Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “parallel sensing”

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 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

A performance model for the communication in fast multipole methods on high-performance computing platforms

Exascale systems are predicted to have approximately 1 billion cores, assuming gigahertz cores. Limitations on affordable network topologies for distributed memory systems of such massive scale bring new challenges to the currently dominant parallel programing model. Currently, there are many efforts to evaluate the hardware and software bottlenecks of exascale designs. It is therefore of interest to model application performance and to understand what changes need to be made to ensure extrapolated scalability. The fast multipole method (FMM) was originally developed for accelerating N-body problems in astrophysics and molecular dynamics but has recently been extended to a wider range of problems. Its high arithmetic intensity combined with its linear complexity and asynchronous communication patterns make it a promising algorithm for exascale systems. In this paper, we discuss the challenges for FMM on current parallel computers and future exascale architectures, with a focus on internode communication. We focus on the communication part only; the efficiency of the computational kernels are beyond the scope of the present study. We develop a performance model that considers the communication patterns of the FMM and observe a good match between our model and the actual communication time on four high-performance computing (HPC) systems, when latency, bandwidth, network topology, and multicore penalties are all taken into account. To our knowledge, this is the first formal characterization of internode communication in FMM that validates the model against actual measurements of communication time. The ultimate communication model is predictive in an absolute sense; however, on complex systems, this objective is often out of reach or of a difficulty out of proportion to its benefit when there exists a simpler model that is inexpensive and sufficient to guide coding decisions leading to improved scaling. The current model provides such guidance.

Computer Science↗
DOE OSTI2016

Quantum critical quasiparticle scattering within the superconducting state of CeCoIn 5

Here, the thermal conductivity κ of the heavy-fermion metal CeCoIn 5 was measured in the normal and superconducting states as a function of temperature T and magnetic field H, for a current and field parallel to the [100] direction. Inside the superconducting state, when the field is lower than the upper critical field H c2 , κ/T is found to increase as T→0, just as in a metal and in contrast to the behavior of all known superconductors. This is due to unpaired electrons on part of the Fermi surface, which dominate the transport above a certain field. The evolution of κ/T with field reveals that the electron-electron scattering (or transport mass m*) of those unpaired electrons diverges as H→H c2 from below, in the same way that it does in the normal state as H→H c2 from above. This shows that the unpaired electrons sense the proximity of the field-tuned quantum critical point of CeCoIn 5 at H*=H c2 even from inside the superconducting state. In conclusion, the fact that the quantum critical scattering of the unpaired electrons is much weaker than the average scattering of all electrons in the normal state reveals a k-space correlation between the strength of pairing and the strength of scattering, pointing to a common mechanism, presumably antiferromagnetic fluctuations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Camellia: A Rapid Development Framework for Finite Element Solvers

We report the discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin (DPG) methodology of Demkowicz and Gopalakrishnan guarantees the optimality of the finite element solution in a user-controllable energy norm, and provides several features supporting adaptive schemes. The approach provides stability automatically; there is no need for carefully derived numerical fluxes (as in DG schemes) or for mesh-dependent stabilization terms (as in stabilized methods). In this paper, we focus on features of Camellia that facilitate implementation of new DPG formulations; chief among these is a rich set of features in support of symbolic manipulation, which allow, e.g., bilinear formulations in the code to appear much as they would on paper. Many of these features are general in the sense that they can also be used in the implementation of other finite element formulations. In fact, because DPG’s requirements are essentially a superset of those of other finite element methods, Camellia provides built-in support for most common methods. We believe, however, that the combination of an essentially “hands-free” finite element methodology as found in DPG with the rapid development features of Camellia are particularly winsome, so we focus on use cases in this class. In addition to the symbolic manipulation features mentioned above, Camellia offers support for one-irregular adaptive meshes in 1D, 2D, 3D, and space-time. It provides a geometric multigrid preconditioner particularly suited for DPG problems, and supports distributed parallel execution using MPI. For its load balancing and distributed data structures, Camellia relies on packages from the Trilinos project, which simplifies interfacing with other computational science packages. Camellia also allows loading of standard mesh formats through an interface with the MOAB package. Camellia includes support for static condensation to eliminate element-interior degrees of freedom locally, usually resulting in substantial reduction of the cost of the global problem. Finally, we include a discussion of the variational formulations built into Camellia, with references to those formulations in the literature, as well as an MPI performance study.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

The effect of a transducer’s spatial averaging on an elastodynamic guided wave’s wavenumber spectrum

Elastodynamic guided waves propagate in an elastic solid which makes it difficult, if not impractical, to place a receiving transducer in the direct path of the propagating wave (as one would for an acoustic wave in a fluid medium). Thus, to account for this, receiving transducers are often placed on the surface of the solid waveguide such that the transducer surface is parallel to the wave propagation direction. This transducer orientation introduces spatial averaging, which causes the received signal to have an altered signal amplitude and mode bias. We investigate both of these effects and present a simple model from which we derive a scaling-ratio expression that describes the effects of spatial averaging. Furthermore, we then test its performance using finite-element simulations that incorporate “real-world” assumptions (e.g., transient waves, piezoelectric effects, etc.). The results from the simulations demonstrate that the scaling-ratio can characterize the effects resulting from spatial averaging. The scaling-ratio expression will be particularly useful when designing experiments involving high frequency (small wavelength) guided waves. Lastly, the proposed scaling-ratio expression could be applied to other sensing methods, like Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) or piezoelectric waveguides with inter-digitated transducers, because of its generality. However, the authors are careful to note that the scaling-ratio expression is not intended as a replacement of multi-physics analysis or good experimental design, and the effects of spatial averaging should be avoided whenever possible.

2DFFT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Understanding detachment of the W7-X island divertor

The fundamental behavior of the W7-X island divertor under detached conditions, which has been theoretically predicted with the EMC3-Eirene code, is re-examined here under the experimental conditions achieved so far and compared with the first experimental results. Both simulations and experiments cover a range of divertor configurations and plasma parameters, and show the following common trends: (1) with rising impurity radiation, the target heat load decreases 'uniformly' over the entire target surface in the sense that both the peak and average heat loads can drop by an order of magnitude. Impurity radiation (mainly from intrinsic carbon) occurs primarily at the plasma edge and the resulting negative impact on the stored energy is less than 10%. (2) When the total radiation exceeds a critical level, the target particle flux (the recycling flux Γrecy) begins to fall and can drop by a factor of 3–5 at high radiation levels without an obvious indication of significant volume recombination. (3) While Γ recy decreases, the divertor neutral pressure continues to build up and reaches a maximum, at which point Γ recy has declined significantly. (4) During detachment, the electron temperature at the last closed flux surface falls in a way that is not quantitatively understandable from parallel classical heat conduction processes. This paper presents a physical explanation of the numerical/experimental results described above. Furthermore, using the EMC3-Eirene code as a diagnostic tool, we are able, apparently for the first time, to provide a full quantitative analysis of each transport channel in the island divertor, aiming to clarify how the island divertor plasma self-regulates to maintain particle, energy, and momentum balance under detached conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Load-Dependent Soft-Switching Method of Half-Bridge Current Doubler for High-Voltage Point-of-Load Converter in Data Center Power Supplies

With the increased cloud computing and digital information storage, the energy requirement of data centers keeps increasing. A high-voltage point of load (HV POL) with an input series output parallel structure is proposed to convert 400 to 1 VDC within a single stage to increase the power conversion efficiency. The symmetrical controlled half-bridge current doubler is selected as the converter topology in the HV POL. A load-dependent soft-switching method has been proposed with an auxiliary circuit that includes inductor, diode, and MOSFETs so that the hard-switching issue of typical symmetrical controlled half-bridge converters is resolved. The operation principles of the proposed soft-switching half-bridge current doubler have been analyzed in detail. Then, the necessity of adjusting the timing with the loading in the proposed method is analyzed based on losses, and a controller is designed to realize the load-dependent operation. A lossless RCD current sensing method is used to sense the output inductor current value in the proposed load-dependent operation. In conclusion, experimental efficiency of a hardware prototype is provided to show that the proposed method can increase the converter's efficiency in both heavy- and light-load conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

From atomistic models to machine learning: Predictive design of nanocarbons under extreme conditions

The formation of technologically valuable nanocarbon structures under extreme conditions, such as those produced during high-explosive detonations, remains poorly understood but holds significant potential for the development of controlled synthesis pathways. While detonation shockwaves provide the high-pressure, high-temperature environment required for nanodiamond formation, subsequent cooling and decompression dictate whether the diamond phase is preserved or transformed into other nanocarbon structures. Here, in this study, we employ GPU-accelerated reactive molecular dynamics (ReaxFF) simulations to investigate the graphitization and structural remodeling of detonation nanodiamond under nonlinear quench and pressure-release trajectories. We further investigate how the initial nanodiamond morphology; cuboctahedral, octahedral, or hexagonal prism influences the resulting transformation products. Evolution of nanostructure, allotrope (via simulated x-ray diffraction), carbon hybridization, and ring statistics are tracked during a two-stage quench from 5000 K to 60 GPa. Rapid cooling combined with slow decompression optimizes cubic diamond retention, whereas slow cooling with rapid pressure release promotes surface-to-core graphitization, producing concentric sp 2 -hybridized layers and hollowed inner shells. Octahedral nanodiamonds evolve into carbon nano-onions, initially forming bucky diamonds that progressively transform into fully sp 2 -hybridized structures, while hexagonal prisms preferentially form parallel-stacked graphite layers resembling carbon dots. Transient hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) emerges as an interfacial phase, suggesting potential reversibility in the shock-induced graphite-to-diamond transformation pathway transformation route. To extend predictive capabilities, we trained machine learning (ML) regressors on over 10 5 node-hours of molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) model reliably predicts the number of graphitized layers from temperature–pressure trajectories with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) exceeding 0.90. This high predictive fidelity enables efficient, high-throughput mapping of the synthesis parameter space for optimized graphitization outcomes. Collectively, morphological control combined with optimized quench–decompression conditions promote the selective synthesis of nanocarbon allotropes. This work establishes a data-driven framework for the rational, a priori design of carbon nanomaterials for applications in energy storage, sensing, and biomedicine.

Detonation nanodiamond remodeling↗
DOE OSTI2023

Optically pumped gradient magnetometer

A method is provided for sensing a magnetic field in a magnetic gradiometer of the kind in which pump light and light constituting an optical carrier traverse first and second atomic vapor cells that contain host atoms and that are separated from each other by a known distance. According to such method, the host atoms are prepared in a coherent superposition of two quantum states that differ in energy by an amount that is sensitive to an ambient magnetic field. Modulation of the optical carrier in the respective cells gives rise to sidebands that interfere to generate a beat frequency indicative of the magnetic field gradient. The host atoms are prepared at least in a mode that allows measurement of ambient magnetic field components perpendicular to the axis of the pump light. In such mode, the host atoms are spin-polarized by pump light while subjected to a controlled magnetic field directed parallel to the pump beam, and then the controlled magnetic field is adiabatically extinguished.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tip-based proximity ferroelectric switching and piezoelectric response in wurtzite multilayers

Proximity ferroelectricity is a paradigm for inducing ferroelectricity when a nonferroelectric polar material (such as Al⁢ N), which is unswitchable with an external field below the dielectric breakdown field, becomes a practically switchable ferroelectric in direct contact with a thin switchable ferroelectric layer (such as Al 1−𝑥 ⁢Sc 𝑥 ⁢N). Here, we develop a Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire approach to study the proximity effect of local piezoelectric response and polarization reversal in wurtzite ferroelectric multilayers under a sharp electrically biased tip. Using finite-element modeling, we analyze the probe-induced nucleation of nanodomains, the features of local polarization hysteresis loops and coercive fields in the Al 1−𝑥 ⁢Sc 𝑥 ⁢N/Al⁢ N bilayers and three-layers. Similar to the wurtzite multilayers sandwiched between two parallel electrodes, the regimes of “proximity switching” (when all layers collectively switch) and the regime of “proximity suppression” (when they collectively do not switch) are the only two possible regimes in the probe-electrode geometry. However, the parameters and asymmetry of the local piezoresponse and polarization hysteresis loops depend significantly on the sequence of the layers with respect to the probe. The physical mechanism of proximity ferroelectricity in the local probe geometry is a depolarizing electric field determined by the polarization of the layers and their relative thickness. The field, whose direction is opposite to the polarization vector in the layer(s) with the larger spontaneous polarization (such as Al⁢ N), renormalizes the double-well ferroelectric potential to lower the steepness of the switching barrier in the “otherwise unswitchable” polar layers. Tip-based control of domains in otherwise nonferroelectric layers using proximity ferroelectricity can provide nanoscale control of domain reversal in memory, actuation, sensing, and optical applications. The ability of the tip-induced proximity switching to differentially switch multilayers, based on the order of the layers, provides a powerful tool for selective domain engineering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Nanoparticle using parallel split rings and implementation of chain for creating Fano resonance with polarization independence for energy harvesting in mid-infrared

In optical devices, the polarization of the incident wave affects the Nano particle characteristics. Therefore, designing a polarization-independent device is significant in the process of designing optical structures. On the other hand, the concept of Fano resonance and dark mode has been utilized for achieving more energy enhancement. In this paper, we have developed a symmetrical Nano antenna by employing Fano resonance, which is independent of the incident wave polarization. The proposed Nano antenna is modified in mid infrared regime for biosensing and energy harvesting applications. The designed metamaterial antenna is made by Nano split ring resonators with etched capacitive gaps, which are utilized for concentrating energy. The introduced Nano antenna has a bright and dark mode with a weak enhancement of electric field. The effect of the incident wave polarization is investigated at wave incident angles between 0° and 45° to illustrate the independency of the polarization due to the symmetrical shape of the Nano antenna. In order to trigger the dark mode and enhance the electric field, a Nano chain is incorporated in the final structure. This arrangement has led to increasing of electric field drastically. Furthermore, the figure of merit has been calculated as an advantageous factor in sensing the surrounding materials with various refractive indices. Our findings illustrated that the chain arrangement has caused a peak in the linear form of the extinction cross section of the Nano antenna. This in turn has resulted in the appearance of Fano resonance with no impact on the resonance frequency that has been originally adjusted by capacitive gaps and inductive strips.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

WISE-CASING: Frequency Domain EM Data from Cymric Oil Field, CA

Cymric oil field frequency domain electromagnetic (FEM) data with two parts of data labeled Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 utilizes an electrical source line parallel to the receiver line, while Part 2 utilizes an electrical source line at a 75 deg angle to the receiver line. Data are plotted and compared to numerically modeled data to observe electric field response to well structure. In two configuration files are diagrams of the experiment layout.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

An Experimental Investigation of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) on Lake Ice

A vibration-sensitive, Distributed Acoustic Sensor (DAS) array, using fiber-optic cables, was deployed in a triangularly shaped geometry on the frozen surface of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. The purpose of the array and testing program was to analyze the DAS response and to utilize the high spatial density of the distributed array for system response characterization in a well-constrained, small, surface array. A geophone array was also deployed to provide a reference system. The design of the array allowed us to assess the response of DAS with respect to distance from the seismic sources, the degradation of the response with length of the cable, the directivity of the fiber response with respect of the direction of the particle motion, and the quality of the signal with respect to cable type. The DAS array was examined for different cable constructions and orientations relative to the source propagation direction. Tight-buffered and loose-tube fiber-optic cable constructions were used, with both having good signal responses when well-coupled to the ice. In general, the tight-buffered cable was better suited for DAS applications. Directional sensitivity of the DAS was also inspected for several directions of wave propagation and particle motion. The results showed that the strongest DAS signals were recorded when the direction of the fiber was oriented parallel to the direction of particle motion. Lastly, the DAS and geophone data sets were examined together to qualitatively determine, in conjunction with established DAS best practices, how the high spatial density offered by DAS could improve results over traditional point sensor arrays in certain situations.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Tailoring Thermal Radiative Properties with Doped-Silicon Nanowires

Aligned doped-silicon nanowire (D-SiNW) arrays form a hyperbolic metamaterial in the mid-infrared and have unique thermal radiative properties, such as broadband omnidirectional absorption, low-loss negative refraction, etc. A combined theoretical and experimental investigation will be performed to characterize D-SiNW arrays and other metamaterials for tailoring thermal radiative properties. Near-field thermal radiation between anisotropic materials with hyperbolic dispersions will also be predicted for potential application in energy harvesting. A new kind of anisotropic metamaterial with a hyperbolic dispersion in a broad infrared region has been proposed and demonstrated based on aligned doped-silicon nanowire (D-SiNW) arrays. D-SiNW-based metamaterials have unique thermal radiative properties, such as broadband omnidirectional absorption whose width and location can be tuned by varying the filling ratio and/or doping level. Furthermore, high figure of merit (FOM) can be achieved in a wide spectral region, suggesting that D-SiNW arrays may be used as a negative refraction material with much less loss than other structured materials, such as layered semiconductor materials. We have also shown that D-SiNWs and other nanostructures can significantly enhance near-field thermal radiation. The study of near-field radiative heat transfer between closely spaced objects and the electromagnetic wave interactions with micro/nanostructured materials has become an emerging multidisciplinary field due to its importance in advanced energy systems, manufacturing, local thermal management, and high spatial resolution thermal sensing and mapping. We have performed extensive study on the energy streamlines involving anisotropic metamaterials and the applicability of the effective medium theory for near-field thermal radiation. Graphene as a 2D material has attracted great attention in nanoelectronics, plasmonics, and energy harvesting. We have shown that graphene can be used to tailor the transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance of nanostructured materials. Furthermore, graphene can be used to enhance near-field coupling to increase the phonon tunneling probability. We have performed analysis of near-field thermophotovoltaic devices with backside reflecting mirror and with tungsten gratings. We have predicted a large enhancement of electroluminescent refrigeration at a separation distance down to 10 nm due to near-field thermal radiation effect. A heat flux measurement system is developed to measure the near-field radiation in vacuum. We have fabricated doped Si plates separated by sparsely distributed posts to create a 200-800 nm vacuum gap. Our measurement results demonstrate that 11 times enhancement of near-field thermal radiation between parallel doped-Si plates with a lateral dimension 1 cm by 1 cm.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Lab-Scale Cable-Driven Parallel Robot Prototype for Automated Prefabricated Component Manipulation

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a lab-scale cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) developed as a flexible platform for automated installation of prefabricated components onto exterior building envelopes. Traditional manual installation methods for prefabricated components, which depend on scaffolding, cranes, cherry pickers, and verbal coordination, are not only labor-intensive and error-prone but also face significant limitations in dense urban environments due to site access constraints. To address these challenges, we developed a lab-scale CDPR platform capable of autonomously transporting building envelope components from a designated pickup zone to their target installation location, minimizing the need for human intervention. This study describes the system’s mechanical design, actuation architecture, real-time feedback system, and control strategy of the CDPR, and evaluates its performance in a laboratory environment. The robot’s actuation system uses torque control for end-effector manipulation. The robot’s real-time pose feedback comes from a construction-grade total station and a wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU), which together support precise end-effector control. Experimental results demonstrate the successful integration of the hardware, sensing, state estimation, and control subsystems. Preliminary tests showed that our lab-scale prototype can position the end effector with an error of less than 3 mm, which is a level of precision not previously achieved by existing CDPRs in construction applications. The key findings are twofold: (1) torque-only control is necessary but not sufficient for minimizing final pose error, and (2) incorporating real-time pose feedback can achieve the desired placement accuracy.

Liu, Yifang [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL),↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influences of the South American Low-Level Jet on the Convective Environment in Central Argentina Using a Convection-Permitting Simulation

This study documents the spatial and temporal distribution of the South American low-level jet (SALLJ) and quantifies its impact on the convective environment using a 6.5-month convection-permitting simulation during the Remote Sensing of Electrification, Lightning, And Mesoscale/Microscale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations and Clouds, Aerosols, and Complex Terrain Interactions (RELAMPAGO-CACTI) campaigns. Overall, the simulation reproduces the observed SALLJ characteristics in central Argentina near the Sierras de Córdoba (SDC), a focal point for terrain-focused upscale growth. SALLJs most frequently occur in the summer with maxima to the northwest and east of the SDC and minima over the higher terrain. The shallower SALLJs (<1750 m) have a strong overnight skew, while the elevated jets are more equally spread throughout the day. SALLJ periods often have higher amounts of low-level moisture and instability compared to non-SALLJ periods, with these impacts increasing over time when the SALLJ is present and decreasing afterward. The SALLJ may enhance low-level wind shear magnitudes (particularly when accounting for the jet height); however, enhancement is somewhat limited due to the presence of speed shear in most situations. SALLJ periods are associated with low-level directional shear favorable for organized convection and an orientation of cloud-layer wind shear parallel to the terrain, which could favor upscale growth. A case study is shown in which the SALLJ influenced both the magnitude and direction of wind shear concurrent with convective upscale growth near the SDC. This study highlights the complex relationship between the SALLJ and its impacts during periods of widespread convection.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spin splitting of dopant edge state in magnetic zigzag graphene nanoribbons

Spin-ordered electronic states in hydrogen-terminated zigzag nanographene give rise to magnetic quantum phenomena that have sparked renewed interest in carbon-based spintronics. Zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs)-quasi one-dimensional semiconducting strips of graphene bounded by parallel zigzag edges-host intrinsic electronic edge states that are ferromagnetically ordered along the edges of the ribbon and antiferromagnetically coupled across its width. Despite recent advances in the bottom-up synthesis of GNRs featuring symmetry protected topological phases and even metallic zero mode bands, the unique magnetic edge structure of ZGNRs has long been obscured from direct observation by a strong hybridization of the zigzag edge states with the surface states of the underlying support. Here, we present a general technique to thermodynamically stabilize and electronically decouple the highly reactive spin-polarized edge states by introducing a superlattice of substitutional N-atom dopants along the edges of a ZGNR. First-principles GW calculations and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy reveal a giant spin splitting of low-lying nitrogen lone-pair flat bands by an exchange field (~850 tesla) induced by the ferromagnetically ordered edge states of ZGNRs. Finally, our findings directly corroborate the nature of the predicted emergent magnetic order in ZGNRs and provide a robust platform for their exploration and functional integration into nanoscale sensing and logic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

The organic redox transistor for neuromorphic computing

Inspired by the in-memory computing architectures of biological systems, neuromorphic computing using crossbar arrays of artificial synapses based on non-volatile memory (NVM) devices with variable conductances has emerged as a new paradigm to enable massively parallel and ultra-low power computing hardware for data centric applications. Although inference has been demonstrated successfully using crossbars based on a variety of NMV technologies, efficient learning and scaling to large arrays (>10 6 elements) remains a challenge due to the synaptic elements' non-ideal electrical characteristics which degrades ANN accuracy. A further challenge is that in the conductive state memristors draw large currents >μA resulting in significant voltage drops in the interconnect wires and increased probability of failure in scaled arrays. We suggest the organic polymer redox transistor (RT) is an alternate approach that could solve many of these challenges, enabling both inference and parallel outer product updates, as recently demonstrated by Fuller et al. An RT consists of redox-active channel and gate electrodes in contact with a liquid or solid electrolyte. lon insertion through the electrolyte controls the channel electronic conductivity, while electron transfer through an external circuit maintains overall charge neutrality. Unlike a rechargeable battery, in the RT the voltage built-up across the electrolyte is kept to a minimum (typically <100 mV) by using the same material for the gate and channel. Elimination of the voltage offset simplifies integration of the RT into programmable arrays by enabling the use of various selectors. RTs based on inorganic and organic materials have been recently demonstrated with conductance tuning occurring at potentials of just a few mV and hundreds to thousands of linearly and symmetrically programmable conductance states, enabling near ideal accuracy in neural network simulations. Introduced in the 1980's, redox transistors with metallic gate electrodes and organic channel materials, also known as organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), have been explored for a variety of applications such as chem- and bio-sensing, neural interfaces, and low cost printed circuits. A typical channel material for OECTs is the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). PEDOT is a p-type semiconducting polymer with mobile positively charged polarons that hop chain-to-chain.

Talin, Albert Alec↗
DOE OSTI2015

Semiconductor-insulator transition in VO{sub 2} (B) thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Thin films of B-phase VO{sub 2} were grown by pulsed-laser deposition on glass and (100)-cut MgO substrates in a temperature range from 375 to 425 °C and at higher gas pressures than usual for this technique. The films were strongly oriented, with ab-planes parallel to the substrate surface. Detailed study of surface morphology through Atomic Force Microscopy images suggest significant differences in evolution as a function of growth temperature for films on the two types of substrates. Measurements of electrical conductivities through cooling-heating cycles from room temperature to 120 K showed changes of five orders of magnitude, with steeper changes between room temperature and ∼150 K, which corresponds with the extended and reversible phase transition known to occur for this material. At lower temperatures conductivities exhibited Arrhenius behavior, indicating that no further structural change was occurring and that conduction is thermally activated. In this lower temperature range, conductivity of the samples can be described by the near-neighbor hopping model. No hysteresis was found between the cooling and heating braches of the cycles, which is at variance with previous results published for VO{sub 2} (B). This apparent lack of hysteresis for thin films grown in the manner described and the large conductivity variation as a function of temperature observed for the samples suggests this material could be of interest for infrared sensing applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗