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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.

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At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Microscopic characterization of Ising conformal field theory in Rydberg chains

Rydberg chains provide an appealing platform for probing conformal field theories (CFTs) that capture universal behavior in a myriad of physical settings. Focusing on a Rydberg chain at the Ising transition separating charge density wave and disordered phases, we establish a detailed link between microscopics and low-energy physics emerging at criticality. Here, we first construct lattice incarnations of primary fields in the underlying Ising CFT including chiral fermions, a nontrivial task given that the Rydberg chain Hamiltonian does not admit an exact fermionization. With this dictionary in hand, we compute correlations of microscopic Rydberg operators, paying special attention to finite, open chains of immediate experimental relevance. We further develop a method to quantify how second-neighbor Rydberg interactions tune the sign and strength of four-fermion couplings in the Ising CFT. Finally, we determine how the Ising fields evolve when four-fermion couplings drive an instability to Ising tricriticality. Our results pave the way to a thorough experimental characterization of Ising criticality in Rydberg arrays and can inform the design of novel higher-dimensional phases based on coupled critical chains.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Microscopic study of the impurity effect in the kagome superconductor La⁢(Ru 1–x ⁢Fe x ) 3 ⁢Si 2

Here, we report on the effect of magnetic impurities on the microscopic superconducting (SC) properties of the kagome-lattice superconductor La⁢(Ru 1–x Fe x ) 3 ⁢Si 2 using muon spin relaxation/rotation. A strong suppression of the superconducting critical temperature T c , the SC volume fraction, and the superfluid density was observed. We further find a correlation between the superfluid density and T c which is considered a hallmark feature of unconventional superconductivity. Most remarkably, measurements of the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth λ reveal a change in the low-temperature behavior from exponential saturation to a linear increase, which indicates that Fe doping introduces nodes in the superconducting gap structure at concentrations as low as x=0.015. Our results point to a rare example of unconventional superconductivity in the correlated kagome lattice and accessible tunability of the superconducting gap structure, offering new insights into the microscopic mechanisms involved in superconducting order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Improvements to the macroscopic-microscopic approach of nuclear fission

The well-established macroscopic-microscopic (mac-mic) description of nuclear fission enables the prediction of fission-fragment yields for a broad range of fissioning systems. In this work, we present several key enhancements to this approach. We improve upon the microscopic sector of nuclear potential-energy surfaces by magnifying the resolution of the Lipkin-Nogami equations and strengthening the Strutinsky procedure, thus reducing spurious effects from the continuum. We further present a novel deterministic method for calculating fission dynamics under the assumption of strongly damped nucleonic motion. Our technique directly determines the evolution of the scissioned shape distribution according to the number of random-walk steps rather than the statistical accumulation of fission events. We show that our new technique is equivalent to the Metropolis random walk pioneered over the past decade by Randrup and colleagues. It further improves upon it because we remove the need for altering the nuclear landscape via a biased potential. With our final improvement, we calculate fission fragments mass and charge distributions using particle number projection, which affords the simultaneous calculation of both mass- and charge-yield distributions. Fission fragments are thus calculated from the quantum-mechanical A -body states of the potential-energy surface rather than from the collective mass asymmetry variable α g of the finite-range liquid-drop model used in past work. We highlight the success of our enhancements by predicting the odd-even staggering and the charge polarization for the neutron-induced fission of 233 U and 235 U .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Angular momentum of fission fragments from microscopic theory

During nuclear fission, a heavy nucleus splits into two rotating fragments. The associated angular momentum is large, yet the mechanism of its generation and its dependence on the mass of fragments remain poorly understood. In this Letter, we provide the first microscopic calculations of angular-momentum distributions in fission fragments for a wide range of fragment masses. For the benchmark case of 239 Pu(n th ,f), we find that the angular momentum of the fragments is largely determined by the nuclear shell structure and deformation, and that the heavy fragments therefore typically carry less angular momentum than their light partners. We use the fission model freya to simulate the emission of neutrons and photons from the fragments. The dependence of the angular momenta on fragment mass after the emission of neutrons and statistical photons is linear for the heavy fragments and either constant or weakly linear for the light fragments, consistent with the universal sawtooth pattern suggested by recent experimental data. Finally, we observe that using microscopic angular-momentum distributions modifies the number of emitted photons significantly.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microscopic Theory of Fluctuating Hydrodynamics in Nonlinear Lattices

The theory of fluctuating hydrodynamics has been an important tool for analyzing macroscopic behavior in nonlinear lattices. However, despite its practical success, its microscopic derivation is still incomplete. In this work, we provide the microscopic derivation of fluctuating hydrodynamics, using the coarse-graining and projection technique; the equivalence of ensembles turns out to be critical. The Green-Kubo (GK)-like formula for the bare transport coefficients are presented in a numerically computable form. Our numerical simulations show that the bare transport coefficients exist for a sufficiently large but finite coarse-graining length in the infinite lattice within the framework of the GK-like formula. Finally, this demonstrates that the bare transport coefficients uniquely exist for each physical system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Global Microscopic Description of Nucleon-Nucleus Scattering with Quantified Uncertainties

We develop for the first time a microscopic global nucleon-nucleus optical potential with quantified uncertainties suitable for analyzing nuclear reaction experiments at next-generation rare-isotope beam facilities. Within the improved local density approximation and without any adjustable parameters, we begin by computing proton-nucleus and neutron-nucleus optical potentials from a set of five nuclear forces from chiral effective field theory for 1800 target nuclei in the mass range 12 ≤ A ≤ 242 for energies between 0 MeV < E ≲ 150 MeV. We then parameterize a global optical potential for each chiral force that depends smoothly on the projectile energy as well as the target nucleus mass number and isospin asymmetry. Uncertainty bands for elastic scattering observables are generated from a full covariance analysis of the parameters entering in the description of our global optical potential and benchmarked against existing experimental data for stable target nuclei. Since our approach is purely microscopic, we anticipate a similar quality of the model for nucleon scattering on unstable isotopes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Atomic-resolution lithography with an on-chip scanning tunneling microscope

In this work, atomic-resolution lithography with a Microelectromechanical-System (MEMS) based Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) is demonstrated for the first time. The microscope consists of a commercial UltraHigh-Vacuum (UHV) STM whose regular tip is replaced with a 1-Degree-of-Freedom (1-DOF) MEMS nanopositioner. This results in a hybrid STM system where XY-plane motions are provided by the piezotube of the original system and Z-axis motion by the MEMS with a higher bandwidth. Sharp tips made of Pt or W are added to the MEMS devices with postfabrication techniques. With this hybrid system, STM-based lithography is demonstrated on an H-passivated Si (100)-2×1 sample under UHV condition. Results prove the capability of the hybrid STM system for atomic-scale lithography. This capability, paired with the small footprint of the MEMS device, makes this approach a candidate for building a high-throughput parallel STM lithography platform by incorporating an array of 1-DOF MEMS devices that perform lithography in parallel.

Alipour, Afshin (ORCID:0000000263252067)↗
DOE OSTI2019

Upgrade to the SHARP EUV mask microscope

© 2019 SPIE. The Sharp High-NA Actinic Reticle review Project (SHARP) is a synchrotron-based, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) microscope dedicated to photomask research. A potential upgrade to the SHARP microscope is presented. The upgrade includes changing the light path in the instrument from its current off-Axis configuration to an on-Axis configuration. This change allows for an increased working distance of 2.5 mm or more. A central obscuration, added to the zoneplate aperture, blocks stray light from reaching the central part of the image, thus improving the image contrast. The imaging performance of the two configurations is evaluated by means of ray tracing.

Benk, M↗
DOE OSTI2016

Sci-Thur AM: YIS – 06: A Monte Carlo study of macro- and microscopic dose descriptors and the microdosimetric spread using detailed cellular models

Purpose: To develop Monte Carlo models of cell clusters to investigate the relationships between macro- and microscopic dose descriptors, quantify the microdosimetric spread in energy deposition for subcellular targets, and determine how these results depend on the computational model. Methods: Microscopic tissue structure is modelled as clusters of 13 to 150 cells, with cell (nuclear) radii between 5 and 10 microns (2 and 9 microns). Energy imparted per unit mass (specific energy or dose) is scored in the nucleus (D{sub nuc}) and cytoplasm (D{sub cyt}) for incident photon energies from 20 to 370 keV. Dose-to-water (D{sub w,m}) and dose-to-medium (D{sub m,m}) are compared to D{sub nuc} and D{sub cyt}. Single cells and single nuclear cavities are also simulated. Results: D{sub nuc} and D{sub cyt} are sensitive to the surrounding environment with deviations of up to 13% for a single nucleus/cell compared with a multicellular cluster. These dose descriptors vary with cell and nucleus size by up to 10%. D{sub nuc} and D{sub cyt} differ from D{sub w,m} and D{sub m,m} by up to 32%. The microdosimetric spread is sensitive to whether cells are arranged randomly or in a hexagonal lattice, and whether subcellular compartment sizes are sampled from a normal distribution or are constant throughout the cluster. Conclusions: D{sub nuc} and D{sub cyt} are sensitive to cell morphology, elemental composition and the presence of surrounding cells. The microdosimetric spread was investigated using realistic elemental compositions for the nucleus and cytoplasm, and depends strongly on subcellular compartment size, source energy and dose.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Identification of site-specific isotopic labels by vibrational spectroscopy in the electron microscope

The identification of isotopic labels by conventional macroscopic techniques lacks spatial resolution and requires relatively large quantities of material for measurements. We recorded the vibrational spectra of an α amino acid, l -alanine, with damage-free “aloof” electron energy-loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope to directly resolve carbon-site–specific isotopic labels in real space with nanoscale spatial resolution. An isotopic red shift of 4.8 ± 0.4 milli–electron volts in C–O asymmetric stretching modes was observed for 13 C-labeled l -alanine at the carboxylate carbon site, which was confirmed by macroscopic infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The accurate measurement of this shift opens the door to nondestructive, site-specific, spatially resolved identification of isotopically labeled molecules with the electron microscope.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Achieving sub-0.5-angstrom–resolution ptychography in an uncorrected electron microscope

Subangstrom resolution has long been limited to aberration-corrected electron microscopy, where it is a powerful tool for understanding the atomic structure and properties of matter. Here, we demonstrate electron ptychography in an uncorrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) with deep subangstrom spatial resolution down to 0.44 angstroms, exceeding the conventional resolution of aberration-corrected tools and rivaling their highest ptychographic resolutions​. Our approach, which we demonstrate on twisted two-dimensional materials in a widely available commercial microscope, far surpasses prior ptychographic resolutions (1 to 5 angstroms) of uncorrected STEMs. We further show how geometric aberrations can create optimized, structured beams for dose-efficient electron ptychography. Our results demonstrate that expensive aberration correctors are no longer required for deep subangstrom resolution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Microscopic Theory of Pinning of Multiquantum Vortex in Cylindrical Cavity

We have proposed and developed a microscopic model of depinning (escape) of a multiquantum vortex in a superconductor with a cylindrical nonconducting cavity with the transverse size smaller than or on the order of the superconducting coherence length ξ{sub 0} at zero temperature. The spectrum of subgap quasiparticle excitations in two- and three-quantum vortices trapped by a cylindrical cavity has been calculated in the quasiclassical approximation. It is shown that the transformation of the spectrum is accompanied by break of anomalous spectral branches due to normal reflection of quasiparticles from the surface of a defect. A microscopic (spectral) criterion for multiquantum vortex pinning has been proposed; according to this criterion, the multiquantum vortex can be trapped in the cavity during the formation of a minigap in the elementary excitation spectrum near the Fermi level. Self-consistent calculations of density of states N(r, ε) for two- and three-quantum vortices trapped by a cylindrical cavity of radius on the order of ξ{sub 0} have been performed using quasiclassical Eilenberger equations. In the pure limit and for low temperatures T ≪ T{sub c}, peculiarities observed in the N(r, ε) distribution reflect the presence of M anomalous spectral branches in the M-quantum vortex and confirm the correctness of the spectral criterion of pinning (depinning) of a multiquantum vortex.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Neuromorphic data microscope

In 2016, Lewis Rhodes Labs, (LRL), shipped the first commercially viable Neuromorphic Processing Unit, (NPU), branded as a Neuromorphic Data Microscope (NDM). This product leverages architectural mechanisms derived from the sensory cortex of the human brain to efficiently implement pattern matching. LRL and Sandia National Labs have optimized this product for streaming analytics, and demonstrated a 1,000x power per operation reduction in an FPGA format. When reduced to an ASIC, the efficiency will improve to 1,000,000x. Additionally, the neuromorphic nature of the device gives it powerful computational attributes that are counterintuitive to those schooled in traditional von Neumann architectures. The Neuromorphic Data Microscope is the first of a broad class of brain-inspired, time domain processors that will profoundly alter the functionality and economics of data processing.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

A Closed-Loop Proportional-Integral (PI) Control Software for Fully Mechanically Controlled Automated Electron Microscopic Tomography

A closed-loop proportional-integral (PI) control software is provided for fully mechanically controlled automated electron microscopic tomography. The software is developed based on Gatan DigitalMicrograph, and is compatible with Zeiss LIBRA 120 transmission electron microscope. However, it can be expanded to other TEM instrument with modification. The software consists of a graphical user interface, a digital PI controller, an image analyzing unit, and other drive units (i.e.: image acquire unit and goniometer drive unit). During a tomography data collection process, the image analyzing unit analyzes both the accumulated shift and defocus value of the latest acquired image, and provides the results to the digital PI controller. The digital PI control compares the results with the preset values and determines the optimum adjustments of the goniometer. The goniometer drive unit adjusts the spatial position of the specimen according to the instructions given by the digital PI controller for the next tilt angle and image acquisition. The goniometer drive unit achieves high precision positioning by using a backlash elimination method. The major benefits of the software are: 1) the goniometer drive unit keeps pre-aligned/optimized beam conditions unchanged and achieves position tracking solely through mechanical control; 2) the image analyzing unit relies on only historical data and therefore does not require additional images/exposures; 3) the PI controller enables the system to dynamically track the imaging target with extremely low system error.

Ren, Gang↗
DOE OSTI2021

Integrated multi-wavelength microscope combining TIRFM and IRM modalities for imaging cellulases and other processive enzymes

We describe a multimodal microscope for visualizing processive enzymes moving on immobilized substrates. The instrument combines interference reflection microscopy (IRM) with multi-wavelength total internal reflectance fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). The microscope can localize quantum dots with a precision of 2.8 nm at 100 frames/s, and was used to image the dynamics of the cellulase, Cel7a interacting with surface-immobilized cellulose. The instrument, which was built with off-the-shelf components and is controlled by custom software, is suitable for tracking other degradative enzymes such as collagenases, as well as motor proteins moving along immobilized tracks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2016

In situ nanomechanical testing of twinned metals in a transmission electron microscope

This paper focuses on in situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization to explore twins in face-centered-cubic and body-centered-cubic monolithic metals, and their impact on the overall mechanical performance. Taking advantage of simultaneous nanomechanical deformation and nanoscale imaging using versatile in situ TEM tools, direct correlation of these unique microscopic defects with macroscopic mechanical performance becomes possible. This article summarizes recent evidence to support the mechanisms related to strengthening and plasticity in metals, including nanotwinned Cu, Ni, Al, Au, and others in bulk, thin film, and nanowire forms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

A scanning quantum cryogenic atom microscope at 6 K

The Scanning Quantum Cryogenic Atom Microscope (SQCRAMscope) is a quantum sensor in which a quasi-1D quantum gas images electromagnetic fields emitted from a nearby sample. We report improvements to the microscope. Cryogen usage is reduced by replacing the liquid cryostat with a closed-cycle system and modified cold finger, and cryogenic cooling is enhanced by adding a radiation shield. The minimum accessible sample temperature is reduced from 35~K to 5.7~K while maintaining low sample vibrations. A new sample mount is easier to exchange, and quantum gas preparation is streamlined.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of Scanning Ultrafast Electron Microscope Capability.

Modern semiconductor devices rely on the transport of minority charge carriers. Direct examination of minority carrier lifetimes in real devices with nanometer-scale features requires a measurement method with simultaneously high spatial and temporal resolutions. Achieving nanometer spatial resolutions at sub-nanosecond temporal resolution is possible with pump-probe methods that utilize electrons as probes. Recently, a stroboscopic scanning electron microscope was developed at Caltech, and used to study carrier transport across a Si p-n junction [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] . In this report, we detail our development of a prototype scanning ultrafast electron microscope system at Sandia National Laboratories based on the original Caltech design. This effort represents Sandia's first exploration into ultrafast electron microscopy.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗