mathematical analysis, closure theory, and phenomenological treatment, is developed to study the spectral transfer process and reduction of dimensionality in turbulent flows that are subject to rotation. First, we outline a mathematical procedure that is particularly appropriate for problems with two disparate time scales. The approach which is based on the Green's method leads to the Poincare velocity variables and the Poincare transformation when applied to rotating turbulence. The effects of the rotation are now reflected in the modifications to the convolution of a nonlinear term. The Poincare transformed equations are used to obtain a time-dependent analog of the Taylor-Proudman theorem valid in the asymptotic limit when the non-dimensional parameter mu is identical to Omega(t) approaches infinity (Omega is the rotation rate and t is the time). The 'split' of the energy transfer in both direct and inverse directions is established. Secondly, we apply the Eddy-Damped-Quasinormal-Markovian (EDQNM) closure to the Poincare transformed Euler/Navier-Stokes equations. This closure leads to expressions for the spectral energy transfer. In particular, an unique triple velocity decorrelation time is derived with an explicit dependence on the rotation rate. This provides an important input for applying the phenomenological treatment of Zhou. In order to characterize the relative strength of rotation, another non-dimensional number, a spectral Rossby number, which is defined as the ratio of rotation and turbulence time scales, is introduced. Finally, the energy spectrum and the spectral eddy viscosity are deduced.

Mahalov, Alex↗