Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “MAGNETIC CONTROL”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,693 records · Page 94

Convective radial energy flux due to resonant magnetic perturbations and magnetic curvature at the tokamak plasma edge

With the resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) consolidating as an important tool to control the transport barrier relaxation, the mechanism on how they work is still a subject to be clearly understood. In this work, we investigate the equilibrium states in the presence of RMPs for a reduced MHD model using 3D electromagnetic fluid numerical code with a single harmonic RMP (single magnetic island chain) and multiple harmonics RMPs in cylindrical and toroidal geometry. Two different equilibrium states were found in the presence of the RMPs with different characteristics for each of the geometries used. For the cylindrical geometry in the presence of a single RMP, the equilibrium state is characterized by a strong convective radial thermal flux and the generation of a mean poloidal velocity shear. In contrast, for toroidal geometry, the thermal flux is dominated by the magnetic flutter. For multiple RMPs, the high amplitude of the convective flux and poloidal rotation are basically the same in cylindrical geometry, but in toroidal geometry the convective thermal flux and the poloidal rotation appear only with the islands overlapping of the linear coupling between neighbouring poloidal wavenumbers m, m – 1, and m + 1.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystallization of charged interlayer excitons in van der Waals heterostructures

Abstract Ever since its inception, coherent excited states of semiconductors have been the focus of semiconductor materials research to evolve into a vibrant field of low-dimensional solid-state physics. The field is gaining new momentum these days due to emerging transdimensional semiconductors such as van der Waals bound layers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) of controlled thickness. Here, we develop the theory of magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystallization for charged interlayer excitons (CIE) discovered recently in TMD heterobilayers. We derive the ratio of the potential interaction energy to the kinetic energy for the many-particle CIE system in the perpendicular magnetostatic field of an arbitrary strength and predict the crystallization effect in the strong field regime. We show that magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystallization and melting of CIEs can be observed in magneto-photoluminescence experiments with TMD bilayers of systematically varied electron-hole doping concentrations. Our results advance the capabilities of this new generation of transdimensional quantum materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Increased Crystal Field Drives Intermediate Coupling and Minimizes Decoherence in Tetravalent Praseodymium Qubits

Crystal field (CF) control of rare-earth (RE) ions has been employed to minimize decoherence in qubits and to enhance the effective barrier of single-molecule magnets. The CF approach has been focused on the effects of symmetry on dynamic magnetic properties. Herein, the magnitude of the CF is increased via control of the RE oxidation state. The enhanced 4f metal-ligand covalency in Pr 4+ gives rise to CF energy scales that compete with the spin-orbit coupling of Pr 4+ and thereby shifts the paradigm from the ionic ζ SOC >> V CF limit, used to describe trivalent RE-ion, to an intermediate coupling (IC) regime. We examine Pr 4+ -doped perovskite oxide lattices (BaSnO 3 and BaZrO 3 ). These systems are defined by IC which quenches orbital angular momentum. Therefore, the single-ion spin-orbit coupled states in Pr 4+ can be chemically tuned. We demonstrate a relatively large hyperfine interaction of A iso = 1800 MHz for Pr 4+ , coherent manipulation of the spin with Q M = 2Ω R $T$ m reaching up to ~400 for 0.1Pr:BSO at $T$ = 5 K, and significant improvement of the temperature at which $T$ m is limited by $T$ 1 ($T$* = 60 K) compared to other RE ion qubits.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A study on the steady-state solutions of a Bursian diode in the presence of transverse magnetic field, when the electrons of the injected beam are turned back partially or totally

The properties of a steady-state planar vacuum diode driven by a cold electron beam have been investigated in the presence of an external transverse magnetic field, employing both the Eulerian and the Lagrangian formalism. With the help of a numerical scheme, the features of the steady-state solutions have been explored in the Eulerian frame, particularly for the case that corresponds to the potential distributions with a virtual cathode. However, exact analytical formulae for the potential and velocity profiles within the inter-electrode region have been derived with the Lagrangian description. In contrast to the previous work [Phys. Plasmas 22, 042110 (2015)], here we have emphasized the situation when electrons are reflected back to the emitter by the magnetic field. Both partial and complete reflection of the electrons due to the magnetic field have been taken into account. Using the emitter electric field as a characteristic parameter, steady-state solutions have been evaluated for specific values of diode length, applied voltage, and magnetic field strength. It has been shown that, due to the inclusion of the magnetic field, a new region of non-unique solutions appears. An external magnetic field seems to have a profound effect in controlling fast electronic switches based on the Bursian diode.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Development of an alternating integrator for magnetic measurements for experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

A high-performance integrator is one of the key electronic devices for reliably controlling plasma in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak for long pulse operation. We once designed an integrator system of real-time drift compensation, which has a low integration drift. However, it is not feasible for really continuous operations due to capacitive leakage error and nonlinearity error. To solve the above-mentioned problems, this paper presents a new alternating integrator. In the new integrator, the integrator system of real-time drift compensation is adopted as one integral cell while two such integral cells work alternately. To achieve the alternate function, a Field Programmable Gate Array built in the digitizer is utilized. The performance test shows that the developed integrator with the integration time constant of 20 ms has a low integration drift (<15 mV) for 1000 s.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Coherence and entropy squeezing in the spin-boson model under non-Markovian environment

We study the dynamical behavior of the coherence and squeezing for a two-level system immersed in an environment modeled by a spin degree of freedom in a magnetic field coupled linearly to an oscillator bath with non-Markovian environment. The dependence of the coherence and squeezing on the system and reservoir parameters shows that these quantities could be greatly controlled and manipulated with the assistance of the reservoir cutoff frequency, system oscillator frequency, and reservoir temperature. Moreover, we show that the proper choice of the external control field can make further control on the coherence and squeezing of the atomic system under the effect of environmental noises. The results show new interest features that are usefully utilized in controlling the physical quantities and show how the enhancement and preservation of coherence and squeezing can greatly benefit from the combination of the all physical parameters.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Switching between Magnetic Bloch and Néel Domain Walls with Anisotropy Modulations

It has been shown previously that the presence of a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in perpendicularly magnetized thin films stabilizes N\'eel type domain walls. We demonstrate, using micromagnetic simulations and analytical modeling, that the presence of a uniaxial in-plane magnetic anisotropy can also lead to the formation of N\'eel walls in the absence of a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. It is possible to abruptly switch between Bloch and N\'eel walls via a small modulation of both the in-plane, but also the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. This opens up a route towards electric field control of the domain wall type with small applied voltages through electric field controlled anisotropies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

First-principles insight into all-optical spin switching in the half-metallic Heusler ferrimagnet Mn 2 RuGa

All-optical spin switching (AOS) represents a new frontier in magnetic storage technology—spin manipulation without a magnetic field—but its underlying working principle is not well understood. Many AOS ferrimagnets such as GdFeCo are amorphous and renders the high-level first-principles study unfeasible. The crystalline half-metallic Heusler Mn 2 RuGa presents an opportunity. Here we carry out hitherto the comprehensive density functional investigation into the material properties of Mn 2 RuGa, and introduce two concepts—the spin anchor site and the optical active site—as two pillars for AOS in ferrimagnets. In Mn 2 RuGa, Mn(4a) serves as the spin anchor site, whose band is below the Fermi level and has a strong spin moment, while Mn(4c) is the optical active site whose band crosses the Fermi level. Our magneto-optical Kerr spectrum and band structure calculation jointly reveal that the delicate competition between the Ru-4d and Ga-4p states is responsible for the creation of these two sites. Furthermore these two sites found here not only present a unified picture for both Mn 2 RuGa and GdFeCo, but also open the door for future applications. Specifically, we propose a Mn 2 Ru x Ga-based magnetic tunnel junction where a single laser pulse can control magnetoresistance.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Lithium-based surfaces controlling fusion plasma behavior at the plasma-material interface

The plasma-material interface and its impact on the performance of magnetically confined thermonuclear fusion plasmas are considered to be one of the key scientific gaps in the realization of nuclear fusion power. At this interface, high particle and heat flux from the fusion plasma can limit the material's lifetime and reliability and therefore hinder operation of the fusion device. Lithium-based surfaces are now being used in major magnetic confinement fusion devices and have observed profound effects on plasma performance including enhanced confinement, suppression and control of edge localized modes (ELM), lower hydrogen recycling and impurity suppression. The critical spatial scale length of deuterium and helium particle interactions in lithium ranges between 5-100 nm depending on the incident particle energies at the edge and magnetic configuration. Lithium-based surfaces also range from liquid state to solid lithium coatings on a variety of substrates (e.g., graphite, stainless steel, refractory metal W/Mo/etc., or porous metal structures). Temperature-dependent effects from lithium-based surfaces as plasma facing components (PFC) include magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability issues related to liquid lithium, surface impurity, and deuterium retention issues, and anomalous physical sputtering increase at temperatures above lithium's melting point. The paper discusses the viability of lithium-based surfaces in future burning-plasma environments such as those found in ITER and DEMO-like fusion reactor devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Invited article: Broadband highly-efficient dielectric metadevices for polarization control

Metadevices based on dielectric nanostructured surfaces with both electric and magnetic Mie-type resonances have resulted in the best efficiency to date for functional flat optics with only one disadvantage: a narrow operational bandwidth. Here we experimentally demonstrate broadband transparent all-dielectric metasurfaces for highly efficient polarization manipulation. We utilize the generalized Huygens principle , with a superposition of the scattering contributions from several electric and magnetic multipolar modes of the constituent meta-atoms, to achieve destructive interference in reflection over a large spectral bandwidth. Furthermore, by employing this novel concept, we demonstrate reflectionless (~90% transmission) half-wave plates, quarter-wave plates, and vector beam q-plates that can operate across multiple telecom bands with ~99% polarization conversion efficiency.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Chiral surface and edge plasmons in ferromagnetic conductors

The recently introduced concept of "surface Berry plasmons" is studied in the concrete instance of a ferromagnetic conductor in which the Berry curvature, generated by spin-orbit (SO) interaction, has opposite signs for carrier with spins parallel or antiparallel to the magnetization. By using collisionless hydrodynamic equations with appropriate boundary conditions, we study both the surface plasmons of a three-dimensional ferromagnetic conductor and the edge plasmons of a two-dimensional one. The anomalous velocity and the broken inversion symmetry at the surface or the edge of the conductor create a "handedness" whereby the plasmon frequency depends not only on the angle between the wave vector and the magnetization, but also on the direction of propagation along a given line. In particular, we find that the frequency of the edge plasmon depends on the direction of propagation along the edge. These Berry curvature effects are compared and contrasted with similar effects on plasmon dispersions induced by an external magnetic field in the absence of Berry curvature. Here, we argue that Berry curvature effects may be used to control the direction of propagation of the surface plasmons via coupling with the magnetization of ferromagnetic conductors, and thus create a link between plasmonics and spintronics.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Experimental Evaluation of Multi-spacecraft Data Analysis Techniques in a Laboratory Plasma

The Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX)[1] has been utilized to assess the effectiveness of minimum variance analysis on the magnetic field (MVAB) and boundary-crossing time analysis (BCTA). The neutral sheet is swept, or jogged, in a controlled manner with respect to the stationary probes by pulsed internal coil currents. Magnetic field data from measurement points resembling data from multi-spacecraft flying though a reconnecting current sheet is used to check both techniques to deduce a proper normal vector. We examine discharges with the two-dimensional (2-D) X-line structure as well as cases in which a flux rope forms within the layer. All discharges are in a two-fluid regime in which electrons are magnetized but not ions. Boundary-crossing time analysis with four sample measurement points forming a tetrahedron generates a reasonable unit normal vector and relative velocity along the normal vector for all of the tested cases. On the other hand, MVAB sometimes fails to predict a proper normal direction. This is because the X-line magnetic geometry is fundamentally 2-D or 3-D. However, the direction along the reconnecting field determined by MVAB does not deviate much from the real magnetic geometry documented by 2-D magnetic probe arrays and one additional probe at a different toroidal location. Based on these observations, we suggest a procedure for determining a local coordinate system for data from the Magnetospheric Multi-Scale (MMS) mission when spacecraft passes through a reconnecting current sheet. The distance between measurement points on the order of the ion skin depth ($c/\omega_{pi}$) is pertinent to determination of the magnetic geometry.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Improved sensing of vertical velocity for vertical position control using loop voltage signals on EAST

Vertical position control of shaped plasma is critical for all elongated tokamaks to achieve safe and stable plasma discharge. In EAST, the in-vessel coil (IC) is employed for fast control of plasma vertical motion which power supply capabilities limits the controllability of vertical instability. Moreover, adequate signal-to-noise ratio of vertical position measurement can also realize an improvement in vertical control. In EAST, plasma vertical position Z p is produced nearly by all integrated magnetics, fast Z error signal is obtained by filtering from Zp. Then this fast Z error and its derivative term (dz/dt) are controlled by IC with a separate PD controller. Yet, it has a low signal-to-noise ratio which limits the gains that can be used successfully in the PD control loops. To provide less noisy dz/dt signal, the successful use of multiple up/down loop voltage pairs instead of derivative of z derived from magnetic probe signals will be discussed. Experiment show that even a single pair of loop voltage signal has better signal-to-noise ratio than differentiation of Z p . In addition, flux loop pickup signals from the IC current are also measured with series of positive and negative IC current pulses.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Further modeling of q 95 windows for the suppression of edge localized modes by resonant magnetic perturbations in the DIII-D tokamak

An improved resonant plasma response model that more accurately captures the physics of the interaction between a tokamak plasma and a resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) is developed. The model interpolates between the linear and the nonlinear response regimes and takes into account the fact that the slip-frequency is non-zero in the nonlinear regime. The improved model is incorporated into the extended perturbed equilibrium code (EPEC) toroidal asymptotic matching code. The modified EPEC code is used to investigate RMP-induced edge-localized-mode (ELM) suppression in DIII-D H-mode discharge #145380. Somewhat surprisingly, allowing for a finite slip-frequency (i.e., relaxing the so-called no-slip constraint) is found to only slightly facilitate the locking of driven magnetic island chains to the RMP, and, hence, to only slightly facilitate RMP-induced ELM suppression. This is true despite the fact that the nature of non-locked island solutions is radically different when the no-slip constraint is imposed compared to when it is relaxed (in the first case, the widths of the island chains driven at the rational surfaces pulsate, and in the second case, they remain steady). The previously obtained conclusion that the response of a typical H-mode tokamak plasma to an RMP cannot be accurately modeled by linear theory is confirmed. Here, the previously obtained conclusion that the best agreement between theory and observations is achieved by assuming that the natural frequencies of tearing modes, in the absence of the RMP, are determined by the local equilibrium E × B velocity is also confirmed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Review: magnetically assisted resistance spot welding

Currently, the use of advanced high strength steels (AHSSs) is the most cost effective means of reducing vehicle body weight and maintaining structural integrity at the same time. However, AHSSs present a big challenge to the traditional resistance spot welding (RSW) widely applied in automotive industries because the rapid heating and cooling procedures during RSW produce hardened weld microstructures, which lower the ductility and fatigue properties of welded joints and raise the probability of interfacial failure under external loads. Changing process parameters or post-weld heat treatment may reduce the weld brittleness, but those traditional quality control methods also increase energy consumption and prolong cycle time. In recent years, a magnetically assisted RSW (MA-RSW) method was proposed, in which an externally applied magnetic field would interact with the conduction current to produce a Lorentz force that would affect weld nugget formation. This paper is a review of an experimental MA-RSW platform, the mode of the external magnetic field and the mechanism that controls nugget shape, weld microstructures and joint performance. In conclusion, the advantages of the MA-RSW method in improving the weldability of AHSSs are given, a recent application of the MA-RSW process to light metals is described and the outlook for the MA-RSW process is presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Symmetry Engineering of Topological Quantum States (Final Report)

Recent discoveries of topological materials have generated immense interest. The electronic states of these materials have unique topological properties protected by specific symmetries that generate exotic quantum phenomena and technologically useful properties. In topological semimetals, topological phase transitions caused by symmetry-breaking have long been known to be possible, but experimental verification has been impeded by the fact that for most materials, symmetry is a fixed property of the crystal, not an easily tunable parameter. The objectives of the proposed work are (i) to reveal the intimate connection between symmetry and topological electronic states, and (ii) to produce several tunable topological quantum phases which are of both scientific and technological significance. This project focuses on the recently discovered layered topological semimetals WHM (W = Zr or rare earth elements; H = Si, Sn, Sb; M = S, Se, Te). The layered crystal structure, availability of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) flakes, and rich magnetic states of WHM compounds allow for symmetry engineering via synergistic bulk- and nano-approaches. The PIs plan to modify the crystal symmetry in a controllable manner using strain, and break time-reversal symmetry using magnetic WHMs and via magnetic proximity in heterostructures. This research is based on the combined efforts of bulk single crystal growth, nanodevice fabrication, strain application, theoretical calculations, and quantum transport measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Temporal Cerebral Microbleeds Are Associated With Radiation Necrosis and Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients Treated for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Purpose: Radiation therapy for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) may be complicated with radiation-induced brain necrosis (RN), resulting in deteriorated cognitive function. However, the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. This study attempts to elucidate the association between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and radiation necrosis and cognitive dysfunction in NPC patients treated with radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study included 106 NPC patients who were exposed to radiation therapy (78 patients with RN and 28 without RN). Sixty-six patients without discernable intracranial pathology were included as the control group. CMBs were confirmed using susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Cognitive function was accessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Patients with a total score below 26 were defined as cognitively dysfunction. Results: Seventy-seven patients (98.7%) in the RN group and 12 patients (42.9%) in the non-RN group had at least 1 CMB. In contrast, only 14 patients (21.2%) in the control group had CMBs. In patients with a history of radiation therapy, CMBs most commonly presented in temporal lobes (76.4%) followed by cerebellum (23.7%). Patients with RN had more temporal CMBs than those in the non-RN group (37.7 ± 51.9 vs 3.8 ± 12.6, respectively; P<.001). The number of temporal lobe CMBs was predictive for larger volume of brain necrosis (P<.001) in multivariate linear regression analysis. Although cognitive impairment was diagnosed in 55.1% of RN patients, only 7.1% of non-RN patients sustained cognitive impairment (P<.001). After adjusting for age, sex, education, period after radiation therapy, CMBs in other lobes, and RN volume, the number of temporal CMBs remained an independent risk factor for cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio [OR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.04; P=.003). Conclusions: CMBs is a common radiological manifestation in NPC patients with RN. The number of temporal CMBs is independently associated with increased likelihood of cognitive dysfunction in patients with RN.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Assembly and Pre-Loading Specifications for the Series Production of the Nb 3 Sn MQXFA Quadrupole Magnets for the HL-LHC

We report the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) Project is planning to install 16 cold-masses made with Nb 3 Sn quadrupole magnets in the LHC Interaction Regions to significantly increase its luminosity. Half of these cold masses are fabricated at BNL, FNAL, and LBNL under the US Accelerator Research Program (AUP). Each cold mass includes two identical Nb 3 Sn quadrupole magnets, called MQXFA with a magnetic length of 4.2 m. Currently, the AUP project has completed the fabrication and test of the first 5 pre-series magnets, and is working on the following 16 magnets for the series production. The brittleness and strain sensitivity of the Nb 3 Sn superconducting material requires a careful definition of the allowable maximum stress in the windings during magnet assembly and pre-load, and a tight control of their variation within the whole coil length. Therefore, a series of assembly and pre-load specifications have been defined with the goals of minimizing the risk of conductor degradation and providing the mechanical support required to reach the nominal current during powering. In this paper we present the specifications defined for the MQXFA magnets and applied during the different assembly phases and during the pre-load process of the first 5 pre-series magnets.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗