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At least 37 records · Page 2

Partially Grooved Domain Stabilization Structures for Vertical Bloch Line Memory

Bias field stability ranges were measured and numerically simulated for magnetic domains ingarnets stabilized by partially grooved rectangular and ring grooves. Simulation results agreefavorably with experimental results when finite slope effects of the groove walls are included. Asbias fields increase, rectangular and ring domains both destabilize through stripe head recession. Asbias fields decrease, destabilization in rectangular domains occurs by runout, while destabilization inring domains occurs by midstripe domain buckling. While ring domains are stable at lower biasfields than rectangular domains, bias field stability ranges are approximately equal. Hence, for thesame partial grooving depth, rectangular domains are preferred because they offer higher storagedensity potential in Vertical Block Line (VBL) storage arrays as long as bit propagation margins atstripe ends are sufficient.

Katti, R. R.↗

The effects on the MHD stability of field line tying to the end faces of a cylindrical magnetic loop

The ideal MHD energy equation is used to derive a stability equation for a specific class of perturbations, in an examination of magnetic loop MHD stability which takes field line tying at its root points into account. It is found that the field line tying effect is negligible to the m=1 kink mode, but important to the localized modes, in the case of a loop of aspect ratio greater than 10. The stability criterion for high-m value localized modes is derived, and compared with the Suydam criterion, to show that there are two field line tying effects for the perturbation of the class studied: (1) a field line bending effect, which is always stabilizing, and (2) a shear effect which is stabilizing or destabilizing depending on the sign of the gradient of the potential magnetic field. The net effect of field line tying is determined by the sum of these two effects.

An, C. Y.↗

Investigation of near-field jet stability of a single-hole injector based on fast X-ray phase contrast imaging and image feature matching

Fuel spray is very effective in controlling the combustion process to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. Understanding the spray unstability during the injection process is of importance to improve the control of spray characteristics and engine operation. In this study, near-field biodiesel jets were recorded using fast X-ray phase contrast imaging and the flow features inside the jet were extracted using Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) method. Here, the image similarity by feature matching was successfully used to represent the near-field jet stability. Based on the jet stability, an injection process can be divided into five stages: an unstable stage at needle opening, a partially stable transition stage at needle opening, a stable stage, a stable transition stage at needle closing and an unstable stage at needle closing. The ranges of needle lift for five stages were also determined. The jet unstability is highly related to the cavitation formation and gas purging process during needle opening. The variation of stable jet feature is dependent on the needle lift at needle closing. Higher needle lift for the similar jet feature at needle opening indicates a hydraulic delay compared to needle closing. Finally, the possible reasons of jet feature formation and feature detection used on the multi-hole injector are discussed.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Phase relations in the Fe-Ni-Cr-S system and the sulfidation of an austenitic stainless steel

The stability fields of various sulfide phases that form on Fe-Cr, Fe-Ni, Ni-Cr and Fe-Cr-Ni alloys were developed as a function of temperature and the partial pressure of sulfur. The calculated stability fields in the ternary system were displayed on plots of log P sub S sub 2 versus the conjugate extensive variable which provides a better framework for following the sulfidation of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys at high temperatures. Experimental and estimated thermodynamic data were used in developing the sulfur potential diagrams. Current models and correlations were employed to estimate the unknown thermodynamic behavior of solid solutions of sulfides and to supplement the incomplete phase diagram data of geophysical literature. These constructed stability field diagrams were in excellent agreement with the sulfide phases and compositions determined during a sulfidation experiment.

Jacob, K. T.↗

Processing and characterization of the homologous Zr x Ta 2 O 2x+5 series

In this study, Zr x Ta 2 O 2x+5 (ZTOx) was systematically studied to determine ideal solid-state synthesis and pressureless sintering conditions. For Zr 6 Ta 2 O 17 (ZTO6) and other compositions with values of x in ZTOx the optimal synthesis temperature of 1100 °C with 1 h dwell time was optimal. XRD phase analysis of the homologous series indicated that for ZTOx, x = 5, 6, 7, and 8 were within the phase stability field while x = 4 and x = 9 were outside the phase stability field. Unit cell lattice parameters changed anisotropically with Zr:Ta ratio with an overall <0.1% change in unit cell volume across the solid solution. Some Raman modes red shifted while others blue shifted, indicating competing tensile and compressive strains. Sintering of ZTOx required a progressively higher temperature as Zr-content increased despite the same starting powder grain sizes and synthesis temperature. Higher Vickers hardness for Zr-rich (12.7–12.8 GPa) than Ta-rich Zr x Ta 2 O 2x+5 (11.6–11.7 GPa) disappeared when accounting for different sintering temperatures. Indentation toughness was similar for all compositions (1.2–1.4 MPa m 1/2 ). Properties of Zr x Ta 2 O 2x+5 series indicate tunability of Zr:Ta composition ratio while maintaining the structure and room temperature mechanical properties comparable to Hf 6 Ta 2 O 17 and 8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia ceramics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Theoretical prediction of phase relationships in planetary mantles

Thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data are used to generate an internally consistent set of enthalpies and entropies for important components of the CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) system in silica-undersaturated compositions. The addition of Na and Fe(2+) to the CMAS system produces shifts in the plagioclase, spinel and garnet stability fields. While the Morgan and Anders (1979) model Martian composition has stability fields of plagioclase and garnet lherzolite, and a small spinel lherzolite field at temperatures below 900 C, the Martian mantle composition of McGetchin and Smyth (1978) would not contain orthopyroxene, and a low pressure assemblage of plagioclase-spinel wehrlite would be replaced by garnet-spinel wehrlite at higher pressure. In both cases, the Fe-Mg ratio would be substantially greater than that found in primitive terrestrial basalts.

Wood, B. J.↗

The Role of Strong Magnetic Fields in Stabilizing Highly Luminous Thin Disks

Abstract We present and analyze a set of three-dimensional, global, general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations of thin, radiation-pressure-dominated accretion disks surrounding a nonrotating, stellar-mass black hole. The simulations are initialized using the Shakura–Sunyaev model with a mass accretion rate of M ̇ = 3 L Edd / c 2 (corresponding to L = 0.17 L Edd ). Our previous work demonstrated that such disks are thermally unstable when accretion is driven by an α -viscosity. In the present work, we test the hypothesis that strong magnetic fields can both drive accretion through magnetorotational instability and restore stability to such disks. We test four initial magnetic field configurations: (1) a zero-net-flux case with a single, radially extended set of magnetic field loops (dipole), (2) a zero-net-flux case with two radially extended sets of magnetic field loops of opposite polarity stacked vertically (quadrupole), (3) a zero-net-flux case with multiple radially concentric rings of alternating polarity (multiloop), and (4) a net-flux, vertical magnetic field configuration (vertical). In all cases, the fields are initially weak, with a gas-to-magnetic pressure ratio ≳100. Based on the results of these simulations, we find that the dipole and multiloop configurations remain thermally unstable like their α -viscosity counterpart, in our case collapsing vertically on the local thermal timescale and never fully recovering. The vertical case, on the other hand, stabilizes and remains so for the duration of our tests (many thermal timescales). The quadrupole case is intermediate, showing signs of both stability and instability. The key stabilizing factor is the ability of specific field configurations to build up and sustain strong, P mag ≳ 0.5 P tot , toroidal fields near the midplane of the disk. We discuss the reasons why certain configurations are able to do this effectively and others are not. We then compare our stable simulations to the standard Shakura–Sunyaev disk.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Selective transport of light vs. heavy rare earth elements by sulfate/bisulfate complexes in hydrothermal fluids

Here, this study explores the transport of rare earth elements (REE) in acidic sulfate-bearing hydrothermal fluids and the implications for the fractionation of light/heavy REE in critical mineral deposits. The speciation of Nd (light REE) and Yb (heavy REE) sulfate complexes were determined via in situ Raman spectroscopy using fused SiO 2 capillary cells up to 300 ºC at saturated water vapor pressure and in a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell up to 500 ºC and 540 MPa. The REE monosulfate (REESO 4 + ) and REE disulfate (REE(SO 4 ) 2 - ) species are stable below 150 to 250 ºC but become less stable at higher temperatures, particularly the light REE, due to the decreased solubility of REE sulfate solids. At higher pressure, these REE sulfate complexes display an increased stability field up to 400 ℃. The REE bisulfate complex (REEHSO 4 2+ ) was identified with a wide stability field below 400 ºC for the HREE in acidic Yb 2 (SO 4 ) 3 -bearing solutions, whereas in Nd 2 (SO 4 ) 3 -bearing solutions, the LREE bisulfate complex is restricted to below 100 ℃. These results suggest that bisulfate is a previously unrecognized selective ligand for heavy REE transport at low temperature in acidic oxidized hydrothermal fluids. Such fluids are responsible for hydrothermal alteration in many REE deposits. Prediction of phase stabilities across pressure, temperature, and composition space (P-T- x ) is crucial for predicting the role of aqueous REE sulfate complexes in the mobilization of REE in crustal fluids.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Optical absorption and radiative heat transport in olivine at high temperature

Results are presented of measurements of the optical absorption spectra (300-8000 nm) of olivine as a function of temperature (300-1700 K) under conditions of controlled and known oxygen fugacity within the stability field of the samples. The absorption spectra are used to calculate the temperature-dependent radiative transfer coefficient of olivine and to numerically study the accuracy of the method. The present absorption measurements in olivine under oxidizing conditions known to be within the olivine stability field indicate that the effective radiative conductivity K(R) is lower than that obtained in previous studies under different experimental conditions. The lower value of K(R) makes it more likely that some of the earth's internal heat is removed by convection and less likely that thermal models involving conduction and radiation alone will satisfactorily explain thermal conditions in the earth's mantle.

Shankland, T. J.↗

Exploring Trends on Coupling Mechanisms toward C 3 Product Formation in CO (2) R

Challenges in improving catalysts for electrochemical CO 2 reduction require a clear understanding of the reaction mechanisms that lead to products of higher value. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) to determine the most competitive coupling mechanisms leading to C 3 products on Cu(100) and Cu(511). We exhaustively consider surface coupling pathways between CO* and different C 2 intermediates. On Cu(100), CO* coupling with acetaldehyde was identified as a notable step for C 3 product formation. On Cu(511), local field stabilizations enable an additional coupling step between HCCH* and CO*. This suggests that there is more than one possible pathway toward forming C 3 intermediates. Our simulations show that much like C 2 formation, C 3 formation prefers stepped surfaces with (100)-like sites and that local field stabilization can play a pivotal role in certain coupling steps.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Geochemical Evidence for a Terrestrial Magma Ocean

The aftermath of phase separation and crystal-liquid fractionation in a magma ocean should leave a planet geochemically differentiated. Subsequent convective and other mixing processes may operate over time to obscure geochemical evidence of magma ocean differentiation. On the other hand, core formation is probably the most permanent, irreversible part of planetary differentiation. Hence the geochemical traces of core separation should be the most distinct remnants left behind in the mantle and crust, In the case of the Earth, core formation apparently coincided with a magma ocean that extended to a depth of approximately 1000 km. Evidence for this is found in high pressure element partitioning behavior of Ni and Co between liquid silicate and liquid iron alloy, and with the Ni-Co ratio and the abundance of Ni and Co in the Earth's upper mantle. A terrestrial magma ocean with a depth of 1000 km will solidify from the bottom up and first crystallize in the perovskite stability field. The largest effect of perovskite fractionation on major element distribution is to decrease the Si-Mg ratio in the silicate liquid and increase the Si-Mg ratio in the crystalline cumulate. Therefore, if a magma ocean with perovskite fractionation existed, then one could expect to observe an upper mantle with a lower than chondritic Si-Mg ratio. This is indeed observed in modern upper mantle peridotites. Although more experimental work is needed to fully understand the high-pressure behavior of trace element partitioning, it is likely that Hf is more compatible than Lu in perovskite-silicate liquid pairs. Thus, perovskite fractionation produces a molten mantle with a higher than chondritic Lu-Hf ratio. Arndt and Blichert-Toft measured Hf isotope compositions of Barberton komatiites that seem to require a source region with a long-lived, high Lu-Hf ratio. It is plausible that that these Barberton komatiites were generated within the majorite stability field by remelting a perovskite-depleted part of the upper mantle transition zone.

Agee, Carl B.↗

Deciphering Extreme Mineral Records; Microstructural Phase Heritage of Shocked Materials

High-pressure minerals such as coesite, stishovite, and reidite are often used as indicators of shock metamorphism. However, high-pressure and high-temperature phases are metastable at ambient conditions and, therefore, often revert to a more energetically favorable phase. During solid-state transformations, the crystallographic orientations of the stable polymorph are controlled by the transformation pathway from the parent. Microstructural orientation analysis using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) of the stable phase can reveal systematic intercrystalline orientation relationships (OR) diagnostic of solid-state transformations from these high-pressure or high-temperature polymorph phases (Cayron et al., 2006). Knowledge of polymorph stability fields for a given system can thus be used to infer minimum shock P and/or T conditions that rocks have experienced, which are otherwise unavailable using traditional thermobarometers such as element partition coefficients. Using orientation relationships to infer the former presence of mineral phases has been termed microstructural “phase heritage”, and has successfully been used to probe for evidence of extreme pressures and temperatures resulting from hypervelocity impacts. The reconstruction of polymorphs of ZrSiO4 (zircon, reidite) and ZrO2 (baddeleyite) have further elucidated the behavior of these phases under hypervelocity impact conditions (Timms et al., 2017a; White et al., 2018), and OR analysis of shocked monazite has identified a previously unrecognized tetragonal high-P polymorph (Erickson et al., 2019). Zircon will convert to the low tetragonal polymorph reidite at shock stresses above ~21 GPa. However, upon decompression at temperatures above 1200 °C reidite will revert to zircon (Kusaba et al., 1985). Recrystallized zircon neoblasts encased in impact melt often show systematic misorientation relationships of 90° about <110> indicative of reversion from the reidite (Fig. 1), and preserving cryptic evidence of the high-P history that is often erased by the post shock thermal spike (Cavosie et al., 2016). Microstructural OR analysis of a dissociated zircon corona composed of baddeleyite (monoclinic-ZrO2) has identified the former presence of cubic zirconia within impact melt glass from the Mistastin Lake impact structure, Labrador, CA. Based on stability fields in the ZrO2-SiO2 binary phase diagram, cubic zirconia records thermal conditions in excess of 2370 °C at ambient P, indicating that the Mistastin impact melt is the hottest rock identified on Earth’s surface (Timms et al., 2017b). Shock-deformed monazite (monoclinic La,Ce,ThPO4) containing lamellae comprised of interlocking laths has been identified from the Haughton Dome impact structure, Nunavut, Canada and Nördlinger-Ries Crater, southern Germany. The lath-structured lamellae are composed of four systematic orientation variants, which OR analyses indicate originate from a tetragonal parent whereby the [010]monoclinic aligns with either [100] or [010]tetragonal (Erickson et al., 2019). These results highlight utility of microstructural phase heritage analyses for the identification of unstable high-P or high-T polymorphs that uniquely record the extremely transient shock conditions produced by hypervelocity impacts.

Timmons Erickson↗

Precision current regulator for NMR electromagnets

When using electromagnets or non-persistent superconducting magnets, the field stability can be directly proportional to the current stability. We present in this report a simple design for a current regulator based upon a high-precision, dc-dc fluxgate transformer. The output current and NMR frequency are stabilized by about a factor of 50, over times of order one hour. The method can be applied to essentially any current supply.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗