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At least 433 records · Page 24

Enhanced Tunability of Gold Nanoparticle Size, Spacing, and Shape for Large-Scale Plasmonic Arrays

Gold nanoparticles are important constituents in plasmonic arrays, lending themselves to electronic, optical, biomedical, sensing, and catalytic applications, among numerous others. Process variables that must be controlled when engineering plasmonic nanoparticle ensembles include nanoparticle size, shape, and spatial distribution on surfaces. The challenge in generating arrays of nanoparticles with control over these three parameters increases dramatically as spatial requirements for uniformity extend to larger processing areas. In this paper, we present a procedure that exploits thermally driven solid-state diffusional dewetting to yield considerable flexibility in generating ensembles of gold nanoparticles. Such submelting dewetting introduces fine control over particle spatial features that are currently difficult to achieve through conventional methods of generating nanoparticle arrays. Because of the simplicity of the process and its area-scalability, solid-state diffusional dewetting is shown here to be a method that could be easily scaled up to apply to large-area plasmonic fabrication processes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Adaptive smart simulator for characterization and MPPT construction of PV array

Partial shading conditions are among the most important problems in large photovoltaic array. Many works of literature are interested in modeling, control and optimization of photovoltaic conversion of solar energy under partial shading conditions, The aim of this study is to build a software simulator similar to hard simulator and to produce a shading pattern of the proposed photovoltaic array in order to use the delivered information to obtain an optimal configuration of the PV array and construct MPPT algorithm. Graphical user interfaces (Matlab GUI) are built using a developed script, this tool is easy to use, simple, and has a rapid of responsiveness, the simulator supports large array simulations that can be interfaced with MPPT and power electronic converters.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Fabrication of large dual-polarized multichroic TES bolometer arrays for CMB measurements with the SPT-3G camera

This paper presents the procedures used by Argonne National Laboratory to fabricate large arrays of multichroic transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers for cosmic microwave background (CMB) measurements. These detectors will be assembled into the focal plane for the SPT-3G camera, the third generation CMB camera to be installed in the South Pole Telescope. The complete SPT-3G camera will have approximately 2690 pixels, for a total of 16,140 TES bolometric detectors. Each pixel is comprised of a broad-band sinuous antenna coupled to a Nb microstrip line. In-line filters are used to define the different band-passes before the millimeter-wavelength signal is fed to the respective Ti/Au TES bolometers. There are six TES bolometer detectors per pixel, which allow for measurements of three band-passes (95 GHz, 150 GHz and 220 GHz) and two polarizations. The steps involved in the monolithic fabrication of these detector arrays are presented here in detail. Patterns are defined using a combination of stepper and contact lithography. The misalignment between layers is kept below 200 nm. The overall fabrication involves a total of 16 processes, including reactive and magnetron sputtering, reactive ion etching, inductively coupled plasma etching and chemical etching.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Simple, passive design for large optical trap arrays for single atoms

We present an approach for trapping cold atoms in a two-dimensional (2D) optical trap array generated with a 4f filtering scheme and custom transmission mask without any active device. The approach can be used to generate arrays of bright or dark traps, or both simultaneously with a single wavelength for forming two-species traps. We demonstrate the design by creating a 2D array of 1225 dark trap sites, where single Cs atoms are loaded into regions of near-zero intensity in an approximately Gaussian profile trap. Moreover, we demonstrate a simple solution to the problem of out-of-focus trapped atoms, which occurs due to the Talbot effect in periodic optical lattices. Using a high power yet low cost spectrally and spatially broadband laser, out-of-focus interference is mitigated, leading to near perfect removal of Talbot plane traps.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Array Effects in Large Wind Farms. Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-09-343

The effects of wind turbine wakes within operating wind farms have a substantial impact on the overall energy production from the farm. The current generation of models drastically underpredicts the impact of these wakes leading to non-conservative estimates of energy capture and financial losses to wind farm operators and developers. To improve these models, detailed research of operating wind farms is necessary. Rebecca Barthelmie of Indiana University is a world leader of wind farm wakes effects and would like to partner with NREL to help improve wind farm modeling by gathering additional wind farm data, develop better models and increase collaboration with European researchers working in the same area. This is currently an active area of research at NREL and the capabilities of both parties should mesh nicely.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Array Effects in Large Wind Farms: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-15-590

The effects of wind turbine wakes within operating wind farms has a substantial impact on the overall energy production from the farm. The current generation of models drastically underpredicts the impact of these wakes offshore leading to non-conservative estimates of energy capture and financial losses to wind farm operators and developers. To improve these models, detailed research of operating wind farms is necessary. Cornell University is a world leader of wind farm wakes effects and would like to partner with NREL to help improve wind farm modeling (by gathering additional wind farm data), develop better models and increase collaboration with European researchers working in the same area.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Animal displacement from marine energy development: Mechanisms and consequences

For marine wave and tidal energy to successfully contribute to global renewable energy goals and climate change mitigation, marine energy projects need to expand beyond small deployments to large-scale arrays. However, with large-scale projects come potential environmental effects not observed at the scales of single devices and small arrays. One of these effects is the risk of displacing marine animals from their preferred habitats or their migration routes, which may increase with the size of arrays and location. Many marine animals may be susceptible to some level of displacement once large marine energy arrays are increasingly integrated into the seascape, including large migratory animals, non-migratory pelagic animals with large home ranges, and benthic and demersal mobile organisms with more limited ranges, among many others. Yet, research around the mechanisms and effects of displacement have been hindered by the lack of clarity within the international marine energy community regarding the definition of displacement, how it occurs, its consequences, species of concern, and methods to investigate the outcomes. This review paper leveraged lessons learned from other industries, such as offshore development, to establish a definition of displacement in the marine energy context, explore which functional groups of marine animals may be affected and in what way, and identify pathways for investigating displacement through modeling and monitoring. In the marine energy context, we defined displacement as the outcome of one of three mechanisms (i.e., attraction, avoidance, and exclusion) triggered by an animal's response to one or more stressors acting as a disturbance, with various consequences at the individual through population levels. The knowledge gaps highlighted in this study will help the regulatory and scientific communities prepare for mitigating, observing, measuring, and characterizing displacement of various animals around marine energy arrays in order to prevent irreversible consequences.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

A CONCENTRATION OF CENTIMETER-SIZED GRAINS IN THE OPHIUCHUS IRS 48 DUST TRAP

Azimuthally asymmetric dust distributions observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in transition disks have been interpreted as dust traps. We present Very Large Array Ka band (34 GHz or 0.9 cm) and ALMA Cycle 2 Band 9 (680 GHz or 0.45 mm) observations at a 0.″2 resolution of the Oph IRS 48 disk, which suggest that larger particles could be more azimuthally concentrated than smaller dust grains, assuming an axisymmetric temperature field or optically thin 680 GHz emission. Fitting an intensity model to both data demonstrates that the azimuthal extent of the millimeter emission is 2.3 ± 0.9 times as wide as the centimeter emission, marginally consistent with the particle trapping mechanism under the above assumptions. The 34 GHz continuum image also reveals evidence for ionized gas emission from the star. Both the morphology and the spectral index variations are consistent with an increase of large particles in the center of the trap, but uncertainties remain due to the continuum optical depth at 680 GHz. Particle trapping has been proposed in planet formation models to allow dust particles to grow beyond millimeter sizes in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks. The new observations in the Oph IRS 48 disk provide support for the dust trapping mechanism for centimeter-sized grains, although additional data are required for definitive confirmation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Site specific isolated nanostructure array formation on a large area by broad ion beam without any mask and resist

We report the formation of isolated nanostructure arrays on a large area via broad ion beam implantation without the aid of any mask or resist. Desired ions have been implanted at specific locations of the prefabricated silicon ripple or triangular structures by exploiting the variation of local ion impact angles. We have shown that the implantation of Fe ions on an O{sup +} ions induced pre fabricated triangular shaped patterned Si surface results in a self-organized periodic array of striped magnetic nanostructures having several micron length and about 50 nm width arranged with a spacial separation of ∼200 nm. The morphology, composition, crystalline structure, and magnetic property of these nanopatterns have been analyzed using high-resolution cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. A geometrical model has been proposed to explain the fundamental features of such ion-induced nanopattern structures.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Three-dimensional crossbar arrays of self-rectifying Si/SiO 2 /Si memristors

Memristors are promising building blocks for the next generation memory, unconventional computing systems and beyond. Currently common materials used to build memristors are not necessarily compatible with the silicon dominant complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Furthermore, external selector devices or circuits are usually required in order for large memristor arrays to function properly, resulting in increased circuit complexity. Here we demonstrate fully CMOS-compatible, all-silicon based and self-rectifying memristors that negate the need for external selectors in large arrays. It consists of p- and n-type doped single crystalline silicon electrodes and a thin chemically produced silicon oxide switching layer. The device exhibits repeatable resistance switching behavior with high rectifying ratio (10 5 ), high ON/OFF conductance ratio (10 4 ) and attractive retention at 300 °C. We further build a 5-layer 3-dimensional (3D) crossbar array of 100 nm memristors by stacking fluid supported silicon membranes. The CMOS compatibility and self-rectifying behavior open up opportunities for mass production of memristor arrays and 3D hybrid circuits on full-wafer scale silicon and flexible substrates without increasing circuit complexity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Galaxies into the Dark Ages

We consider the capabilities of current and future large facilities operating at 2–3 mm wavelength to detect and image the [C ii] 158 μm line from galaxies into the cosmic “dark ages” (z ∼ 10–20). The [C ii] line may prove to be a powerful tool in determining spectroscopic redshifts, and galaxy dynamics, for the first galaxies. We emphasize that the nature, and even existence, of such extreme redshift galaxies, remains at the frontier of open questions in galaxy formation. In 40 hr, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array has the sensitivity to detect the integrated [C ii] line emission from a moderate metallicity, active star-forming galaxy [Z{sub A}=0.2 Z{sub ⊙}; star formation rate (SFR)=5 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}], at z = 10 at a significance of 6σ. The next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) will detect the integrated [C ii] line emission from a Milky Way–like SFR galaxy (Z{sub A}=0.2 Z{sub ⊙}, SFR=1 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}), at z = 15 at a significance of 6σ. Imaging simulations show that the ngVLA can determine rotation dynamics for active star-forming galaxies at z∼15, if they exist. Based on our very limited knowledge of the extreme redshift universe, we calculate the count rate in blind, volumetric surveys for [C ii] emission at z∼10–20. The detection rates in blind surveys will be slow (of the order of unity per 40 hr pointing). However, the observations are well suited to commensal searches. We compare [C ii] with the [O iii] 88 μm line, and other ancillary information in high z galaxies that would aid these studies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Compact, ∼1 kpc Host Galaxy of a Quasar at a Redshift of 7.1

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the [C ii] fine-structure line and the underlying far-infrared (FIR) dust continuum emission in J1120+0641, the most distant quasar currently known (z=7.1). We also present observations targeting the CO(2–1), CO(7–6), and [C i] 369 μm lines in the same source obtained at the Very Large Array and Plateau de Bure Interferometer. We find a [C ii] line flux of F{sub [CII]}=1.11±0.10 Jy km s{sup −1} and a continuum flux density of S{sub 227GHz}=0.53±0.04 mJy beam{sup −1}, consistent with previous unresolved measurements. No other source is detected in continuum or [C ii] emission in the field covered by ALMA (∼ 25″). At the resolution of our ALMA observations (0.″23, or 1.2 kpc, a factor of ∼70 smaller beam area compared to previous measurements), we find that the majority of the emission is very compact: a high fraction (∼80%) of the total line and continuum flux is associated with a region 1–1.5 kpc in diameter. The remaining ∼20% of the emission is distributed over a larger area with radius ≲4 kpc. The [C ii] emission does not exhibit ordered motion on kiloparsec scales: applying the virial theorem yields an upper limit on the dynamical mass of the host galaxy of (4.3±0.9)×10{sup 10} M{sub ⊙}, only ∼20 × higher than the central black hole (BH). The other targeted lines (CO(2–1), CO(7–6), and [C i]) are not detected, but the limits of the line ratios with respect to the [C ii] emission imply that the heating in the quasar host is dominated by star formation, and not by the accreting BH. The star formation rate (SFR) implied by the FIR continuum is 105–340 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, with a resulting SFR surface density of ∼100–350 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} kpc{sup −2}, well below the value for Eddington-accretion-limited star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

An extremely high velocity molecular jet surrounded by an ionized cavity in the protostellar source Serpens SMM1

We report Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of a one-sided, high-velocity (∼80 km s{sup −1}) CO(J = 2→1) jet powered by the intermediate-mass protostellar source Serpens SMM1-a. The highly collimated molecular jet is flanked at the base by a wide-angle cavity; the walls of the cavity can be seen in both 4 cm free–free emission detected by the Very Large Array and 1.3 mm thermal dust emission detected by ALMA. This is the first time that ionization of an outflow cavity has been directly detected via free–free emission in a very young, embedded Class 0 protostellar source that is still powering a molecular jet. The cavity walls are ionized either by UV photons escaping from the accreting protostellar source or by the precessing molecular jet impacting the walls. These observations suggest that ionized outflow cavities may be common in Class 0 protostellar sources, shedding further light on the radiation, outflow, and jet environments in the youngest, most embedded forming stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

ALMA observations of the Antennae galaxies. I. A new window on a prototypical merger

We present the highest spatial resolution (≈0.''5) CO (3-2) observations to date of the 'overlap' region in the merging Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038/39), taken with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We report on the discovery of a long (3 kpc), thin (aspect ratio 30/1), filament of CO gas that breaks up into roughly 10 individual knots. Each individual knot has a low internal velocity dispersion (≈10 km s{sup –1}); the dispersion of the ensemble of knots in the filament is also low (≈10 km s{sup –1}). At the other extreme, we find that the individual clouds in the supergiant molecular cloud 2 region discussed by Wilson and collaborators have a large range of internal velocity dispersions (10 to 80 km s{sup –1}), and a large dispersion among the ensemble (≈80 km s{sup –1}). Other large-scale features observed in CO emission, and their correspondence with historical counterparts using observations in other wavelengths, are also discussed. We compare the locations of small-scale CO features with a variety of multi-wavelength observations, in particular broad- (BVIJH) and narrow-band data (H{sub α} and Pa{sub β}) taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, and radio (3.6 cm) continuum observations taken with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. This comparison leads to the development of an evolutionary classification system that provides a framework for studying the sequence of star cluster formation and evolution—from diffuse supergiant molecular clouds (SGMCs) to proto, embedded, emerging, young, intermediate/old clusters. The relative timescales have been assessed by determining the fractional population of sources at each evolutionary stage. The main uncertainty in this estimate is the identification of four regions as candidate protoclusters (i.e., strong compact CO emission but no clearly associated radio emission). Using the evolutionary framework, we estimate that the maximum age range of clusters in a single GMC is ≈10 Myr, which suggests that the molecular gas is removed over this timescale, resulting in the cessation of star formation and the destruction of the GMC within a radius of about 200 pc.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗