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Wang, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Wang, M..

At least 55 records · Page 3

Survey geometry and the internal consistency of recent cosmic shear measurements

Here, we explore the impact of an update to the typical approximation for the shape noise term in the analytic covariance matrix for cosmic shear experiments that assumes the absence of survey boundary and mask effects. We present an exact expression for the number of galaxy pairs in this term based on the the survey mask, which leads to more than a factor of three increase in the shape noise on the largest measured scales for the Kilo-Degree Survey (KIDS-450) real-space cosmic shear data. We compare the result of this analytic expression to several alternative methods for measuring the shape noise from the data and find excellent agreement. This update to the covariance resolves any internal model tension evidenced by the previously large cosmological best-fit $\chi^2$ for the KiDS-450 cosmic shear data. The best-fit $\chi^2$ is reduced from 161 to 121 for 118 degrees of freedom. We also apply a correction to how the multiplicative shear calibration uncertainty is included in the covariance. This change, along with a previously known update to the reported effective angular values of the data vector, jointly shift the inferred amplitude of the correlation function to higher values. Lastly, we find that this improves agreement of the KiDS-450 cosmic shear results with Dark Energy Survey Year 1 and Planck results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Strongly extended diffusion length for the nonequilibrium magnons in Y 3 F e 5 O 12 by photoexcitation

Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 (YIG) is known for its long magnon diffusion length. Although it has the known lowest damping rate, an even longer diffusion distance is still highly desired since it may lead to a much more efficient information transmission and processing. While most of previous works focused on the generation and detection of magnons in YIG, here we demonstrate how to depress the damping rate during the diffusion of magnon. By selectively exciting the spin state transition of the Fe ions in YIG, we successfully increase magnon diffusion length by one order of magnitude, i.e., from the previous reported ~10 μm up to ~156 μm (for the sample prepared by liquid phase epitaxy) and ~180 μm (for the sample prepared by pulsed laser deposition) at room temperature. The diffusion length, determined by nonlocal geometry, is ~30 μm for the magnons induced by visible light and above 150 μm for the laser of 980 nm. In addition to thermal gradient, light excitation affects the electron configuration of the Fe 3+ ion in YIG. Long-wavelength laser is more effective since it causes a transition of the Fe 3+ ions in FeO 6 octahedron from a high spin to a low spin state and thus causes a magnon softening which favors a long-distance diffusion. Furthermore, the present work paves the way toward an efficient tuning of magnon transport which is crucially important for magnon spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nugget Structure Evolution with Rotation Speed for High-Rotation-Speed Friction-Stir-Welded 6061 Aluminum Alloy

High-rotation-speed friction stir welding (HRS-FSW) is a promising technique to reduce the welding loads during FSW and thus facilitates the application of FSW for in situ fabrication and repair. In this study, 6061 aluminum alloy was friction stir welded at high-rotation speeds ranging from 3000 to 7000 rpm at a fixed welding speed of 50 mm/min, and the effects of rotation speed on the nugget zone macro- and microstructures were investigated in detail in order to illuminate the process features. Temperature measurements during HRS-FSW indicated that the peak temperature did not increase consistently with rotation speed; instead, it dropped remarkably at 5000 rpm because of the lowering of material shear stress. The nugget size first increased with rotation speed until 5000 rpm and then decreased due to the change of the dominant tool/workpiece contact condition from sticking to sliding. At the rotation speed of 5000 rpm, where the weld material experienced weaker thermal effect and higher-strain-rate plastic deformation, the nugget exhibited relatively small grain size, large textural intensity, and high dislocation density. Consequently, the joint showed superior nugget hardness and simultaneously a slightly low tensile ductility.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Analysis of Poloidal Asymmetric Density Behaviors in SOL Induced by 4.6-GHz Lower Hybrid Launcher Power in EAST

On the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), a series of striations, including a few strong emissivity striations and several low emissivity striations, were observed in front of the 4.6-GHz lower hybrid (LH) launcher with the visible video camera for the LH power discharge. These striations indicate that LH may create significant poloidal scrape-off layer (SOL) density profile asymmetries in front of the LH launcher. These poloidal asymmetric density behaviors are further confirmed with the edge density measured by two Langmuir probes installed at the top and bottom of the LH launcher. The measured density depends on LH power injection and magnetic field direction. A 2D diffusive convective model was used to study the mechanisms of the observed striations and poloidal asymmetric density. The simulation results qualitatively match with the measured density, indicating these poloidal asymmetric effects are ascribed to the LHW-induced E{sub LH} × B{sub t} drift.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Process Developments in the Fabrication of Depleted Uranium Hohlraums

Research at General Atomics and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has been focused on evaluating depleted uranium (DU) hohlraum fabrication over the past 10 years to improve the yield, thereby increasing the availability of DU hohlruams required to support the increased shot rate at the National Ignition Facility. The more straightforward gold (Au) hohlraum fabrication involves four basic steps: mandrel fabrication, electroplating, back machining and milling, and leaching. For Au, the overall fabrication yield of this process approaches 98%. Depleted uranium lined hohlraum fabrication, however, requires deposition of a multilayer of thin films after the mandrel fabrication step. These thin film deposition processes have historically proven difficult to execute on a complex cylindrical geometry of a hohlraum, resulting in unacceptable stress-driven delamination, with net yields ranging 20% to 35%. Recent hohlraum design and fabrication process changes, as well as material selections implemented between 2014 and 2016, have improved the fabrication yield to over 60%. Additionally, these changes are discussed here as well as plans for future improvements.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Evidence and modeling of 3D divertor footprint induced by lower hybrid waves on EAST with tungsten divertor operations

Here, three dimensional (3D) divertor particle flux footprints induced by the lower hybrid wave (LHW) have been systematically investigated in the EAST superconducting tokamak during the recent experimental campaign. We find that the striated particle flux (SPF) peaks away from the strike point (SP) closely fit the pitch of the edge magnetic field line for different safety factors q 95, as predicted by a field line tracing code taking into account the helical current filaments (HCFs) in the scrape-off-layer (SOL). As LHW power increases, it requires the fuelling to be increased e.g. by super molecular beam injection (SMBI), to maintain a similar plasma density, which may be attributed to the pump-out effect due to LHW, and may thus be beneficial for EAST steady state operations. The 3D SPF structure is observed with a LHW power threshold (P LHW ~ 0.9 MW). The ratio of the particle fluxes between SPF and outer strike point (OSP), i.e. ${{\Gamma }_{{\rm ion},{\rm SPF}}}/{{\Gamma }_{{\rm ion},{\rm OSP}}}$ , increases with the LHW power. Upon transition to divertor detachment, the particle flux at the main OSP decreases, as expected, however, the particle flux at SPF continues increasing, in contrast to the RMP-induced striations that vanish with increasing divertor density. In addition, we also find that the in–out asymmetry of the 3D particle flux footprint pattern exhibits a clear dependence on the toroidal field direction (B × ∇ B ↓ and B × ∇ B↑). Experiments using neon impurity seeding show a promising capability in 3D particle and heat flux control on EAST. LHW-induced particle and heat flux striations are also present in the H-mode plasmas, reducing the peak heat flux and erosion at the main strike point, thus facilitating long-pulse operation with a new steady-state H-mode over 60s being recently achieved in EAST.

3D effect↗

Biomarkers of Tuberculosis Severity and Treatment Effect: A Directed Screen of 70 Host Markers in a Randomized Clinical Trial

More efficacious treatment regimens are needed for tuberculosis, however, drug development is impeded by a lack of reliable biomarkers of disease severity and of treatment effect. In this study, we conducted a directed screen of host biomarkers in participants enrolled in a tuberculosis clinical trial to address this need. Serum samples from 319 protocol-correct, culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated under direct observation as part of an international, phase 2 trial were screened for 70 markers of infection, inflammation, and metabolism. Biomarker assays were specifically developed for this study and quantified using a novel, multiplexed electrochemiluminescence assay. We evaluated the association of biomarkers with baseline characteristics, as well as with detailed microbiologic data, using Bonferroni-adjusted, linear regression models. Across numerous analyses, seven proteins, SAA1, PCT, IL-1, IL-6, CRP, PTX-3 and MMP-8, showed recurring strong associations with markers of baseline disease severity, smear grade and cavitation; were strongly modulated by tuberculosis treatment; and had responses that were greater for patients who culture-converted at 8 weeks. With treatment, all proteins decreased, except for osteocalcin, MCP-1 and MCP-4, which significantly increased. Several previously reported putative tuberculosis-associated biomarkers (HOMX1, neopterin, and cathelicidin) were not significantly associated with treatment response. In conclusion, across a geographically diverse and large population of tuberculosis patients enrolled in a clinical trial, several previously reported putative biomarkers were not significantly associated with treatment response, however, seven proteins had recurring strong associations with baseline radiographic and microbiologic measures of disease severity, as well as with early treatment response, deserving additional study.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Development of low angle grain boundaries in lightly deformed superconducting niobium and their influence on hydride distribution and flux perturbation

This study shows that low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) can be created by small 5% strains in high purity (RRR ≥ 200) SRF-grade single crystalline niobium (Nb) and that these boundaries act as hydrogen traps as indicated by the distribution of niobium hydrides (Nb 1-x H x ). Nb 1-x H x is detrimental to superconducting radio frequency (SRF) Nb cavities due to its normal conducting properties at cavity operating temperatures. By designing a single crystal tensile sample extracted from a large grain (>5 cm) Nb ingot slice for preferred slip on one slip plane, LAGBs and dense dislocation boundaries developed. With chemical surface treatments following standard SRF cavity fabrication practice, Nb1-xHx phases were densely precipitated at the LAGBs upon cryogenic cooling (8-10 K/min). Micro-crystallographic analysis confirmed heterogeneous hydride precipitation, which included significant hydrogen atom accumulation in LAGBs. Magneto-optical imaging (MOI) analysis showed that these sites can then act as sites for both premature flux penetration and eventually flux trapping. However, this hydrogen related degradation at LAGBs did not completely disappear even after a 800 °C/2hrs anneal typically used for hydrogen removal in SRF Nb cavities. These findings suggest that hydride precipitation at a LAGB is facilitated by a non-equilibrium concentration of vacancy-hydrogen (H) complexes aided by mechanical deformation and the hydride phase interferes with the recovery process under 800°C annealing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-precision Q EC values of superallowed 0 + → 0 + β-emitters 46 Cr, 50 Fe and 54 Ni

Short-lived 46 Cr, 50 Fe and 54 Ni were studied by isochronous mass spectrometry at the HIRFL-CSR facility in Lanzhou. The measured precision mass excesses (ME) of 46 Cr, 50 Fe and 54 Ni are -29471(11) keV, -34477(6) keV and -39278(4) keV, respectively. The superallowed 0 + →0+β-decay Q values were derived to be Q EC ( 46 Cr) =7604(11) keV, Q EC ( 50 Fe) =8150(6) keV and Q EC ( 54 Ni) =8731(4) keV. The values for 50 Fe and 54 Ni are by one order of magnitude more precise than the adopted literature values. By combining the existing half-lives and branching ratios, we obtained the corrected ℱt values to be ℱt( 50 Fe) =3103(70) s and ℱt( 54 Ni) =3076(50) s. The main contribution to the ℱt uncertainties is now due to β-decay branching ratios, still, more high-precision measurements of the half-lives, the masses, and especially the branching ratios are needed in order to satisfy the requirements for a stringent CVC test.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Observation of β-delayed two-proton emission in the decay of 22 Si

The decay of the lightest nucleus with Tz=-3, 22 Si, was studied by a silicon array. A charged-particle group at 5600 (70) keV in the decay-energy spectrum was identified experimentally as β-delayed two-proton emission from the isobaric analog state (IAS) of 22 Al. Experimental results of the IAS fed by a superallowed Fermi transition were compared with our large-scale shell-model calculations. The ground-state mass of 22 Si was obtained indirectly in the experiment for the first time. Two-proton separation energy for 22 Si is deduced to be -108 (125) keV, which indicates that it is a very marginal candidate for two-proton ground-state emission.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Charge delocalization characteristics of regioregular high mobility polymers

Controlling the regioregularity among the structural units of narrow bandgap conjugated polymer backbones has led to improvements in optoelectronic properties, for example in the mobilities observed in field effect transistor devices. To investigate how the regioregularity affects quantities relevant to hole transport, regioregular and regiorandom oligomers representative of polymeric structures were studied using density functional theory. Several structural and electronic characteristics of the oligomers were compared, including chain planarity, cation spin density, excess charges on molecular units and internal reorganizational energy. The main difference between the regioregular and regiorandom oligomers is found to be the conjugated backbone planarity, while the reorganizational energies calculated are quite similar across the molecular family. Lastly, this work constitutes the first step on understanding the complex interplay of atomistic changes and an oligomer backbone structure toward modeling the charge transport properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Size effects on negative thermal expansion in cubic ScF{sub 3}

Scandium trifluoride (ScF{sub 3}), adopting a cubic ReO{sub 3}-type structure at ambient pressure, undergoes a pronounced negative thermal expansion (NTE) over a wide range of temperatures (10 K–1100 K). Here, we report the size effects on the NTE properties of ScF{sub 3}. The magnitude of NTE is reduced with diminishing the crystal size. As revealed by the specific heat measurement, the low-energy phonon vibrations which account for the NTE behavior are stiffened as the crystal size decreases. With decreasing the crystal size, the peaks in high-energy X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) become broad, which cannot be illuminated by local symmetry breaking. Instead, the broadened PDF peaks are strongly indicative of enhanced atomic displacements which are suggested to be responsible for the stiffening of NTE-related lattice vibrations. The present study suggests that the NTE properties of ReO{sub 3}-type and other open-framework materials can be effectively adjusted by controlling the crystal size.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

First beryllium capsule implosions on the National Ignition Facility

The first indirect drive implosion experiments using Beryllium (Be) capsules at the National Ignition Facility confirm the superior ablation properties and elucidate possible Be-ablator issues such as hohlraum filling by ablator material. Since the 1990s, Be has been the preferred Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) ablator because of its higher mass ablation rate compared to that of carbon-based ablators. This enables ICF target designs with higher implosion velocities at lower radiation temperatures and improved hydrodynamic stability through greater ablative stabilization. Recent experiments to demonstrate the viability of Be ablator target designs measured the backscattered laser energy, capsule implosion velocity, core implosion shape from self-emission, and in-flight capsule shape from backlit imaging. The laser backscatter is similar to that from comparable plastic (CH) targets under the same hohlraum conditions. Implosion velocity measurements from backlit streaked radiography show that laser energy coupling to the hohlraum wall is comparable to plastic ablators. The measured implosion shape indicates no significant reduction of laser energy from the inner laser cone beams reaching the hohlraum wall as compared with plastic and high-density carbon ablators. These results indicate that the high mass ablation rate for beryllium capsules does not significantly alter hohlraum energetics. In addition, these data, together with data for low fill-density hohlraum performance, indicate that laser power multipliers, required to reconcile simulations with experimental observations, are likely due to our limited understanding of the hohlraum rather than the capsule physics since similar multipliers are needed for both Be and CH capsules as seen in experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Deformation and spallation of a magnesium alloy under high strain rate loading

We investigate deformation and damage of a magnesium alloy, AZ91, under high strain rate (similar to 10(5) s(-1)) loading via planar impact. The soft-recovered specimens are examined with electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD). EBSD analysis reveals three types of twinning: {1012} extension, {10 (1) over bar1} contraction, and {10 (1) over bar1}-{10 (1) over bar2) double twinning, and their number density increases with increasing impact velocity. The extension twins dominate contraction and double twins in size and number. Dislocation densities of the recovered specimens are evaluated with x-ray diffraction, and increase with increasing impact velocity. X-ray tomography is used to resolve three-dimensional microstructure of shock-recovered samples. The EBSD and tomography results demonstrate that the second phase, Mg17Al12, plays an important role in both deformation twinning and tensile cracking. Deformation twinning appears to be a common mechanism in deformation of magnesium alloys at low, medium and high strain rates, in addition to dislocation motion. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

EBSD↗

REACTION RATES OF {sup 64}Ge(p,γ){sup 65}As AND {sup 65}As(p,γ){sup 66}Se AND THE EXTENT OF NUCLEOSYNTHESIS IN TYPE I X-RAY BURSTS

The extent of nucleosynthesis in models of type I X-ray bursts (XRBs) and the associated impact on the energy released in these explosive events are sensitive to nuclear masses and reaction rates around the {sup 64}Ge waiting point. Using the well known mass of {sup 64}Ge, the recently measured {sup 65}As mass, and large-scale shell model calculations, we have determined new thermonuclear rates of the {sup 64}Ge(p,γ){sup 65}As and {sup 65}As(p,γ){sup 66}Se reactions with reliable uncertainties. The new reaction rates differ significantly from previously published rates. Using the new data, we analyze the impact of the new rates and the remaining nuclear physics uncertainties on the {sup 64}Ge waiting point in a number of representative one-zone XRB models. We find that in contrast to previous work, when all relevant uncertainties are considered, a strong {sup 64}Ge rp-process waiting point cannot be ruled out. The nuclear physics uncertainties strongly affect XRB model predictions of the synthesis of {sup 64}Zn, the synthesis of nuclei beyond A = 64, the energy generation, and the burst light curve. We also identify key nuclear uncertainties that need to be addressed to determine the role of the {sup 64}Ge waiting point in XRBs. These include the remaining uncertainty in the {sup 65}As mass, the uncertainty of the {sup 66}Se mass, and the remaining uncertainty in the {sup 65}As(p,γ){sup 66}Se reaction rate, which mainly originates from uncertain resonance energies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ridge InGaAs/InP multi-quantum-well selective growth in nanoscale trenches on Si (001) substrate

Metal organic chemical vapor deposition of InGaAs/InP multi-quantum-well in nanoscale V-grooved trenches on Si (001) substrate was studied using the aspect ratio trapping method. A high quality GaAs/InP buffer layer with two convex (111) B facets was selectively grown to promote the highly uniform, single-crystal ridge InP/InGaAs multi-quantum-well structure growth. Material quality was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and room temperature micro-photoluminescence measurements. This approach shows great promise for the fabrication of photonics devices and nanolasers on Si substrate.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗