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At least 271 records · Page 15

Experimental and theoretical study of the restrained shrinkage cracking of early age well cement

The shrinkage cracking occurring in oil & gas well cement material is a major factor that reduces the cement sheath integrity and impairs the durability of an underground well. Shrinkage mainly takes place in the early hydration period of the cement, and the resulting restrained shrinkage cracking can form a leaking network for oil & gas or carbon dioxide stored in an underground reservoir. It is thus important to understand the early age behavior of well cement and the leaking pathway formation in the well. This study describes the application of the digital image correlation (DIC) method as a tool to measure the strain development and crack distributions of well cement in the lab during early phase changes. A theoretical model is presented to calculate the stress distribution built up in the cement sheath during early ages of well cement hydration, which helps to interpret the experimental observations and determine the major factors influencing the cracking sequences. This study presents the whole hydration – drying shrinkage – and cracking mechanism of early age well cement under restrained ring conditions experimentally and theoretically. Finally, the results offer useful insights on the key material and geometric parameters which control the fracture of a well cementing structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Coulomb excitation of the | T z | = 1 2 , A = 23 mirror pair

Background: Electric-quadrupole ( E 2 ) strengths relate to the underlying quadrupole deformation of a nucleus and present a challenge for many nuclear theories. Additionally, mirror nuclei in the vicinity of the line of N = Z represent a convenient laboratory for testing deficiencies in such models, making use of the isospin symmetry of the systems. Purpose: Uncertainties associated with literature E 2 strengths in Mg 23 are some of the largest in T z = | 1 2 | nuclei in the s d shell. The purpose of the present paper is to improve the precision with which these values are known, to enable better comparison with theoretical models. Methods: Coulomb-excitation measurements of Mg 23 and Na 23 were performed at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility using the TIGRESS spectrometer. They were used to determine the E 2 matrix elements of mixed E 2 / M 1 transitions. Results: Reduced E 2 transition strengths, B ( E 2 ) , were extracted for Mg 23 and Na 23 . Their precision was improved by factors of approximately 6 for both isotopes, while agreeing within uncertainties with previous measurements. Conclusions: A comparison was made with both shell-model and ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group calculations. Valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group calculations were found to underpredict the absolute E 2 strength, in agreement with previous studies.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Initial–Final Mass Relation for Hydrogen-deficient White Dwarfs

The initial–final mass relation represents the total mass lost by a star during the entirety of its evolution from the zero age main sequence to the white-dwarf cooling track. The semiempirical initial–final mass relation (IFMR) is largely based on observations of DA white dwarfs, the most common spectral type of white dwarf and the simplest atmosphere to model. We present a first derivation of the semiempirical IFMR for hydrogen-deficient (non-DA) white dwarfs in open star clusters. We identify a possible discrepancy between the DA and non-DA IFMRs, with non-DA white dwarfs ≈0.07 M {sub ⊙} less massive at a given initial mass. Such a discrepancy is unexpected based on theoretical models of non-DA formation and observations of field white dwarf mass distributions. If real, the discrepancy is likely due to enhanced mass loss during the final thermal pulse and renewed post-AGB evolution of the star. However, we are dubious that the mass discrepancy is physical and instead is due to the small sample size, to systematic issues in model atmospheres of non-DAs, and to the uncertain evolutionary history of Procyon B (spectral type DQZ). A significantly larger sample size is needed to test these assertions. In addition, we also present Monte Carlo models of the correlated errors for DA and non-DA white dwarfs in the initial–final mass plane. We find the uncertainties in initial–final mass determinations for individual white dwarfs can be significantly asymmetric, but the recovered functional form of the IFMR is grossly unaffected by the correlated errors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Path integral approach to quantum anomalies in interacting models

The prediction and subsequent discovery of topological semimetal phases of matter in solid state systems has instigated a surge of activity investigating the exotic properties of these unusual materials. Among these are transport signatures which can be attributed to the chiral anomaly; the breaking of classical chiral symmetry in a quantum theory. This remarkable quantum phenomenon, first discovered in the context of particle physics has now found new life in condensed-matter physics, connecting topological quantum matter and band theory with effective field theoretic models. In this paper we investigate the interplay between interactions and the chiral anomaly in field theories inspired by semimetals using Fujikawa's path integral method. Starting from models in one spatial dimension we discuss how the presence of interactions can affect the consequences of the chiral anomaly leading to renormalization of excitations and their transport properties. This is then generalized to the three-dimensional case where we show that the anomalous response of the system, namely, the chiral magnetic and quantum Hall effects, are modified by the presence of interactions. These properties are investigated further through the identification of anomalous modes which exist within interacting Weyl semimetals. These massive excitations are nonperturbative in nature and are a direct consequence of the chiral anomaly. The effects of interactions on mixed axial-gravitational anomalies are then investigated and the conditions required for interaction effects to be observed are discussed.

Anomalies↗

Understanding Solution State Conformation and Aggregate Structure of Conjugated Polymers via Small Angle X-ray Scattering

Donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated polymers are high-performance organic electronic materials that exhibit complex aggregation behavior. Understanding the solution state conformation and aggregation of conjugated polymers is crucial for controlling morphology during thin-film deposition and the subsequent electronic performance. However, a precise multiscale structure of solution state aggregates is lacking. Here, we present an in-depth small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of the solution state structure of an isoindigo-bithiophene-based D-A polymer (PII-2T) in chlorobenzene and decane as our primary system. Modeling the system as a combination of hierarchical fibrillar aggregates mixed with dispersed polymers, we extract information about conformation and multiscale aggregation and also clarify the physical origin of features often observed but unaddressed or misinterpreted in small-angle scattering patterns of conjugated polymers. The persistence length of the D-A polymer extracted from SAXS agrees well with a theoretical model based on the dihedral potentials. Additionally, we show that the broad high q structure factor peak seen in scattering profiles can be attributed to lamellar stacking occurring within the fibril aggregates and that the low q aggregate scattering is strongly influenced by the polymer molecular weight. Overall, the SAXS profiles of D-A polymers in general exhibit a sensitive dependence on the co-existence of fibrillar aggregate and dispersed polymer chain populations. We corroborate our findings from SAXS with electron microscopy of freeze-dried samples for direct imaging of fibrillar aggregates. Finally, we demonstrate the generality of our approach by fitting the scattering profiles of a variety of D-A polymers based on thieno-isoindigo (PTII-2T), diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP2T-TT, DPP-BTZ, PDPP2FT-C- 16 ), naphthalenediimide (P(NDI2OD-T2)), and a conjugated block copolymer P3HT-b-DPPT-T. The results presented here establish a picture of the D-A polymer solution state structure and provide a general method of interpreting and analyzing their scattering profiles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Unleashing the full power of LHCb to probe stealth new physics

In this paper, we describe the potential of the LHCb experiment to detect stealth physics. This refers to dynamics beyond the standard model that would elude searches that focus on energetic objects or precision measurements of known processes. Stealth signatures include long-lived particles and light resonances that are produced very rarely or together with overwhelming backgrounds. We will discuss why LHCb is equipped to discover this kind of physics at the Large Hadron Collider and provide examples of well-motivated theoretical models that can be probed with great detail at the experiment.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Particle Theory and Cosmology

This project covered theoretical studies in particle physics, particle astrophysics and cosmology, aiming to bridge theoretical models with observable phenomena. The central focus was on exploring innovative mechanisms that could simultaneously address several outstanding puzzles in these areas, including the nature of dark matter, the muon g-2 anomaly, the existence of topologically stable monopoles, the generation of observable gravitational waves from early universe phenomena and high energy cosmic rays. One of the major achievements of this project was the development of models that predict new physics accessible through current and forthcoming experimental setups, both in particle colliders and astrophysical observations. These models have been instrumental in proposing verifiable predictions concerning supersymmetric extensions, the dynamics of cosmic strings and monopoles, and the intricate processes underpinning baryogenesis and reheating post-inflation. In tackling the dark matter conundrum, the project proposed several candidates within extended frameworks, such as light Z' models, pseudo-Goldstone dark matter, and scenarios integrating dark matter with inflationary cosmology. Each model outlined pathways for detection through direct, indirect, and collider search strategies, marking significant strides in the hunt for dark matter. Another cornerstone of the project was the in-depth analysis of inflationary models compliant with the Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture, highlighting the compatibility of axion dark matter within such frameworks. This not only provided a coherent picture of early universe cosmology but also delineated clear experimental signatures. The exploration of grand unified theories yielded insights into the potential discovery of monopoles and novel particle configurations at energy scales accessible to current and future colliders. This endeavor expanded the predictive power of these theories, particularly in the context of proton decay and the properties of Higgs-portal dark matter. Throughout the project, significant emphasis was placed on ensuring the theoretical developments were grounded in experimental testability. This led to a series of publications across prestigious journals, each contributing to the vibrant discourse at the intersection of particle physics and cosmology. In summary, this project has elucidated pathways beyond the Standard Model that are ripe for exploration through both ongoing and upcoming experimental efforts. The comprehensive approach adopted herein not only enhances our understanding of the fundamental forces and constituents of the universe but also propels the field towards new frontiers in high-energy physics and cosmology.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Time-interval distributions in a digital gamma multi-channel analyzer at extreme input rates

Here, this study explores the relationship between experimentally observed inter-event time-interval distributions (TIDs) and measured dead times for pulses generated by a HPGe gamma detector and processed by a digital spectrometer. The system utilizes a fast and slow channel, pile-up rejector, trapezoid filtering, and flash analog-to-digital converter. The experimentally derived TIDs were compared with theory for validation. The results demonstrate that the theoretical model reliably describes measured TIDs up to 40% dead time. However, significant distortion effects become increasingly pronounced at higher input rates. It appears that the deviation between the measured and calculated time-interval distributions take the shape of higher-order convolutions of the TID, which represent the time difference between counts for more than two successive events. In this work, theoretical functions for the TID are expanded to reproduce measurements up to 90%. This refinement in the interpretation and treatment of the measured TIDs provides improved accuracy and precision in the prediction of the true event rate and measured dead time in the counter. Even though it reflects occasional count loss that is specific to the set-up, it is expected that a similar adjustment may be applicable to other detection systems as well.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Richtmyer–Meshkov instability when a shock is reflected for fluids with arbitrary equation of state

First predicted by Richtmyer in 1960 and experimentally confirmed by Meshkov in 1969, the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is crucial in fields such as physics, astrophysics, inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density physics. These disciplines often deal with strong shocks moving through condensed materials or high-pressure plasmas that exhibit non-ideal equations of state (EoS), thus requiring theoretical models with realistic fluid EoS for accurate RMI simulations. Approximate formulae for asymptotic growth rates, like those proposed by Richtmyer, are helpful but rely on heuristic prescriptions for compressible materials. These prescriptions can sometimes approximate the RMI growth rate well, but their accuracy remains uncertain without exact solutions, as the fully compressible RMI growth rate is influenced by both vorticity deposited during shock refraction and multiple sonic wave refractions. This study advances previous work by presenting an analytic, fully compressible theory of RMI for reflected shocks with arbitrary EoS. It compares theoretical predictions with heuristic prescriptions using ideal gas, van der Waals gas and three-term constitutive equations for simple metals, the latter being analysed with detailed and simplified ideal-gas-like EoS. We additionally offer an alternative explicit approximate formula for the asymptotic growth rate. The comprehensive model also incorporates the effects of constant-amplitude acoustic waves at the interface, associated with the D'yakov–Kontorovich instability in shocks.

Napieralski, Mario (ORCID:0009000692344901)↗

Photoproduction of Lambda* Resonances using the CLAS Detector

This thesis presents the study of the reaction yp -> K^+Lambda* using the photo production data from the CLAS-g12 experiment performed in Hall B of Jefferson Laboratory. The decay of Lambda* resonances, Lambda(1520), Lambda(1670), and Lambda(1690), into two exclusive channels, Sigma+pi?and Sigma-pi+, is studied from the detected K+,pi+, and pi?particles. This work aims at understanding photoproduction mechanism to excited state baryons, and to facilitate phenomenological model predictions using precision experimental measurements. A good agreement is established for the Lambda(1520) differential cross sections with the previous CLAS measurements. The differential cross sections as a function of CM angle are extended to higher photon energies. Newly added are the differential cross sections as a function of invariant 4-momentum transfer, which is the natural variable to use for a theoretical model based on a Regge-exchange reaction mechanism. No new N* resonances decaying into the K+Lambda(1520) final state are found. The higher mass resonances, Lambda(1670)1/2- and Lambda(1690)3/2-, are studied for the first time using photoproduction. This work provides a model dependent preliminary cross sections for these excited states.

Shrestha, Utsav↗

Recent Advances for Improving the Accuracy, Transferability, and Efficiency of Reactive Force Fields

Reactive force fields provide an affordable model for simulating chemical reactions at a fraction of the cost of quantum mechanical approaches. However, classically accounting for chemical reactivity often comes at the expense of accuracy and transferability, while computational cost is still large relative to nonreactive force fields. Here, we summarize recent efforts for improving the performance of reactive force fields in these three areas with a focus on the ReaxFF theoretical model. To improve accuracy, we describe recent reformulations of charge equilibration schemes to overcome unphysical long-range charge transfer, new ReaxFF models that account for explicit electrons, and corrections for energy conservation issues of the ReaxFF model. To enhance transferability we also highlight new advances to include explicit treatment of electrons in the ReaxFF and hybrid nonreactive/reactive simulations that make it possible to model charge transfer, redox chemistry, and large systems such as reverse micelles within the framework of a reactive force field. To address the computational cost, we review recent work in extended Lagrangian schemes and matrix preconditioners for accelerating the charge equilibration method component of ReaxFF and improvements in its software performance in LAMMPS.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Quantitative dissection of Agrobacterium T-DNA expression in single plant cells reveals density-dependent synergy and antagonism

Agrobacterium pathogenesis, which involves transferring T-DNA into plant cells, is the cornerstone of plant genetic engineering. As the applications that rely on Agrobacterium increase in sophistication, it becomes critical to achieve a quantitative and predictive understanding of T-DNA expression at the level of single plant cells. Here we examine if a classic Poisson model of interactions between pathogens and host cells holds true for Agrobacterium infecting Nicotiana benthamiana. Systematically challenging this model revealed antagonistic and synergistic density-dependent interactions between bacteria that do not require quorum sensing. Using various approaches, we studied the molecular basis of these interactions. To overcome the engineering constraints imposed by antagonism, we created a dual binary vector system termed ‘BiBi’, which can improve the efficiency of a reconstituted complex metabolic pathway in a predictive fashion. Our findings illustrate how combining theoretical models with quantitative experiments can reveal new principles of bacterial pathogenesis, impacting both fundamental and applied plant biology.

Alamos, Simon↗

Gallery of soft modes: Theory and experiment at a ferromagnetic quantum phase transition

We examine the low-energy excitations in the vicinity of the quantum critical point in LiHoF4, a physical realization of the Transverse Field Ising Model, focusing on the long-range fluctuations which soften to zero energy at the ferromagnetic quantum phase transition. Microwave spectroscopy in tunable loop-gap resonator structures identifies and characterizes the electronuclear soft mode and higher-energy electronuclear states as a function of frequency and magnetic fields applied transverse and parallel to the Ising axis. These are understood in the context of a theoretical model of a soft electronuclear mode that interacts with soft photons as well as soft phonons. We identify competing infrared divergences at the quantum critical point, coming from the photons and the electronuclear soft mode. It is an incomplete cancellation of these divergences that leads to the muted but distinct signatures observed in the experiments. The application of a longitudinal magnetic field gaps the soft mode. As a result, measurements well away from the quantum critical point reveal a set of "Walker'' modes associated with ferromagnetic domain dynamics.

Dipolar interaction↗

SDSS-IV MaStar: Data-driven Parameter Derivation for the MaStar Stellar Library

The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) Stellar Library (MaStar) is a large collection of high-quality empirical stellar spectra designed to cover all spectral types and ideal for use in the stellar population analysis of galaxies observed in the MaNGA survey. The library contains 59,266 spectra of 24,130 unique stars with spectral resolution R ~ 1800 and covering a wavelength range of 3622–10,354 Å. In this work, we derive five physical parameters for each spectrum in the library: effective temperature (T eff ), surface gravity ($\mathrm{log} g$), metallicity ([Fe/H]), microturbulent velocity ($\mathrm{log}({v}_{\mathrm{micro}})$), and alpha-element abundance ([α/Fe]). These parameters are derived with a flexible data-driven algorithm that uses a neural network model. We train a neural network using the subset of 1675 MaStar targets that have also been observed in the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), adopting the independently-derived APOGEE Stellar Parameter and Chemical Abundance Pipeline parameters for this reference set. For the regions of parameter space not well represented by the APOGEE training set (7000 ≤ T ≤ 30,000 K), we supplement with theoretical model spectra. We present our derived parameters along with an analysis of the uncertainties and comparisons to other analyses from the literature.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Temperature-dependent elastic constants of thorium dioxide probed using time-domain Brillouin scattering

Herein we report the adiabatic elastic constants of single-crystal thorium dioxide over a temperature range of 77–350 K. Time-domain Brillouin scattering, an all-optical, non-contact picosecond ultrasonic technique, is used to generate and detect coherent acoustic phonons that propagate in the bulk perpendicular to the surface of the crystal. These coherent acoustic lattice vibrations have been monitored in two hydrothermally grown single-crystal thorium dioxide samples along the (100) and (311) crystallographic directions. The three independent elastic constants of the cubic crystal (C 11 , C 12 , and C 44 ) are determined from the measured bulk acoustic velocities. The longitudinal wave along the (100) orientation provided a direct measurement of C 11 . Measurement of C 44 and C 12 was achieved by enhancing the intensity of quasi-shear mode in a (311) oriented crystal by adjusting the polarization angle relative to the crystal axes. We find the magnitude of softening of the three elastic constants to be ~2.5% over the measured temperature range. Good agreement is found between the measured elastic constants with previously reported values at room temperature, and between the measured temperature-dependent bulk modulus with calculated values. We find that semi-empirical models capturing lattice anharmonicity adequately reproduce the observed trend. We also determine the acoustic Grüneisen anharmonicity parameter from the experimentally derived temperature-dependent bulk modulus and previously reported temperature-dependent values of volumetric thermal expansion coefficient and heat capacity. This work presents measurements of the temperature-dependent elasticity in single-crystal thorium dioxide at cryogenic temperature and provides a basis for testing ab initio theoretical models and evaluating the impact of anharmonicity on thermophysical properties.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Quantum spin ice response to a magnetic field in the dipole-octupole pyrochlore Ce 2 Zr 2 O 7

The pyrochlore magnet Ce 2 Zr 2 O 7 has attracted much attention as a quantum spin ice candidate whose novelty derives in part from the dipolar-octupolar nature of the Ce 3+ pseudospin-1/2 degrees of freedom it possesses. We report heat capacity measurements on single crystal samples of Ce 2 Zr 2 O 7 down to T~0.1K in a magnetic field along the [$1,\bar{1},0$] direction. These measurements show that the broad hump in the zero-field heat capacity moves higher in temperature with increasing field strength and is split into two separate humps by the [$1,\bar{1},0$] magnetic field at ~2T. These separate features are due to the decomposition of the pyrochlore lattice into effectively decoupled chains for fields in this direction: One set of chains (α chains) is polarized by the field while the other (β chains) remains free. This situation is similar to that observed in the classical spin ices Ho 2 Ti 2 O 7 and Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 , but with the twist that here the strong transverse exchange interactions produce substantial quantum effects. Our theoretical modeling suggests that the β chains are close to a critical state, with nearly-gapless excitations. We also report elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on single crystal Ce 2 Zr 2 O 7 in [$1,\bar{1},0$] and [0,0,1] magnetic fields at temperatures down to T=0.03K. The elastic scattering behaves consistently with the formation of independent chains for a [$1,\bar{1},0$] field, while the [0,0,1] field produces a single field-induced elastic magnetic Bragg peak at (0,2,0) and equivalent wavevectors, indicating a polarized spin ice state for fields above ~3T. For both [$1,\bar{1},0$] and [0,0,1] magnetic fields, our inelastic neutron scattering results show an approximately dispersionless continuum of scattering that increases in both energy and intensity with increasing field strength. By modeling the complete set of experimental data using numerical linked cluster and semiclassical molecular dynamics calculations, we demonstrate the dominantly multipolar nature of the exchange interactions in Ce 2 Zr 2 O 7 and the smallness of the parameter θ, which controls the mixing between dipolar and octupolar degrees of freedom. Finally, these results support previous estimates of the microscopic exchange parameters and place strong constraints on the theoretical description of this prominent spin ice candidate.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The physics of desiccation cracks 2: Modeling and prediction of the crack patterns

Here, this paper extends the experimental results of our companion paper by modeling and predicting the onset and pattern formation of desiccation cracks in geomaterials (Ruoyu et al., 2023). Thin-layer silt samples in controlled atmospheric conditions were tested to obtain the surface strain maps with the digital image correlation (DIC) method during dehydration. Support experiments, including consolidation and displacement-controlled triaxial tests, were conducted for the properties of geomaterials. These experimental results were used to validate a viscoplastic theoretical model by comparing cracks and singularities locations that distribute following the Cnoidal wave pattern. A critical value exists in the viscoplastic model that determines the number of singularities, which accurately predicts the number of cracks in the experiment. The critical values contain two crucial parameters: rate sensitivity and λ. Rate sensitivity describes the rate-dependent stress–strain relation, while λ shows the ability of pore pressure redistribution under the external mechanical loading rate. These results provide a new view to analyze the desiccation cracks considering the rate-dependent viscoplasticity.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The DESI DR1 peculiar velocity survey: Growth rate measurements from the galaxy power spectrum

The large-scale structure of the Universe and its evolution encapsulate a wealth of cosmological information. A powerful means of unlocking this knowledge lies in measuring the auto-power spectrum and/or the cross-power spectrum of the galaxy density and momentum fields, followed by the estimation of cosmological parameters based on these spectrum measurements. In this study, we generalize the cross-power spectrum model to accommodate scenarios in which the density and momentum fields are derived from distinct galaxy surveys. The growth rate of the large-scale structures of the Universe, commonly represented as fσ 8 , was extracted by jointly fitting the monopole and quadrupole moments of the auto-density power spectrum, the monopole of the auto-momentum power spectrum, and the dipole of the cross-power spectrum. Our estimators, theoretical models, and parameter-fitting framework were tested using mocks, confirming their robustness and accuracy in retrieving the fiducial growth rate from simulation. These techniques were then applied to analyse the power spectrum of the DESI Bright Galaxy Survey and Peculiar Velocity Survey. The fit result of the growth rate is fσ8 = 0.440$^{+0.080}_{−0.096}$ at effective redshift zeff = 0.07. By synthesizing the fitting outcomes from correlation functions, maximum likelihood estimation, and the power spectrum, a consensus value is yielded of fσ 8 (z eff = 0.07) = 0.450$^{+0.055}_{−0.055}$, and correspondingly we obtain γ = 0.580$^{+0.110}_{−0.110}$, Ω m = 0.301$^{+0.011}_{−0.011}$, and σ 8 = 0.834$^{+0.032}_{−0.032}$. The measured fσ8 and γ are consistent with the prediction of the Λ cold dark matter model and general relativity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗