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At least 1,675 records · Page 93

Elastic, magnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of the CaBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} multiferroic

The structural, elastic, magnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of the CaBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} multiferroic are experimentally studied and compared with the properties of the related YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} cobaltite, where Y{sup 3+} ions substitute for Ca{sup 2+} ions. Unlike the frustrated YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} magnet, the softening of Young’s modulus and the hysteresis in the ΔE(T)/E{sub 0} curve of ferrimagnetic CaBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} in the paramagnetic region are weak, and the anomaly during the magnetic transition increases by almost an order of magnitude. This difference can point to different characters of the development of a long-range magnetic order in these two cobaltites. The distortion of the crystal structure that removes the frustrations of exchange interactions is found to correlate with the magnetic behavior of the cobaltites under study. The magnetization curves of the Ca cobaltite have two steps below 15 K, which can point to the presence of a metastable state in a high magnetic field. The study of the longitudinal and transverse magnetoelectric effects in a pulsed magnetic field demonstrates that their magnitudes are maximal near T{sub C} and change their character from linear to quadratic during passage through this temperature.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Potential formation in a collisionless plasma produced in an open magnetic field in presence of volume negative ion source

The electric potential near a wall for a multi-species plasma with volume produced negative ions in presence of axially varying magnetic field is studied following an analytical-numerical approach. A constant negative ion source is assumed throughout the plasma volume, along with finite temperature positive ions and Boltzmann electrons. The particles are assumed to be guided by an open magnetic field that has its maximum at the centre, and field strength decreasing towards the walls. The one dimensional (1D) Poisson equation is derived using an analytical approach, and then solved numerically to study the potential profiles. Effect of (a) negative ion production rate, (b) magnetic field profile, and (c) negative ion temperature on the potential profile has been investigated. A potential peak appears near the wall when the negative ion temperature and density are sufficiently high. Also, the presence of negative ions further decreases the potential in the plasma region for a finite Debye Length (λ{sub D})

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of wind field characteristics on pitch bearing reliability: a case study of 5 MW reference wind turbine at onshore and offshore sites; Auswirkungen von Windfeldeigenschaften auf die Zuverlässigkeit von Rotorblattlagern: eine Fallstudie über eine 5-MW-Referenz-Windkraftanlage an Onshore- und Offshore-Standorten

This paper presents a study on pitch bearing basic rating life affected by wind field characteristics at both onshore and offshore wind sites. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory 5 MW reference wind turbine is selected for the study. Wind field characteristics including reference hub height mean wind speed, wind speed distribution, wind shear, and vertical inflow are studied. A decoupled approach is employed where global analysis is performed first. Second, the load effects from the global analysis are applied on a reference pitch bearing designed based on best industrial practices. For the case study onshore site, it is found that the Kernel density estimation best fits the wind distribution, while the International Electrotechnical Commission proposed distribution appears to be not suitable. Moreover, it is shown that the seed number has high effect on the bearing life in turbulence wind and the wind speeds around rated have the highest contribution in both bearing fatigue damage and extreme load failure. The results contribute to better understanding of the wind field characteristics on the pitch bearing life.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Runaway electron transport in stochastic toroidal magnetic fields

Here, we study the transport and confinement properties of runaway electrons (RE) in the presence of magnetic fields with perturbations producing different levels of stochasticity. We use Kinetic Orbit Runaway Electron Code (KORC) [Carbajal et al. , Phys. Plasmas 24, 042512 (2017) and del-Castillo-Negrete et al. , Phys. Plasmas 25, 056104 (2018)] for simulating the full-orbit (FO) and guiding-center (GC) dynamics of RE in perturbed magnetic fields that exhibit magnetic islands. We extend previous works on this problem [Wingen et al. , Nucl. Fusion 46, 941 (2006); Izzo et al. , Nucl. Fusion 51, 063032 (2011); Papp et al. , Nucl. Fusion 51, 043004 (2011); V. Izzo and P. Parks, Phys. Plasmas 24, 060705 (2017); and Sommariva et al. , Nucl. Fusion 58, 016043 (2018)] by studying in detail full-orbit effects on the RE dynamics. We quantify FO effects on RE transport by performing one-to-one comparisons between FO and GC simulations. It is found that, for the magnetic field configurations considered, GC simulations predict twice the RE losses of FO simulations for 1 MeV and four times the RE losses of FO simulations for 25 MeV. Similarly, we show how different GC and FO dynamics of RE moving around magnetic islands can be, especially in the scenario where the RE Larmor radius is on the order of the size of the magnetic island. We also study the role of rotation of the magnetic islands on RE confinement, and we find that low-frequency toroidal rotation has no observable effect on RE transport in the cases considered. These results shed some light into the potential of avoidance or mitigation mechanisms based on magnetic perturbations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of Simultaneous Static and Traveling Magnetic Fields on the Molten Steel Flow in a Continuous Casting Mold

The drawback of steel fluid flow phenomena for a continuous casting mold under an electromagnetic stirrer with a traveling magnetic field is the resulting severe meniscus fluctuations due to the high-velocity and excessive downward flow in the casting direction. This can result in slab surface defects due to mold flux or inclusion entrainment. To inhibit these defects in the as-cast steel products, the implementation of braking forces using static magnetic fields in combination with a traveling magnetic field was studied in the current study. The numerical results of the fluid flow in the mold under a combined traveling and static magnetic field operation show not only 50 pct lower downward flow speed, but also more enhanced rotational flow to improve washing effects. The numerical results were validated in commercial-scale operations. The results suggest the optimized range of the ratio between the traveling and static magnetic flux densities is 65 to 75 pct to ensure steel quality improvements; this range maintains a balance between the fluid forces from the jet flow and the magnetic forces in the mold.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Parametric Modeling of AZ31-Mg Alloy Friction Stir Weld Temperature Histories

A parametric model of friction stir weld temperature histories is presented that uses constraint conditions, which are three-dimensional isothermal boundary conditions on the calculated temperature fields. This study describes further extension, with respect to formulation, of a parametric-modeling methodology, which is relatively optimal in terms of representation for application to friction stir welding and processing. These parametric representations of temperature histories can be used for modeling friction stir welds whose process conditions are similar to those in this study. Calculations of AZ31-Mg alloy friction stir weld temperature histories are presented, which use temperature-field constraint conditions based on measured weld cross sections and a model for the estimation of weld stir zone temperatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On numerical errors to the fields surrounding a relativistically moving particle in PIC codes

The particle-in-cell (PIC) method is widely used to model the self-consistent interaction between discrete particles and electromagnetic fields. It has been successfully applied to problems across plasma physics including plasma based acceleration, inertial confinement fusion, magnetically confined fusion, space physics, astrophysics, high energy density plasmas. In many cases the physics involves how relativistic particles (those with high relativistic γ factors) are generated and interact with plasmas. However, when relativistic particles stream across the grid, both in “vacuum” and in plasma, many numerical issues may arise which can lead to unphysical results. We present a detailed analysis of how discretized Maxwell solvers used in PIC codes can lead to numerical errors to the fields that surround particles that move at relativistic speeds across the grid. Expressions for the axial electric field as integrals in k space are presented that reveal two types of errors. The first arises from errors to the numerator of the integrand and leads to unphysical fields that are antisymmetric about the particle. Furthermore, the second arises from errors to the denominator of the integrand and lead to Cherenkov like radiation in “vacuum”. These fields are not anti-symmetric, extend behind the particle, and cause the particle to accelerate or decelerate depending on the solver and parameters. The unphysical fields are studied in detail for two representative solvers - the Yee solver and the FFT based solver. Although the Cherenkov fields are absent, the space charge fields are still present in the fundamental Brillouin zone for the FFT based solvers. In addition, the Cherenkov fields are present in higher order zones for the FFT based solvers. Comparison between the analytical solutions and PIC simulation results are presented. A solution for eliminating these unphysical fields by modifying the k operator in the axial direction is also presented. Using a customized finite difference solver, this solution was successfully implemented into OSIRIS [1]. Results from the customized solver are also presented. Additionally, this solution will be useful for a beam of particles that all move in one direction with a small angular divergence.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Role of DYNAMO in Situ Observations in Improving NASA Ceres-like Daily Surface and Atmospheric Radiative Flux Estimates

The daily surface and atmospheric radiative fluxes from NASA Clouds and the Earths RadiantEnergy System (CERES) Synoptic 1 degree (SYN1deg) Ed3A are among the most widely used data to studycloud-radiative feedback. The CERES SYN1deg data are based on Fu-Liou radiative transfer computations thatuse specific humidity (Q) and air temperature (T) from NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO)reanalyses as inputs and are therefore subject to the quality of those fields. This study uses in situ Q and Tobservations collected during the Dynamics of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) field campaign toaugment the input stream used in the NASA GMAO reanalysis and assess the impact on the CERES dailysurface and atmospheric longwave estimates. The results show that the assimilation of DYNAMOobservations considerably improves the vertical profiles of analyzed Q and T over and near DYNAMO stationsby moistening and warming the lower troposphere and upper troposphere and drying and cooling themid-upper troposphere. As a result of these changes in Q and T, the computed CERES daily surface downwardlongwave flux increases by about 5 W m(exp -2), due mainly to the warming and moistening in the lowertroposphere; the computed daily top-of-atmosphere (TOA) outgoing longwave radiation increases by2-3 W m(exp -2) during dry periods only. Correspondingly, the estimated local atmospheric longwave radiativecooling enhances by about 5 W m(exp -2) (7-8 W m(exp -2)) during wet (dry) periods. These changes reduce the bias inthe CERES SYN1deg-like daily longwave estimates at both the TOA and surface and represent animprovement over the DYNAMO region.

DYNAMO↗

Novel Sensor for the In Situ Measurement of Uranium Fluxes

The goal of this project was to develop a sensor that incorporates the field-tested concepts of the passive flux meter to provide direct in situ measures of flux for uranium and groundwater in porous media. Measurable contaminant fluxes [J] are essentially the product of concentration [C] and groundwater flux or specific discharge [q ]. The sensor measures [J] and [q] by changes in contaminant and tracer amounts respectively on a sorbent. By using measurement rather than inference from static parameters, the sensor can directly advance conceptual and computational models for field scale simulations. The sensor was deployed in conjunction with DOE in obtaining field-scale quantification of subsurface processes affecting uranium transport (e.g., advection) and transformation (e.g., uranium attenuation) at the Rifle IFRC Site in Rifle, Colorado. Project results have expanded our current understanding of how field-scale spatial variations in fluxes of uranium, groundwater and salient electron donor/acceptors are coupled to spatial variations in measured microbial biomass/community composition, effective field-scale uranium mass balances, attenuation, and stability. The coupling between uranium, various nutrients and micro flora can be used to estimate field-scale rates of uranium attenuation and field-scale transitions in microbial communities. This research focuses on uranium (VI), but the sensor principles and design are applicable to field-scale fate and transport of other radionuclides. Laboratory studies focused on sorbent selection and calibration, along with sensor development and validation under controlled conditions. Field studies were conducted at the Rifle IFRC Site in Rifle, Colorado. These studies were closely coordinated with existing SBR (formerly ERSP) projects to complement data collection. Small field tests were conducted during the first two years that focused on evaluating field-scale deployment procedures and validating sensor performance under controlled field conditions. In the third and fourth year a suite of larger field studies were conducted. For these studies, the uranium flux sensor was used with uranium speciation measurements and molecular-biological tools to characterize microbial community and active biomass at synonymous wells distributed in a large grid. These field efforts quantified spatial changes in uranium flux and field-scale rates of uranium attenuation (ambient and stimulated), uranium stability, and quantitatively assessed how fluxes and effective reaction rates were coupled to spatial variations in microbial community and active biomass. Analyses of data from these field experiments were used to generate estimates of Monod kinetic parameters that are ‘effective’ in nature and optimal for modeling uranium fate and transport at the field-scale. This project provided the opportunity to develop the first sensor that provides direct measures of both uranium (VI) and groundwater flux. A multidisciplinary team was assembled to include two geochemists, a microbiologist, and two quantitative contaminant hydrologists. Now that the project is complete, the sensor can be deployed at DOE sites to evaluate field-scale uranium attenuation, source behavior, the efficacy of remediation, and off-site risk. Because the sensor requires no power, it can be deployed at remote sites for periods of days to months. The fundamental science derived from this project can be used to advance the development of predictive models for various transport and attenuation processes in aquifers. Proper development of these models is critical for long-term stewardship of contaminated sites in the context of predicting uranium source behavior, remediation performance, and off-site risk.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Simulating Black Carbon and Dust and their Radiative Forcing in Seasonal Snow: A Case Study over North China with Field Campaign Measurements

A state-of-the-art regional model, WRF-Chem, is coupled with the SNICAR model that includes the sophisticated representation of snow metamorphism processes available for climate study. The coupled model is used to simulate the black carbon (BC) and dust concentrations and their radiative forcing in seasonal snow over North China in January-February of 2010, with extensive field measurements used to evaluate the model performance. In general, the model simulated spatial variability of BC and dust mass concentrations in the top snow layer (hereafter BCS and DSTS, respectively) are quantitatively or qualitatively consistent with observations. The model generally moderately underestimates BCS in the clean regions but significantly overestimates BCS in some polluted regions. Most model results fall into the uncertainty ranges of observations. The simulated BCS and DSTS are highest with >5000 ng g-1 and up to 5 mg g-1, respectively, over the source regions and reduce to <50 ng g-1 and <1 μg g-1, respectively, in the remote regions. BCS and DSTS introduce similar magnitude of radiative warming (~10 W m-2) in snowpack, which is comparable to the magnitude of surface radiative cooling due to BC and dust in the atmosphere. This study represents the first effort in using a regional modeling framework to simulate BC and dust and their direct radiative forcing in snow. Although a variety of observational datasets have been used to attribute model biases, some uncertainties in the results remain, which highlights the need for more observations, particularly concurrent measurements of atmospheric and snow aerosols and the deposition fluxes of aerosols, in future campaigns.

black carbon↗

Theory of the Kitaev model in a [111] magnetic field

Recent numerical studies indicate that the antiferromagnetic Kitaev honeycomb lattice model undergoes a magnetic-field-induced quantum phase transition into a new spin-liquid phase. This intermediate-field phase has been previously characterized as a gapless spin liquid. By implementing a recently developed variational approach based on the exact fractionalized excitations of the zero-field model, we demonstrate that the field-induced spin liquid is gapped and belongs to Kitaev’s 16-fold way. Specifically, the low-field non-Abelian liquid with Chern number C = ±1 transitions into an Abelian liquid with C = ±4. The critical field and the field-dependent behaviors of key physical quantities are in good quantitative agreement with published numerical results. Furthermore, we derive an effective field theory for the field-induced critical point which readily explains the ostensibly gapless nature of the intermediate-field spin liquid.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Technology Solutions Case Study: Combustion Safety Simplified Test Protocol

Combustions safety is an important step in the process of upgrading homes for energy efficiency. There are several approaches used by field practitioners, but researchers have indicated that the test procedures in use are complex to implement and provide too many false positives. Field failures often mean that the house is not upgraded until after remediation or not at all, if not include in the program. In this report the PARR and NorthernSTAR DOE Building America Teams provide a simplified test procedure that is easier to implement and should produce fewer false positives.

Building America↗

Nature of superconductor-insulator transition at LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} interface

The two-dimensional electron liquid, at the interface between two band insulators LaAlO{sub 3} and SrTiO{sub 3}, exhibits novel, unconventional superconductivity below 200 mK. One of the remarkable properties of the two-dimensional superconductor is its fantastic tunability by external parameters such as gate-voltage or magnetic field. We study the superconductor to insulator transition induced by gate-voltage by employing a self-consistent, mean-field Bogoliubov-de Gennes treatment based on an effective model. We show that the non-monotonic behaviour of the superconductivity with respect to gate-voltage is intrinsically due to the Rashba spin-orbit coupling. With increasing gate-voltage both the electron concentration and Rashba spin-orbit splitting increases. Elevated electron filling boosts superconductivity whereas enhanced spin-orbit splitting annihilates electron-pairing. The non-monotonicity is a result of this competition. The device application of the superconductor-insulator transition in this interface is discussed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Effect of an electric field on the orientation of a liquid crystal in a cell with a nonuniform director distribution

The electric field-induced reorientation of a nematic liquid crystal in cells with a planar helicoidal or a homeoplanar structure of a director field is studied theoretically and experimentally. The dependences of the capacitances of these systems on the voltage in an applied electric field below and above the Fréedericksz threshold are experimentally obtained and numerically calculated. The calculations use the director distribution in volume that is obtained by direct minimization of free energy at various voltages. The inhomogeneity of the electric field inside a cell is taken into account. The calculation results are shown to agree with the experimental data.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Morphological and spectroscopic studies on the vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorods grown on low and high temperature deposited seed layer

Vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorods were grown on low and high temperature deposited aluminium doped zinc oxide seed layer by hydrothermal method and annealed to improve crystallinity. The morphology of the seed layer and the grown nanorods were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy characterization technique. The properties of the zinc oxide nanorods were analyzed using laser spectroscopic studies. Resonant Raman spectroscopy reveals the unique increase in the A{sub 1}(LO) mode of vibration with increase in count. The luminescence property of the nanorods was studied with photoluminescence spectrometer. The vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorods show, the very high band edge emission in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗