Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “orbit”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2

Full particle orbit effects in regular and stochastic magnetic fields

Here we present a numerical study of charged particle motion in a time-independent magnetic field in cylindrical geometry. The magnetic field model consists of an unperturbed reversed-shear (non-monotonic q-profile) helical part and a perturbation consisting of a superposition of modes. Contrary to most of the previous studies, the particle trajectories are computed by directly solving the full Lorentz force equations of motion in a six-dimensional phase space using a sixth-order, implicit, symplectic Gauss-Legendre method. The level of stochasticity in the particle orbits is diagnosed using averaged, effective Poincare sections. It is shown that when only one mode is present, the particle orbits can be stochastic even though the magnetic field line orbits are not stochastic (i.e., fully integrable). The lack of integrability of the particle orbits in this case is related to separatrix crossing and the breakdown of the global conservation of the magnetic moment. Some perturbation consisting of two modes creates resonance overlapping, leading to Hamiltonian chaos in magnetic field lines. Then, the particle orbits exhibit a nontrivial dynamics depending on their energy and pitch angle. It is shown that the regions where the particle motion is stochastic decrease as the energy increases. The non-monotonicity of the q-profile implies the existence of magnetic ITBs (internal transport barriers) which correspond to shearless flux surfaces located in the vicinity of the q-profile minimum. It is shown that depending on the energy, these magnetic ITBs might or might not confine particles. That is, magnetic ITBs act as an energy-dependent particle confinement filter. Magnetic field lines in reversed-shear configurations exhibit topological bifurcations (from homoclinic to heteroclinic) due to separatrix reconnection. Finally, we show that a similar but more complex scenario appears in the case of particle orbits that depend in a non-trivial way on the energy and pitch angle of the particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Spin-orbital correlations from complex orbital order in MgV 2⁢ O 4

MgV 2 ⁢O 4 is a spinel based on magnetic V 3+ ions, which host both spin (𝑆 = 1) and orbital (𝑙 eff = 1) moments. Owing to the underlying pyrochlore coordination of the magnetic sites, the spins in MgV 2 ⁢O 4 only antiferromagnetically order once the frustrating interactions imposed by the 𝐹⁡𝑑⁢$\overline{3}$⁢𝑚 lattice are broken through an orbitally-driven structural distortion at T 𝑆 ≃ ⁢60 K. Consequently, a Néel transition occurs at T 𝑁 ≃ ⁢40 K. Low-temperature spatial ordering of the electronic orbitals is fundamental to both the structural and magnetic properties; however, considerable discussion on whether it can be described by complex or real orbital ordering is ambiguous. We apply neutron spectroscopy to resolve the nature of the orbital ground state and characterize hysteretic spin-orbital correlations using x-ray and neutron diffraction. Neutron spectroscopy finds multiple excitation bands and we parametrize these in terms of a multilevel (or excitonic) theory based on the orbitally degenerate ground state. Meaningful for the orbital ground state, we report an “optical-like” mode at high energies that we attribute to a crystal-field-like excitation from the spin-orbital 𝑗 eff = 2 ground-state manifold to an excited 𝑗 eff =1 energy level. We parametrize the magnetic excitations in terms of a Hamiltonian with spin-orbit coupling and local crystalline electric field distortions resulting from deviations from perfect octahedra surrounding the V 3+ ions. We suggest that this provides compelling evidence for complex orbital order in MgV 2⁢ O 4 . We then apply the consequences of this model to understand hysteretic effects in the magnetic diffuse scattering where we propose that MgV 2⁢ O 4 displays a high-temperature orbital memory of the low-temperature spin order.

Frustrated magnetism↗

The balance of orbital overlap and orbital energy in the activation of methane by actinide cations: insights from inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry

The actinides present a unique challenge to chemical theory. The classical view of covalent bonding is driven by the extent of spatial overlap of valence orbitals. Modern theory has expanded assessments of covalency to include considerations of orbital energy degeneracy to assess orbital energy mixing between metal and ligand valence orbitals. Actinide–ligand (An–L) bonding has more recently been described as a balance between orbital overlap and orbital energy mixing, where 5f and L valence orbital overlap decreases while energy mixing between An 5f and L valence orbitals increases across the series. To test these existing views, we employed inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry to examine the kinetic energy dependences of reactions of actinide cations, Th + –Am + , with methane. Further, this is the first experimental report of the energy dependences of methane activation reactions involving the cations of Pa, Np, Pu, and Am and the first experimental determination of transuranic An + –D, An + –CD 2 , An + –CD 3 , and An + –CD bond dissociation energies. The correlation of the measured An + –CD 2 bond energies with E p (6d 2 ) indicates that An + 6d orbitals are the dominant contributors in the An + –CD 2 bonds. Close examination of the relative reactivities of An + offers additional support that the balance of classical and modern views of molecular bonding may lie between Np + and Pu + and that the increased reactivity of Th + –Np + may be attributed to the increased spatial extension of the 5f orbitals whereas covalent An + bond formation may be more driven by the decreasing energies of the 5f orbitals across the actinide series.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Unraveling substituent effects on frontier orbitals of conjugated molecules using an absolutely localized molecular orbital based analysis

It is common to introduce electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituent groups into functional conjugated molecules (such as dyes) to tune their electronic structure properties (such as frontier orbital energy levels) and photophysical properties (such as absorption and emission wavelengths). However, there lacks a generally applicable tool that can unravel the underlying interactions between orbitals from a substrate molecule and those from its substituents in modern electronic structure calculations, despite the long history of qualitative molecular orbital theory. In this work, the absolutely localized molecular orbitals (ALMO) based analysis is extended to analyze the effects of substituent groups on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of a given system. This provides a bottom-up avenue towards quantification of effects from distinct physical origins (e.g. permanent electrostatics/Pauli repulsion, mutual polarization, inter-fragment orbital mixing). For the example case of prodan (a typical dye molecule), it is found that inter-fragment orbital mixing plays a key role in narrowing the HOMO–LUMO gap of the naphthalene core. Specifically, an out-of-phase mixing of high-lying occupied orbitals on the naphthalene core and the dimethylamino group leads to an elevated HOMO, whereas an in-phase combination of LUMOs on the naphthalene core and the propionyl group lowers the LUMO energy of the entire molecule. We expect this ALMO-based analysis to bridge the gap between concepts from qualitative orbital interaction analysis and quantitative electronic structure calculations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Orbital-differentiated coherence-incoherence crossover identified by photoemission spectroscopy in LiFeAs

In the iron-based superconductors (FeSCs), orbital differentiation is an important phenomenon, whereby correlations stronger on the d xy orbital than on the d xz /d yz orbital yield quasi-particles with d xy orbital character having larger mass renormalization and abnormal temperature evolution. However, the physical origin of this orbital di erentiation is debated between the Hund's coupling induced unbinding of spin and orbital degrees of freedom and the Hubbard interaction instigated orbital selective Mott transition. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to identify an orbital-dependent correlation-induced quasi-particle (QP) anomaly in LiFeAs. Lastly, the excellent agreement between our photoemission measurements and first-principles many-body theory calculations shows that the orbital-differentiated QP lifetime anomalies in LiFeAs are controlled by the Hund's coupling.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spin-Orbit Coupling Controlled J = 3 / 2 Electronic Ground State in 5 d 3 Oxides

Spin-orbit entanglement in 5d-based transition metal oxides (TMOs) has been identified as a route to a host of unconventional physical states including quantum spin liquids, Weyl semimetals, and axion insulators. Yet despite intense interest, no clear rules have emerged for the treatment of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in 5d TMOs outside of idealised LS or jj coupling paradigms. This is exemplified in 5d 3 oxides in which an orbitally-quenched singlet ground state is anticipated, yet SOC is manifest in the observed magnetic properties. Here we solve this long-outstanding puzzle by revealing that the electronic ground state of Os5+ 5d 3 ions is an unquenched J = 3/2 state. Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) in Ca3LiOsO6 and Ba 2 YOsO 6 exposes a SOC-controlled splitting of the t 2g manifold. The results are successfully described using an intermediate-coupling framework in which oxygen hybridisation promotes the breakdown of the orbital singlet. This framework opens the door to realistic treatment of SOC across a range of 5d TMOs beyond the 5d 3 case.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Giant Orbital Anisotropy with Strong Spin–Orbit Coupling Established at the Pseudomorphic Interface of the Co/Pd Superlattice

Orbital anisotropy at interfaces in magnetic heterostructures has been key to pioneering spin–orbit-related phenomena. However, modulating the interface’s electronic structure to make it abnormally asymmetric has been challenging because of lack of appropriate methods. Here, the authors report that low-energy proton irradiation achieves a strong level of inversion asymmetry and unusual strain at interfaces in [Co/Pd] superlattices through nondestructive, selective removal of oxygen from Co3O4/Pd superlattices during irradiation. Structural investigations corroborate that progressive reduction of Co3O4into Co establishes pseudomorphic growth with sharp interfaces and atypically large tensile stress. The normal component of orbital to spin magnetic moment at the interface is the largest among those observed in layered Co systems, which is associated with giant orbital anisotropy theoretically confirmed, and resulting very large interfacial magnetic anisotropy is observed. All results attribute not only to giant orbital anisotropy but to enhanced interfacial spin–orbit coupling owing to the pseudomorphic nature at the interface. They are strongly supported by the observation of reversal of polarity of temperature-dependent Anomalous Hall signal, a signature of Berry phase. This work suggests that establishing both giant orbital anisotropy and strong spin–orbit coupling at the interface is key to exploring spintronic devices with new functionalities.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Performance of an atomic mean-field spin–orbit approach within exact two-component theory for perturbative treatment of spin–orbit coupling

The paper reports development of an atomic mean-field (AMF) spin–orbit approach within the spin-free exact two-component theory in its one-electron variant (SFX2C-1e), a new relativistic quantum-chemical method for treating spin-orbit coupling in molecules. The effective one-electron spin–orbit integral matrix in the four-component representation is assembled as a direct sum of one-centre spin–orbit integral matrices with the mean-field two-electron contributions evaluated using atomic SFX2C-1e Hartree–Fock density matrices. It is then transformed into two-component representation using analytic SFX2C-1e energy derivative formulation. The resulting two-component spin–orbit integral matrix is by design suitable for use in perturbative calculations of spin–orbit coupling, treating SFX2C-1e wavefunctions as unperturbed states. The accuracy of the present AMF approach has been demonstrated using benchmark calculations of spin–orbit splittings for representative diatomic radicals at the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles level. In conclusion, to demonstrate the applicability and accuracy of the present perturbative spin–orbit scheme in calculations of challenging heavy-element containing systems, a thorough computational investigation of six low-lying electronic states of ThO+ is reported.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Spin-orbit coupling and chaotic rotation for coorbital bodies in quasi-circular orbits

Coorbital bodies are observed around the Sun sharing their orbits with the planets, but also in some pairs of satellites around Saturn. The existence of coorbital planets around other stars has also been proposed. For close-in planets and satellites, the rotation slowly evolves due to dissipative tidal effects until some kind of equilibrium is reached. When the orbits are nearly circular, the rotation period is believed to always end synchronous with the orbital period. Here we demonstrate that for coorbital bodies in quasi-circular orbits, stable non-synchronous rotation is possible for a wide range of mass ratios and body shapes. We show the existence of an entirely new family of spin-orbit resonances at the frequencies n ± kν/2, where n is the orbital mean motion, ν the orbital libration frequency, and k an integer. In addition, when the natural rotational libration frequency due to the axial asymmetry, σ, has the same magnitude as ν, the rotation becomes chaotic. Saturn coorbital satellites are synchronous since ν << σ, but coorbital exoplanets may present non-synchronous or chaotic rotation. Our results prove that the spin dynamics of a body cannot be dissociated from its orbital environment. We further anticipate that a similar mechanism may affect the rotation of bodies in any mean-motion resonance.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Identifying Photoinduced Dipolar Polarization and Orbit–Orbit Interaction between Excitons in Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites

Abstract Photoinduced polarization and orbit–orbit interaction are important issues in hybrid perovskites toward developing optoelectronic functionalities. This paper identifies that photoinduced polarization occurs in hybrid perovskites with mixed‐cation methylammonium (MA)/formamidinium (FA) (MA x FA (1− x ) PbI 3 ) by measuring bulk polarization at 1 MHz in a magnetic field. Interestingly, when the internal dipole moment is increased upon increasing the MA:FA ratio, the photoinduced dipolar polarization can be substantially enhanced, clarifying the controversial issue of whether photoexcitation can induce a dielectric polarization within dipolar polarization regime in hybrid perovskites. Furthermore, upon increasing photoinduced dipolar polarization, it is found that the intrinsic orbit–orbit interaction between excitons can be increased, revealed by monitoring photocurrent change (Δ J sc ) upon switching the photoexcitation between linear and circular polarizations. This presents that organic cations are directly involved in the orbit–orbit interaction within band structures. Clearly, the studies provide an insightful understanding of the dipole moment effects on photoinduced dipolar polarization and orbit–orbit interaction between excitons in hybrid perovskites toward controlling the optoelectronic properties.

Dou, Yixuan↗

Spin and orbital magnetism of coinage metal trimers (Cu{sub 3}, Ag{sub 3}, Au{sub 3}): A relativistic density functional theory study

We have demonstrated electronic structure and magnetic properties of Cu{sub 3}, Ag{sub 3} and Au{sub 3} trimers using a full potential local orbital method in the framework of relativistic density functional theory. We have also shown that the non-relativistic generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation energy functional gives reliable magnetic properties in coinage metal trimers compared to experiment. In addition we have indicated that the spin-orbit coupling changes the structure and magnetic properties of gold trimer while the structure and magnetic properties of copper and silver trimers are marginally affected. A significant orbital moment of 0.21μ{sub B} was found for most stable geometry of the gold trimer whereas orbital magnetism is almost quenched in the copper and silver trimers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Y 1-x La x VO 3 : Effects of doping on orbital ordering

For this research, the effects of isovalent doping on orbital ordering in the perovskite Y 1-x La x VO 3 were investigated using neutron diffraction and the pair distribution function analysis. YVO 3 is a prototype for orbital ordering, exhibiting two consecutive transitions to G-type and C-type ordering with decreasing temperature. Evidence for local orbital ordering above the transition temperature of T OO ~200 K is presented, obtained from the temperature dependence of the oxygen-oxygen octahedral correlations. This suggests that locally, G-type orbital ordering is present above the T OO temperature but it is short range. With doping, it is expected that orbital ordering disappears altogether. In conclusion, by 30% of doping, as in Y 0.7 La 0.3 VO 3 , even though no orbital ordering is expected, we find that locally, C-type orbital correlations are most likely present below the magnetic transition temperature T N , allowing for a direct paramagnetic to orbitally ordered/antiferromagnetic transition in this composition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterizing the three-orbital Hubbard model with determinant quantum Monte Carlo

Here, we characterize the three-orbital Hubbard model using state-of-the-art determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) simulations with parameters relevant to the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. The simulations find that doped holes preferentially reside on oxygen orbitals and that the (π,π) antiferromagnetic ordering vector dominates in the vicinity of the undoped system, as known from experiments. The orbitally-resolved spectral functions agree well with photoemission spectroscopy studies and enable identification of orbital content in the bands. A comparison of DQMC results with exact diagonalization and cluster perturbation theory studies elucidates how these different numerical techniques complement one another to produce a more complete understanding of the model and the cuprates. Interestingly, our DQMC simulations predict a charge-transfer gap that is significantly smaller than the direct (optical) gap measured in experiment. Most likely, it corresponds to the indirect gap that has recently been suggested to be on the order of 0.8 eV, and demonstrates the subtlety in identifying charge gaps.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

PTF1 J082340.04+081936.5: a hot subdwarf B star with a low-mass white dwarf companion in an 87-minute orbit

We present the discovery of the hot subdwarf B star (sdB) binary PTF1 J082340.04+081936.5. The system has an orbital period of P{sub orb} = 87.49668(1) minutes (0.060761584(10) days), making it the second-most compact sdB binary known. The light curve shows ellipsoidal variations. Under the assumption that the sdB primary is synchronized with the orbit, we find a mass of M{sub sdB}=0.45{sub −0.07}{sup +0.09} M{sub ⊙}, a companion white dwarf mass of M{sub WD}=0.46{sub −0.09}{sup +0.12} M{sub ⊙}, and a mass ratio of q=((M{sub WD})/(M{sub sdB}))=1.03{sub −0.08}{sup +0.10}. The future evolution was calculated using the MESA stellar evolution code. Adopting a canonical sdB mass of M{sub sdB}=0.47 M{sub ⊙}, we find that the sdB still burns helium at the time it will fill its Roche lobe if the orbital period was less than 106 minutes at the exit from the last common envelope (CE) phase. For longer CE exit periods, the sdB will have stopped burning helium and turned into a C/O white dwarf at the time of contact. Comparing the spectroscopically derived logg and T{sub eff} with our MESA models, we find that an sdB model with a hydrogen envelope mass of 5×10{sup −4} M{sub ⊙} matches the measurements at a post-CE age of 94 Myr, corresponding to a post-CE orbital period of 109 minutes, which is close to the limit to start accretion while the sdB is still burning helium.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Orbitals from local RDMFT: Are they Kohn-Sham or natural orbitals?

Recently, an approximate theoretical framework was introduced, called local reduced density matrix functional theory (local-RDMFT), where functionals of the one-body reduced density matrix (1-RDM) are minimized under the additional condition that the optimal orbitals satisfy a single electron Schrödinger equation with a local potential. In the present work, we focus on the character of these optimal orbitals. In particular, we compare orbitals obtained by local-RDMFT with those obtained with the full minimization (without the extra condition) by contrasting them against the exact NOs and orbitals from a density functional calculation using the local density approximation (LDA). We find that the orbitals from local-RMDFT are very close to LDA orbitals, contrary to those of the full minimization that resemble the exact NOs. Since local RDMFT preserves the good quality of the description of strong static correlation, this finding opens the way to a mixed density/density matrix scheme, where Kohn-Sham orbitals obtain fractional occupations from a minimization of the occupation numbers using 1-RDM functionals. This will allow for a description of strong correlation at a cost only minimally higher than a density functional calculation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Orbital circularization of a planet accreting disk gas: the formation of distant jupiters in circular orbits based on a core accretion model

Recently, gas giant planets in nearly circular orbits with large semimajor axes (a ∼ 30-1000 AU) have been detected by direct imaging. We have investigated orbital evolution in a formation scenario for such planets, based on a core accretion model. (1) Icy cores accrete from planetesimals at ≲ 30 AU, (2) they are scattered outward by an emerging nearby gas giant to acquire highly eccentric orbits, and (3) their orbits are circularized through the accretion of disk gas in outer regions, where they spend most of their time. We analytically derived equations to describe the orbital circularization through gas accretion. Numerical integrations of these equations show that the eccentricity decreases by a factor of more than 5 while the planetary mass increases by a factor of 10. Because runaway gas accretion increases planetary mass by ∼10-300, the orbits are sufficiently circularized. On the other hand, a is reduced at most only by a factor of two, leaving the planets in the outer regions. If the relative velocity damping by shock is considered, the circularization slows down, but is still efficient enough. Therefore, this scenario potentially accounts for the formation of observed distant jupiters in nearly circular orbits. If the apocenter distances of the scattered cores are larger than the disk sizes, their a shrink to a quarter of the disk sizes; the a-distribution of distant giants could reflect the outer edges of the disks in a similar way that those of hot jupiters may reflect inner edges.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE SOUTHERN ARGENTINA AGILE METEOR RADAR ORBITAL SYSTEM (SAAMER-OS): AN INITIAL SPORADIC METEOROID ORBITAL SURVEY IN THE SOUTHERN SKY

We present an initial survey in the southern sky of the sporadic meteoroid orbital environment obtained with the Southern Argentina Agile MEteor Radar (SAAMER) Orbital System (OS), in which over three-quarters of a million orbits of dust particles were determined from 2012 January through 2015 April. SAAMER-OS is located at the southernmost tip of Argentina and is currently the only operational radar with orbit determination capability providing continuous observations of the southern hemisphere. Distributions of the observed meteoroid speed, radiant, and heliocentric orbital parameters are presented, as well as those corrected by the observational biases associated with the SAAMER-OS operating parameters. The results are compared with those reported by three previous surveys performed with the Harvard Radio Meteor Project, the Advanced Meteor Orbit Radar, and the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar, and they are in agreement with these previous studies. Weighted distributions for meteoroids above the thresholds for meteor trail electron line density, meteoroid mass, and meteoroid kinetic energy are also considered. Finally, the minimum line density and kinetic energy weighting factors are found to be very suitable for meteroid applications. The outcomes of this work show that, given SAAMER’s location, the system is ideal for providing crucial data to continuously study the South Toroidal and South Apex sporadic meteoroid apparent sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗