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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 1,675 records · Page 93
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Disorder enabled band structure engineering of a topological insulator surface

Three-dimensional topological insulators are bulk insulators with Z 2 topological electronic order that gives rise to conducting light-like surface states. These surface electrons are exceptionally resistant to localization by non-magnetic disorder, and have been adopted as the basis for a wide range of proposals to achieve new quasiparticle species and device functionality. Recent studies have yielded a surprise by showing that in spite of resisting localization, topological insulator surface electrons can be reshaped by defects into distinctive resonance states. Here we use numerical simulations and scanning tunnelling microscopy data to show that these resonance states have significance well beyond the localized regime usually associated with impurity bands. Lastly, at native densities in the model Bi 2 X 3 (X=Bi, Te) compounds, defect resonance states are predicted to generate a new quantum basis for an emergent electron gas that supports diffusive electrical transport.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Multi-Level Kondo Effect and Enhanced Critical Temperature in Nanoscale Granular Al

The normal state conductance of high resistivity granular Al films, having an enhanced critical temperature above 3 K, shows a non-monotonous temperature dependence. Upon cooling the conductance first increases, reaches a broad maximum, then decreases, and finally increases sharply again at low temperatures. This behavior bears a striking resemblance to that predicted for the conductance of quantum dots in a regime where the broadening of discrete energy levels, due to coupling of the dot to the leads reservoirs, is larger than the level separation. In this regime, a multi-level Kondo temperature can be larger than the effective Coulomb charging energy, leading to a metallic-like behavior at high temperatures. This is followed by a Coulomb dominated regime, while at yet lower temperatures, the single level Kondo behavior can be recovered. We believe that this multi-level Kondo resonance model for single dots may apply to our 3D network of nanoscale grains. The multi-level resonance prevents the insulating state from setting-in already at high temperatures, which is favorable for superconductivity. This interpretation of the experimental conductance data is in line with the previously reported presence of magnetic moments in these films. High-resolution electron microscopy shows that intergrain coupling can take place through atomic size Sharvin contacts, which is consistent with the typical values of the intergrain resistance of the films as the metal to insulator transition is approached.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1989

Currents between tethered electrodes in a magnetized laboratory plasma

Laboratory experiments on important plasma physics issues of electrodynamic tethers were performed. These included current propagation, formation of wave wings, limits of current collection, nonlinear effects and instabilities, charging phenomena, and characteristics of transmission lines in plasmas. The experiments were conducted in a large afterglow plasma. The current system was established with a small electron-emitting hot cathode tethered to an electron-collecting anode, both movable across the magnetic field and energized by potential difference up to V approx.=100 T(sub e). The total current density in space and time was obtained from complete measurements of the perturbed magnetic field. The fast spacecraft motion was reproduced in the laboratory by moving the tethered electrodes in small increments, applying delayed current pulses, and reconstructing the net field by a linear superposition of locally emitted wavelets. With this technique, the small-amplitude dc current pattern is shown to form whistler wings at each electrode instead of the generally accepted Alfven wings. For the beam electrode, the whistler wing separates from the field-aligned beam which carries no net current. Large amplitude return currents to a stationary anode generate current-driven microinstabilities, parallel electric fields, ion depletions, current disruptions and time-varying electrode charging. At appropriately high potentials and neutral densities, excess neutrals are ionized near the anode. The anode sheath emits high-frequency electron transit-time oscillations at the sheath-plasma resonance. The beam generates Langmuir turbulence, ion sound turbulence, electron heating, space charge fields, and Hall currents. An insulated, perfectly conducting transmission line embedded in the plasma becomes lossy due to excitation of whistler waves and magnetic field diffusion effects. The implications of the laboratory observations on electrodynamic tethers in space are discussed.

Stenzel, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Emergent ferromagnetism near three-quarters filling in twisted bilayer graphene

When two sheets of graphene are stacked at a small twist angle, the resulting flat superlattice minibands are expected to strongly enhance electron-electron interactions. Here, we present evidence that near three-quarters ( 3 4 ) filling of the conduction miniband, these enhanced interactions drive the twisted bilayer graphene into a ferromagnetic state. In a narrow density range around an apparent insulating state at 3 4 , we observe emergent ferromagnetic hysteresis, with a giant anomalous Hall (AH) effect as large as 10.4 kilohms and indications of chiral edge states. Notably, the magnetization of the sample can be reversed by applying a small direct current. Although the AH resistance is not quantized, and dissipation is present, our measurements suggest that the system may be an incipient Chern insulator.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Configuration-dependent electronic and magnetic properties of graphene monolayers and nanoribbons functionalized with aryl groups

Graphene monolayers functionalized with aryl groups exhibit configuration-dependent electronic and magnetic properties. The aryl groups were adsorbed in pairs of neighboring atoms in the same sublattice A (different sublattices) of graphene monolayers, denoted as the M{sub 2}{sup AA} (M{sub 2}{sup AB}) configuration. The M{sub 2}{sup AA} configuration behaved as a ferromagnetic semiconductor. The band gaps for the majority and minority bands were 1.1 eV and 1.2 eV, respectively. The M{sub 2}{sup AB} configuration behaved as a nonmagnetic semiconductor with a band gap of 0.8 eV. Each aryl group could induce 1 Bohr magneton (μ{sub B}) into the molecule-graphene system. Armchair graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) exhibited the same configuration-dependent magnetic properties as the graphene monolayers. The net spin of the functionalized zigzag GNRs was mainly localized on the edges demonstrating an adsorption site-dependent magnetism. For the zigzag GNRs, both the M{sub 2}{sup AA} and M{sub 2}{sup AB} configurations possibly had a magnetic moment. Each aryl group could induce 1.5–3.5 μ{sub B} into the molecule-graphene system. There was a metal-to-insulator transition after adsorption of the aryl groups for the zigzag GNRs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Switchable electronic and enhanced magnetic properties of CrI 3 edges

Owing to its novel electronic and magnetic properties, two-dimensional CrI 3 has great potential in the application of spintronic devices. However, as an inevitable line defect, the properties of the edges of CrI 3 remain elusive. Here, via first-principles calculations with spin–orbit coupling, we investigated the thermodynamic stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of thirteen CrI 3 edges with different structures. We showed that zigzag edges are more stable than armchair edges, and a CrI 3 nanoribbon can be either metallic or insulating depending on its chemical growth conditions. Here, the edge stability and associated electronic properties can be understood in terms of the octahedron ligand field and electron counting model. In most cases, both the magnetic moment and Curie temperature can be enhanced by edges, which are in startle contrast to the surfaces of three-dimensional ferromagnetic materials, where a magnetic dead layer is often observed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Signatures of magnetic-field-driven quantum phase transitions in the entanglement entropy and spin dynamics of the Kitaev honeycomb model

The main question we address is how to probe the fractionalized excitations of a quantum spin liquid (QSL), for example, in the Kitaev honeycomb model. Here, by analyzing the energy spectrum and entanglement entropy, for antiferromagnetic couplings and a field along either [111] or [001], we find a gapless QSL phase sandwiched between the non-Abelian Kitaev QSL and polarized phases. Increasing the field strength towards the polarized limit destroys this intermediate QSL phase, resulting in a considerable reduction in the number of frequency modes and the emergence of a beating pattern in the local dynamical correlations, possibly observable in pump-probe experiments.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Interfacial Coupling-Induced Ferromagnetic Insulator Phase in Manganite Film

Interfaces with subtle differences in atomic and electronic structures in perovskite ABO 3 heterostructures often yield intriguingly different properties, yet their exact roles remain elusive. Here, we report an integrated study of unusual transport, magnetic, and structural properties of Pr 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 film on SrTiO 3 substrate. The variations in the out-of-plane lattice constant and BO 6 octahedral rotation across the Pr 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 /SrTiO 3 interface strongly depend on the thickness of the Pr 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 film. In the 12-nm film, a new interface-sensitive ferromagnetic polaronic insulator (FI') phase is formed during the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition of SrTiO 3 , apparently due to the enhanced electron–phonon interaction and atomic disorder in the film. The transport properties of the FI' phase in the 30-nm film are masked because of the reduced interfacial coupling and smaller interface-to-volume ratio. In conclusion, this work demonstrates how thickness-dependent interfacial coupling leads to the formation of a theoretically predicted ferromagnetic–polaronic insulator, as illustrated in a new phase diagram, that is otherwise ferromagnetic metal (FM) in bulk form.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Pressure induced modification of electronic and magnetic properties of MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl

Spin-gapless semiconductor (SGS) is a new class of material that has been studied recently for potential applications in spintronics. This material behaves as an insulator for one spin channel, and as a gapless semiconductor for the opposite spin. In this work, we present results of a computational study of two quaternary Heusler alloys, MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl that have been recently reported to exhibit spin-gapless semiconducting electronic structure. In particular, using density functional calculations we analyze the effect of external pressure on electronic and magnetic properties of these compounds. It is shown that while these two alloys exhibit nearly SGS behavior at optimal lattice constants and at negative pressure (expansion), they are half-metals at equilibrium, and magnetic semiconductors at larger lattice constant. At the same time, reduction of the unit cell volume has a detrimental effect on electronic properties of these materials, by modifying the exchange splitting of their electronic structure and ultimately destroying their half-metallic/semiconducting behavior. Thus, our results indicate that both MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl may be attractive for practical device applications in spin-based electronics, but a potential compression of the unit cell volume (e.g. in thin-film applications) should be avoided.

Materials Science↗
DOE OSTI2014

Evaluation of the intrinsic magneto-dielectric coupling in LaMn{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}O{sub 3} single crystals

The magneto-dielectric coupling in (l00) oriented LaMn{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}O{sub 3} single crystals has been investigated using temperature, frequency, and magnetic field dependent dielectric response. Electronic transport data divulges that polaronic hopping arises due to Emin-Holstein adiabatic small polarons. Spin realignment through external magnetic field favors faster polaronic hopping by lowering activation energy for dielectric relaxation. Finally, positive magneto-dielectricity and magnetoloss under increasing magnetic field at high frequency of the exciting ac field confirms intrinsic magneto-dielectric effect in disordered ferromagnetic-insulator LaMn{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}O{sub 3}. This study also emphasizes the need to use single crystals as well as the frequencies higher than the corresponding inverse relaxation time.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Evolution of magnetism in single-crystal C a 2 R u 1 - x I r x O 4 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.65 )

In this paper, we report structural, magnetic, transport, and thermal properties of single-crystal Ca 2 Ru 1-x Ir x O 4 (0≤x≤0.65). Ca 2 RuO 4 is a structurally driven Mott insulator with a metal-insulator transition at T MI =357K, which is well separated from antiferromagnetic order at T N =110K. Substitution of a 5d element, Ir, for Ru enhances spin-orbit coupling and locking between the structural distortions and magnetic moment canting. Ir doping intensifies the distortion or rotation of Ru/IrO 6 octahedra and induces weak ferromagnetic behavior along the c axis. In particular, Ir doping suppresses T N but concurrently causes an additional magnetic ordering T N2 at a higher temperature up to 210 K for x=0.65. The effect of Ir doping sharply contrasts with that of 3d-element doping such as Cr, Mn, and Fe, which suppresses T N and induces unusual negative volume thermal expansion. Finally, the stark difference between 3d- and 5d-element doping underlines a strong magnetoelastic coupling inherent in the Ir-rich oxides.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Characterization and Damping Control of Mechanical Connections to Improve Performance of Horn Stripline

Magnetic focusing horns are critical components for creating a stable beam of neutrinos for neutrino facilities, such as the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) and the Neutrinos and Main Injector (NuMI) beam lines at Fermilab. The pulsed magnetic horns are powered by high current electricity through long striplines, which must survive in a harsh radiation environment for the operational life of the component. Each stripline assembly consists of four layers of Al 6101-T6. As an electro-mechanical system, the stripline layers are bolted together with ceramic isolators for electrical insulation and to facilitate passive cooling and mechanical stability. The striplines experience vibrational force in addition to clamping force, repetitive thermal and electro-magnetic loading. The holes of stripline plates for ceramic joints represent one of the weak links for potential failure. Damping can be achieved by adding damp material to the joint. By characterizing behavior of the joint and optimizing their damping properties through FEA and EMA, the stripline performance and longevity can be improved. Appropriate damp materials are the key.

Liu, Zunping [Fermilab]↗
NASA NTRS1982

Pole-strength of the earth from Magsat and magnetic determination of the core radius

A model based on two days of Magsat data is used to numerically evaluate the unsigned magnetic flux linking the earth's surface, and a comparison of the 16.054 GWb value calculated with values from earlier geomagnetic field models reveals a smooth, monotonic, and recently-accelerating decrease in the earth's pole strength at a 50-year average rate of 8.3 MWb, or 0.052%/year. Hide's (1978) magnetic technique for determining the radius of the earth's electrically-conducting core is tested by (1) extrapolating main field models for 1960 and 1965 downward through the nearly-insulating mantle, and then separately comparing them to equivalent, extrapolated models of Magsat data. The two unsigned fluxes are found to equal the Magsat values at a radius which is within 2% of the core radius; and (2) the 1960 main field and secular variation and acceleration coefficients are used to derive models of 1930, 1940 and 1950. The same core magnetic radius value, within 2% of the seismic value, is obtained. It is concluded that the mantle is a nearly-perfect insulator, while the core is a perfect conductor, on the decade time scale.

Voorhies, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1980

IMP 8. Volume 1: EM field experiment

The electromagnetic fields experiment on IMP-J used two electric dipole antennas and a triaxial search coil magnetic antenna to sense the electric and magnetic field of plasma waves in space. The electric dipole antennas consisted of a fine wire, 0.021 inches in diameter, with a nominal extended tip-to-tip length of 400 ft. The outermost 50 ft. of each element was conducting and the rest of the antenna was covered with an insulating coating. The search coil antennas each consisted of a high mu core with two separate windings of 40,000 turns each to sense ac magnetic fields. The search coils had a length of 18 inches tip-to-tip and are mounted on the end of a boom. The axes of the x prime and y prime search coil antennas were parallel to the x prime and y prime electric antenna axes.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2024

Challenges for density functional theory in simulating metal–metal singlet bonding: A case study of dimerized VO2

VO2 is renowned for its electric transition from an insulating monoclinic (M1) phase, characterized by V–V dimerized structures, to a metallic rutile (R) phase above 340 K. This transition is accompanied by a magnetic change: the M1 phase exhibits a non-magnetic spin-singlet state, while the R phase exhibits a state with local magnetic moments. Simultaneous simulation of the structural, electric, and magnetic properties of this compound is of fundamental importance, but the M1 phase alone has posed a significant challenge to the density functional theory (DFT). In this study, we show none of the commonly used DFT functionals, including those combined with on-site Hubbard U to treat 3d electrons better, can accurately predict the V–V dimer length. The spin-restricted method tends to overestimate the strength of the V–V bonds, resulting in a small V–V bond length. Conversely, the spin-symmetry-breaking method exhibits the opposite trends. Each of these two bond-calculation methods underscores one of the two contentious mechanisms, i.e., Peierls lattice distortion or Mott localization due to electron–electron repulsion, involved in the metal–insulator transition in VO2. To elucidate the challenges encountered in DFT, we also employ an effective Hamiltonian that integrates one-dimensional magnetic sites, thereby revealing the inherent difficulties linked with the DFT computations.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2018

Abnormal Transport and Magnetic Properties Induced by Change of the Phase Volume Ratio for YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ}/La{sub 0.67}Sr{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} Hybrids

Two elaborately designed hybrids consisting of superconducting YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} (YBCO) and ferromagnetic La{sub 0.67}Sr{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} (LSMO), namely 20 × (YBCO(m)/LSMO(100 − m)) are prepared on single crystal SrTiO{sub 3} (STO) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with 20 being repetition periods and m = 90 and 10, respectively, which represents YBCO pulse number in a period. The films show highly c-oriented and epitaxial quality, suggested by XRD 𝜃–2𝜃 scans and pole figures. The 20 × (YBCO90/LSMO10) sample with a large YBCO volume fraction exhibits the typical character of a metal superconductor at about 90 K, while its transition width reaches 9.1 K, which is nearly eight times of that of the pure YBCO film. Above the superconducting transition temperature, a superparamagnetic signal rather than ferromagnetic behavior is observed, which may be associated with a diluted system consisting of the ferromagnetic nanoparticles embedded in the superconducting films. For the hybrid with a small YBCO volume fraction, i.e., the 20 × (YBCO10/LSMO90) sample, its transport behavior at normal state is insulating, and it is found that the Mott variable range hopping conduction dominates in this insulating phase in the temperature range 70–310 K. Obviously distinguishable insulator to superconductor (IS) transition occurs at 52 K, but the superconducting diamagnetic signals are very weak in the magnetic measurements below the IS temperature. For this sample, the magnetization loop at 100 K is ferromagnetic, yet manifested by a reduced coercive field and residual magnetization as compared with a pure LSMO film. In fact, both hybrids represent two kinds of nanocomposites, i.e., superconducting nanoparticles in a ferromagnetic matrix and ferromagnetic nanoparticles in a superconducting matrix, which benefits to study interfacial interactions due to an increased interface to value ratio and reduced size effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2012

Amplitude-Stabilized Oscillator for a Capacitance-Probe Electrometer

A multichannel electrometer voltmeter that employs a mechanical resonator maintained in sustained amplitude-stabilized oscillation has been developed for the space-based measurement of an Internal Electrostatic Discharge Monitor (IESDM) sensor. The IESDM is new sensor technology targeted for integration into a Space Environmental Monitor (SEM) subsystem used for the characterization and monitoring of deep dielectric charging on spacecraft. Creating a stable oscillator from the mechanical resonator was achieved by employing magnetic induction for sensing the resonator s velocity, and forcing a current through a coil embedded in the resonator to produce a Lorentz actuation force that overcomes the resonator s dissipative losses. Control electronics employing an AGC loop provide conditions for stabilized, constant amplitude harmonic oscillation. The prototype resonator was composed of insulating FR4 printed-wireboard (PWB) material containing a flat, embedded, rectangular coil connected through flexure springs to a base PWB, and immersed in a magnetic field having two regions of opposite field direction generated by four neodymium block magnets. In addition to maintaining the mechanical movement needed for the electrometer s capacitor-probe transducer, this oscillator provides a reference signal for synchronous detection of the capacitor probe s output signal current so drift of oscillation frequency due to environmental effects is inconsequential.

Blaes, Brent R.↗