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At least 289 records · Page 16

Visualization of dynamic polaronic strain fields in hybrid lead halide perovskites

Excitation localization involving dynamic nanoscale distortions is a central aspect of photocatalysis, quantum materials and molecular optoelectronics. Experimental characterization of such distortions requires techniques sensitive to the formation of point-defect-like local structural rearrangements in real time. Here, we visualize excitation-induced strain fields in a prototypical member of the lead halide perovskites via femtosecond resolution diffuse X-ray scattering measurements. Here, this enables momentum-resolved phonon spectroscopy of the locally distorted structure and reveals radially expanding nanometre-scale strain fields associated with the formation and relaxation of polarons in photoexcited perovskites. Quantitative estimates of the magnitude and shape of this polaronic distortion are obtained, providing direct insights into the dynamic structural distortions that occur in these materials. Optical pump–probe reflection spectroscopy corroborates these results and shows how these large polaronic distortions transiently modify the carrier effective mass, providing a unified picture of the coupled structural and electronic dynamics that underlie the optoelectronic functionality of the hybrid perovskites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Time-domain modelling and thermometry of the CH 4 v 1 Q-branch using hybrid femtosecond/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

Here, we present time-domain measurements and modelling of the CH 4 v 1 vibrational Q-branch, as well as simultaneous temperature acquisition from the CH 4 and N 2 vibrational Q-branches using broadband hybrid femtosecond/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (fs/ps CARS). Accurate measurements with fs/ps CARS require knowledge of the time-domain response of the probed molecule at different temperatures and pressures. In this work, a fs/ps CARS model was developed for theCH 4 v 1 Q-branch and validated using time-resolved probe delay scans at pressures between 70 and 600 Torr and temperatures between 295 and 1000 K. A simplified modified exponential energy gap model was used to determine the linewidths of the Raman transitions within the Q-branch. Total Q-branch linewidths for the entire explored parameter space were also determined from the probe delay scans. This enabled quantitative measurements of CH 4 with fs/ps CARS as well as the temperature through the hot bands of the CH 4 v 1 Q-branch. With a broadband fs laser pulse in a two-beam phase matching scheme, the N 2 Q-branch and CH 4 v 1 Q-branch were simultaneously measured in a heated cell, and the temperatures from each molecule's spectra was evaluated. Here, the fitted temperatures corresponded well with differences ranging from 4 to 17%. It was also shown that exchanging 90% of CH 4 for N 2 or Ar at 295 K and 500 Torr did not significantly impact the normalized time-domain signal prior to a 100 picosecond probe delay. Spatially resolved one-dimensional (1-D) thermometry using the CH 4 Q-branch was also demonstrated with an imaged spatial resolution of 40 µm. With the developed model, 1-D quantitative measurements of CH 4 concentration and temperature can be measured with time resolution of tens of picoseconds.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Active Neutron and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for In Situ Planetary Science Applications

We describe the development of an instrument capable of detailed in situ bulk geochemical analysis of the surface of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. This instrument technology uses a pulsed neutron generator to excite the solid materials of a planet and measures the resulting neutron and gamma-ray emission with its detector system. These time-resolved neutron and gamma-ray data provide detailed information about the bulk elemental composition, chemical context, and density distribution of the soil within 50 cm of the surface. While active neutron scattering and neutron-induced gamma-ray techniques have been used extensively for terrestrial nuclear well logging applications, our goal is to apply these techniques to surface instruments for use on any solid solar system body. As described, experiments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center use a prototype neutron-induced gamma-ray instrument and the resulting data presented show the promise of this technique for becoming a versatile, robust, workhorse technology for planetary science, and exploration of any of the solid bodies in the solar system. The detection of neutrons at the surface also provides useful information about the material. This paper focuses on the data provided by the gamma-ray detector.

Parsons, A.↗

Orbital-resolved calculations of two-center interferences in linear triatomic molecules

In this report we perform ab initio calculations of high-harmonic spectroscopy (HHS) of two-center interference phenomena in oriented carbon-dichalcogen molecules, using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). We show that by resolving the harmonic response into contributions from individual Kohn-Sham orbitals, we can extract target-specific characteristics for both the spectral amplitude and phase. We also discuss that this extraction is predicated on a careful analysis and normalization of the harmonic spectrum. Finally, we present field-free scattering calculations that mimic the recollision step in high-order-harmonic generation and allow the calculation of recombination dipole matrix elements without explicitly calculating the scattering states of a molecule. We show that the orbital-resolved TDDFT HHS results and results based on our field-free scattering calculations are in very good agreement with each other.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy: Real-Time In-Situ Physical and Chemical Characterization of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Membrane Scaling

We introduce a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) methodology designed for rapid, real-time, and in situ monitoring of RO membrane scaling adapted for bench-scale desalination flow cells. The methodology can provide new insights into membrane scaling dynamics by offering time-resolved reflection imaging of inorganic crystal growth, coupled with chemical identification from Raman spectral data. These capabilities allow for direct local measurement of the membrane surface area covered by different scalants as well as an approximation of the scalant volume using three-dimensional, integrated Raman intensity. The 2D and 3D SRS results obtained from CaSO 4 scaling experiments are compared to and are in reasonable agreement with those provided by confocal microscopy. The real-time physical and chemical characterization capabilities presented here could be extended to study combinations of inorganic, organic, and biological fouling. Overall, the SRS methodology represents an advancement in real-time sensing of membrane fouling that offers the potential for improved operation, lower cost, and more resilient RO membrane systems for sustainable water management.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Nd:YAG Laser-Based Dual-Line Detection Rayleigh Scattering and Current Efforts on UV, Filtered Rayleigh Scattering

Ongoing research in Rayleigh scattering diagnostics for variable density low speed flow applications and for supersonic flow measurements are described. During the past several years, the focus has been on the development and use of a Nd:YAG-based Rayleigh scattering system with improved signal-to-noise characteristics and with applicability to complex, confined flows. This activity serves other research projects in the Aerodynamics Laboratory which require the non-contact, accurate, time-frozen measurement of gas density, pressure, and temperature (each separately), in a fairly wide dynamic range of each parameter. Recently, with the acquisition of a new seed-injected Nd:YAG laser, effort also has been directed to the development of a high-speed velocity probe based on a spectrally resolved Rayleigh scattering technique.

Otugen, M. Volkan↗

Attosecond intra-valence band dynamics and resonant-photoemission delays in W(110)

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with attosecond precision provides new insights into the photoelectric effect and gives information about the timing of photoemission from different electronic states within the electronic band structure of solids. Electron transport, scattering phenomena and electron-electron correlation effects can be observed on attosecond time scales by timing photoemission from valence band states against that from core states. However, accessing intraband effects was so far particularly challenging due to the simultaneous requirements on energy, momentum and time resolution. Here we report on an experiment utilizing intracavity generated attosecond pulse trains to meet these demands at high flux and high photon energies to measure intraband delays between sp- and d- band states in the valence band photoemission from tungsten and investigate final-state effects in resonant photoemission.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Combined, time-resolved, in situ neutron reflectometry and X-ray diffraction analysis of dynamic SEI formation during electrochemical N 2 reduction

One means of improving performance for electrochemical ammonia production through the Li-mediated N 2 reduction reaction (Li-NRR) is by cycling the current driving the reaction between open-circuit conditions and periods of applied current density. Herein, we have investigated the dynamics of the electrode–electrolyte interface under Li-NRR conditions during current cycling using in situ time-resolved neutron reflectometry and grazing-incidence synchrotron X-ray diffraction. During cycling, measured neutron reflectivity curves indicated bilayer formation in which Li-containing species such as LiOH, Li 2 O, and small quantities of Li 3 N and metallic Li primarily appeared in a thin layer at the cathode surface, above which formed a much larger, porous, ‘solid–electrolyte interface’ (SEI) layer. Upon return to open-circuit conditions, Li-containing species quickly moved out of the thin layer, leaving a compact, stable layer of decomposition products underneath the SEI layer. This SEI layer concomitantly filled with electrolyte or dissolved, becoming indistinguishable from the electrolyte via contrast in scattering-length density (SLD). During the second current cycle, Li-containing species again preferentially deposited directly atop the cathode, with the thick SEI-like layer again appearing within a minute. This SEI layer exhibited a lower SLD more quickly than in the first cycle, which might suggest that Li-containing species become distributed within the porous SEI layer. Furthermore, these time-resolved observations of SEI and plated layers during current cycling suggest that benefits associated with return to open-circuit conditions between periods of applied current density may be related to the concomitant loss of Li-containing species from a thin layer at the cathode surface into a porous SEI layer that becomes filled with electrolyte or dissolves.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Strain in Metal Halide Perovskite Thin Films - Interfacial Mechanical Coupling

Hybrid organic−inorganic metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are promising semiconductors for photovoltaics and optoelectronics, but their commercial viability is limited by instability, particularly strain induced by mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) between the perovskite film and substrate. Here, we investigate strain development and relaxation in MHP thin films using in situ bending and Grazing Incidence Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (GIWAXS). We quantify the film− substrate interfacial mechanical coupling and identify interfacial slippage beyond a critical strain (∼0.4%), with Br-2PACz exhibiting comparatively stronger interfacial mechanical coupling among common interface modifiers. Time-resolved GIWAXS reveals reversible macrostrain during thermal cycling driven by CTE mismatch. Leveraging this behavior, we introduce a prestrain process that induces persistent compressive strain after cooling, with partial relaxation over time. These results provide insight into interfacial mechanical coupling and strain dynamics, offering a framework for strain engineering in perovskite devices.

metals↗

Atomic collisions in the presence of laser radiation - Time dependence and the asymptotic wave function

A time-dependent, wave-packet description of atomic collisions in the presence of laser radiation is extracted from the more conventional time-independent, stationary-state description. This approach resolves certain difficulties of interpretation in the time-independent approach which arise in the case of asymptotic near resonance. In the two-state model investigated, the approach predicts the existence of three spherically scattered waves in this asymptotically near-resonant case.

Devries, P. L.↗

DC-8 scanning lidar characterization of aircraft contrails and cirrus clouds

A Subsonic Assessment (SASS) element of the overall Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project (AEAP) was initiated by NASA to assess the atmospheric impact of subsonic aircraft. SRI was awarded a project to develop and test a scanning backscatter lidar for installation on the NASA DC-8 (year 1), participate in the Subsonic Aircraft: Contrail and Cloud Effects Special Study (SUCCESS) field program (year 2), and conduct a comprehensive analysis of field data (year 3). A scanning mirror pod attached to the DC-8 aircraft provides for scanning lidar observations ahead of the DC-8 and fixed-angle upward or downward observations. The lidar system installed within the DC-8 transmits 275 MJ at 1.06 gm wavelength or about 130 mJ at 1.06 and 0.53 gm simultaneously. Range-resolved aerosol backscatter is displayed in real time in terms of cloud/contrail spatial distributions. The objectives of the project are to map contrail/cloud vertical distributions ahead of DC-8; provide DC-8 guidance into enhanced scattering layers; document DC-8 flight path intersection of contrail and cloud geometries (in-situ measurement positions relative to cloud/contrail shape and an extension of in-situ measurements into the vertical -- integrated contrail/cloud properties); analyze contrail/cloud radiative properties with LIRAD (combined lidar and radiometry) technique; evaluate mean particle sizes of aircraft emissions from two-wavelength observations; study contrail/cloud interactions, diffusion, and mass decay/growth; and make observations in the near-field of aircraft engine emissions. The scanning mirror pod may also provide a scanning capability for other remote sensing instruments.

Nielsen, Norman B.↗

Time resolved density measurements in premixed turbulent flames

Premixed, turbulent flames are important in connection with investigations of fundamental, turbulent-reacting-flow processes and the study of practical combustion devices, such as spark ignition engines and premixed, prevaporized gas turbine combustors which burn premixed reactants. The considered investigation is concerned with the application of laser induced Rayleigh scattering to measure the gas density in premixed, methane-air flames. A description is provided of the results of density and velocity measurements in an open, lean, premixed methane-air flame stabilized in grid turbulence of low Reynolds number. It is found that where applicable, Rayleigh scattering can be used to good advantage to measure molecular number density. Mean and rms density results show that the mean flame thickens with axial distance but that the maximum in rms does not change appreciably.

Dandekar, K. V.↗

Multi-epoch Direct Imaging and Time-variable Scattered Light Morphology of the HD 163296 Protoplanetary Disk

We present H-band polarized scattered light imagery and JHK high-contrast spectroscopy of the protoplanetary disk around HD 163296 observed with the High-Contrast Coronographic Imager for Adaptive Optics (HiCIAO) and Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO)/Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS) instruments at Subaru Observatory. The polarimetric imagery resolve a broken ring structure surrounding HD 163296 that peaks at a distance along the major axis of 0 65 (66 au) and extends out to 0 98 (100 au) along the major axis. Our 2011 H-band data exhibit clear axisymmetry, with the NW and SE side of the disk exhibiting similar intensities. Our data are clearly different from 2016 epoch H-band observations of the Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE), which found a strong 2.7 x asymmetry between the NW and SE side of the disk. Collectively, these results indicate the presence of time-variable, non-azimuthally symmetric illumination of the outer disk. While our SCExAO/CHARIS data are sensitive enough to recover the planet candidate identified from NIRC2 in the thermal infrared (IR), we fail to detect an object with JHK brightness nominally consistent with this object. This suggests that the candidate is either fainter in JHK bands than model predictions, possibly due to extinction from the disk or atmospheric dust/ clouds, or that it is an artifact of the data set/data processing, such as a residual speckle or partially subtracted disk feature. Assuming standard hot-start evolutionary models and a system age of 5Myr, we set new, direct mass limits for the inner (outer) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)-predicted protoplanet candidate along the major (minor) disk axis of of 1.5 (2) M(J).

Evan A. Rich↗

Establishing Self-Dopant Design Principles from Structure–Function Relationships in Self-n-Doped Perylene Diimide Organic Semiconductors

Self-doping is a particular doping method that has been applied to a wide range of organic semiconductors. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the relationship between dopant structure and function. A structurally diverse series of self-n-doped perylene diimides (PDIs) is investigated to study the impact of steric encumbrance, counterion selection, and dopant/PDI tether distance on functional parameters such as doping, stability, morphology, and charge-carrier mobility. The studies show that self-n-doping is best enabled by the use of sterically encumbered ammoniums with short tethers and Lewis basic counterions. Additionally, water is found to inhibit doping, which concludes that thermal degradation is merely a phenomenological feature of certain dopants, and that residual solvent evaporation is the primary driver of thermally activated doping. In situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering studies show that sample annealing increases the π–π stacking distance and shrinks grain boundaries for improved long-range ordering. These features are then correlated to contactless carrier-mobility measurements with time-resolved microwave conductivity before and after thermal annealing. In conclusion, the collective relationships between structural features and functionality are finally used to establish explicit self-n-dopant design principles for the future design of materials with improved functionality.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On the Use of Liquid Nitrogen Droplets as Flow Tracers in Cryogenic Flow Facilities at NASA Langley Research Center

The injection of liquid nitrogen droplets to cool the gas temperature in cryogenic wind tunnels is discussed as a method of natural seeding for velocimetry-focused, particle-based, laser diagnostics. Historical observations and issues with seeding are presented for both ground-test facilities of interest in this work at NASA Langley: the 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Wind Tunnel (TCT) and the National Transonic Facility (NTF). Recent observations of natural seeding with a Rayleigh scattering instrument are presented in the two facilities, which motivated the purposeful use of a pulse-burst laser system to observe the particles directly with a sequentially operated laser sheet for the first time. Time-resolved image sequences of unevaporated liquid nitrogen droplets were readily acquired for tunnel total temperatures of 200 K and below. The preliminary results promote a discussion on the fitness of these natural particles as flow tracers for either a particle image velocimetry or a particle tracking velocimetry instrument in these high-Reynolds-number facilities.

cryogenic wind tunnels↗

Strong Induced Circular Dichroism in a Hybrid Lead‐Halide Semiconductor Using Chiral Amino Acids for Crystallite Surface Functionalization

Abstract Chirality is a desired property in functional semiconductors for optoelectronic, catalytic, and spintronic applications. Here, introducing enantiomerically‐pure 3‐aminobutyric acid (3‐ABA) into thin films of the 1D semiconductor dimethylammonium lead iodide (DMAPbI 3 ) is found to result in strong circular dichroism (CD) in the optical absorption. X‐ray diffraction and grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) are applied to gain molecular‐scale insights into the chirality transfer mechanism, which is attributed to a chiral surface modification of DMAPbI 3 crystallites. This study demonstrates that the CD signal strength can be controlled by the amino‐acid content relative to the crystallite surface area. The CD intensity is tuned by the composition of the precursor solution and the spin‐coating time, thereby achieving anisotropy factors ( g abs ) as high as 1.75 × 10 –2 . Grazing incidence wide angle scattering reveals strong preferential ordering that can be suppressed via tailored synthesis conditions. Different contributions to the chiroptical properties are resolved by a detailed analysis of the CD signal utilizing an approach based on the Mueller matrix model. This report of a novel class of chiral hybrid semiconductors with precise control over their optical activity presents a promising approach for the design of circularly polarized light detectors and emitters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Double-pulse speckle contrast correlations with near Fourier transform limited free-electron laser light using hard X-ray split-and-delay

Abstract The ability to deliver two coherent X-ray pulses with precise time-delays ranging from a few femtoseconds to nanoseconds enables critical capabilities of probing ultra-fast phenomena in condensed matter systems at X-ray free electron laser (FEL) sources. Recent progress made in the hard X-ray split-and-delay optics developments now brings a very promising prospect for resolving atomic-scale motions that were not accessible by previous time-resolved techniques. Here, we report on characterizing the spatial and temporal coherence properties of the hard X-ray FEL beam after propagating through split-and-delay optics. Speckle contrast analysis of small-angle scattering measurements from nanoparticles reveals well-preserved transverse coherence of the beam. Measuring intensity fluctuations from successive X-ray pulses also reveals that only single or double temporal modes remain in the transmitted beam, corresponding to nearly Fourier transform limited pulses.

42 ENGINEERING↗

ORNL Portable Diagnostic Package for Evaluating Mirror Performance

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Realta Fusion successfully executed a one-year collaborative effort to deploy the Portable Diagnostic Package (PDP) on the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) and to assess future diagnostic needs. The PDP consists of an optical emission spectroscopy (OES) subsystem and a Thomson scattering (TS) subsystem. Within the first two months, the PDP OES subsystem was installed, integrated with WHAM timing, and handed over to trained Realta personnel. It immediately delivered multi-channel impurity surveys and the first spatially resolved plasma-rotation profiles inferred from C III Doppler shifts. The TS subsystem was commissioned within the first six months; transportation of the class IV laser system, approval of the safety plan, and the integration with WHAM timing with 100 ns resolution. The TS subsystem provided the first localized electron temperature measurements in WHAM commissioning shots. Leveraging these results, the team has discussed a diagnostic concept map for Realta’s next-step facility, Anvil, identifying line-of-sight constraints, required temporal resolution, and hardware upgrades.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗