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At least 1,657 records · Page 92

Automated Laser Cutting In Three Dimensions

Computer-controlled machine-tool system uses laser beam assisted by directed flow of air to cut refractory materials into complex three-dimensional shapes. Velocity, position, and angle of cut varied. In original application, materials in question were thermally insulating thick blankets and tiles used on space shuttle. System shapes tile to concave or convex contours and cuts beveled edges on blanket, without cutting through outer layer of quartz fabric part of blanket. For safety, system entirely enclosed to prevent escape of laser energy. No dust generated during cutting operation - all material vaporized; larger solid chips dislodged from workpiece easily removed later.

Bird, Lisa T.↗

Investigating the origin of the far-field reflection interference fringe (RIF) of microdroplets

We show that the reflection interference fringe (RIF) is formed on a screen far away from the microdroplets placed on a prism-based substrate, which have low contact angles and thin droplet heights, caused by the dual convex–concave profile of the droplet, not a pure convex profile. The geometric formulation shows that the interference fringes are caused by the optical path difference when the reflected rays from the upper convex profile at the droplet–air interface interfere with reflection from the lower concave profile at oblique angles lower than the critical angle. Analytic solutions are obtained for the droplet height and the contact angle out of the fringe number and the fringe radius in RIF from the geometric formulation. Furthermore, the ray tracing simulation is conducted using the custom-designed code. The geometric formulation and the ray tracing show excellent agreement with the experimental observation in the relation between the droplet height and the fringe number and the relation between the contact angle and the fringe radius. This study is remarkable as the droplet's dual profile cannot be easily observed with the existing techniques. However, the RIF technique can effectively verify the existence of a dual profile of the microdroplets in a simple setup. In this work, the RIF technique is successfully developed as a new optical diagnostic technique to determine the microdroplet features, such as the dual profile, the height, the contact angle, the inflection point, and the precursor film thickness, by simply measuring the RIF patterns on the far-field screen.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Molecular ring rotation in solid ferrocene revisited

We report on quasielastic neutron spectroscopy experiments on ferrocene (bis(η{sup 5}-cyclopentadienyl)iron) in its three different crystalline phases: the disordered monoclinic crystalline phase (T > 164 K), the metastable triclinic phase (T < 164 K), and the stable orthorhombic phase (T < 250 K). The cyclopentadienyl rings in ferrocene are known to undergo rotational reorientations for which the analysis of our large data set suggests partially a revision of the known picture of the dynamics and allows for an extension and completion of previous studies. In the monoclinic phase, guided by structural information, we propose a model for rotational jumps among non-equivalent sites in contrast to the established 5-fold jump rotation model. The new model takes the dynamical disorder into account and allows the cyclopentadienyl rings to reside in two different configurations which are found to be twisted by an angle of approximately 30°. In the triclinic phase, our analysis demands the use of a 2-ring model accounting for crystallographically independent sites with different barriers to rotation. For the orthorhombic phase of ferrocene, we confirm a significantly increased barrier of rotation using neutron backscattering spectroscopy. Our data analysis includes multiple scattering corrections and presents a novel approach of simultaneous analysis of different neutron scattering data by combining elastic and inelastic fixed window temperature scans with energy spectra, providing a very robust and reliable mean of extracting the individual activation energies of overlapping processes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

X‐ray characterization of three possible edible oleogelators: Experiment and theory

Abstract Three oleogelator molecules (Triacontane (TC), Stearic acid (SA), and Behenyl Lignocerate (BL)) were studied individually, in pairs, or all together to make an oleogel using triolein as the oil. WAXS, SAXS and USAXS were used to elucidate the solid structures from angstroms to a few micrometers. A two‐dimensional mapping of atomic positions for each molecule was carried out to understand the crystalline multilayer structures formed. We assumed that the molecules were rigidly extended and that they underwent no significant (hindered) rotations so that the free energy is determined by the Lennard‐Jones interactions of closely packed multilayers. TC molecules were predicted to form a tilt angle of , yielding a SAXS line at Å ─1 , in acceptable agreement with the measured . For SA crystals (predicted) yielding a SAXS line at compared to (observed). No mixed crystals were observed for any pair of molecules or when all three were used. USAXS data showed that SA forms large nanocrystals compared to TC and BL. All three combinations of molecular pairs showed basic scatterers smaller or similar to those of individual molecules. The theory presented here, together with the experimental results, showed why no mixed crystals are formed from two or all three molecules. Data from the USAXS region suggested that, when using all three molecules, a more compact fractal structure was obtained, compared with those if one or two of the molecules were used.

Chemistry↗

Characterization of Submicron Bubbles Formed by the Hydrophobin Cerato-ulmin

Cerato-ulmin is a fungal hydrophobin protein with a high surface activity because of its amphipathic nature. When aqueous dispersions are gently agitated by hand, cerato-ulmin (CU) assembles into cylindrical bubbles visible in an optical microscope. After approximately 1 h the larger micron-sized bubbles rise out of the solution, leaving only submicron particulates, which persist indefinitely. Dynamic light scattering experiments show that these persistent particles shrink when positive air pressure is applied to the suspension and expand when vacuum is applied. Small-angle X-ray scattering at ambient pressure suggests an extended core–shell structure, consistent with small air-filled bubbles stabilized by a protein film. A comparison between the SAXS of the persistent submicron bubbles and AFM of the buoyant larger bubbles found immediately after agitation show that both have similar film thickness of 13–15 nm or five protein molecules. The extended shapes confirm the solid-like properties of these CU membranes, even in submicron particulate structures, consistent with microtensiometry results on interfacial CU membranes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Task Sharing of Proton Incorporation in Vertically Aligned Nanocomposite Triple Conductors: Growth, Structure, and Surface Exchange Kinetics

As protonic ceramic electrolysis cells emerge for efficient H 2 production, there is a need to develop air electrode materials enabling fast, durable steam splitting and proton incorporation. Single-phase triple conductors may fail to satisfy the myriad performance/stability requirements, and their critical charge-carriers (holes, oxygen vacancies, and protons) are in competition, limiting their concentrations. Instead, we propose task-sharing, vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs), comprising a proton conductor (BaZr 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3-δ ) and a redox-active mixed ionic electronic conductor (Ce 0.9 Pr 0.1 O 2-δ ), that may enable rapid proton surface exchange at the solid–gas interface and transport along the solid–solid heterointerfaces. We grew VANs by pulsed laser deposition and investigated the interplay between their processing conditions, structure, and proton and oxygen surface exchange kinetics. We varied the substrate temperature, laser repetition rate, laser fluence, and processing oxygen pressure. The crystallinity and phases were characterized by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction, and the strain and structural order as a function of depth were evaluated by angle-dependent synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function analysis. To evaluate the potential for interdiffusion, the formation energies of substitutional defects were simulated with density functional theory. Corresponding structural analysis and elemental mapping were performed by scanning/transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy, indicating distinct nanoscale compositional regions with a hierarchical structure embedded in individual VANs columns and minimal interdiffusion across a bilayer film. Proton and oxygen surface exchange coefficients (k H , k O ) and polarization resistances were evaluated by electrical and optical relaxations and impedance spectroscopy of VAN-incorporated protonic ceramic electrochemical cells, respectively, at 400–500 °C, demonstrating values comparable to some of the best-known triple and mixed conductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

ARPES-parameterized Hubbard approach to d-wave cuprate superconductors

In the last decade, the Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES) has achieved important advances in both energy and angular resolutions, providing a direct measurement of the single-particle dispersion relation and superconducting gap. These dispersion relation data allow a full determination of the self-energy, first and second neighbor parameters in the Hubbard model. This model and its generalizations offer a simple and general way to describe the electronic correlation in solids. In particular, the parameters of correlated hopping interactions, responsible of the d-wave superconductivity in the generalized Hubbard model, are determined from ARPES data and the critical temperature within the mean-field approximation. In this work, we determine the model parameters for Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2−x}La{sub x}CuO{sub 6+δ} and study its d-wave superconducting gap as a function of temperature by solving numerically two coupled integral equations. Finally, the calculated electronic specific heat is compared with experimental results.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Highly mobile segments in crystalline poly(ethylene oxide){sub 8}:NaPF{sub 6} electrolytes studied by solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Two types of high-crystallinity poly(ethylene oxide)/NaPF{sub 6} electrolytes with ethylene oxide (EO)/Na molar ratios of 8:1 and 6:1, termed as PEO{sub 8}:NaPF{sub 6} and PEO{sub 6}:NaPF{sub 6} with M{sub w} = 6000 g mol{sup −1} were prepared, and their ionic conductivity, structure, and segmental motions were investigated and compared. PEO{sub 8}:NaPF{sub 6} polymer electrolyte exhibits the room-temperature ionic conductivity 7.7 × 10{sup −7} S cm{sup −1} which is about five times higher than the PEO{sub 6}:NaPF{sub 6}. By variable-temperature measurements of static powder spectra and {sup 1}H spin-lattice relaxation time in rotation frame ({sup 1}H T{sub 1ρ}), we demonstrate that crystalline segments are more highly mobile in the crystalline PEO{sub 8}:NaPF{sub 6} with higher ionic conductivity than in the PEO{sub 6}:NaPF{sub 6} with lower ionic conductivity. The large-angle reorientation motion of polymer segments in the PEO{sub 8}:NaPF{sub 6} onsets at lower temperature (∼233 K) with a low activation energy 0.31 eV that is comparable with that of the pure PEO crystal. Whereas, the large-angle reorientation motion of polymer segments in the PEO{sub 6}:NaPF{sub 6} starts around 313 K with a high activation energy of 0.91 eV. As a result of the temperature-enhanced large-angle reorientations, the {sup 13}C static powder lineshape changes markedly from a low-temperature wide pattern with apparent principal values of chemical shift δ{sub 33} < δ{sub 22} < δ{sub 11} to a high-temperature narrow pattern of uniaxial chemical shift anisotropy δ{sub 33} > δ{sub 22} (δ{sub 11}). It is suggested that the segmental motion in crystalline PEO-salt complex promotes ionic conductivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of H{sub 3}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40} impregnation on Sn-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves and their physico-chemical properties

Graphical abstract: The wide angle XRD shows the well dispersion of HPWA in Sn-MCM-41. It enhances the total acidity of the material. The acidity of the material is correlated with sulfone selectivity. The FT-IR of dibenzothiophene and product shows the formation of sulfone (DBTO{sub 2}). - Highlights: • To enhance the total acidity of Sn-MCM-41 TPA is impregnated. • FT-IR and {sup 31}P MAS NMR confirms the HPWA intact on Sn-MCM-41. • EDAX shows the presence of W and P on Sn-MCM-41. • In ODS formation of sulfone was confirmed by FT-IR and {sup 1}H NMR. • The order of the catalytic activity of the catalysts are 18HSnM > 28HSnM > 8HSnM. - Abstract: Si-Sn-MCM-41 (Si/Sn = 110) mesoporous molecular sieve was synthesized by hydrothermal sol–gel method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant and SnCl{sub 4}·5H{sub 2}O as a metal source. To generate surface acidity of Si-Sn-MCM-41, 12-tungstophosphoric acid (HPWA) is impregnated on it. The acidity of HPWA loading on Sn-MCM-41 was investigated by temperature programmed desorption of NH{sub 3}. The diffused reflectance spectra of ultraviolet radiation, Raman spectra, FT-IR, {sup 29}Si-MAS NMR and {sup 31}P-MAS NMR techniques revealed the intact of α-Keggin anions on Sn-MCM-41. The wide angle XRD results showed that the HPWA is well dispersed on the support. The total acidity was enhanced with increase in loading of H{sub 3}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40}. The catalytic activity was examined in desulfurization of dibenzothiophene in vapor phase system. Among the catalysts 18% HPWA loaded Sn-MCM-41 showed good catalytic activity in desulfurization at 325 °C. The HPWA/Sn-MCM-41 are a suitable solid acid catalyst for converting organic sulfur into insoluble sulfone.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Constant-potential molecular dynamics simulations of molten salt double layers for FLiBe and FLiNaK

We report the results of constant-potential molecular dynamics simulations of the double layer interface between molten 2LiF–BeF 2 (FLiBe) and 23LiF–6NaF–21KF (FLiNaK) fluoride mixtures and idealized solid electrodes. Employing methods similar to those used in studies of chloride double layers, we compute the structure and differential capacitance of molten fluoride electric double layers as a function of applied voltage. The role of molten salt structure is probed through comparisons between FLiBe and FLiNaK, which serve as models for strong and weak associate-forming salts, respectively. In FLiBe, screening involves changes in Be–F–Be angles and alignment of the oligomers parallel to the electrode, while in FLiNaK, the electric field is screened mainly by rearrangement of individual ions, predominantly the polarizable potassium cation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ab initio self-energy embedding for the photoemission spectra of NiO and MnO

The accurate ab initio simulation of periodic solids with strong correlations is one of the grand challenges of condensed matter. While mature methods exist for weakly correlated solids, the ab initio description of strongly correlated systems is an active field of research. In this work, we show results for the single-particle spectral function of the two correlated $\textit{d}$-electron solids NiO and MnO from self-energy embedding theory. Unlike earlier work, the theory does not use any adjustable parameters and is fully ab initio, while being able to treat both the strong correlation and the nonlocal screening physics of these materials. Here, we derive the method, discuss aspects of the embedding and choices of physically important orbitals, and compare our results to x-ray and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy as well as bremsstrahlung-isochromat spectroscopy.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A vector autopilot system

Current technology has evolved low cost, highly reliable solid state vector magnetometers with excellent angular resolution. This paper discusses the role of a three-axis magnetometer as a new instrument for aircraft attitude determination. Using flight data acquired by an instrumented aircraft, attitude is calculated using the earth's magnetic field vector and compared to measured attitudes. The magnetic field alone is not adequate to resolve all attitude variations and the need for a second reference angle or vector is discussed. A system combining the functions of heading determination and attitude measurement is presented to show that both functions can be implemented with essentially the same component count required to measure heading alone. It is concluded that with the correlation achieved in calculated and measured attitude there is a potential application of vector magnetometry in attitude measurement systems.

Pietila, R.↗

Measurements of cross-section of charge current inclusive of antineutrino scattering off nucleons using carbon, iron, lead and scintillator at MINER$\nu$A for 2GeV $<$ E$\nu$ $<$ 20GeV

Neutrino physics is one of the most active fields in the domaine of high energy physics during the last century. The need of precise measurement of neutrino-nucleus interactions required by the neutrino oscillation experiments is a an exiting step. These measurements of cross-section are more than essential for neutrino oscillation experiment. Over the year, many measurements from varieties of experiments have been presented. MINERνA is one of the world leaders in measuring cross-section of neutrino and antineutrino -nucleus interactions. MINERνA is a neutrino-nucleus scattering experiment installed in the few-GeV NuMI beam line at Fermilab. In order to study nuclear dependence, MINERνA is endowed with different types of solid nuclear targets as well are liquid targets such as helium and water. This thesis presents measurements of cross-section of antineutrino scattering off nucleons using a variety of solid nuclear targets, carbon, iron, lead and also polystyrene scintillator (CH). The data set of antineutrino used for this analysis was taken between March and July 2010 with a total of 1.60X10 20 protons on target. Charged current inclusive interactions were selected by requiring a positive muon and kinematics limitation of acceptance of the muon spectrometer are applied. The analysis requires neutrino energy between 2GeV et 20GeV and the angle of muon θ m u < 17degree . The absolute cross-section # as function of neutrino energy and the differential cross-section dσ/ dx bj measured and shown the corresponding systematics for each nuclear targets. Data results are compared with prediction of the models implemented in the neutrino events generators GENIE 2.6.2 used by the experiment.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Results of aerothermodynamic heating tests on a 0.013-scale model solid rocket booster in the NASA/LaRC unitary plan wind tunnel (SH12F)

A 0.013 scale model of the solid rocket booster (SRB) used to launch the space shuttle was tested at a Mach number of 3.7 and Reynolds numbers of 1,500,000 and 3,500,000 per foot. The objective of the test was to obtain aerodynamic heat transfer data on the surface of scaled models of the SRB at simulated full scale reentry flight conditions. Three separate models were utilized to measure film coefficients over an angle of attack range from 0 deg to 180 deg at 0 deg sideslip. All three models were representations of the MCR0200 baseline configuration and varied only by the way they were mounted in the tunnel. Model A, sting mounted thru the model base, was utilized for testing between 0 deg and 40 deg angle of attack. Model B was blade mounted from the top of the model and was tested between 60 deg and 120 deg angle of attack. Model C was sting mounted thru the model nose and utilized for testing between 140 deg and 180 deg angle of attack.

Brewer, E. B.↗

The enhancement in dielectric and magnetic property in Na and Mn co substituted lanthanum ferrite

Nanocrystalline solid solutions of La{sub 1-x}Na{sub x}Fe{sub 1-y}Mn{sub y}O{sub 3} (x=y=0.00 and 0.25) were prepared via modified Pechini route. No evidence of secondary or impurity phase has been detected up to the detection of error limit of high power X-ray diffractometer. Dielectric property of the samples has been investigated in the frequency range 100 Hz-4MHz at temperature ranging 300–450K. The value of relative permittivity (ε{sub r}) increases drastically and shows colossal dielectric response (∼10{sup 4}) by cosubstitution of Na and Mn as compared to pure LaFeO{sub 3}. Dielectric relaxation peak in loss tangent in both samples have been found and shift towards higher frequency region as temperature increases. Magnetization-Field (M-H) loop of the calcined sample have been recorded at room temperature (300K) at field ±60kOe. Magnetic property also enhanced by co substitution of Na and Mn. The change in Fe/Mn-O-Fe/Mn angle by co-substitution of Na and Mn in LaFeO{sub 3} and indirect exchange interaction between two different magnetic sub lattices Fe and Mn might be responsible for drastic change. Saturation/maximum magnetic moment increase ∼four times in LNFM25 (5.335emu/g) as compared to pure LaFeO{sub 3} (1.302emu/g).

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry for high energy density plasma diagnostic

High resolution density diagnostics are difficult in high energy density laboratory plasmas (HEDLP) experiments due to the scarcity of probes that can penetrate above solid density plasmas. Hard x-rays are one possible probe for such dense plasmas. We study the possibility of applying an x-ray method recently developed for medical imaging, differential phase-contrast with Talbot-Lau interferometers, for the diagnostic of electron density and small-scale hydrodynamic instabilities in HEDLP experiments. The Talbot method uses micro-periodic gratings to measure the refraction and ultra-small angle scatter of x-rays through an object and is attractive for HEDLP diagnostic due to its capability to work with incoherent and polychromatic x-ray sources such as the laser driven backlighters used for HEDLP radiography. Our paper studies the potential of the Talbot method for HEDLP diagnostic, its adaptation to the HEDLP environment, and its extension of high x-ray energy using micro-periodic mirrors. The analysis is illustrated with experimental results obtained using a laboratory Talbot interferometer.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A kinematically driven anisotropic viscoelastic constitutive model applied to tires

Aircraft tires are composite structures manufactured with viscoelastic materials such as carbon black filled rubber and nylon cords. When loaded they experience large deflections and moderately large strains. Detailed structural models of tires require the use of either nonlinear shell or nonlinear three dimensional solid finite elements. Computational predictions of the dynamic response of tires must consider the composite viscoelastic material behavior in a realistic fashion. We describe a modification to a nonlinear anisotropic shell finite element so it can be used to model viscoelastic stresses during general deformations. The model is developed by introducing internal variables of the type used to model elastic strain energy. The internal variables are strains, curvatures, and transverse shear angles which are in a one-to-one correspondence with the generalized coordinates used to model the elastic strain energy for nonlinear response. A difference-relaxation equation is used to relate changes in the observable strain field to changes in the internal strain field. The internal stress state is introduced into the equilibrium equations by converting it to nodal loads associated with the element's displacement degrees of freedom. In this form the tangent matrix in the Newton-Raphson solution algorithm is not modified from its form for the nonlinear statics problem. Only the gradient vector is modified and the modification is not computationally costly. The existing finite element model for the Space Shuttle nose gear tire is used to provide examples of the algorithm. In the first example, the tire's rim is displaced at a constant rate up to a fixed value. In the second example, the tire's rim is enforced to follow a saw tooth load and unload curve to generate hysteresis loops.

Johnson, Arthur R.↗