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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9

Using Pulsar Parameter Drifts to Detect Subnanohertz Gravitational Waves

Gravitational waves with frequencies below 1 nHz are notoriously difficult to detect. With periods exceeding current experimental lifetimes, they induce slow drifts in observables rather than periodic correlations. Observables with well-known intrinsic contributions provide a means to probe this regime. In this Letter, we demonstrate the viability of using observed pulsar timing parameters to discover such “ultralow” frequency gravitational waves, presenting two complementary observables for which the systematic shift induced by ultralow-frequency gravitational waves can be extracted. Using existing data for these parameters, we search the ultralow-frequency regime for continuous-wave signals, finding a sensitivity near the expected prediction from inspirals of supermassive black holes. We do not see an excess in the data, setting a limit on the strain of 1.3 × 10 –12 at 450 pHz with a sensitivity dropping approximately quadratically with frequency until 10 pHz. Finally, our search method opens a new frequency range for gravitational wave detection and has profound implications for astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Twisted cuprate van der Waals heterostructures with controlled Josephson coupling

Twisted van derWaals (vdW) heterostructures offer a unique platform for engineering the efficient Josephson coupling between cuprate thin crystals harboring the nodal superconducting order parameter. Preparing the vdW heterostructures-based Josephson junction comprising stacked cuprates requires maintaining an ordered interface with preserved surface superconductivity. Here, we report the preparation of the Josephson junction out of the stacked Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+d crystals using the cryogenic dry transfer technique and encapsulating the junction with an insulating layer, that protects the interface during the electrical contacts evaporation at the 1×10 -6 mbar base pressure. We find that the Josephson critical current $I$ c has a maximum at low twist angles, comparable to that of the bulk intrinsic Josephson junctions, and is reduced by two orders of magnitude at twist angles close to 45°. In conclusion, the reduction of $I$ c occurs due to a mismatch between superconducting $d$-wave order parameters, which suppresses the direct Cooper pair tunneling.

2D materials↗

Circuit quantum electrodynamics detection of induced two-fold anisotropic pairing in a hybrid superconductor–ferromagnet bilayer

Abstract Hybrid systems represent one of the frontiers in the study of unconventional superconductivity and are a promising platform to realize topological superconducting states. These materials are challenging to probe using many conventional measurement techniques because of their mesoscopic dimensions, and therefore require new experimental probes so that they can be successfully characterized. Here, we demonstrate a probe that enables us to measure the superfluid density of micrometre-size superconductors using microwave techniques drawn from circuit quantum electrodynamics. We apply this technique to a superconductor–ferromagnet bilayer and find that the proximity-induced superfluid density is two-fold anisotropic within the plane of the sample. It also exhibits power-law temperature scaling that is indicative of a nodal superconducting state. These experimental results are consistent with the theoretically predicted signatures of induced triplet pairing with a nodal p -wave order parameter. Moreover, we observe modifications to the microwave response at frequencies near the ferromagnetic resonance, suggesting a coupling between the spin dynamics and induced superconducting order in the ferromagnetic layer. Our experimental technique can be employed more widely, for example to study fragile unconventional superconductivity in low-dimensional materials such as van der Waals heterostructures.

Bøttcher, C. G. L. (ORCID:0000000194898461)↗

Harnessing interpretable and unsupervised machine learning to address big data from modern X-ray diffraction

The information content of crystalline materials becomes astronomical when collective electronic behavior and their fluctuations are taken into account. In the past decade, improvements in source brightness and detector technology at modern X-ray facilities have allowed a dramatically increased fraction of this information to be captured. Now, the primary challenge is to understand and discover scientific principles from big datasets when a comprehensive analysis is beyond human reach. We report the development of an unsupervised machine learning approach, X-ray diffraction (XRD) temperature clustering (X-TEC), that can automatically extract charge density wave order parameters and detect intraunit cell ordering and its fluctuations from a series of high-volume X-ray diffraction measurements taken at multiple temperatures. We benchmark X-TEC with diffraction data on a quasi-skutterudite family of materials, (Ca x Sr 1–x ) 3 Rh 4 Sn 13 , where a quantum critical point is observed as a function of Ca concentration. We apply X-TEC to XRD data on the pyrochlore metal, Cd 2 Re 2 O 7 , to investigate its two much-debated structural phase transitions and uncover the Goldstone mode accompanying them. We demonstrate how unprecedented atomic-scale knowledge can be gained when human researchers connect the X-TEC results to physical principles. Specifically, we extract from the X-TEC–revealed selection rules that the Cd and Re displacements are approximately equal in amplitude but out of phase. This discovery reveals a previously unknown involvement of 5d 2 Re, supporting the idea of an electronic origin to the structural order. Our approach can radically transform XRD experiments by allowing in operando data analysis and enabling researchers to refine experiments by discovering interesting regions of phase space on the fly.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Superconducting properties of MoTe 2 from ab initio anisotropic Migdal-Eliashberg theory

Molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe 2 ) is attracting considerable interest since it is the archetypal type-II Weyl semimetal and a candidate for topological superconductivity. In this work, we investigate the superconducting phase diagram of two MoTe 2 polymorphs using the ab initio anisotropic Migdal-Eliashberg theory, and we show that the superconducting dome originates from the synergistic contribution of the density of states at the Fermi level and the transverse acoustic Te modes in the 1$\textit{T}’$ phase. We find that the electron and hole pockets carry trivial $\textit{s}$-wave order parameters of slightly different magnitude, reminiscent of a two-gap structure as suggested by recent experiments. We suggest that a possible route for enhancing the superconducting critical temperature, and realizing $s_{+ –}$ pairing, in the $T_d$ phase is to exploit its nontrivial band topology via electron doping.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Tractable model of a pair density wave

Here, this Letter describes a simple mechanism for superconducting pairing with finite wave vector (pair density wave) based on weak coupling. The mechanism is illustrated with a quasi-one-dimensional model relevant to certain a class of quasi-one-dimensional materials. Within this model, pair and charge density wave order parameters are intertwined emerging as components of the same matrix field and are related by particle-hole symmetry.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Measurement of Energy Reduction of Inertial Alfvén Waves Propagating through Parallel Gradients in the Alfvén Speed

We have studied the propagation of inertial Alfvén waves through parallel gradients in the Alfvén speed using the Large Plasma Device at the University of California, Los Angeles. The reflection and transmission of Alfvén waves through inhomogeneities in the background plasma are important for understanding wave propagation, turbulence, and heating in space, laboratory, and astrophysical plasmas. Here we present inertial Alfvén waves under conditions relevant to solar flares and the solar corona. We find that the transmission of the inertial Alfvén waves is reduced as the sharpness of the gradient is increased. Any reflected waves were below the detection limit of our experiment, and reflection cannot account for all of the energy not transmitted through the gradient. Our findings indicate that, for both kinetic and inertial Alfvén waves, the controlling parameter for the transmission of the waves through an Alfvén speed gradient is the ratio of the Alfvén wavelength along the gradient divided by the scale length of the gradient. Furthermore, our results suggest that an as-yet-unidentified damping process occurs in the gradient.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Theoretical aspects of tidal and planetary wave propagation at thermospheric heights

A simple semiquantitative model is presented which allows analytic solutions of tidal and planetary wave propagation at thermospheric heights. This model is based on perturbation approximation and mode separation. The effects of viscosity and heat conduction are parameterized by Rayleigh friction and Newtonian cooling. Because of this simplicity, one gains a clear physical insight into basic features of atmospheric wave propagation. In particular, we discuss the meridional structures of pressure and horizontal wind (the solutions of Laplace's equation) and their modification due to dissipative effects at thermospheric heights. Furthermore, we solve the equations governing the height structure of the wave modes and arrive at a very simple asymptotic solution valid in the upper part of the thermosphere. That 'system transfer function' of the thermosphere allows one to estimate immediately the reaction of the thermospheric wave mode parameters such as pressure, temperature, and winds to an external heat source of arbitrary temporal and spatial distribution. Finally, the diffusion effects of the minor constituents due to the global wind circulation are discussed, and some results of numerical calculations are presented.

Volland, H.↗

Autodissociating Rydberg states of positronium hydride

Consequences of the nonrelativistic Coulomb Hamiltonian with a fixed proton are considered for positronium hydride (PsH). An optical-potential method and certain simplifying assumptions are used to compute the lowest s-wave resonance parameters on the basis of the /e(+)H(-)/ configuration. Resonance parameters corresponding to a Ps scattering energy of 4.0190 eV and a width of 0.0303 eV are obtained. These results are shown to be in very close agreement with those of previous studies.

Drachman, R. J.↗

Energization of ionospheric ions by electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron waves

Interactions between ionospheric ions and electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron waves are studied numerically in an investigation of a possible mechanism for the energization of the low-energy ionospheric ions flowing along geomagnetic field lines to high altitudes. Ion equations of motion are solved numerically for a given number of O(+), He(+) and He(2+) ions initially in a Maxwellian distribution. All the ions considered are found capable of undergoing stochastic acceleration by a coherent electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron wave with parameters typical of the auroral plasma above 1 earth radius. The fraction of the initial ion population undergoing heating depends strongly on the mass, charge and initial temperature of the ion species, with O(+) ions only heated when their initial temperature is approximately greater than the hydrogen temperature and the lighter ions able to be heated even when cold, due to cyclotron resonant stochastic heating.

Singh, N.↗

Middle Atmosphere Program. Handbook for MAP, volume 20

Various topics related to investigations of the middle atmosphere are discussed. Numerical weather prediction, performance characteristics of weather profiling radars, determination of gravity wave and turbulence parameters, case studies of gravity-wave propagation, turbulence and diffusion due to gravity waves, the climatology of gravity waves, mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere radar, antenna arrays, and data management techniques are among the topics discussed.

Bowhill, S. A.↗

MST radar networks and campaigns session summary and recommendations

Topics addressed included: determination of sources of propagation and dissipation of atmospheric disturbances and waves; measurement parameters; comparison of different method and instruments; suitable combinations of instruments; information exchange; and training courses.

Rottger, J.↗

Electron heating by ion acoustic turbulence in simulated low Mach number shocks

Explicit and fully electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations of perpendicular, collisionless, and nominally subcritical shocks are performed in one and two spatial dimensions using the code wave. Shock parameters are chosen to maximixe the growth rates of the current-driven ion acoustic instability in the shock. Electron heating by ion acoustic turbulence is observed at the shocks, at rates in agreement with second-order Vlasov theory predictions. However, the amount of resistive electron heating is small and ion reflection provides the major source of dissipation. Strictly resistive shocks do not exist for the parameters suitable for explicit particle codes running on today's supercomputers, because the plasma convects through these shocks so quickly that current-driven instabilities have little time to be amplified and to heat the electrons resistively. This effect is primarily a result of the relatively small values of omega(pe)/omega(ce) that can be analyzed.

Tokar, Robert L.↗

Improved Transverse Crack Detection in Composites

A modified ultrasonic C-scan technique was implemented for improving the detection of a certain type of damage in composite specimens. The type of damage being studied is transverse (through the thickness) cracking of unidirectional off-axis graphite-epoxy specimens. These cracks are difficult to detect using standard through-transmission C-scan techniques. The modification is based on mode conversion to produce transmitted shear waves from incident longitudinal waves. While mode conversion is used extensively with isotropic materials, its use with composites is more limited. This is largely because the computation of wave propagation parameters is significantly more complicated with highly anisotropic materials than with isotropic materials. The appropriate incident angles to produce the desired mode conversion were computed based on the mechanical properties of the composite. Once the angles were computed the technique was simple to implement and resulted in marked improvement in detection of the transverse cracks being studied.

Pereira, J. Michael↗