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Results for “ab initio phasing”
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Liquid-liquid phase transition of hydrogen and its critical point: Analysis from ab initio simulation and a machine-learned potential
We simulate high-pressure hydrogen in its liquid phase close to molecular dissociation using a machine-learned interatomic potential. The model is trained with density functional theory (DFT) forces and energies, with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange-correlation functional. We show that an accurate NequIP model, an E(3)-equivariant neural network potential, accurately reproduces the phase transition present in PBE. Moreover, the computational efficiency of this model allows for substantially longer molecular dynamics trajectories, enabling us to perform a finite-size scaling (FSS) analysis to distinguish between a crossover and a true first-order phase transition. Here, we locate the critical point of this transition, the liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT), at 1200-1300 K and 155-160 GPa, a temperature lower than most previous estimates and close to the melting transition.
Magnetic properties of equiatomic CrMnFeCoNi
Magnetic, specific heat, and structural properties of the equiatomic Cantor alloy system are reported for temperatures between 5 and 300 K, and up to fields of 70 kOe. Here magnetization measurements performed on as-cast, annealed, and cold-worked samples reveal a strong processing history dependence and that high-temperature annealing after cold working does not restore the alloy to a “pristine” state. Measurements on known precipitates show that the two transitions, detected at 43 and 85 K, are intrinsic to the Cantor alloy and not the result of an impurity phase. Experimental and ab initio density functional theory computational results suggest that these transitions are a weak ferrimagnetic transition and a spin-glass-like transition, respectively, and magnetic and specific heat measurements provide evidence of significant Stoner enhancement and electron-electron interactions within the material.
Efficient and universal characterization of atomic structures through a topological graph order parameter
Abstract A graph-based order parameter, based on the topology of the graph itself, is introduced for the characterization of atomistic structures. The order parameter is universal to any material/chemical system and is transferable to all structural geometries. Four sets of data are used to validate both the generalizability and accuracy of the algorithm: (1) liquid lithium configurations spanning up to 300 GPa, (2) condensed phases of carbon along with nanotubes and buckyballs at ambient and high temperature, (3) a diverse set of aluminum configurations including surfaces, compressed and expanded lattices, point defects, grain boundaries, liquids, nanoparticles, all at nonzero temperatures, and (4) eleven niobium oxide crystal phases generated with ab initio molecular dynamics. We compare our proposed method to existing, state-of-the-art methods for the cases of aluminum and niobium oxide. Our order parameter uniquely classifies every configuration and outperforms all studied existing methods, opening the door for its use in a multitude of complex application spaces that can require fine structure-level characterization of atomistic graphs.
Extracting free-space observables from trapped interacting clusters
The energy spectrum of two short-range interacting particles in a harmonic potential trap has previously been related to free-space scattering phase shifts. But the existing formula for systems with a nonzero interaction range is exact only in the limit of an infinitely shallow trap. Here I provide a systematically improved formula—describing the low-energy dynamics—that enables the use of finite traps. This paves the way for extracting nuclear scattering phase shifts from ab initio nuclear many-body structure calculations, a long-sought goal in nuclear physics. In this work, the derivation establishes effective field theory as a powerful framework for studying the connection between structure information of a trapped system (with two or more subclusters) and continuum physics in the fields of both nuclear and condensed-matter physics.
Asymmetric equilibrium core structures of pyramidal-II < c + a > dislocations in ten hexagonal-close-packed metals
The structures of pyramidal-II < c + a > dislocations, one of the most important defects in structural hexagonal-close-packed (HCP) metals, have not been fully characterized for many of the HCP metals in use today. Here, we employ ab initio informed phase-field dislocation dynamics to determine the minimum energy structure of pyramidal {1¯1¯22} < 11¯23 > dislocations in ten HCP metals, including Be, Co, Mg, Re, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hf, Y, and Zr. As input for the simulations, we calculate, using first-principles density functional theory, the {1¯1¯22} generalized stacking fault energy (GSFE) curves for all ten metals. From these calculations, it is found that magnetism in Co is necessary for achieving a local minimum in the GSFE curve. We observe in simulations that edge and screw character dislocations split into two partials separated by a low-energy intrinsic stacking fault. The splitting distance is shown to scale inversely with the local minimum energy normalized by the product of its shear modulus and Burgers vector. Interestingly, some HCP metals exhibit an asymmetric structure, with either unequal partial Burgers vectors or widths, in contrast to the symmetric configuration expected from linear elastic dislocation theory. We explain these structures by properties of the local maxima in their GSFE curves. Metals with larger degrees of elastic anisotropy result in dislocations with larger splitting distances than would be expected under the commonly used assumption of elastic isotropy. Furthermore, these findings on the sizes and asymmetry in the structures of pyramidal-II < c + a > dislocations are fundamental to understanding how these dislocations glide and interact or react with other defects when these metals are mechanically strained.
Stability, electronic quantum states, and magnetic interactions of Er 3+ ions in Ga 2 O 3
Here, we report an ab initio study of phase stability, defect formation, electronic structure, and multiple magnetic, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya, optical, hyperfine, and crystal field interactions in erbium (Er)-doped wide band gap 𝛼- and 𝛽-gallium oxides (Ga 2 O 3 ), critically important to make a foundation for both optoelectronic and quantum information applications. The chemical, structural, mechanical, and dynamical stabilities of the pristine phases are confirmed from respective negative formation energies, negative cohesive energies, favorable elastic constants, and positive phonon frequencies. The phonon dispersions indicate that the Ga-O bonds are uniform in the 𝛼-phase, while they vary in the 𝛽-phase due to the anisotropic polyhedral movement. The defect formation energy analysis confirms that both Er-doped 𝛼- and 𝛽−Ga 2 O 3 prefer Er 3+ (neutral) state. The underestimated band gaps of the pristine phases from standard density functional theory (DFT) calculations as compared to experimental values are corrected by employing the hybrid functional calculations, resulting in the indirect band gaps of 5.21 eV in 𝛼−Ga 2 O 3 and 4.94 eV in 𝛽−Ga 2 O 3 . The site preference energy analysis indicates partial occupation of Er in the octahedral site of Ga. The anisotropic nature of hyperfine tensor coefficients of Er is similar in both phases, which may be due to the occupation of Er in the same octahedral Ga site. On the other hand, the calculated magnetic exchange interaction between two Er dopants is negative for 𝛼 and positive for 𝛽, indicating an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state in the former and a ferromagnetic (FM) ground state in the latter. Large values of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMIs) are obtained along the 𝑥 direction in the 𝛼 and along the 𝑦 direction in the 𝛽. The large DMI may support exotic magnetic textures, a promising direction for spintronic applications. The analysis of dielectric constants and refractive indices of both pristine and Er-doped phases shows a good agreement with available experimental values. The calculated optical anisotropy is slightly higher in 𝛽 than those in 𝛼, which is due to the involvement of lower symmetry in 𝛽. The crystal field coefficients (CFCs) calculated from DFT are used to analyze 4𝑓 multiplets and 4𝑓 −4𝑓 transitions. Thus calculated lowest energy level of the first excited state to the lowest energy level of the ground state is about 1.53 µm, which is in a good agreement with available experiments, and it falls within the quantum telecommunication wavelength range.
Revealing a distortive polar order buried in the Fermi sea
Polar metals are challenging to identify spectroscopically because the fingerprints of electric polarization are often obscured by the presence of screening charges. Here, we unravel unambiguous signatures of a distortive polar order buried in the Fermi sea by probing the nonlinear optical response of materials driven by tailored terahertz fields. We apply this strategy to investigate the topological crystalline insulator Pb 1–x Sn x Te, tracking its soft phonon mode in the time domain and observing the occurrence of inversion symmetry breaking as a function of temperature. By combining measurements across the material’s phase diagram with ab initio calculations, we demonstrate the generality of our approach. These results highlight the potential of terahertz driving fields to reveal polar orders coexisting with itinerant electrons, thus opening additional avenues for material discovery.
Development of a multiphase equation of state for gallium with experiments and ab initio free-energy calculations
Here, we present a five-phase equation of state (EOS) for elemental gallium (Ga) that is developed using both experimental data and new theoretical predictions. Four experimentally observed solid phases (Ga-I, Ga-II, Ga-III, and Ga-IV) and one liquid phase are included. To improve our understanding of the thermal behavior of Ga and its phase boundaries under compression, we have performed ab initio density functional theory (DFT) free-energy calculations for the Ga-III and liquid phases, which enables us to determine the melt temperature to be 2214 ± 100 K at 110 GPa, extending significantly beyond the existing experimental melt data, which are limited to 25 GPa. In order to best describe the electron-thermal contribution, which dominates the liquid free energy at high temperatures, we have carried out averaged-atom-in-jellium DFT calculations to cover the entire temperature and density range of the EOS. The resulting multiphase Ga EOS is able to accurately reproduce a diverse variety of data, including known phase boundaries, the principal Hugoniot, low-pressure liquid isobars, and diamond-anvil-cell isotherm measurements at high pressures. It agrees more closely with key experimentally measured properties than other Ga EOS models targeted for high-pressure applications.
Determination of Thermal Expansion, Defect Formation Energy, and Defect-Induced Strain of α-U Via ab Initio Molecular Dynamics
Uranium (U) is often alloyed with molybdenum (Mo) or zirconium (Zr) in order to stabilize its high-temperature body-centered cubic phase for use in nuclear reactors. However, in all metallic fuel forms, the α phase of U remains in some fraction. This phase decomposition due to temperature or compositional variance can play an outsized role on fuel performance and microstructural evolution. Relatively little is known about fundamental point defect properties in α -U at non-zero temperatures, from either computational or experimental studies. This work performs the first thorough evaluation of the α phase of U via ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). A number of thermophysical properties are calculated as a function of temperature, including equilibrium lattice parameters, thermal expansion, and heat capacity. These results indicate a two-region behavior, with the transition at 400 K. The thermal expansion/contraction in the a / b direction occurs rapidly from 100 up to 400 K, after which a more linear and gradual change in the lattice constant takes place. The volumetric expansion matches experiments quantitatively, but the individual lattice constant expansion only matches experiments qualitatively. Point defect formation energies and induced lattice strains are also determined as a function of temperature, providing insight on defect populations and the fundamentals of irradiation growth in α -U. Interstitials induce significantly more strain than vacancies, and the nature of that strain is highly dependent on the individual lattice directions. The direction of point defect-induced lattice strain is contrary to the irradiation growth behavior of α -U. This work shows that isolated point defects cannot be the primary driving force responsible for the significant irradiation-induced growth of α -U observed experimentally.
Thermal disorder and phonon softening in the ferroelectric phase transition of lead titanate
We report a molecular dynamics study of ab initio quality of the ferroelectric phase transition in crystalline PbTiO3. We model anharmonicity accurately in terms of potential energy and polarization surfaces trained on density functional theory data with modern machine learning techniques. Our simulations demonstrate that the transition has a strong order-disorder character, in agreement with diffraction experiments, and provide fresh insight into the approach to equilibrium across the phase transition. We find that the emergence and disappearance of the macroscopic polarization is driven by dipolar switching at the nanometer scale. We also computed the infrared optical absorption spectra in both the ferroelectric and the paraelectric phases, finding good agreement with the experimental Raman frequencies. Often, the almost ideal displacive character of the soft mode detected by Raman scattering in the paraelectric phase has been contrasted with the order-disorder character of the transition suggested by diffraction experiments. We settle this issue by showing that the soft mode coexists with a strong Debye relaxation associated with thermal disordering of the dipoles. The Debye relaxation feature is centered at zero frequency and appears near the transition temperature in both the ferroelectric and the paraelectric phases.
Ab initio free energies of liquid metal alloys: Application to the phase diagrams of Li-Na and K-Na
Comparison of free energies between different phases and different compositions underlies the prediction of alloy phase diagrams. To allow direct comparison, consistent reference points for the energies or enthalpies are required, and the entropy must be placed on an absolute scale, yielding absolute free energies. Here we derive absolute free energies of liquids from ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) by combining the directly simulated enthalpies with an entropy derived from simulated densities and pair correlation functions. Additionally, as an example of the power of this method we calculate the phase diagrams of two binary alkali metal alloys, Li-Na and K-Na, revealing a critical point and liquid-liquid phase separation in the former case, and a deep eutectic in the latter. Good agreement with experimental data demonstrates the power of this simple method.
Ab initio thermodynamics reveals the nanocomposite structure of ferrihydrite
Ferrihydrite is a poorly crystalline iron oxyhydroxide nanomineral that serves a critical role as the most bioavailable form of ferric iron for living systems. However, its atomic structure and composition remain unclear due in part to ambiguities in interpretation of X-ray scattering results. Prevailing models so far have not considered the prospect that at the level of individual nanoparticles multiple X-ray indistinguishable phases could coexist. Using ab initio thermodynamics we show that ferrihydrite is likely a nanocomposite of distinct structure types whose distribution depends on particle size, temperature, and hydration. Nanoparticles of two contrasting single-phase ferrihydrite models of Michel and Manceau are here shown to be thermodynamically equivalent across a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions despite differences in their structural water content. Higher temperature and water pressure favor the formation of the former, while lower temperature and water pressure favor the latter. For aqueous suspensions at ambient conditions, their coexistence is maximal for particle sizes up to 12 nm. The predictions inform and help resolve different observations in various experiments.
Evaluation of δ-Phase ZrH1.4 to ZrH1.7 Thermal Neutron Scattering Laws Using Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Zirconium hydride is commonly used for next-generation reactor designs due to its excellent hydrogen retention capacity at temperatures below 1000 K. These types of reactors operate at thermal neutron energies and require accurate representation of thermal scattering laws (TSLs) to optimize moderator performance and evaluate the safety indicators for reactor design. In this work, we present an atomic-scale representation of sub-stoichiometric ZrH2−x(0.3≤x≤0.6), which relies on ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) in tandem with velocity auto-correlation (VAC) analysis to generate phonon density of states (DOS) for TSL development. The novel NJOY+NCrystal tool, developed by the European Spallation Source community, was utilized to generate the TSL formulations in the A Compact ENDF (ACE) format for its utility in neutron transport software. First, stoichiometric zirconium hydride cross sections were benchmarked with experiments. Then sub-stoichiometric zirconium hydride TSLs were developed. Significant deviations were observed between the new δ-phase ZrH2−x TSLs and the TSLs in the current ENDF release. It was also observed that varying the hydrogen vacancy defect concentration and sites did not cause as significant a change in the TSLs (e.g., ZrH1.4 vs. ZrH1.7) as was caused by the lattice transformation from ϵ- to δ-phase.
Influence of near-surface oxide layers on TiFe hydrogenation: mechanistic insights and implications for hydrogen storage applications
The inevitable formation of passivating oxide films on the surface of the TiFe intermetallic compound limits its performance as a stationary hydrogen storage material. Extensive experimental efforts have been dedicated to the activation of TiFe, i.e. oxide layer removal prior to utilization for hydrogen storage. However, development of an efficient activation protocol necessitates a fundamental understanding of the composition and structure of the air-exposed surface and its interaction with hydrogen, which is currently absent. Therefore, in this study we explored the growth and nature of oxide films on the most exposed TiFe surface (110) in depth using static and dynamic first-principles methods. We identified the lowest energy structures for six oxygen coverages up to approximately 1.12 nm of thickness with a global optimization method and studied the temperature effects and structural evolution of the oxide phases in detail via ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). Based on structural similarity and coordination analysis, motifs for TiO 2 and TiFeO 3 as well as Ti(FeO 2 ) x (x = 2, 3 or 5) phases were identified. On evaluating the interaction of the oxidized surface with hydrogen, a minimal energy barrier of 0.172 eV was predicted for H 2 dissociation while H migration from the top of the oxidized surface to the bulk TiFe was limited by several high-lying energy barriers above 1.4 eV. Our mechanistic insights will prove themselves valuable for informed designs towards new activation methods of TiFe and related systems as hydrogen storage materials.
Ab initio study of quantum oscillations in altermagnetic and nonmagnetic phases of RuO 2
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Observation of a mixed close-packed structure in superionic water
The study of superionic (SI) water has been a highly active research area since its theoretical prediction. Despite significant experimental and computational efforts, its melting curve and the stability of different oxygen lattices remain debated, impacting our understanding of SI ice’s peculiar transport properties. Experimental results at lower pressures show disagreement, whereas data at higher pressures are scarce due to the extreme challenges of such experiments. In this work, we present ultrafast X-ray diffraction results of water compressed by multiple shocks to pressures up to ~ 180 GPa. At pressures exceeding 150 GPa and temperatures around 2500 K, our diffraction patterns challenge the pure FCC-SI phase model, providing experimental evidence of the mixed close-packed superionic phase predicted by advanced ab initio calculations. At lower pressures, we observe simultaneous signatures of BCC and FCC structures within a pressure-temperature range consistent with some static-compression experiments, helping to resolve contradictory results in literature. These insights offer new constraints on the stability domains of SI phases and reveal detailed structural features, such as stacking faults. Our results advance the structural understanding of high-pressure SI ice to a level approaching that of ice I polymorphs, with potential implications for water-rich interiors of giant planets.
Theoretical antiferromagnetism of ordered face-centered cubic Cr-Ni alloys
Contrary to prior calculations, the Ni-rich ordered structures of the Cr-Ni alloy system are found to be antiferromagnetic under semilocal density-functional theory. The optimization of local magnetic moments significantly increases the driving force for the formation of CrNi 2 , the only experimentally observed intermetallic phase. This structure's ab initio magnetism appears well described by a Heisenberg Hamiltonian with longitudinal spin fluctuations; itinerant Cr moments are induced only by the strength of exchange interactions. The role of magnetism at temperature is less clear and several scenarios are considered based on a review of experimental literature, specifically a failure of the theory, the existence of an overlooked magnetic phase transition, and the coupling of antiferromagnetism to chemical ordering. In conclusion, implications for related commercial and high-entropy alloys are discussed for each case.