Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Chen, X.

Publications and source records attributed to Chen, X..

At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Harmonic decomposition of three-particle azimuthal correlations at energies available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

Here, we present measurements of three-particle correlations for various harmonics in Au+Au collisions at energies ranging from √ s NN=7.7 to 200 GeV using the STAR detector. The quantity < cos(mΦ 1 +nΦ 2 –(m+n)Φ 3 ) >, with Φ being the azimuthal angles of the particles is evaluated as a function of √ s NN, collision centrality, transverse momentum, p T , pseudorapidity difference, Δη, and harmonics (m and n). These data provide detailed information on global event properties such as the three-dimensional structure of the initial overlap region, the expansion dynamics of the matter produced in the collisions, and the transport properties of the medium. A strong dependence on Δη is observed for most harmonic combinations, which is consistent with breaking of longitudinal boost invariance. An interesting energy dependence is observed when one of the harmonics m,n, or m+n is equal to two, for which the correlators are dominated by the two-particle correlations relative to the second-harmonic event plane. These measurements can be used to constrain models of heavy-ion collisions over a wide range of temperature and baryon chemical potential.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Rates of subcritical cracking and long-term rock erosion

Bedrock fracture is a key element of rock erosion and subsequent surface processes. We test the hypothesis that rock's susceptibility to subcritical cracking, a specific type of fracturing, significantly drives and limits rock erosion. We measured 10 Be-derived erosion rates, compressive strength, and crack characteristics on 20 outcrops of different rock units (quartzite, granite, and two metasandstones) in the northern Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (USA). We also measured the subcritical cracking index (n), Charles’s law velocity constant (A), and fracture toughness (K IC ) of samples from four of the same outcrops, representative of each rock type. Erosion rates range from 1.16 ± 0.67 to 32.3 ± 7.8 m/m.y. We find strong correlations—across the four rock units—between average erosion rates and the three subcritical cracking parameters (R 2 > 0.85, p < 0.05), but not compressive strength (R 2 = 0.6; p > 0.1). We also find a correlative relationship between n and outcrop fracture length (R 2 = 0.91; p < 0.05). The latter correlation is consistent with that of published model predictions, further indicating a mechanistic link between subcritical cracking and rock erosion. We infer that subcritical cracking parameters closely tie to erosion rates, because subcritical cracking is the dominant process of mechanical weathering, leading to positive feedbacks relating subcritical cracking rates, crack length, porosity, and water accessibility. Finally, these data are the first that directly test and support the hypothesis that subcritical cracking can set the pace of long-term rock erosion.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Semi‐dominant mutation in the cysteine‐rich receptor‐like kinase gene, ALS 1 , conducts constitutive defence response in rice

Abstract Plants have evolved a sophisticated two‐branch defence system to prevent the growth and spread of pathogen infection. The novel Cys‐rich repeat ( CRR ) containing receptor‐like kinases, known as CRK s, were reported to mediate defence resistance in plants. For rice, there are only two reports of CRK s. A semi‐dominant lesion mimic mutant als1 (apoptosis leaf and sheath 1) in rice was identified to demonstrate spontaneous lesions on the leaf blade and sheath. A map‐based cloning strategy was used for fine mapping and cloning of ALS 1 , which was confirmed to be a typical CRK in rice. Functional studies of ALS 1 were conducted, including phylogenetic analysis, expression analysis, subcellular location and blast resistance identification. Most pathogenesis‐related ( PR ) genes and other defence‐related genes were activated and up‐regulated to a high degree. ALS 1 was expressed mainly in the leaf blade and sheath, in which further study revealed that ALS 1 was present in the vascular bundles. ALS 1 was located in the cell membrane of rice protoplasts, and its mutation did not change its subcellular location. Jasmonic acid ( JA ) and salicylic acid ( SA ) accumulation were observed in als1 , and enhanced blast resistance was also observed. The mutation of ALS 1 caused a constitutively activated defence response in als1 . The results of our study imply that ALS 1 participates in a defence response resembling the common SA ‐, JA ‐ and NH 1 ‐mediated defence responses in rice.

Du, D.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Decoupling the role of stress and corrosion in the intergranular cracking of noble-metal alloys

Intergranular stress-corrosion cracking (IGSCC) is a form of environmentally induced crack propagation causing premature failure of elemental metals and alloys. It is believed to require the simultaneous presence of tensile stress and corrosion; however, the exact nature of this synergy has eluded experimental identification. For noble metal alloys such as Ag–Au, IGSCC is a consequence of dealloying corrosion, forming a nanoporous gold layer that is believed to have the ability to transmit cracks into grain boundaries in un-dealloyed parent phase via a pure mechanical process. Here using atomic-scale techniques and statistical characterizations for this alloy system, we show that the separate roles of stress and anodic dissolution can be decoupled and that the apparent synergy exists owing to rapid time-dependent morphology changes at the dealloyed layer/parent phase interface. We discuss the applicability of our findings to the IGSCC of important engineering Fe- and Ni-based alloys in critical applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Measurement of the H Λ 3 lifetime in Au+Au collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider [Measurement of the H Λ 3 lifetime in Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider]

Here, an improved measurement of the 3 Λ H lifetime is presented. In this paper, the mesonic decay modes 3 Λ H → 3 He + π – and 3 Λ H → d + p + π – are used to reconstruct the 3 Λ H from Au+Au collision data collected by the STAR collaboration at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). A minimum χ2 estimation is used to determine the lifetime of τ = 142 +24 –21 (stat.) ± 29 (syst.) ps. This lifetime is about 50% shorter than the lifetime τ = 263 ± 2 ps of a free Λ, indicating strong hyperon-nucleon interaction in the hypernucleus system. The branching ratios of the mesonic decay channels are also determined to satisfy B.R. ( 3 He+π – )/( B.R. ( 3 He+π – ) + B.R. (d+p+π – ) ) = 0.32 ± 0.05 (stat.) ± 0.08 (syst.). Our ratio result favors the assignment J( 3 Λ H) = 1/2 over J( 3 Λ H) = 3/2. These measurements will help to constrain models of hyperon-baryon interactions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗