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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

NIAC Phase II Orbiting Rainbows: Future Space Imaging with Granular Systems

Inspired by the light scattering and focusing properties of distributed optical assemblies in Nature, such as rainbows and aerosols, and by recent laboratory successes in optical trapping and manipulation, we propose a unique combination of space optics and autonomous robotic system technology, to enable a new vision of space system architecture with applications to ultra-lightweight space optics and, ultimately, in-situ space system fabrication. Typically, the cost of an optical system is driven by the size and mass of the primary aperture. The ideal system is a cloud of spatially disordered dust-like objects that can be optically manipulated: it is highly reconfigurable, fault-tolerant, and allows very large aperture sizes at low cost. This new concept is based on recent understandings in the physics of optical manipulation of small particles in the laboratory and the engineering of distributed ensembles of spacecraft swarms to shape an orbiting cloud of micron-sized objects. In the same way that optical tweezers have revolutionized micro- and nano-manipulation of objects, our breakthrough concept will enable new large scale NASA mission applications and develop new technology in the areas of Astrophysical Imaging Systems and Remote Sensing because the cloud can operate as an adaptive optical imaging sensor. While achieving the feasibility of constructing one single aperture out of the cloud is the main topic of this work, it is clear that multiple orbiting aerosol lenses could also combine their power to synthesize a much larger aperture in space to enable challenging goals such as exo-planet detection. Furthermore, this effort could establish feasibility of key issues related to material properties, remote manipulation, and autonomy characteristics of cloud in orbit. There are several types of endeavors (science missions) that could be enabled by this type of approach, i.e. it can enable new astrophysical imaging systems, exo-planet search, large apertures allow for unprecedented high resolution to discern continents and important features of other planets, hyperspectral imaging, adaptive systems, spectroscopy imaging through limb, and stable optical systems from Lagrange-points. Furthermore, future micro-miniaturization might hold promise of a further extension of our dust aperture concept to other more exciting smart dust concepts with other associated capabilities. Our objective in Phase II was to experimentally and numerically investigate how to optically manipulate and maintain the shape of an orbiting cloud of dust-like matter so that it can function as an adaptable ultra-lightweight surface. Our solution is based on the aperture being an engineered granular medium, instead of a conventional monolithic aperture. This allows building of apertures at a reduced cost, enables extremely fault-tolerant apertures that cannot otherwise be made, and directly enables classes of missions for exoplanet detection based on Fourier spectroscopy with tight angular resolution and innovative radar systems for remote sensing. In this task, we have examined the advanced feasibility of a crosscutting concept that contributes new technological approaches for space imaging systems, autonomous systems, and space applications of optical manipulation. The proposed investigation has matured the concept that we started in Phase I to TRL 3, identifying technology gaps and candidate system architectures for the space-borne cloud as an aperture.

Quadrelli, Marco B.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Non-Hermitian approach for quantum plasmonics

Herein, we examine the limits of applicability of a simple non-Hermitian model for exciton/plasmon interactions in the presence of dissipation and dephasing. The model can be used as an alternative to the more complete Lindblad density matrix approach and is computationally and conceptually simpler. We find that optical spectra in the linear regime can be adequately described by this approach. The model can fail, however, under continuous optical driving in some circumstances. In the case of two quantum dots or excitons interacting with a plasmon, the model can also describe coherences and entanglement qualitatively when both dissipation and dephasing are present and quantitatively in the limit with no dephasing. The approach, within a single excitation manifold, is also applied to assess the role of disorder for 50 quantum dots interacting with a plasmon, where we find that, on average, large enough disorder can help stabilize the ensemble average of the open quantum system toward a dark quasi-steady-state much faster than without disorder. Furthermore, while such single excitation manifold calculations in this size limit can readily be done with either the non-Hermitian or Lindblad forms, as one goes to larger Hilbert space sizes, the computational and storage advantages of the non-Hermitian approach can become more useful. Published under license by AIP Publishing.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Unitary Subharmonic Response and Floquet Majorana Modes

Detection and manipulation of excitations with non-Abelian statistics, such as Majorana fermions, are essential for creating topological quantum computers. To this end, we show the connection between the existence of such localized particles and the phenomenon of unitary subharmonic response (SR) in periodically driven systems. In particular, starting from highly nonequilibrium initial states, the unpaired Majorana modes exhibit spin oscillations with twice the driving period, are localized, and can have exponentially long lifetimes in clean systems. While the lifetime of SR is limited in translationally invariant systems, we show in this work that disorder can be engineered to stabilize the subharmonic response of Majorana modes. A viable observation of this phenomenon can be achieved using modern multiqubit hardware, such as superconducting circuits and cold atomic systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Local imaging of diamagnetism in proximity-coupled niobium nanoisland arrays on gold thin films.

In this work, we study the effect of engineered disorder on the local magnetic response of proximity-coupled superconducting island arrays by comparing scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) susceptibility measurements to a model in which we treat the system as a network of one-dimensional (1D) superconductor-normal-metal-superconductor Josephson junctions, each with a Josephson coupling energy E-J determined by the junction length or distance between islands. We find that the disordered arrays exhibit a spatially inhomogeneous diamagnetic response which, for low local applied magnetic fields, is well described by this junction network model, and we discuss these results as they relate to inhomogeneous 2D superconductors. Our model of the static magnetic response of the arrays does not fully capture the onset of nonlinearity and dissipation with increasing applied field, as these effects are associated with vortex motion due to the dynamic nature of the scanning SQUID susceptometry measurement. This work demonstrates a model 2D superconducting system with engineered disorder, and it highlights the impact of dissipation on the local magnetic properties of 2D superconductors and Josephson junction arrays.

Bishop-Van Horn, Logan↗
DOE OSTI2026

Experimental Characterization and Modeling of High Hole Mobility GeSn Quantum Wells: The Role of Alloy Disorder Scattering

Understanding mechanisms influencing electrical transport in material systems not only provides a scientific explanation for observed behavior but also offers insight into ways to enhance transport in devices. This study reports experimental hole mobility of 8 x 10 4 cm 2 V -1 s -1 in a Ge 0.92 Sn 0.08 , the highest recorded mobility for the GeSn system. A study of the material's quality is presented using structural and electrical characterization techniques, with transport data being supported by simulations using an extensive modeling framework. Quantum Hall measurements further indicate the material's high quality and potential spintronic applications, with extracted values of 0.0689$m$ 0 and 13.6 for the effective mass and effective g‐factor, respectively. It is observed that transport is limited by alloy disorder scattering at cryogenic temperatures. A comparative study between the presented structure and similar quantum well heterostructures revealed that the difference in hole mobilities is captured by a disparity in the reduced nominal alloy disorder scattering potential (Δ U alloy = 0.8 eV), that is lower than the value of a fully random alloy (Δ U alloy = 1.4–1.7 eV) potential. The difference in Δ U alloy suggests that heterostructures with similar geometries and alloy compositions can have different alloy disorder scattering, implying that an underlying mechanism, such as short‐range order, may be responsible and warrants further investigation.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Avalanches and many-body resonances in many-body localized systems

Here we numerically study both the avalanche instability and many-body resonances in strongly disordered spin chains exhibiting many-body localization (MBL). Finite-size systems behave like MBL within the MBL regimes, which we divide into the asymptotic MBL phase and the finite-size MBL regime; the latter regime is, however, thermal in the limit of large systems and long times. In both Floquet and Hamiltonian models, we identify some landmarks within the MBL regimes. Our first landmark is an estimate of where the MBL phase becomes unstable to avalanches, obtained by measuring the slowest relaxation rate of a finite chain coupled to an infinite bath at one end. Our estimates indicate that the actual MBL-to-thermal phase transition occurs much deeper in the MBL regimes than has been suggested by most previous studies. Our other landmarks involve systemwide many-body resonances: We find that the effective matrix elements producing eigenstates with systemwide many-body resonances are enormously broadly distributed. This broad distribution means that the onset of such resonances in typical samples occurs quite deep in the MBL regimes, and the first such resonances typically involve rare pairs of eigenstates that are farther apart in energy than the minimum gap. Thus we find that the resonance properties define two landmarks that divide the MBL regimes of finite-size systems into three subregimes: (i) at strongest randomness, typical samples do not have any eigenstates that are involved in systemwide many-body resonances; (ii) there is a substantial intermediate subregime where typical samples do have such resonances but the pair of eigenstates with the minimum spectral gap does not, so the size of the minimum gap agrees with expectations from Poisson statistics; and (iii) in the weaker randomness subregime, the minimum gap is larger than predicted by Poisson level statistics because it is involved in a many-body resonance and thus subject to level repulsion. Nevertheless, even in this third subregime, all but a vanishing fraction of eigenstates remain nonresonant and the system thus still appears MBL in most respects. Based on our estimates of the location of the avalanche instability, it might be that the MBL phase is only part of subregime (i) and the other subregimes are entirely in the thermal phase, even though they look localized in most respects, so are in the finite-size MBL regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2019

Effects of Spaceflight and Simulated Microgravity on a Host-Pathogen System

While evidence suggests that astronauts and cosmonauts suffer from immune disorders both during and after spaceflight, the underlying causes are still poorly understood, due in part to the fact that there are so many variables to consider when investigating the human immune system in a complex environment. Furthermore, research has shown that common human pathogens also become more virulent after experiencing spaceflight, which can be especially concerning in the context of potentially immunocompromised astronauts. Invertebrates have become popular models for studying human disease because they have immune systems with a high genetic similarity to humans. Recently, the common bacterial pathogen Serratia marcescens was shown to become more lethal to the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, after being cultured in space, suggesting that not only do we need to consider host changes in susceptibility, but also changes in the pathogen itself after exposure to spaceflight conditions. Being able to simulate spaceflight conditions in a controlled environment on the ground gives us the ability to understand how the microorganisms that cause immune disorders are being affected by these drastic environmental shifts. In this study, I use both spaceflight and Low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG) environments to examine the genetic changes associated with increased S. marcescens virulence in order to understand how microgravity is affecting this pathogen, as well as how these genetic changes influence and interact with the host immune system. I also examined the effects of nutrient composition and altered growth conditions on the LSMMG-induced increase in virulence, as well as changes in gene expression mediated by both nutrient composition and exposure to LSMMG. This study will provide us with more directed approaches to studying the effects of spaceflight on human beings, with the ultimate goal of being able to prevent human immune dysfunction in future space exploration.

Gilbert, Rachel↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dissipative Floquet Dynamics: from Steady State to Measurement Induced Criticality in Trapped-ion Chains

Quantum systems evolving unitarily and subject to quantum measurements exhibit various types of non-equilibrium phase transitions, arising from the competition between unitary evolution and measurements. Dissipative phase transitions in steady states of time-independent Liouvillians and measurement induced phase transitions at the level of quantum trajectories are two primary examples of such transitions. Investigating a many-body spin system subject to periodic resetting measurements, we argue that many-body dissipative Floquet dynamics provides a natural framework to analyze both types of transitions. We show that a dissipative phase transition between a ferromagnetic ordered phase and a paramagnetic disordered phase emerges for long-range systems as a function of measurement probabilities. A measurement induced transition of the entanglement entropy between volume law scaling and sub-volume law scaling is also present, and is distinct from the ordering transition. The two phases correspond to an error-correcting and a quantum-Zeno regimes, respectively. The ferromagnetic phase is lost for short range interactions, while the volume law phase of the entanglement is enhanced. An analysis of multifractal properties of wave function in Hilbert space provides a common perspective on both types of transitions in the system. Our findings are immediately relevant to trapped ion experiments, for which we detail a blueprint proposal based on currently available platforms.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Signature of Many-Body Localization of Phonons in Strongly Disordered Superlattices

Many-body localization (MBL) has attracted significant research attention due to its immunity to thermalization, role in logarithmic entanglement entropy growth, and opportunities to reach exotic quantum orders. However, experimental realization of MBL in solid-state systems has remained challenging. Here we report evidence of a possible phonon MBL phase in disordered GaAs/AlAs superlattices. Through grazing-incidence inelastic X-ray scattering, we observe a strong deviation of the phonon population from equilibrium in disordered samples doped with ErAs nanodots at low temperature, signaling a departure from thermalization. This behavior occurs within finite phonon energy and wavevector windows, suggesting a localization-thermalization crossover. We support our observation by proposing a theoretical model for the effective phonon Hamiltonian in disordered superlattices, and showing that it can be mapped exactly to a disordered 1D Bose-Hubbard model with a known MBL phase. The large on-site repulsion qualitatively explains the experimental findings. Furthermore, our work provides mode-resolved experimental evidence of phonon localization, potentially extending the scope of MBL to disordered solid-state systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coherent correlation imaging for resolving fluctuating states of matter

Fluctuations and stochastic transitions are ubiquitous in nanometre-scale systems, especially in the presence of disorder. However, their direct observation has so far been impeded by a seemingly fundamental, signal-limited compromise between spatial and temporal resolution. Here we develop coherent correlation imaging (CCI) to overcome this dilemma. Our method begins by classifying recorded camera frames in Fourier space. Contrast and spatial resolution emerge by averaging selectively over same-state frames. Temporal resolution down to the acquisition time of a single frame arises independently from an exceptionally low misclassification rate, which we achieve by combining a correlation-based similarity metric with a modified, iterative hierarchical clustering algorithm. We apply CCI to study previously inaccessible magnetic fluctuations in a highly degenerate magnetic stripe domain state with nanometre-scale resolution. We uncover an intricate network of transitions between more than 30 discrete states. Our spatiotemporal data enable us to reconstruct the pinning energy landscape and to thereby explain the dynamics observed on a microscopic level. CCI massively expands the potential of emerging high-coherence X-ray sources and paves the way for addressing large fundamental questions such as the contribution of pinning and topology in phase transitions and the role of spin and charge order fluctuations in high-temperature superconductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Polariton spectra under the collective coupling regime. I. Efficient simulation of linear spectra and quantum dynamics

We outline two general theoretical techniques to simulate polariton quantum dynamics and optical spectra under the collective coupling regimes described by a Holstein–Tavis–Cummings (HTC) model Hamiltonian. The first one takes advantage of sparsity of the HTC Hamiltonian, which allows one to reduce the cost of acting polariton Hamiltonian onto a state vector to the linear order of the number of states, instead of the quadratic order. The second one is applying the well-known Chebyshev series expansion approach for quantum dynamics propagation and to simulate the polariton dynamics in the HTC system; this approach allows us to use a much larger time step for propagation and only requires a few recursive operations of the polariton Hamiltonian acting on state vectors. These two theoretical approaches are general and can be applied to any trajectory-based non-adiabatic quantum dynamics methods. We apply these two techniques with our previously developed Lindblad-partially linearized density matrix approach to simulate the linear absorption spectra of the HTC model system, with both inhomogeneous site energy disorders and dipolar orientational disorders. Our numerical results agree well with the previous analytic and numerical work.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structures of the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein with DNA and DNA polymerase γ

Abstract The mitochondrial single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein, mtSSB or SSBP1, binds to ssDNA to prevent secondary structures of DNA that could impede downstream replication or repair processes. Clinical mutations in the SSBP1 gene have been linked to a range of mitochondrial disorders affecting nearly all organs and systems. Yet, the molecular determinants governing the interaction between mtSSB and ssDNA have remained elusive. Similarly, the structural interaction between mtSSB and other replisome components, such as the mitochondrial DNA polymerase, Polγ, has been minimally explored. Here, we determined a 1.9-Å X-ray crystallography structure of the human mtSSB bound to ssDNA. This structure uncovered two distinct DNA binding sites, a low-affinity site and a high-affinity site, confirmed through site-directed mutagenesis. The high-affinity binding site encompasses a clinically relevant residue, R38, and a highly conserved DNA base stacking residue, W84. Employing cryo-electron microscopy, we confirmed the tetrameric assembly in solution and capture its interaction with Polγ. Finally, we derived a model depicting modes of ssDNA wrapping around mtSSB and a region within Polγ that mtSSB binds.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗
DOE OSTI2023

Theory of glide symmetry protected helical edge states in a WTe 2 monolayer

Helical edge states in quantum spin Hall (QSH) materials are central building blocks of topological matter design and engineering. Despite their principal topological protection against elastic backscattering, the level of operational stability depends on manifold parameters such as the band gap of the given semiconductor system in the “inverted” regime, temperature, disorder, and crystal orientation. Here, we theoretically investigate electronic and transport properties of QSH edge states in large gap 1-T' WTe 2 monolayers. We explore the impact of edge termination, disorder, temperature, and interactions on experimentally addressable edge state observables, such as local density of states and conductance. We show that conductance quantization can remain surprisingly robust even for heavily disordered samples because of an anomalously small edge state decay length and additional protection related to the large direct gap allowed by glide symmetry. From the simulation of temperature-dependent resistance, we find that moderate disorder enhances the stability of conductance by localizing bulk states. We evaluate the edge state velocity and Luttinger liquid parameter as functions of the chemical potential, finding prospects for physics beyond linear helical Luttinger liquids in samples with ultraclean and well-defined edges.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fractional AC Josephson effect in a topological insulator proximitized by a self-formed superconductor

A lateral Josephson junction in which the surface of a 3D topological insulator serves as the weak link should support topologically protected excitations related to Majorana fermions. The resulting 4π-periodic current-phase relationship could be detected under high-frequency excitation by the suppression of odd Shapiro steps. Here, in this study, we demonstrate such devices through the self-formation of a Pd-Te superconducting layer from a telluride topological insulator, and observe suppressed first and third Shapiro steps. Other devices, including those where the Pd-Te layer is bolstered by an additional Al layer, show no suppression of Shapiro steps, a difference supported by simulations. Though we rule out the known trivial causes of suppressed Shapiro steps in our devices, we nevertheless argue that corroborating measurements and disorder-aware theoretical descriptions of these systems are needed before confidently claiming the observation of Majorana states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Prediction and Control of Atomic Ordering in Electrodeposited Binary Alloy Films: Direct Synthesis of L10 Magnetic Phases

Permanent magnet materials are essential components in renewable energy technology, underlying, electric vehicles, hybrids, wind turbines and more. Today commercial permanent magnets based on Nd-Fe-B exhibit an energy product of ~ 400 kJ/m 3 , capable to run wind turbines efficiently. Unfortunately, the supplies of rare-earth elements are centralized, and their availability may see volatility over time. This state of affairs stimulates the search for the search for rare-earth-free permanent magnetic materials. The L1 0 crystal structure underlines an important class of chemical ordered alloys that exhibit uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This material has been considered an excellent candidate for rare-earth-free permanent magnets. In this program, a series of systematic experiments were performed and analysed in order to understand the effect of each. In order to synthesize L 10-Fe-Ni, one has to circumvent the sluggish kinetic and the limited driving force resulted from the low order-disorder temperature (~320°C) of the system. A strategy was found to trigger a martensitic transformation from the FCC phase to one of the non-cubic phases by high-strain methods. The body-centered tetragonal Fe-Ni obtained by this strategy was considered as a precursor of L10 Fe-Ni. The formation of BCT Fe-Ni via a displacive process was also implemented at the nanoscale by using tailored AuNi@FeNi core@shell.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Modeling Intercalation Chemistry with Multiredox Reactions by Sparse Lattice Models in Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes

Modern battery materials can contain many elements with substantial site disorder, and their configurational state has been shown to be critical for their performance. The intercalation voltage profile is a critical parameter to evaluate the performance of energy storage. The application of commonly used cluster expansion techniques to model the intercalation thermodynamics of such systems ab initio is challenged by the combinatorial increase in configurational degrees of freedom as the number of species grows. Such challenges necessitate the efficient generation of lattice models without overfitting and proper sampling of the configurational space under the requirement of charge balance in ionic systems. In this work, we introduce a combined approach that addresses these challenges by (1) constructing a robust cluster expansion Hamiltonian using the sparse regression technique, including -norm regularization and structural hierarchy; and (2) implementing semigrand-canonical Monte Carlo to sample charge-balanced ionic configurations using the table-exchange method and an ensemble average approach. These techniques are applied to a disordered rocksalt oxyfluoride (LMNOF) that is part of a family of promising earth-abundant cathode materials. The simulated voltage profile is found to be in good agreement with experimental data and particularly provides a clear demonstration of the and oxygen contributions to the redox potential as a function of content.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1981

Insights into the gas dynamics in galaxies via a particle model

Techniques of rarefied gas dynamics are applied to the astrophysical problem of gas flow in disk galaxies. Historically, studies of the interstellar gas dynamics in spiral galaxies have assumed the medium could be regarded as both isothermal and continuous. However, it now appears that the gaseous interstellar medium may be better idealized as a rarefied gas or discrete system of interacting particles. Principal evidence for this is that the galaxies themselves exhibit a degree of disorder and raggedness that is characteristic of a rarefied gaseous system with a Knudsen number of approximately 0.02-0.2. In this paper a particle model for gas flow in a spiral galaxy is developed and some implications of the results are discussed. The results are compared to an analytical inviscid calculation to gain further physical insight.

Levinson, F. H.↗