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Yang, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Yang, C..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Studies of various physics effects on an on-axis LHCD experiment using numerical tools

The lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) plays an important role in the long pulse and high performance experiments on the EAST Tokamak, using LHW systems with frequencies of 2.45 GHz and 4.6 GHz. With the initial parallel refractive index mostly peaking at n ∥ ~1.8-2.1, it is difficult to have on-axis LHCD due to the accessibility conditions which prevents the LHW from propagating into the plasma core. However, according to the investigation of HXR diagnostics, LHW did provide an on-axis current drive in an EAST experiment. To interpret this on-axis LHCD phenomenon, various physics effects that give rise to variations in parallel wave numbers, thus influencing the propagation and the absorption of the LHW, have been taken into account, such as toroidal effects, full wave effects with focusing and diffraction, and scattering effects due to density fluctuations. Numerical tools including ray-tracing and full wave codes that contain one or two of the above physics effects have been used to model the heating and current drive of the LHW on EAST. Linear Landau damping and quasi-linear Landau damping have been compared by using the coupling between ray-tracing and the Fokker-Planck codes. Convergence studies have been performed for the full wave modeling, the maximum poloidal modes in the full wave have been scanned, and the results are compared with each other. The factors that characterize the amplitude, the radial thickness, and the location of the density fluctuations have been studied and scanned. The measurement of HXR diagnostics has been compared with synthetic diagnostics by reconstructing the HXR data from both the standard GENRAY/CQL3D LHCD modelling and the modeling taking the scattering effects into account.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Recursive integral method with Cayley transformation

Summary The recently developed RIM (recursive integral method) finds eigenvalues in a region of the complex plane. It computes an indicator to test if the region contains eigenvalues using an approximate spectral projection. If the indicator shows that the region contains eigenvalues, it is subdivided into smaller regions, which are then recursively tested and subdivided until any eigenvalues are isolated to a specified precision. We propose an enhancement to RIM that uses Cayley transformations and Arnoldi's method to greatly decrease the number of factorizations required to solve the linear systems that arise from a discretized contour integral to compute the indicator, which substantially reduces the computational cost. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method with numerical examples and compare with the implicitly restarted Arnoldi method, as implemented in eigs in MATLAB.

Huang, R.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Coherent J / ψ photoproduction in hadronic heavy-ion collisions

Significant excesses of J/ yield at very low transverse momentum (p T < 0:3 GeV/c) were observed by the ALICE and STAR collaborations in peripheral hadronic A+A collisions. This is a Sign of coherent photoproduction of J/ψ in violent hadronic interactions. Theoretically, the photoproduction of J= in hadronic collisions raises questions about how spectator and non-spectator nucleons participate in the coherent reaction. We argue that the strong interactions in the overlapping region of incoming nuclei may disturb the coherent production, leaving room for different coupling assumptions. The destructive interference between photoproduction on ions moving in opposite directions also needs to be included. This letter presents calculations of J/ψ production from coherent photon-nucleus (γ+A → J/ψ +A) interactions in hadronic A+A collisions at RHIC and LHC energies with both nucleus and spectator coupling hypotheses. The integrated yield of coherent J/ψ as a function of centrality is found to be significantly different, especially towards central collisions, for different coupling scenarios. Differential distributions as a function of transverse momentum, azimuthal angle and rapidity in different centrality bins are also shown, and found to be more sensitive to the Pomeron coupling than to the photon coupling. Lastly, these predictions call for future experimental measurements to help better understand the coherent interaction in hadronic heavy-ion collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Basic Energy Sciences Exascale Requirements Review. An Office of Science review sponsored jointly by Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Basic Energy Sciences, November 3-5, 2015, Rockville, Maryland

Computers have revolutionized every aspect of our lives. Yet in science, the most tantalizing applications of computing lie just beyond our reach. The current quest to build an exascale computer with one thousand times the capability of today’s fastest machines (and more than a million times that of a laptop) will take researchers over the next horizon. The field of materials, chemical reactions, and compounds is inherently complex. Imagine millions of new materials with new functionalities waiting to be discovered — while researchers also seek to extend those materials that are known to a dizzying number of new forms. We could translate massive amounts of data from high precision experiments into new understanding through data mining and analysis. We could have at our disposal the ability to predict the properties of these materials, to follow their transformations during reactions on an atom-by-atom basis, and to discover completely new chemical pathways or physical states of matter. Extending these predictions from the nanoscale to the mesoscale, from the ultrafast world of reactions to long-time simulations to predict the lifetime performance of materials, and to the discovery of new materials and processes will have a profound impact on energy technology. In addition, discovery of new materials is vital to move computing beyond Moore’s law. To realize this vision, more than hardware is needed. New algorithms to take advantage of the increase in computing power, new programming paradigms, and new ways of mining massive data sets are needed as well. This report summarizes the opportunities and the requisite computing ecosystem needed to realize the potential before us. In addition to pursuing new and more complete physical models and theoretical frameworks, this review found that the following broadly grouped areas relevant to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) would directly affect the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) mission need. Simulation, visualization, and data analysis are crucial for advances in energy science and technology. Revolutionary mathematical, software, and algorithm developments are required in all areas of BES science to take advantage of exascale computing architectures and to meet data analysis, management, and workflow needs. In partnership with ASCR, BES has an emerging and pressing need to develop new and disruptive capabilities in data science. More capable and larger high-performance computing (HPC) and data ecosystems are required to support priority research in BES. Continued success in BES research requires developing the next-generation workforce through education and training and by providing sustained career opportunities.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dispersed SiC nanoparticles in Ni observed by ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering

In this paper, a metal-ceramic composite, nickel reinforced with SiC nanoparticles, was synthesized and characterized for its potential application in next-generation molten salt nuclear reactors. Synchrotron ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements were conducted on the composite. The size distribution and number density of the SiC nanoparticles in the material were obtained through data modelling. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy characterization were performed to substantiate the results of the USAXS measurements. Tensile tests were performed on the samples to measure the change in their yield strength after doping with the nanoparticles. Finally, the average interparticle distance was calculated from the USAXS results and is related to the increased yield strength of the composite.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

NuSTAR OBSERVATIONS OF MAGNETAR 1E 1048.1–5937

We report on simultaneous Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array ( NuSTAR ) and XMM-Newton observations of the magnetar 1E 1048.1−5937, along with Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer ( RXTE ) data for the same source. The NuSTAR data provide a clear detection of this magnetar’s persistent emission up to 20 keV. We detect a previously unreported small secondary peak in the average pulse profile in the 7–10 keV band, which grows to an amplitude comparable to that of the main peak in the 10–20 keV band. We show using RXTE data that this secondary peak is likely transient. We find that the pulsed fraction increases with energy from a value of ∼0.55 at ∼2 keV to a value of ∼0.75 near 8 keV but shows evidence of decreasing at higher energies. After filtering out multiple bright X-ray bursts during the observation, we find that the phase-averaged spectrum from combined NuSTAR and XMM data is well described by an absorbed double blackbody plus power-law model, with no evidence for the spectral turn-up near ∼10 keV as has been seen in some other magnetars. Our data allow us to rule out a spectral turn-up similar to those seen in magnetars 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586 of ΔΓ ≳ 2, where ΔΓ is the difference between the soft-band and hard-band photon indexes. The lack of spectral turn-up is consistent with what has been observed from an active subset of magnetars given previously reported trends suggesting that the degree of spectral turn-up is correlated with spin-down rate and/or spin-inferred magnetic field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Muon identification with Muon Telescope Detector at the STAR experiment

The Muon Telescope Detector (MTD) is a newly installed detector in the STAR experiment. It provides an excellent opportunity to study heavy quarkonium physics using the dimuon channel in heavy ion collisions. In this paper, we report the muon identification performance for the MTD using proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV with various methods. Here, the result using the Likelihood Ratio method shows that the muon identification efficiency can reach up to ~ 90% for muons with transverse momenta greater than 3 GeV/c and the significance of the J/ψ signal is improved by a factor of 2 compared to using the basic selection.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

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↗
DOE OSTI2015

Giant negative thermal expansion covering room temperature in nanocrystalline GaN{sub x}Mn{sub 3}

Nanocrystalline antiperovskite GaN{sub x}Mn{sub 3} powders were prepared by mechanically milling. The micrograin GaN{sub x}Mn{sub 3} exhibits an abrupt volume contraction at the antiferromagnetic (AFM) to paramagnetic (PM) (AFM-PM) transition. The temperature window of volume contraction (ΔT) is broadened to 50 K as the average grain size (〈D〉) is reduced to ∼30 nm. The corresponding coefficient of linear thermal expansion (α) reaches ∼ −70 ppm/K, which are comparable to those of giant NTE materials. Further reducing 〈D〉 to ∼10 nm, ΔT exceeds 100 K and α remains as large as −30 ppm/K (−21 ppm/K) for x = 1.0 (x = 0.9). Excess atomic displacements together with the reduced structural coherence, revealed by high-energy X-ray pair distribution functions, are suggested to delay the AFM-PM transition. By controlling 〈D〉, giant NTE may also be achievable in other materials with large lattice contraction due to electronic or magnetic phase transitions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Non-monotonic effect of growth temperature on carrier collection in SnS solar cells

We quantify the effects of growth temperature on material and device properties of thermally evaporated SnS thin-films and test structures. Grain size, Hall mobility, and majority-carrier concentration monotonically increase with growth temperature. However, the charge collection as measured by the long-wavelength contribution to short-circuit current exhibits a non-monotonic behavior: the collection decreases with increased growth temperature from 150 °C to 240 °C and then recovers at 285 °C. Fits to the experimental internal quantum efficiency using an opto-electronic model indicate that the non-monotonic behavior of charge-carrier collection can be explained by a transition from drift- to diffusion-assisted components of carrier collection. The results show a promising increase in the extracted minority-carrier diffusion length at the highest growth temperature of 285 °C. These findings illustrate how coupled mechanisms can affect early stage device development, highlighting the critical role of direct materials property measurements and simulation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Multi-physics Modeling for Improving Li-Ion Battery Safety; NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Battery performance, cost, and safety must be further improved for larger market share of HEVs/PEVs and penetration into the grid. Significant investment is being made to develop new materials, fine tune existing ones, improve cell and pack designs, and enhance manufacturing processes to increase performance, reduce cost, and make batteries safer. Modeling, simulation, and design tools can play an important role by providing insight on how to address issues, reducing the number of build-test-break prototypes, and accelerating the development cycle of generating products.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Carrier thermalization under stimulated emission in In{sub 0.17}Ga{sub 0.83}N epilayer at room temperature

We elucidate a strong room temperature stimulated emission (SE) of In{sub 0.17}Ga{sub 0.83}N epilayer grown by molecular beam epitaxy under the subpicosecond pulse excitation. The SE peak at 428 nm emerges on the higher energy side of the spontaneous emission in photoluminescence spectra when the excitation density exceeds the threshold of ∼3.68 mJ/cm{sup 2}. Nondegenerate transient differential reflectivity measurements show that a multi-stage carrier thermalization from excited states to localized edge states and stimulated emission dominate the decay processes of photogenerated carriers under various excitation densities. Our results indicate that the existence of phonon bottleneck effect could result in a slow thermalization process in the InGaN material even under the condition of stimulated emission.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗