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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Scan‐Path‐ and Initial‐State‐Dependent Superdomain Switching in (111)‐Oriented PZT

Polarization switching in ferroelectric materials arises from the collective evolution of complex domain hierarchies, yet deterministic control over these processes remains challenging. Here, we investigate scan-path- and initial-state-dependent switching in epitaxial (111)-oriented PbZr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 thin films using automated AFM-based writing combined with quantitative 3D piezoresponse force microscopy. We show that the scan trajectory acts as an experimentally accessible control parameter for superdomain formation. Box-in-box raster scans reproducibly stabilize ordered stripe superdomains with a reduced subset of symmetry-allowed variants, whereas spiral trajectories generate frustrated mixed-variant states with a broader distribution of final microstructures. Automated pulsing experiments further show that the local superdomain configuration at the nucleation site strongly influences the final written morphology. Phase-field modeling qualitatively reproduces the contrast between representative initial-state geometries and supports the role of compatibility constraints among competing ferroelastic pathways. These findings establish scan-path and initial-state engineering as practical handles to program ferroic order in hierarchical ferroelectric domain structures.

Vasudevan, Rama K. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Ω-slow Solutions and Be Star Disks

As the disk formation mechanism(s) in Be stars is(are) as yet unknown, we investigate the role of rapidly rotating radiation-driven winds in this process. We implemented the effects of high stellar rotation on m-CAK models accounting for the shape of the star, the oblate finite disk correction factor, and gravity darkening. For a fast rotating star, we obtain a two-component wind model, i.e., a fast, thin wind in the polar latitudes and an Ω-slow, dense wind in the equatorial regions. We use the equatorial mass densities to explore Hα emission profiles for the following scenarios: (1) a spherically symmetric star, (2) an oblate star with constant temperature, and (3) an oblate star with gravity darkening. One result of this work is that we have developed a novel method for solving the gravity-darkened, oblate m-CAK equation of motion. Furthermore, from our modeling we find that (a) the oblate finite disk correction factor, for the scenario considering the gravity darkening, can vary by at least a factor of two between the equatorial and polar directions, influencing the velocity profile and mass-loss rate accordingly, (b) the Hα profiles predicted by our model are in agreement with those predicted by a standard power-law model for following values of the line-force parameters: 1.5≲k≲3,α∼0.6, and δ≳0.1, and (c) the contribution of the fast wind component to the Hα emission line profile is negligible; therefore, the line profiles arise mainly from the equatorial disks of Be stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2014

Mass Movement on Vesta at Steep Scarps and Crater Rims

The Quadrangles Av-11 and Av-12 on Vesta are located at the northern rim of the giant Rheasilvia south polar impact basin. The primary geologic units in Av-11 and Av-12 include material from the Rheasilvia impact basin formation, smooth material and different types of impact crater structures (such as bimodal craters, dark and bright crater ray material and dark ejecta material). Av-11 and Av-12 exhibit almost the full range of mass wasting features observed on Vesta, such as slump blocks, spur-and-gully morphologies and landslides within craters. Processes of collapse, slope instability and seismically triggered events force material to slump down crater walls or scarps and produce landslides or rotational slump blocks. The spur-and-gully morphology that is known to form on Mars is also observed on Vesta; however, on Vesta this morphology formed under dry conditions.

Geological processes↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evolution of magnetized, rotating, isothermal clouds

Molecular cloud cores, in which star formation process now proceeds, are often found with elongated shape. This suggests that the core collapsed preferentially along the direction parallel to the global magnetic field and/or parallel to the cloud's initial angular momentum. Actually the magnetic field strength in the cloud has been measured recently with the Zeeman splitting (Goodman et al. 1989). The authors indicate the magnetic field of 10 to 30 mu G exists in the cloud. Further, the observation of polarization in the near IR from background stars shows that the magnetic field runs perpendicularly to the major axis of the cloud (Tamura et al. 1987). As for the angular momentum, the rotation rate of 0.2 to 6 kms s(exp -1) pc(exp -1) is reported (Goldsmith and Arquilla 1984) in 16 dark cloud regions. If the cloud collapses from the diffuse cloud with density n approx. 1 cm (exp -3) with strictly conserving the angular momentum which was shared from the galactic rotation, the rotation rate of the cloud will be x mega sub j = const approx. 3(n/1000 cm exp -3) exp 2/3 km s(exp -1) pc (exp -1) (Mouschovias 1987). The evolution of the rotating magnetized cloud is discussed here.

Tomisaka, Kohji↗
DOE OSTI2015

Saturated Monoglyceride Polymorphism and Gel Formation of Biodiesel Blends

Crystallization or gel formation of normal paraffins in diesel fuel under cold weather conditions leading to fuel filter clogging is a common problem. Cold weather operability of biodiesel (B100) and blends with diesel fuel presents additional complexity because of the presence of saturated monoglycerides (SMGs) and other relatively polar species. Currently, the cloud point measurement (a measure of when the first component crystallizes out of solution) is used to define the lowest temperature at which the fuel can be used without causing cold weather issues. While filter plugging issues have declined, there still remain intermittent unexpected problems above the cloud point for biodiesel blends. Development of a fundamental understanding of how minor components in biodiesel crystallize, gel, and transform is needed in order to prevent these unexpected issues. We have found that SMGs, a low level impurity present in B100 from the production process, can crystallize out of solution and undergo a solvent-mediated polymorphic phase transformation to a more stable, less soluble form. This causes them to persist at temperatures above the cloud point once they have some out of solution. Additionally, we have found that SMGs can cause other more soluble, lower melting point minor components in the B100 to co-crystallize and come out of solution. Monoolein, another minor component from the production process is an unsaturated monoglyceride with a much lower melting point and higher solubility than SMGs. It is able to form a co-crystal with the SMGs and is found together with the SMGs on plugged filters we have analyzed in our laboratory. An observation of isolated crystals in the lab led us to believe that the SMGs may also be forming a gel-like network with components of the B100 and diesel fuel. During filtration experiments, we have noted that in some cases a solid layer of crystals forms and blocks the filter completely, while in other cases this does not occur. Because SMGs are polar and can form layered networks once a sufficient amount of crystals have come out of solution, we recently began investigating the ability of SMGs to form a gel network with fuel components as well as with other minor polar components in the fuel in order to obtain a fundamental understanding of the mechanism of formation. It has been well established that this type of phenomena occurs in sub-sea pipelines where a chief crystallizing component begins to crystallize out of solution. Once a sufficient amount of crystals exists, a volume spanning network of solid crystals can trap liquid crude oil and form a solid-like gel network. We are investigating whether this type of phenomena can occur with SMGs and both fatty acid methyl esters from the B100 and normal paraffins from diesel fuel. Additionally, SMGs are well known to incorporate water into their layered crystal structure. Water is often used to stabilize less stable polymorphic forms of SMGs, therefore water was another minor component of interest. Also of interest is glycerin which has been found on clogged filters in our laboratory.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
NASA NTRS1992

Dynamic formation and magnetic support of loop or arcade prominences

The results of model dynamic simulations of the formation and support of a narrow prominence at the apex of a coronal magnetic loop or arcade are described. The condensation process proceeds via an initial radiative cooling and pressure drop, and a secondary siphon flow from the dense chromospheric ends. The antibuoyancy effect as the prominence forms causes a bending of a confining magnetic field, which propagates toward the semirigid ends of the magnetic loop. Thus, a wide magnetic 'hammock' or well (of a normal polarity Kippenhahn-Schlueter type) is formed, which supports the prominence at or near the field apex.

Vanhoven, Gerard↗
NASA NTRS1992

Formation of negative ions by electron impact on SiF4 and CF4

First measurements of cross sections for the formation of negative ions by electron attachment to SiF4 and CF4 are reported for an electron impact energy range of 0 to 50 eV. The energies at which the various ions appear and the positions at which the ionization efficiency curves peak have been obtained and compared with previous measurements. Thermochemical data have been used to predict and identify the various channels of dissociation. Cross sections for the production of ion pairs through the process of polar dissociation have also been measured.

Iga, I.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Freeze-Thaw Cycling as a Chemical Weathering Agent on a Cold and Icy Mars

Liquid water was abundant on early Mars, but whether the climate was warm and wet or cold and icy with punctuated periods of melting is still poorly understood. Modern climate models for Mars tend to predict a colder, icier early climate than previously imagined. In addition, ice and glaciation have been major geologic agents throughout the later Hesperian and Amazonian eras. One process that can act in such climates is repeated freezing and thawing of water on the surface and in the subsurface, and is significant because it can occur anywhere with an active layer and could have persisted for a time after liquid water was no longer stable on Mars’ surface. As freeze-thaw is the dominant mechanical weathering process in most glacial/periglacial terrains, it was likely a significant geomorphologic driver at local to regional scales during past climates, and would potentially have been most active when day-average surface temperatures exceeded 0 °C for part of the year. Indeed, freeze-thaw involving liquid water in the Amazonian is evidenced by abundant geomorphic features including polygonal ground and solifluction lobes requiring seasonal thawing. In addition to physical modification, freezing can drive solutions towards supersaturation and force dissolved solutes out as precipitates. In Mars-like terrains, dissolved solutes are typically dominated by silica. In polar regions on Earth, freeze-thaw cycles have been shown to promote deposition of silica, and freeze-thaw experiments on synthetic solutions found stable amorphous silica that built up over multiple cycles. Freeze-thaw may therefore be an important but overlooked chemical weathering process on Mars. However, our ability to assess its impact on alteration of martian terrains is majorly limited by the current lack of understanding of the alteration phases produced (and formation rates) under controlled freeze-thaw weathering of Mars-relevant materials. To address this knowledge gap, we report results from (1) freeze-thaw weathering products found at a glacial Mars analog site at the Three Sisters, Oregon, and (2) new controlled freeze-thaw experiments on basaltic material.

Scudder, N. A.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Weak Ferroelectricity and Leakage Current Behavior of Multiferroic CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} Nanomaterials

Multiferroic CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} is synthesized by low-temperature sol-gel auto combustion technique. High energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction pattern confirms the single-phase cubic structure with space group Fd3m. Average crystallite size (17.91 nm) and negative micro-strain (9.86 × 10{sup −4}) are estimated by Williamson–Hall (W-H) plot. FTIR confirms the formation of spinel metal oxide-based cobalt chromites. The strong decrease in ε′ and tan δ at higher frequency can be interpreted by Maxwell-Wagner-type interfacial polarization. Weak ferroelectricity is mainly attributed to the partial reversal of polarization. J-E characteristic reveals the Ohmic (I–V) and Child’s square law (I–V{sup 2}) behavior observed in CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanomaterials with slope value ~ 1.04 and ~ 1.6, respectively. The conduction process for the leakage current density is interpreted using the space-charge limited current (SCLC) mechanism.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Keratin 13 gene is epigenetically suppressed during transforming growth factor-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a human keratinocyte cell line

Highlights: • TGF-β1 induced mesenchymal-like morphology in HaCaT cells. • TGF-β1-induced EMT partially controlled the gene expression of EMT markers. • KRT13 was identified as a TGF-β1-responsive epithelial marker in HaCaT cells. • Chromatin state of the KRT13 promoter was epigenetically regulated during EMT. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological event in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and cell–cell adhesions and concomitantly acquire mesenchymal traits, and is thought to play an important role in pathological processes such as wound healing and cancer progression. In this study, we evaluated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-treated human keratinocyte HaCaT cells as an in vitro model of EMT. HaCaT cells were changed into an elongated fibroblast-like morphology, which is indicative of EMT in response to TGF-β1. Phalloidin staining demonstrated the formation of actin stress fibers in TGF-β1-treated cells. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that TGF-β1 increased the mRNA levels of EMT transcription factors (SNAI2, TWIST1, and ZEB1) and mesenchymal markers (CDH2, VIM, and FN1), while it decreased the transcripts of epithelial phenotypic genes (CLDN1, OCLN, KRT5, KRT15, KRT13, and TGM1). Furthermore, we found that KRT13 was drastically suppressed through the reduction of RNA polymerase II occupancy of its promoter, which was accompanied by a decrease in active histone marks (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) and an increase in a repressive mark (H3K27me3) during EMT. These findings indicate that the TGF-β1-induced EMT program regulates a subset of epithelial and mesenchymal marker genes, and that KRT13 is transcriptionally suppressed through the modulation of the chromatin state at the KRT13 promoter in HaCaT cells.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Prominence condensation and magnetic levitation in a coronal loop

The results of a model dynamic simulation of the formation and support of a narrow prominence at the apex of a coronal magnetic loop or arcade are described. The condensation process proceeds via an initial radiative cooling and pressure drop, and a secondary siphon flow from the dense chromospheric ends. The antibuoyancy effect as the prominence forms causes a bending of the confining magnetic field, which propagates toward the semirigid ends of the magnetic loop. Thus, a wide magnetic 'hammock' or well (of the normal-polarity Kippenhahn-Schlueter-type) is formed, which supports the prominence at or near the field apex. The simplicity of this 1.5-dimensional model, with its accompanying diagnostics, elucidates the various contributions to the nonlinear dynamics of prominence condensation and levitation.

Van Hoven, G.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Cross Scale Coupling of Alfven Turbulence in the Polar Wind Region

Ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling phenomena are extremely complex and diverse, involving a whole series of processes operating over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. One of the fundamental aspects of understanding this coupling is the polar wind, which is a dominant mechanism of mass transport from the ionospheric source region to the magnetosphere and strongly influences the plasma parameters above the F2 density peak. The combined effects of photoelectrons, and the ponderomotive force will be presented based on our polar wind model. The presence of photoelectrons and low frequency oscillations (that create the ponderomotive force) increase ion outflows. It is also demonstrated that large-amplitude low-frequency waves (LFW) may generate lower hybrid waves (LHW) in the auroral zone. The excitation of LHW by a LF wave may lead to the appearance of an additional channel of energy transfer from, for example, Alfven or fast magnetosonic waves, to particles. This process then influences the formation of the plasma distribution function at the expense of acceleration in the tail of the distribution during the collapse of the LHW. The ion energization due to the LHW can be comparable with that produced by the ponderomotive force of the LFW.

Khazanov, George V.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Kibra and aPKC regulate starvation-induced autophagy in Drosophila

Autophagy is a bulk degradation system that functions in response to cellular stresses such as metabolic stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and developmental processes. During autophagy, cytoplasmic components are captured in double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. The autophagosome fuses with the lysosome, producing a vacuole known as an autolysosome. The cellular components are degraded by lysosomal proteases and recycled. Autophagy is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis, and the process is evolutionarily conserved. Kibra is an upstream regulator of the hippo signaling pathway, which controls organ size by affecting cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Kibra is mainly localized in the apical membrane domain of epithelial cells and acts as a scaffold protein. We found that Kibra is required for autophagy to function properly. The absence of Kibra caused defects in the formation of autophagic vesicles and autophagic degradation. We also found that the well-known cell polarity protein aPKC interacts with Kibra, and its activity affects autophagy upstream of Kibra. Constitutively active aPKC decreased autophagic vesicle formation and autophagic degradation. We confirmed the interaction between aPKC and Kibra in S2 cells and Drosophila larva. Taken together, our data suggest that Kibra and aPKC are essential for regulating starvation-induced autophagy. - Highlights: • Loss of Kibra causes defects in autophagosome formation and autophagic degradation. • Constitutively-active aPKCs negatively regulate autophagy. • Kibra interacts with aPKC in vitro and in vivo. • Kibra regulates autophagy downstream of aPKC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Nanoscale reshaping of resonant dielectric microstructures by light-driven explosions

Femtosecond-laser-assisted material restructuring employs extreme optical intensities to localize the ablation regions. To overcome the minimum feature size limit set by the wave nature of photons, there is a need for new approaches to tailored material processing at the nanoscale. Here, we report the formation of deeply-subwavelength features in silicon, enabled by localized laser-induced phase explosions in prefabricated silicon resonators. Using short trains of mid-infrared laser pulses, we demonstrate the controllable formation of high aspect ratio (>10:1) nanotrenches as narrow as ~ $λ / 80$. The trench geometry is shown to be scalable with wavelength, and controlled by multiple parameters of the laser pulse train, such as the intensity and polarization of each laser pulse and their total number. Particle-in-cell simulations reveal localized heating of silicon beyond its boiling point and suggest its subsequent phase explosion on the nanoscale commensurate with the experimental data. The observed femtosecond-laser assisted nanostructuring of engineered microstructures (FLANEM) expands the nanofabrication toolbox and opens exciting opportunities for high-throughput optical methods of nanoscale structuring of solid materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1994

Effects of a polar stratosphere cloud parameterization on ozone depletion due to stratospheric aircraft in a two-dimensional model

A parameterization of Type 1 and 2 polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) formation is presented which is appropriate for use in two-dimensional (2-D) photochemical models of the stratosphere. The calculations of PSC frequency of occurrence and surface area density uses climatological temperature probability distributions obtained from National Meteorological Center data to avoid using zonal mean temperatures, which are not good predictors of PSC behavior. The parameterization does not attempt to model the microphysics of PSCs. The parameterization predicts changes in PSC formation and heterogeneous processing due to perturbations of stratospheric trace constituents. It is therefore useful in assessing the potential effects of a fleet of stratospheric aircraft (high speed civil transports, or HSCTs) on stratospheric composition. the model calculated frequency of PSC occurrence agrees well with a climatology based on stratospheric aerosol measurement (SAM) 2 observations. PSCs are predicted to occur in the tropics. Their vertical range is narrow, however, and their impact on model O3 fields is small. When PSC and sulfate aerosol heterogeneous processes are included in the model calculations, the O3 change for 1980 - 1990 is in substantially better agreement with the total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS)-derived O3 trend than otherwise. The overall changes in model O3 response to standard HSCT perturbation scenarios produced by the parameterization are small and tend to decrease the model sensitivity to the HSCT perturbation. However, in the southern hemisphere spring a significant increase in O3 sensitivity to HSCT perturbations is found. At this location and time, increased PSC formation leads to increased levels of active chlorine, which produce the O3 decreases.

Considine, David B.↗
NASA NTRS2000

TE/TM Simulations of Interferometric Measurements

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) measurements at X-, C-, L-, and P-band are used to derive ground topography at meter level resolution. Interpretation of the derived topography requires attention due to the complex interaction of the radar signal with ground cover. The presence of penetrable surfaces such as vegetation, and tree canopies poses a challenge since the depth of penetration depends on a number of parameters such as the operating radar frequency, polarization, incident angle, as well as terrain structure. The dependence of the reconstructed topography on polarization may lead to the characterization of the ground cover. Simulation of interferometric measurements is useful for interpretation of the derived topography (B. Houshmand, Proceedings of URSI, 314, 1997). In this talk , time domain simulations for interferometric measurement for TE- and TM- polarization are presented. Time domain simulation includes the effects of the surface material property as well geometry comparable the radar signal wavelength (B. Houshmand, Proceedings of the URSI, 25, 1998). The IFSAR simulation is carried out in two steps. First, the forward scattering data is generated based on full wave analysis. Next, the electromagnetic information is inverted to generate surface topography. This inversion is based on the well known IFSAR processing technique which is composed of signal compression, and formation of an interferogram. The full wave forward scattering data is generated by the scattered-field formulation of the FDTD algorithm. The simulation is carried out by exciting the computational domain by a radar signal. The scattered field is then computed and translated to the receiving interferometric antennas using the time-domain Huygen's principle. The inversion process starts by compressing the time-domain data. The range compressed data from both receivers are then coregistered to form an interferogram. The resulting interferogram is then related to the ground topography using the radar imaging geometry. In this talk, the simulation results are compared with the C-band TM IFSAR derived topography, and the TE/TM SAR images at L-Band.

Houshmand, Bijan↗
DOE OSTI2025

CROCUS Dual Polarization Ceilometer Data at Northeastern Illinois University Rooftop

This dataset is from the Department of Energy Office of Science funded project, CROCUS Urban Integrated Field Laboratory (https://crocus-urban.org/). The dual-polarization ceilometer (Vaisala CL61) is an autonomous lidar system operating at 910 nm wavelength, providing valuable measurements for understanding atmospheric boundary layer evolution, air quality, and cloud-aerosol interactions. The CL61 measures the backscattered signal intensity alternating between parallel- and cross-polarization signals. The unique depolarization measurement capability improves discrimination between different particle types, such as liquid droplets, ice crystals, and aerosols. The depolarization is highly dependent on the scatterer shape and orientation (spherical vs non-spherical particles), with the linear depolarization ratio providing a measure of dominant backscatter signal component from atmospheric particles at various heights, essentially allowing discrimination between liquid and solid particles. With its efficient optical system, CL61’s improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to traditional ceilometers allows studying detailed vertical profiles of aerosols and clouds up to 15 km height.Datasets are stored in a netCDF data format, and we we encourage users to make use of the associated toolkits available from Unidata (https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/), Project Pythia (https://foundations.projectpythia.org/core/data-formats/netcdf-cf.html), and our “Instrument Cookbooks” (https://crocus-urban.github.io/instrument-cookbooks) for more information on how to process the metadata-rich datasets.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Multi-frequency multi-polarization processing for spaceborne SAR

The Shuttle Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) is the third in a series of space shuttle based synthetic aperture radars (SAR) sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The SIR-C ground data processing system is to process the playbacked SAR signal data into a variety of data products for distribution to the science community. An overview of the end-to-end ground data processing system with emphasis on the unique characteristics involved in the system design is presented. Included in the discussion are science requirements, radar system specifications, input data format specifications, system operations design, data products design, processing algorithm design, hardware architecture design, and software design.

Curlander, John C.↗