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At least 343 records · Page 19

Time-dependent saturation and physics-based nonlinear model of cross-beam energy transfer

The nonlinear physics of cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) for multi-speckled laser beams is examined using large-scale particle-in-cell simulations for a range of laser and plasma conditions relevant to indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. The time-dependent growth and saturation of CBET involve complex, nonlinear ion and electron dynamics, including ion trapping-induced enhancement and detuning, ion acoustic wave (IAW) nonlinearity, oblique forward stimulated Raman scattering (FSRS), and backward stimulated Brillouin scattering (BSBS) in a CBET-amplified seed beam. Ion-trapping-induced detuning of CBET is captured in the kinetic linear response by a new δf-Gaussian-mixture algorithm, enabling an accurate characterization of trapping-induced non-Maxwellian distributions. Ion trapping induces nonlinear processes, such as changes to the IAW dispersion and nonlinearities (e.g., bowing and self-focusing), which, together with pump depletion, FSRS, and BSBS, determine the time-dependent nature and level of CBET gain as the system approaches a steady state. Using VPIC simulations at intensities at and above the onset threshold for ion trapping and the insight from the time-dependent saturation analyses, we construct a nonlinear CBET model from local laser and plasma conditions that predicts the CBET gain and the energy deposition into the plasma. This model is intended to provide a more accurate, physics-based description of CBET saturation over a wide range of conditions encountered in ICF hohlraums compared with linear CBET gain models with ad hoc saturation clamps often used in laser ray-based methods in multi-physics codes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Size-dependent errors in real-time electron density propagation

Real-time (RT) electron density propagation with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) or Hartree–Fock (TDHF) is one of the most popular methods to model the charge transfer in molecules and materials. However, both RT-TDHF and RT-TDDFT within the adiabatic approximation are known to produce inaccurate evolution of the electron density away from the ground state in model systems, leading to large errors in charge transfer and erroneous shifting of peaks in absorption spectra. Given the poor performance of these methods with small model systems and the widespread use of the methods with larger molecular and material systems, here we bridge the gap in our understanding of these methods and examine the size-dependence of errors in RT density propagation. We analyze the performance of RT density propagation for systems of increasing size during the application of a continuous resonant field to induce Rabi-like oscillations, during charge-transfer dynamics, and for peak shifting in simulated absorption spectra. We find that the errors in the electron dynamics are indeed size dependent for these phenomena, with the largest system producing the results most aligned with those expected from linear response theory. The results suggest that although the RT-TDHF and RT-TDDFT methods may produce severe errors for model systems, the errors in charge transfer and resonantly driven electron dynamics may be much less significant for more realistic, large-scale molecules and materials.

Chemistry↗

Tailoring light-induced charge transfer and intersystem crossing in FeCO using time-dependent spin–orbit configuration interaction

Real-time (RT) electronic structure methods provide a natural framework for describing light–matter interactions in arbitrary time-dependent electromagnetic fields (EMF). Optically induced excited state transitions are of particular interest, which require tuned EMF to drive population transfer to and from the specific state(s) of interest. Intersystem crossing, or spin-flip, may be driven through shaped EMF or laser pulses. These transitions can result in long-lived “spin-trapped” excited states, which are especially useful for materials requiring charge separation or protracted excited state lifetimes. Time-dependent configuration interaction (TDCI) is unique among RT methods in that it may be implemented in a basis of eigenstates, allowing for rapid propagation of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The recent spin–orbit TDCI (TD-SOCI) enables a real-time description of spin-flip dynamics in an arbitrary EMF and, therefore, provides an ideal framework for rational pulse design. The present study explores the mechanism of multiple spin-flip pathways for a model transition metal complex, FeCO, using shaped pulses designed to drive controlled intersystem crossing and charge transfer. These results show that extremely tunable excited state dynamics can be achieved by considering the dipole transition matrix elements between the states of interest.

Chemistry↗

Studies on the compositional dependent structural and electrical properties of CaTiO3-modified K0.5Na0.5NbO3 piezoelectric system

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics of (1 − x)K0.5Na0.5NbO3-xCaTiO3 were fabricated, and their crystal structure, microstructure, and electrical properties were systematically studied. Rietveld refinement of the x-ray diffraction data and Raman spectroscopic analyses revealed a composition-dependent structural phase transition: three phase transitions, namely, from a pure orthorhombic phase for x ≤ 0.02 to a mixed phase of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) and finally another mixed phase of tetragonal + cubic for x = 0.10 and 0.15 at room temperature (RT). The morphological study reveals a decrease in grain size along with a more uniform distribution of grains as the concentration of CaTiO3 (CT) increases; notably, a homogeneous distribution of grains is observed for x = 0.05. The temperature-dependent dielectric properties show two phase transitions, from orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO-T) and tetragonal to cubic (TC), for unmodified K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN). However, both the phase transition temperatures (TO-T and TC) decrease, and the transition peaks broaden with an increase in CT substitution, and for x > 0.06, the TO-T shifted below RT. The broadening of the transition peak at TO-T may be due to the relaxation behavior. Among the prepared samples, the 5 mol. % CT-modified KNN shows the optimum electrical properties (d33 = 114 pC/N, ɛr = 412, and 2Pr = 15.25 μC/cm2) at RT. The enhanced electrical properties for x = 0.05 are due to the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases, facilitating easy polarization rotation and flattening of the free energy profile. A phase diagram has been constructed based on the information gathered from the temperature-dependent dielectric measurements, RT x-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy data and is discussed in detail.

Physics↗

Gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ) energy dependent scintillation response to fast neutrons and flash gamma-rays

Gallium oxide is a newly emerged ultrawide bandgap (4.9 eV) semiconductor that is suitable as a combined electronics and radiation detection platform. We have experimentally demonstrated fast neutron and gamma-ray scintillation from Czochralski-grown β-Ga 2 O 3 in a recent series (October 2023) of experiments at the unmoderated pulsed neutron spallation source located at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Using the neutron time-of-flight (TOF) technique and a fast-gated intensified CCD camera, we observed energy-dependent neutron scintillation for neutron energies ranging from 1 to 400 MeV, including the 14.1 MeV neutron energy relevant to D–T fusion. Neutron flux is quantified and calibrated by cascading the scintillator after the fission chamber, enabling a detailed analysis of temporal and energy-dependent characteristics of the scintillation events. Further, a pronounced scintillation signal from the spallation gamma flash with a temporal full width of half maximum of ~4 ns is indicative of the material’s rapid response. Neutron energy dependent scintillation is observed using the TOF method at a 22.6-m distance from the neutron source. These results highlight the possibility of developing a Ga 2 O 3 based fusion neutron diagnostic platform integrated with both scintillation and electronics functions on the integrated chip scale.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Field-dependent carrier transport in implanted isolation region of GaN lateral power devices

Among GaN lateral power devices, with proper E-field management, the breakdown occurs in the device isolation region rather than the active region. In this paper, we investigate field-dependent carrier transport in the isolation structures. Isolation test structures with variations in buffer doping, un-intentionally doped (UID) GaN thickness, and implantation conditions were fabricated. Electrical characterization was performed over a wide range of voltage and temperature. With varying UID GaN thickness and buffer doping, the leakage current and breakdown characteristics remain the same for a specific implantation condition, indicating that the leakage conduction and breakdown are governed by the implanted GaN region. Analysis of the temperature-dependent I–V reveals that carrier transport in the implanted GaN can be well explained by hopping conduction, involving three distinctive regions of operation depending on the E-field. At low E-field, carrier transport is ohmic, consistent with variable range hopping, driven by thermal activation. At medium E-field, a field enhanced thermally activated hopping is observed, following σ ∼ σ(T)exp(E). At high E-field, activation-less hopping is visible, following σ ∼ exp(−1/E), which occurs above a critical E-field limited by localization length.

Sadek, Mansura (ORCID:0000000322588338)↗

Evaluation of a concerted vs. sequential oxygen activation mechanism in α-ketoglutarate–dependent nonheme ferrous enzymes

Determining the requirements for efficient oxygen (O 2 ) activation is key to understanding how enzymes maintain efficacy and mitigate unproductive, often detrimental reactivity. For the α-ketoglutarate (αKG)–dependent nonheme iron enzymes, both a concerted mechanism (both cofactor and substrate binding prior to reaction with O 2 ) and a sequential mechanism (cofactor binding and reaction with O 2 precede substrate binding) have been proposed. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS) is an αKG-dependent nonheme iron enzyme for which both of these mechanisms have been invoked to generate an intermediate that catalyzes oxidative ring expansion of penicillin substrates in cephalosporin biosynthesis. Interestingly, spectroscopy shows that, in contrast to other αKG-dependent enzymes (which are six coordinate when only αKG is bound to the Fe II ), αKG binding to Fe II -DAOCS results in ~45% five-coordinate sites that selectively react with O 2 relative to the remaining six-coordinate sites. However, this reaction produces an Fe III species that does not catalyze productive ring expansion. Alternatively, simultaneous αKG and substrate binding to Fe II -DAOCS produces five-coordinate sites that rapidly react with O 2 to form an Fe IV =O intermediate that then reacts with substrate to produce cephalosporin product. These results demonstrate that the concerted mechanism is operative in DAOCS and by extension, other nonheme iron enzymes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Determining the hydronium pKα at platinum surfaces and the effect on pH-dependent hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics

Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical for green hydrogen generation and exhibits distinct pH-dependent kinetics that have been elusive to understand. A molecular-level understanding of the electrochemical interfaces is essential for developing more efficient electrochemical processes. Here we exploit an exclusively surface-specific electrical transport spectroscopy (ETS) approach to probe the Pt-surface water protonation status and experimentally determine the surface hydronium pK a = 4.3. Quantum mechanics (QM) and reactive dynamics using a reactive force field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics (RMD) calculations confirm the enrichment of hydroniums (H 3 O + * ) near Pt surface and predict a surface hydronium pK a of 2.5 to 4.4, corroborating the experimental results. Importantly, the observed Pt-surface hydronium pK a correlates well with the pH-dependent HER kinetics, with the protonated surface state at lower pH favoring fast Tafel kinetics with a Tafel slope of 30 mV per decade and the deprotonated surface state at higher pH following Volmer-step limited kinetics with a much higher Tafel slope of 120 mV per decade, offering a robust and precise interpretation of the pH-dependent HER kinetics. These insights may help design improved electrocatalysts for renewable energy conversion.

Zhong, Guangyan↗

Rippled metamaterials with scale-dependent tailorable elasticity

Thermally induced ripples are intrinsic features of nanometer-thick films, atomically thin materials, and cell membranes, significantly affecting their elastic properties. Despite decades of theoretical studies on the mechanics of suspended thermalized sheets, controversy still exists over the impact of these ripples, with conflicting predictions about whether elasticity is scale-dependent or scale-independent. Experimental progress has been hindered so far by the inability to have a platform capable of fully isolating and characterizing the effects of ripples. This knowledge gap limits the fundamental understanding of thin materials and their practical applications. Here, we show that thermal-like static ripples shape thin films into a class of metamaterials with scale-dependent, customizable elasticity. Utilizing a scalable semiconductor manufacturing process, we engineered nanometer-thick films with precisely controlled frozen random ripples, resembling snapshots of thermally fluctuating membranes. Resonant frequency measurements of rippled cantilevers reveal that random ripples effectively renormalize and enhance the average bending rigidity and sample-to-sample variations in a scale-dependent manner, consistent with recent theoretical estimations. The predictive power of the theoretical model, combined with the scalability of the fabrication process, was further exploited to create kirigami architectures with tailored bending rigidity and mechanical metamaterials with delayed buckling instability.

Applied Physical Sciences↗

Gut enterotype-dependent modulation of gut microbiota and their metabolism in response to xanthohumol supplementation in healthy adults

Xanthohumol (XN), a polyphenol found in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus), has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic, and anti-hyperlipidemic activity. Preclinical evidence suggests the gut microbiome is essential in mediating these bioactivities; however, relatively little is known about XN’s impact on human gut microbiota in vivo. We conducted a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03735420) to determine safety and tolerability of XN in healthy adults. Thirty healthy participants were randomized to 24 mg/day XN or placebo for 8 weeks. As secondary outcomes, quantification of bacterial metabolites and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were utilized to explore the relationships between XN supplementation, gut microbiota, and biomarkers of gut health. Although XN did not significantly change gut microbiota composition, it did re-shape individual taxa in an enterotype-dependent manner. High levels of inter-individual variation in metabolic profiles and bioavailability of XN metabolites were observed. Moreover, reductions in microbiota-derived bile acid metabolism were observed, which were enterotype-dependent. These results suggest interactions between XN and gut microbiota in healthy adults are highly inter-individualized and potentially indicate that XN elicits effects on gut health in an enterotype-dependent manner.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Orbit-modulated transport and sources in time-dependent plasmas

The orbit-modulation framework for steady-state ion-orbit boundary fluxes is reformulated to apply to time-dependent plasmas. The new formulation can quantify the extent to which orbit fluxes are affected by the time dependence of the distribution function, and may be applied both to time-dependent physical scenarios and to computationally expensive simulations that are unable to reach a true steady state. As the system tends to a time-independent state, the orbit-loss fluxes approach their steady-state values, which are determined entirely by upstream transport (turbulent and collisional) and upstream sources and sinks. This result holds for the fluxes of any moments that are expressible in terms of the invariants that determine the orbits, including parallel toroidal angular momentum.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

An experimental study to investigate magnetic field and winding force-dependent contact resistance of NI REBCO coil

Abstract This paper reports the magnetic field and winding force-dependent contact resistance, also known as characteristic resistance, of no-insulation (NI) REBCO coil. Three NI coils were wound with different winding forces ( < 1 kgf, 3 kgf, and 5 kgf) using the same REBCO-coated conductor, and they were tested at 4.2 K in a background field of 0, 5, 10, and 14 T. The contact resistance of each coil is measured at each field. As a result of the measurements, we draw two conclusions. First, a quadratic function for magnetic field intensity reasonably reproduces the measurement results of each NI test coil’s magnetic field-dependent contact resistance, where the practical fit function’s coefficients are determined depending on the winding force. Second, the contact resistance of each coil is partially inconsistent with the magnetoresistance of the electroplated material, i.e. copper, of the REBCO-coated conductor. This paper will present the measurement results in detail, discuss them with Kohler’s rule, and formulate the contact resistance using winding force and magnetic field terms.

Bang, Jeseok (ORCID:0000000247616334)↗

Biased tracers in redshift space in the EFTofLSS with exact time dependence

We study the effect of the Einstein-de Sitter (EdS) approximation on the one-loop power spectrum of galaxies in redshift space in the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure. The dark matter density perturbations and velocity divergence are treated with exact time dependence. Splitting the density perturbation into its different temporal evolutions naturally gives rise to an irreducible basis of biases. While, as in the EdS approximation, at each time this basis spans a seven-dimensional space, this space is a slightly different one, and the difference is captured by a single calculable time- and vec k-dependent function. We then compute the redshift-space galaxy one-loop power spectrum with the EdS approximation (P EdS-approx ) and without (P Exact ). For the monopole we find P 0 Exact /P 0 Ed S-approx ~ 1.003 and for the quadrupole P 2 Exact /P 2 EdS-approx ~ 1.007 at z=0.57, and sharply increasing at lower redshifts. Finally, we show that a substantial fraction of the effect remains even after allowing the bias coefficients to shift within a physically allowed range. This suggests that the EdS approximation can only fit the data to a level of precision that is roughly comparable to the precision of the next generation of cosmological surveys. Furthermore, we find that implementing the exact time dependence formalism is not demanding and is easily applicable to data. Both of these points motivate a direct study of this effect on the cosmological parameters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Cellulose synthase interactive1- and microtubule-dependent cell wall architecture is required for acid growth in Arabidopsis hypocotyls

Auxin-induced cell elongation relies in part on the acidification of the cell wall, a process known as acid growth that presumably triggers expansin-mediated wall loosening via altered interactions between cellulose microfibrils. Cellulose microfibrils are a major determinant for anisotropic growth and they provide the scaffold for cell wall assembly. Little is known about how acid growth depends on cell wall architecture. To explore the relationship between acid growth-mediated cell elongation and plant cell wall architecture, two mutants (jia1-1 and csi1-3) that are defective in cellulose biosynthesis and cellulose microfibril organization were analyzed. The study revealed that cell elongation is dependent on CSI1-mediated cell wall architecture but not on the overall crystalline cellulose content. We observed a correlation between loss of crossed-polylamellate walls and loss of auxin- and fusicoccin-induced cell growth in csi1-3. Furthermore, induced loss of crossed-polylamellate walls via disruption of cortical microtubules mimics the effect of csi1 in acid growth. We hypothesize that CSI1- and microtubule-dependent crossed-polylamellate walls are required for acid growth in Arabidopsis hypocotyls.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Phylogenetic diversity of light-dependent phosphorylation of Thr78 in Rubisco activase

Rubisco activase is an ATP-dependent chaperone that facilitates dissociation of inhibitory sugar phosphates from the catalytic sites of Rubisco during photosynthesis. In Arabidopsis, Rubisco activase is negatively regulated by dark-dependent phosphorylation of Thr78. The prevalence of Thr78 in Rubisco activase was investigated across sequences from 91 plant species, finding that 29 (∼32%) species shared a threonine in the same position. Analysis of seven C3 species with an antibody raised against a Thr78 phospho-peptide demonstrated that this position is phosphorylated in multiple genera. However, light-dependent dephosphorylation of Thr78 was observed only in Arabidopsis. Further, phosphorylation of Thr78 could not be detected in any of the four C4 grass species examined. The results suggest that despite conservation of Thr78 in Rubisco activase from a wide range of species, a regulatory role for phosphorylation at this site is more limited. Furthermore, this provides a case study for how variation in post-translational regulation can amplify functional divergence across the phylogeny of plants beyond what is explained by sequence variation in a metabolically important protein.

Arabidopsis↗

Perceptions of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Among U.S. Army Civilians and Dependents in the Kaiserslautern Military Community: A Mixed-Methods Survey

ABSTRACT Introduction Influenza is a globally occurring viral respiratory infection that can lead to hospitalizations and death. An influenza outbreak can interfere with combat readiness in a military setting, as the infection can incapacitate soldiers. Vaccination remains the most effective tool to prevent and mitigate seasonal influenza. Although influenza vaccinations for U.S. Army soldiers can be monitored through military health systems, those systems cannot capture DoD civilians and Army dependents who may not use military health services. This study aims to gauge flu vaccine uptake and perceptions in U.S. Army civilians and dependents. Materials and Methods An online survey was e-mailed to civilian and dependent enrollees of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The survey contained 24 questions pertaining to demographics, vaccine history, history of the flu, and beliefs toward vaccines. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regressions were performed to investigate the association between demographic, behavior, and belief factors with vaccine uptake. Free-text answers were coded and categorized by themes. Results Over 70% of respondents were vaccinated for the flu. There were differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated respondents regarding their perceptions of barriers to vaccination, benefits of the flu vaccine, severity of flu symptoms, and personal risk of getting ill with the flu. After controlling for confounders, flu vaccination in the previous season and healthcare worker status were associated with increased vaccine uptake, while perceived barriers to influenza vaccination were associated with decreased vaccine uptake. Conclusions Flu vaccine uptake may be increased by increasing access to vaccination, promoting vaccination and addressing concerns at the provider level, and engaging positively framed public messaging. Increasing flu vaccine uptake is of particular importance as the flu season approaches during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

Burns, MSC, Veronica M.↗

Comptonization by reconnection plasmoids in black hole coronae – III. Dependence on the guide field in pair plasma

ABSTRACT We perform non-radiative two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of magnetic reconnection for various strengths of the guide field (perpendicular to the reversing field), in magnetically dominated electron–positron plasmas. Magnetic reconnection under such conditions could operate in accretion disc coronae around black holes. There, it has been suggested that the transrelativistic bulk motions of reconnection plasmoids containing inverse-Compton-cooled electrons could Compton-upscatter soft photons to produce the observed non-thermal hard X-rays. Our simulations are performed for magnetizations 3 ≤ σ ≤ 40 (defined as the ratio of enthalpy density of the reversing field to plasma enthalpy density) and guide field strengths 0 ≤ Bg/B0 ≤ 1 (normalized to the reversing field strength B0). We find that the mean bulk energy of the reconnected plasma depends only weakly on the flow magnetization but strongly on the guide field strength – with Bg/B0 = 1 yielding a mean bulk energy twice smaller than Bg/B0 = 0. Similarly, the dispersion of bulk motions around the mean – a signature of stochasticity in the plasmoid chain’s motions – is weakly dependent on magnetization (for σ ≳ 10) but strongly dependent on the guide field strength – dropping by more than a factor of two from Bg/B0 = 0 to Bg/B0 = 1. In short, reconnection in strong guide fields (Bg/B0 ∼ 1) leads to slower and more ordered plasmoid bulk motions than its weak guide field (Bg/B0 ∼ 0) counterpart.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Systematic Construction of Time-Dependent Hamiltonians for Microwave-Driven Josephson Circuits

Time-dependent electromagnetic drives are fundamental for controlling complex quantum systems, including superconducting Josephson circuits. In these devices, accurate time-dependent Hamiltonian models are imperative for predicting their dynamics and designing high-fidelity quantum operations. Existing numerical methods, such as black-box quantization (BBQ) and energy-participation ratio (EPR), excel at modeling the static Hamiltonians of Josephson circuits. However, these techniques do not fully capture the behavior of driven circuits stimulated by external microwave drives, nor do they include a generalized approach to account for the inevitable noise and dissipation that enter through microwave ports. Here, we introduce numerical techniques that leverage classical microwave simulations, efficiently executable in finite-element solvers, to obtain the time-dependent Hamiltonian of microwave-driven superconducting circuits with arbitrary geometries under charge, flux, or mixed electromagnetic modulation. Importantly, our techniques do not rely on a lumped-element description of the superconducting circuit, in contrast to previous approaches to tackling this problem. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach by characterizing the driven properties of realistic circuit devices in complex electromagnetic environments, including coherent dynamics due to charge and flux modulation, as well as drive-induced relaxation and dephasing. Our techniques offer a powerful toolbox for optimizing circuit designs and advancing practical applications in superconducting quantum computing.

Lu, Yao [Yale U.; Yale U. (main); Fermilab] (ORCID↗