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At least 199 records · Page 11

Towards time-dependent current-density-functional theory in the non-linear regime

Time-Dependent Density-Functional Theory (TDDFT) is a well-established theoretical approach to describe and understand irradiation processes in clusters and molecules. However, within the so-called adiabatic local density approximation (ALDA) to the exchange-correlation (xc) potential, TDDFT can show insufficiencies, particularly in violently dynamical processes. This is because within ALDA the xc potential is instantaneous and is a local functional of the density, which means that this approximation neglects memory effects and long-range effects. A way to go beyond ALDA is to use Time-Dependent Current-Density-Functional Theory (TDCDFT), in which the basic quantity is the current density rather than the density as in TDDFT. This has been shown to offer an adequate account of dissipation in the linear domain when the Vignale-Kohn (VK) functional is used. Here, we go beyond the linear regime and we explore this formulation in the time domain. In this case, the equations become very involved making the computation out of reach; we hence propose an approximation to the VK functional which allows us to calculate the dynamics in real time and at the same time to keep most of the physics described by the VK functional. We apply this formulation to the calculation of the time-dependent dipole moment of Ca, Mg and Na{sub 2}. Our results show trends similar to what was previously observed in model systems or within linear response. In the non-linear domain, our results show that relaxation times do not decrease with increasing deposited excitation energy, which sets some limitations to the practical use of TDCDFT in such a domain of excitations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation study of successive hydrogenation reactions of carbon monoxide producing methanol

Doing ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate a possibility of hydrogenation of carbon monoxide producing methanol step by step. At first, the hydrogen atom reacts with the carbon monoxide molecule at the excited state forming the formyl radical. Formaldehyde was formed after adding one more hydrogen atom to the system. Finally, absorption of two hydrogen atoms to formaldehyde produces methanol molecule. This study is performed by using the all-electron mixed basis approach based on the time dependent density functional theory within the adiabatic local density approximation for an electronic ground-state configuration and the one-shot GW approximation for an electronic excited state configuration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

On the adiabatic representation of Meyer-Miller electronic-nuclear dynamics

The Meyer-Miller (MM) classical vibronic (electronic + nuclear) Hamiltonian for electronically non-adiabatic dynamics—as used, for example, with the recently developed symmetrical quasiclassical (SQC) windowing model—can be written in either a diabatic or an adiabatic representation of the electronic degrees of freedom, the two being a canonical transformation of each other, thus giving the same dynamics. Although most recent applications of this SQC/MM approach have been carried out in the diabatic representation—because most of the benchmark model problems that have exact quantum results available for comparison are typically defined in a diabatic representation—it will typically be much more convenient to work in the adiabatic representation, e.g., when using Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surfaces (PESs) and derivative couplings that come from electronic structure calculations. The canonical equations of motion (EOMs) (i.e., Hamilton’s equations) that come from the adiabatic MM Hamiltonian, however, in addition to the common first-derivative couplings, also involve second-derivative non-adiabatic coupling terms (as does the quantum Schrödinger equation), and the latter are considerably more difficult to calculate. This paper thus revisits the adiabatic version of the MM Hamiltonian and describes a modification of the classical adiabatic EOMs that are entirely equivalent to Hamilton’s equations but that do not involve the second-derivative couplings. The second-derivative coupling terms have not been neglected; they simply do not appear in these modified adiabatic EOMs. This means that SQC/MM calculations can be carried out in the adiabatic representation, without approximation, needing only the PESs and the first-derivative coupling elements. Here, the results of example SQC/MM calculations are presented, which illustrate this point, and also the fact that simply neglecting the second-derivative couplings in Hamilton’s equations (and presumably also in the Schrödinger equation) can cause very significant errors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Superconductivity and electron-phonon interaction in Sr x Bi 2 Se 3 under pressure

Pressure-induced superconductivity has been widely explored and observed in Bi 2 Se 3 -based topological materials to hunt for topological superconductors. Although their triggered superconductivity has a close connection to their pressure-induced structural phase transitions, the quest for the electron pairing mechanism of these superconducting semiconductors in both their initial rhombohedral and high-pressure phases remains unknown. In this work, we present a systematic study of the pressure effect on superconducting properties and lattice dynamics using a combination of electrical transport, Raman-scattering, and synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements using diamond anvil cells. One key finding is our observation of a cooperative connection between the strength of the electron–phonon interaction (EPI) generated by optical branches and the pressure-tunable superconductivity in rhombohedral Sr x Bi 2 Se 3 crystal. The underlying suppression mechanism of the T c by pressure is ascribed to the weakening of the electrons' interaction with the optical phonon modes in the rhombohedral phase. In the intermediate monoclinic phase, the T c value underwent a sharp increase with carrier density accumulation accompanying the concurrent enhanced EPI. This is intuitively unusual since it is expected that the EPI shall be weakened by inducing more conducting carriers in a normal metal. In the tetragonal phase, the superconductivity is interpreted within BCS theory, since it is fully metallized and obeys the adiabatic Born–Oppenheimer approximation well. Our findings are important to fully understand unconventional superconductivity and the unusual pairing mechanism in the layered rhombohedral Bi 2 Se 3 -based superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Observation of well-defined Kohn-anomaly in high-quality graphene devices at room temperature

Abstract Due to its ultra-thin nature, the study of graphene quantum optoelectronics, like gate-dependent graphene Raman properties, is obscured by interactions with substrates and surroundings. For instance, the use of doped silicon with a capping thermal oxide layer limited the observation to low temperatures of a well-defined Kohn-anomaly behavior, related to the breakdown of the adiabatic Born–Oppenheimer approximation. Here, we design an optoelectronic device consisting of single-layer graphene electrically contacted with thin graphite leads, seated on an atomically flat hexagonal boron nitride substrate and gated with an ultra-thin gold layer. We show that this device is optically transparent, has no background optical peaks and photoluminescence from the device components, and no generation of laser-induced electrostatic doping (photodoping). This allows for room-temperature gate-dependent Raman spectroscopy effects that have only been observed at cryogenic temperatures so far, above all the Kohn-anomaly phonon energy normalization. The new device architecture, by decoupling graphene optoelectronic properties from the substrate effects, allows for observing quantum phenomena at room temperature.

Materials Science↗

Nonlocal energy-optimized kernel: Recovering second-order exchange in the homogeneous electron gas

In order to remedy some of the shortcomings of the random phase approximation (RPA) within adiabatic connection fluctuation-dissipation (ACFD) density functional theory, we introduce a short-ranged, exchange-like kernel that is one-electron self-correlation free and exact for two-electron systems in the high-density limit. By tuning a free parameter in our model to recover an exact limit of the homogeneous electron gas correlation energy, we obtain a nonlocal, energy-optimized kernel that reduces the errors of RPA for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous solids. Using wave-vector symmetrization for the kernel, we also implement RPA renormalized perturbation theory for extended systems, and demonstrate its capability to describe the dominant correlation effects with a low-order expansion in both metallic and nonmetallic systems. Further, the comparison of ACFD structural properties with experiment is also shown to be limited by the choice of norm-conserving pseudopotential.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electronic stopping power of protons and alpha particles in nickel

The electronic stopping power of nickel for protons and alpha particles at velocities below and around the Fermi velocity has been obtained to high accuracy using time-dependent density functional theory. For the wide range of projectile velocities considered, we observed di erent regimes of electronic stopping due to the alternative participation of s- and d-band electrons. Despite the sharp discontinuity in the electronic density of states near the Fermi energy characteristic of the nickel band structure, we do not nd an anomalous non-linear electronic stopping power limit as a function of velocity. However, we nd a crossover region above v = 0:15 a:u: both for protons and alpha particles, related to the increase in participating host electrons and, in the case of alpha particles, to an increase of the charge state. We compare our calculated results with widely available experimental data and analyze the low velocity limits in the context of Lindhard's linear response theory and previous non-linear density functional calculations. The comparison shows good accord with the lowest velocity experiments available. This may indicate that the adiabatic local density approximation is already a good theory to calculate electronic stopping power in materials at low velocity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Considering nonlocality in the optical potentials within eikonal models

Background: For its simplicity, the eikonal method is the tool of choice to analyze nuclear reactions at high energies (E > 100 MeV/nucleon), including knockout reactions. However, so far, the effective interactions used in this method are assumed to be fully local. Purpose: Given the recent studies on nonlocal optical potentials, in this work we assess whether nonlocality in the optical potentials is expected to impact reactions at high energies and then explore different avenues for extending the eikonal method to include nonlocal interactions. Method: We compare angular distributions obtained for nonlocal interactions (using the exact R-matrix approach for elastic scattering and the adiabatic distorted wave approximation for transfer) with those obtained using their local-equivalent interactions. Results: Our results show that transfer observables are significantly impacted by nonlocality in the high-energy regime. Because knockout reactions are dominated by stripping (transfer to inelastic channels), nonlocality is expected to have a large effect on knockout observables too. Three approaches are explored for extending the eikonal method to nonlocal interactions, including an iterative method and a perturbation theory. Conclusions: None of the derived extensions of the eikonal model provide a good description of elastic scattering. Here, this paper suggests that nonlocality removes the formal simplicity associated with the eikonal model.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Electronic stopping and proton dynamics in InP, GaP, and In 0.5 Ga 0.5 P from first principles

The phosphide-based III-V semiconductors InP, GaP, and In 0.5 Ga 0.5 P are promising materials for solar panels in outer space and radioisotope batteries, for which lifetime is a major issue. In order to understand high radiation tolerance of these materials and improve it further, it is necessary to describe the early stages of radiation damage on fast time and short length scales. In particular, the influence of atomic ordering, as observed e.g. in In 0.5 Ga 0.5 P, on electronic stopping is unknown. We use real-time time-dependent density functional theory and the adiabatic local density approximation to simulate electronic stopping of protons in InP, GaP, and the CuAu-I ordered phase of In 0.5 Ga 0.5 P across a large kinetic energy range. These results are compared to SRIM and we investigate the dependence on the channel of the projectile through the target. We show that stopping can be enhanced or reduced in In 0.5 Ga 0.5 P and explain this using the electron-density distribution. By comparing Ehrenfest and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics, we illustrate the 21 intricate dynamics of a proton on a channeling trajectory.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A shortcut to gradient-corrected magnon dispersion: exchange-only case

Ab initio calculations of the magnon dispersion in ferromagnetic materials typically rely on the adiabatic local density approximation (ALDA) in which the effective exchange-correlation field is everywhere parallel to the magnetization. These calculations, however, tend to overestimate the “magnon stiffness”, defined as the curvature of the magnon frequency vs. wave vector relation evaluated at zero wave vector. Here we suggest a simple procedure to improve the magnon dispersion by taking into account gradient corrections to the ALDA at the exchange-only level. We find that this gradient correction always reduces the magnon stiffness. The surprisingly large size of these corrections (~30%) greatly improves the agreement between the calculated and the observed magnon stiffness for cobalt and nickel, which are known to be overestimated within the ALDA.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Multidimensional Skyrme-density-functional study of the spontaneous fission of 238 U

We determined the spontaneous fission lifetime of 238 U by a minimization of the action integral in a three-dimensional space of collective variables. Apart from the mass-distribution multipole moments Q 20 (elongation) and Q 30 (left–right asymmetry), we also considered the pairing-fluctuation parameter λ 2 as a collective coordinate. The collective potential was obtained self-consistently using the Skyrme energy density functional SkM*. The inertia tensor was obtained within the nonperturbative cranking approximation to the adiabatic time-dependent Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov approach. As a result, the pairing-fluctuation parameter λ 2 allowed us to control the pairing gap along the fission path, which significantly changed the spontaneous fission lifetime.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Convective heating and precipitation estimates for the tropical South Pacific during FGGE, 10-18 January 1979

Heat and moisture budgets are computed during part of the FGGE Special Observing Period-1 for an area containing the South Pacific convergence zone, deriving 12-hour precipitation rate estimates as residuals and comparing them with those derived from a GOES IR technique. Heat budget estimates are generally in good agreement with the IR estimates; the axis of maximum precipitation derived from tne heat budget is well aligned with the lowest values of outgoing long wave excitation, which represent high, cold cloud tops resulting from deep cumulus convection. The vertical advection term is found to be the dominant term in the heat budget; this, together with radiative cooling, yields the approximate balance between adiabatic cooling and diabatic heating.

Miller, Bernard L.↗

Inclusion of electron correlation for the target wave function in low- to intermediate-energy e-N2 scattering

In a recent calculation, an exact exchange method was developed for use in the partial-differential-equation approach to electron-molecule scattering and was applied to e-N2 scattering in the fixed-nuclei approximation with an adiabatic polarization potential at low energies (0-10 eV). Integrated elastic cross sections were calculated and found to be lower than experiment at energies both below and above the Pi(g) resonance. It was speculated at that time that improved experimental agreement could be obtained if a correlated target representation were used in place of the uncorrelated one. The present paper implements this suggestion and demonstrates the improved agreement. These calculations are also extended to higher energies (0-30 eV) so asd to include the Sigma(u) resonance. Some discrepancies among the experiments and between experiment and the various calculations at very low energy are noted.

Weatherford, C. A.↗

Limit on overshooting from the convective core in upper main-sequence stars

Overshooting of convective elements far beyond the classical Schwarzschild convective core boundary in theoretical models of massive ZAMS stars is found to lead to significant reductions of stellar luminosity and radius, provided that the temperature gradient in the overshoot region can be approximated by the adiabatic gradient. Comparison of these theoretical models with binary star data for the range of 5-15 solar masses indicates that the ratio of overshoot distance to pressure scale height is probably less than 1.5. This result apparently excludes any overshooting theories that predict very extended adiabatic convective cores.

Stothers, Richard B.↗

Performance of Axial-Flow Supersonic Compressor on XJ-55-FF-1 Turbojet Engine. I - Preliminary Performance of Compressor: Preliminary Performance of Compressor - 1

An investigation was conducted to determine the performance characteristics of the axial-flow supersonic compressor of the XJ-55-FF-1 turbo Jet engine. The test unit consisted of a row of inlet guide vanes and a supersonic rotor; the stator vanes after the rotor were omitted. The maximum pressure ratio produced in the single stage was 2.28 at an equivalent tip speed or 1814 feet per second with an adiabatic efficiency of approximately 0.61, equivalent weight flow of 13.4 pounds per second. The maximum efficiency of 0.79 was obtained at an equivalent tip speed of 801 feet per second.

Hartmann, Melvin J.↗

The Structure of Titan's Atmosphere from Cassini Radio Occultations

We present results from the two radio occultations of the Cassini spacecraft by Titan in 2006, which probed mid-southern latitudes. Three of the ingress and egress soundings occurred within a narrow latitude range, 31.34 deg S near the surface, and the fourth at 52.8 deg S. Temperature - altitude profiles for all four occultation soundings are presented, and compared with the results of the Voyager 1 radio occultation (Lindal et al., 1983), the HASI instrument on the Huygens descent probe (Fulchignoni et al., 2005), and Cassini CIRS results (Flasar et al., 2005; Achterberg et al., 2008b). Sources of error in the retrieved temperature - altitude profiles are also discussed, and a major contribution is from spacecraft velocity errors in the reconstructed ephemeris. These can be reduced by using CIRS data at 300 km to make along-track adjustments of the spacecraft timing. The occultation soundings indicate that the temperatures just above the surface at 31-34 deg S are about 93 K, while that at 53 deg S is about 1 K colder. At the tropopause, the temperatures at the lower latitudes are all about 70 K, while the 53 deg S profile is again 1 K colder. The temperature lapse rate in the lowest 2 km for the two ingress (dawn) profiles at 31 and 33 deg S lie along a dry adiabat except within approximately 200m of the surface, where a small stable inversion occurs. This could be explained by turbulent mixing with low viscosity near the surface. The egress profile near 34 deg S shows a more complex structure in the lowest 2 km, while the egress profile at 53 deg S is more stable.

Schinder, Paul J.↗

Parallel Performance of the Time Dependent Transport Code TDKENO with Applications to TREAT Simulations

Renewed interest in high fidelity simulation of excursion events has prompted the improvement of codes that solve the time-dependent Boltzmann transport equation. Often these codes make approximations to the transport equation in order to achieve results in a reasonable amount of time. One method, the improved quasi-static (IQS), makes few approximations compared to adiabatic, diffusion, and point kinetics. This is the methodology employed by the code TDKENO. One downside to this approach is a portion of the calculation (flux shape) is done with a Monte Carlo code and must be called upon several times. To minimize run time the flux shape calculation is solved with a modified version of KENO-VI from Scale 6.2. This version of KENO runs in parallel across hundreds of nodes, thus improving performance. The parallel capabilities of KENO allows TDKENO to simulate complex transient experiments with a large number of histories. These improvements are applied to the simulation of TREAT calibration experiments. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗