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At least 37 records · Page 2

Study of microstructure and silicon segregation in cast iron using color etching and electron microprobe analysis

An investigation on silicon segregation of lamellar, compacted and nodular graphite iron was carried out by applying a selective, immersion color etching and a modified electron microprobe to study the microstructure. The color etched micrographs of the investigated cast irons by revealing the austenite phase have provided data about the chronology and mechanism of microstructure formation. Moreover, electron microprobe has provided two dimensional segregation maps of silicon. A good agreement was found between the segregation profile of silicon in the color etched microstructure and the silicon maps achieved by electron microprobe analysis. However, quantitative silicon investigation was found to be more accurate than color etching results to study the size of the eutectic colonies. - Highlights: • Sensitivity of a color etchant to silicon segregation is quantitatively demonstrated. • Si segregation measurement by EMPA approved the results achieved by color etching. • Color etched micrographs provided data about solidification mechanism in cast irons. • Austenite grain boundaries were identified by measuring the local Si concentration.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

ESR lineshape and {sup 1}H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion in propylene glycol solutions of nitroxide radicals – Joint analysis

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) experiments are reported for propylene glycol solutions of the nitroxide radical: 4-oxo-TEMPO-d{sub 16} containing {sup 15}N and {sup 14}N isotopes. The NMRD experiments refer to {sup 1}H spin-lattice relaxation measurements in a broad frequency range (10 kHz–20 MHz). A joint analysis of the ESR and NMRD data is performed. The ESR lineshapes give access to the nitrogen hyperfine tensor components and the rotational correlation time of the paramagnetic molecule. The NMRD data are interpreted in terms of the theory of paramagnetic relaxation enhancement in solutions of nitroxide radicals, recently presented by Kruk et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 138, 124506 (2013)]. The theory includes the effect of the electron spin relaxation on the {sup 1}H relaxation of the solvent. The {sup 1}H relaxation is caused by dipole-dipole interactions between the electron spin of the radical and the proton spins of the solvent molecules. These interactions are modulated by three dynamic processes: relative translational dynamics of the involved molecules, molecular rotation, and electron spin relaxation. The sensitivity to rotation originates from the non-central positions of the interacting spin in the molecules. The electronic relaxation is assumed to stem from the electron spin–nitrogen spin hyperfine coupling, modulated by rotation of the radical molecule. For the interpretation of the NMRD data, we use the nitrogen hyperfine coupling tensor obtained from ESR and fit the other relevant parameters. The consistency of the unified analysis of ESR and NMRD, evaluated by the agreement between the rotational correlation times obtained from ESR and NMRD, respectively, and the agreement of the translation diffusion coefficients with literature values obtained for pure propylene glycol, is demonstrated to be satisfactory.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Networks of silicon nanowires: A large-scale atomistic electronic structure analysis

Networks of silicon nanowires possess intriguing electronic properties surpassing the predictions based on quantum confinement of individual nanowires. Employing large-scale atomistic pseudopotential computations, as yet unexplored branched nanostructures are investigated in the subsystem level as well as in full assembly. The end product is a simple but versatile expression for the bandgap and band edge alignments of multiply-crossing Si nanowires for various diameters, number of crossings, and wire orientations. Further progress along this line can potentially topple the bottom-up approach for Si nanowire networks to a top-down design by starting with functionality and leading to an enabling structure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Combining variational autoencoders and physical bias for improved microscopy data analysis *

Electron and scanning probe microscopy produce vast amounts of data in the form of images or hyperspectral data, such as electron energy loss spectroscopy or 4D scanning transmission electron microscope, that contain information on a wide range of structural, physical, and chemical properties of materials. To extract valuable insights from these data, it is crucial to identify physically separate regions in the data, such as phases, ferroic variants, and boundaries between them. In order to derive an easily interpretable feature analysis, combining with well-defined boundaries in a principled and unsupervised manner, here we present a physics augmented machine learning method which combines the capability of variational autoencoders to disentangle factors of variability within the data and the physics driven loss function that seeks to minimize the total length of the discontinuities in images corresponding to latent representations. Our method is applied to various materials, including NiO-LSMO, BiFeO 3 , and graphene. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in extracting meaningful information from large volumes of imaging data. The customized codes of the required functions and classes to develop phyVAE is available at https://github.com/arpanbiswas52/phy-VAE.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Through-thickness recrystallization characteristics of a laminated AA3xxx–AA6xxx aluminum alloy system

The through-thickness annealing behavior of a laminated AA3xxx–AA6xxx alloy system at 300 °C has been studied by scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction analysis, electron probe micro-analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and hardness measurement. Results show that the recrystallization process starts at the interface region between the AA3xxx (clad) and AA6xxx (core) layers. Subsequently, the recrystallization process front progresses into the core layer, while the clad layer is the last region to recrystallize. It is also found that precipitation precedes recrystallization in the entire laminate at the investigated temperature. The preferential onset of recrystallization at the interface region is attributed to the net driving pressure being the highest in this region. The factors that lead to such enhanced net driving pressure are (a) deformation incompatibility between the two alloy layers, (b) lower solute content of the interface, which also leads to lower volume fraction of precipitates, and (c) an accelerated rate of precipitate coarsening due to the presence of a higher density of dislocations. The gradual progress of recrystallization from the interface towards the core layer is dictated by precipitate coarsening and the dependence of its rate on the density of deformation-induced dislocations. The lower driving pressure due to lower work hardening capacity, high solute drag pressure due to Mn, and additional Zener drag from precipitates that form due to solute redistribution during annealing explain the late initiation of recrystallization in the clad layer. - Highlights: • The through-thickness recrystallization of a laminated system is investigated. • The early onset of recrystallization at the interface is discussed. • The effects of precipitation and coarsening on recrystallization are analyzed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis of Ge(O)/(graphitic carbon nitride) nanocomposite powder

Analytical electron microscopy has revealed the structure of particles that were synthesized by chemical reaction of GeO{sub 2} with NaBH{sub 4} in the basic solution including graphitic carbon nitride (g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}) powders. The g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} was arranged by recrystallization of melamine at 600 °C under N{sub 2} gas atmosphere. The samples were dried at 60 °C or 180 °C for 4 h. The g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} was observed as lamellae of several ten nm or less in size and had an amorphous-like structure with a distorted lattice in an area as small as a few hundred pm in size. The reaction product was Ge(O) particles as fine as several nm in size and composed of Ge and O atoms. Most of the particles must be of GeO{sub 2−x} with the amorphous-like structure that has also a distorted lattice in an area of a few hundred pm in size. In the sample dried at 60 °C, the particles were found to be dispersed in a wide area on the g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} lamella. It is hard to recognize those particles in TEM images. The particles in the sample dried at 180 °C became larger and were easily observed as isolated lumps. Hence, these powders can be regarded as GeO{sub 2}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} or Ge/GeO{sub 2}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanocomposites, and expected to be applicable to anode materials for high energy Li-ion batteries due to Ge catalysis effect, accordingly. - Graphical abstract: STEM analysis of Ge(O)/(graphitic carbon nitride) nanocomposite powder. - Highlights: • Graphitic (g)-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} powder was prepared at 600 °C by recrystallization of melamine. • Ge(O) was prepared by chemical reaction in a solution including the g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} powders. • The products can be regarded as GeO{sub 2}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} or Ge/GeO{sub 2}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanocomposites. • GeO{sub 2} was amorphous several-nm particles and g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} was amorphous lamella of several 10 nm in size. • We expect them to be applicable for high energy Li-ion battery anode materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation into Texture and Structure of MA2-1PCh Magnesium Alloy after Equal Channel Angular Extrusion and Annealing by Quantitative X-Ray Texture Analysis and Electron Backscatter Diffraction

This article discusses application of quantitative X-ray texture analysis (QTXA) based on measurement of direct pole figures and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) aimed at study of peculiarities of formation of texture and structure of MA2-1pch magnesium alloy after equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) and subsequent annealing. Shear bands with the width of 60 μm oriented at 45°–50° to the extrusion direction are revealed, where an inclined scattered basis texture is detected, and outside of these bands, a prismatic texture. As a consequence, basic sliding is activated in the shear bands, which is confirmed by the distribution of Schmid factors. The influence of texture and orientation of shear bands on anisotropy of strength mechanical properties of alloy is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Summary of ISO/TC 201 Standard: ISO 29081: 2010, Surface Chemical Analysis - Auger Electron Spectroscopy - Reporting of Methods Used for Charge Control and Charge Correction

This international standard specifies the minimum amount of information required for describing the methods of charge control in measurements of Auger electron transitions from insulating specimens by electron-stimulated Auger electron spectroscopy to be reported with the analytical results. Information is provided in an Annex on methods that have been found useful for charge control prior to or during AES analysis. The Annex also includes a summary table of methods or approaches, ordered by simplicity of approach. A similar international standard has been published for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ISO 19318: 2003(E), Surface chemical analysis - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - Reporting of methods used for charge control and charge correction).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Multi defect detection and analysis of electron microscopy images with deep learning

Electron microscopy is widely used to explore defects in crystal structures, but human detecting of defects is often time-consuming, error-prone, and unreliable, and is not scalable to large numbers of images or real-time analysis. In this work, we discuss the application of machine learning approaches to find the location and geometry of different defect clusters in irradiated steels. We show that a deep learning based Faster R-CNN analysis system has a performance comparable to human analysis with relatively small training data sets. Furthermore, this study proves the promising ability to apply deep learning to assist the development of automated microscopy data analysis even when multiple features are present and paves the way for fast, scalable, and reliable analysis systems for massive amounts of modern electron microscopy data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Numerical Analysis of Electron Runaway in the Presence of Enhanced Field in the Vicinity of a Microtip

Transition of field-emission electrons to the runaway regime in the region of enhanced electric field determined by the configuration of a microtip on a cathode is studied at several pressures of gas medium. The problem is solved using simulation of electron motion in the presence of nonuniform electric field with the aid of the Monte Carlo procedure in the 2D configuration. Nitrogen is used as a working gas. Passage through a relatively small region of the enhanced field in the vicinity of the microtip may substantially facilitate electron escape to the runaway regime, especially, at pressures of greater than 10 atm. In our opinion, the resulting runaway electrons may provide preionization of gas medium and formation of the initial stage of a 3D discharge.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

First Results of $\nu_e$ Appearance Analysis and Electron Neutrino Identification at NOvA

NOvA is a long-baseline accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiment that is optimized for $\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$ measurements. It uses the upgraded NuMI beam from Fermilab and measures electron-neutrino appearance and muon-neutrino disappearance at its Far Detector in Ash River, Minnesota. The $\nu_e$ appearance analysis at NOvA aims to resolve the neutrino mass hierarchy problem and to constrain the CP-violating phase. The first data set of $2.74\times10^{20}$ protons on target (POT) equivalent exposure taken by NOvA has been analyzed. The first measurement of electron-neutrino appearance in NOvA provides solid evidence of $\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$ oscillation with the NuMI beam line. Electron-neutrino identification is the key ingredient for the $\nu_e$ appearance analysis. The electron-identification algorithm used to produce the primary results presented here compares 3-D shower-energy profiles with Monte Carlo prototypes to construct likelihoods for each particle hypothesis. Particle likelihoods, among other event-topology variables, are used as inputs to an Artificial Neural Network for the final electron-neutrino identification. The design and implementation of this algorithm is also presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Electron beam analysis induces Cl vacancy defects in a NaCl thin film

This work reports on the electron-induced modification of NaCl thin film grown on Ag(110). We show using low energy electron diffraction that electron beam bombardment leads to desorption and formation of Cl vacancy defects on NaCl surface. The topographic structure of these defects is studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) showing the Cl defects as depressions on the NaCl surface. Most of the observed defects are mono-atomic vacancies and are located on flat NaCl terraces. Auger electron spectroscopy confirms the effect of electron exposure on NaCl thin films showing Cl atoms desorption from the surface. Using density functional theory taken into account the van der Waals dispersion interactions, we confirm the observed experimental STM measurements with STM simulation. Furthermore, comparing the adsorption of defect free NaCl and defective NaCl monolayer on Ag(110) surfaces, we found an increase of the adhesion energy and the charge transfer between the NaCl film and the substrate due to the Cl vacancy. In details, the adhesion energy increases between the NaCl film and the metallic Ag substrate from 30.4 meV Å –2 for the NaCl film without Cl vacancy and from 39.5 meV Å –2 for NaCl film with a single Cl vacancy. The charge transfer from the NaCl film to the Ag substrate is enhanced when the vacancy is created, from 0.63e – to 1.25e – .

Materials Science↗

A Graph Theory-Based Automated Twin Recognition Technique for Electron Backscatter Diffraction Analysis

Abstract The present article introduces a new software, Microstructure Evaluation Tool for Interface Statistics (METIS), that performs high-throughput microstructure statistical analysis from electron backscatter diffraction maps. Emphasis is placed on the detection of twin domains in hexagonal close-packed metals. The numerical framework on which METIS is built leverages graph theory, group structures, and associated numerical algorithms to automatically detect twins and unravel both their intrinsic characteristics features and those pertaining to their interactions. The proposed graphical interface allows for the detection and correction of unlikely twin/parent associations rendering the approach applicable to highly deformed microstructures. Twin statistics and microstructural data are classified and saved in a relational database that can be interrogated via either GUI or SQL requests to reveal a wide spectrum of features of the microstructure. Illustration of the approach is performed in the case of zirconium.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cutoff probe using Fourier analysis for electron density measurement

This paper proposes a new method for cutoff probe using a nanosecond impulse generator and an oscilloscope, instead of a network analyzer. The nanosecond impulse generator supplies a radiating signal of broadband frequency spectrum simultaneously without frequency sweeping, while frequency sweeping method is used by a network analyzer in a previous method. The transmission spectrum (S21) was obtained through a Fourier analysis of the transmitted impulse signal detected by the oscilloscope and was used to measure the electron density. The results showed that the transmission frequency spectrum and the electron density obtained with a new method are very close to those obtained with a previous method using a network analyzer. And also, only 15 ns long signal was necessary for spectrum reconstruction. These results were also compared to the Langmuir probe's measurements with satisfactory results. This method is expected to provide not only fast measurement of absolute electron density, but also function in other diagnostic situations where a network analyzer would be used (a hairpin probe and an impedance probe) by replacing the network analyzer with a nanosecond impulse generator and an oscilloscope.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Intracellular trafficking of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with TAT peptide: 3-dimensional electron tomography analysis

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We study the intracellular localisation of TAT-SPIONs using 3-D electron tomography. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer 3-D images of TAT-SPIONs in a cell are clearly shown. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Release of TAT-SPIONs from endocytic vesicles into the cytoplasm is clearly shown. -- Abstract: Internalisation of nanoparticles conjugated with cell penetrating peptides is a promising approach to various drug delivery applications. Cell penetrating peptides such as transactivating transcriptional activator (TAT) peptides derived from HIV-1 proteins are effective intracellular delivery vectors for a wide range of nanoparticles and pharmaceutical agents thanks to their amicable ability to enter cells and minimum cytotoxicity. Although different mechanisms of intracellular uptake and localisation have been proposed for TAT conjugated nanoparticles, it is necessary to visualise the particles on a 3-D plane in order to investigate the actual intracellular uptake and localisation. Here, we study the intracellular localisation and trafficking of TAT peptide conjugated superparamagnetic ion oxide nanoparticles (TAT-SPIONs) using 3-D electron tomography. 3-D tomograms clearly show the location of TAT-SPIONs in a cell and their slow release from the endocytic vesicles into the cytoplasm. The present methodology may well be utilised for further investigations of the behaviours of nanoparticles in cells and eventually for the development of nano drug delivery systems.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

A multiple gap plasma cathode electron gun and its electron beam analysis in self and trigger breakdown modes

In the present paper, a pseudospark discharge based multiple gap plasma cathode electron gun is reported which has been operated separately in self and trigger breakdown modes using two different gases, namely, argon and hydrogen. The beam current and beam energy have been analyzed using a concentric ring diagnostic arrangement. Two distinct electron beams are clearly seen with hollow cathode and conductive phases. The hollow cathode phase has been observed for ∼50 ns where the obtained electron beam is having low beam current density and high energy. While in conductive phase it is high current density and low energy electron beam. It is inferred that in the hollow cathode phase the beam energy is more for the self breakdown case whereas the current density is more for the trigger breakdown case. The tailor made operation of the hollow cathode phase electron beam can play an important role in microwave generation. Up to 30% variation in the electron beam energy has been achieved keeping the same gas and by varying the breakdown mode operations. Also, up to 32% variation in the beam current density has been achieved for the trigger breakdown mode at optimized trigger position by varying the gas type.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Gaussian process analysis of electron energy loss spectroscopy data: multivariate reconstruction and kernel control

Abstract Advances in hyperspectral imaging including electron energy loss spectroscopy bring forth the challenges of exploratory and physics-based analysis of multidimensional data sets. The multivariate linear unmixing methods generally explore similarities in the energy dimension, but ignore correlations in the spatial domain. At the same time, Gaussian process (GP) explicitly incorporate spatial correlations in the form of kernel functions but is computationally intensive. Here, we implement a GP method operating on the full spatial domain and reduced representations in the energy domain. In this multivariate GP, the information between the components is shared via a common spatial kernel structure, while allowing for variability in the relative noise magnitude or image morphology. We explore the role of kernel constraints on the quality of the reconstruction, and suggest an approach for estimating them from the experimental data. We further show that spatial information contained in higher-order components can be reconstructed and spatially localized.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗