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At least 559 records · Page 31

Dependence of the microwave surface resistance of superconducting niobium on the magnitude of the rf field

Utilizing difference in temperature dependencies we decoupled Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) and residual components of the microwave surface resistance of superconducting niobium at all rf fields up to B{sub rf}{approx}115 mT. We reveal that the residual resistance decreases with field at B{sub rf} Less-Than-Or-Equivalent-To 40 mT and strongly increases in chemically treated niobium at B{sub rf}>80 mT. We find that BCS surface resistance is weakly dependent on field in the clean limit, whereas a strong and peculiar field dependence emerges after 120 Degree-Sign C vacuum baking.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Cascading and local-field effects in non-linear optics revisited: A quantum-field picture based on exchange of photons

The semi-classical theory of radiation-matter coupling misses local-field effects that may alter the pulse time-ordering and cascading that leads to the generation of new signals. These are then introduced macroscopically by solving Maxwell's equations. This procedure is convenient and intuitive but ad hoc. We show that both effects emerge naturally by including coupling to quantum modes of the radiation field that are initially in the vacuum state to second order. This approach is systematic and suggests a more general class of corrections that only arise in a QED framework. In the semi-classical theory, which only includes classical field modes, the susceptibility of a collection of N non-interacting molecules is additive and scales as N. Second-order coupling to a vacuum mode generates an effective retarded interaction that leads to cascading and local field effects both of which scale as N{sup 2}.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Benchmarking the performance of density functional theory and point charge force fields in their description of sI methane hydrate against diffusion Monte Carlo

High quality reference data from diffusion Monte Carlo calculations are presented for bulk sI methane hydrate, a complex crystal exhibiting both hydrogen-bond and dispersion dominated interactions. The performance of some commonly used exchange-correlation functionals and all-atom point charge force fields is evaluated. Our results show that none of the exchange-correlation functionals tested are sufficient to describe both the energetics and the structure of methane hydrate accurately, while the point charge force fields perform badly in their description of the cohesive energy but fair well for the dissociation energetics. By comparing to ice I{sub h}, we show that a good prediction of the volume and cohesive energies for the hydrate relies primarily on an accurate description of the hydrogen bonded water framework, but that to correctly predict stability of the hydrate with respect to dissociation to ice I{sub h} and methane gas, accuracy in the water-methane interaction is also required. Our results highlight the difficulty that density functional theory faces in describing both the hydrogen bonded water framework and the dispersion bound methane.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The contribution of radio-frequency rectification to field-aligned losses of high-harmonic fast wave power to the divertor in the National Spherical Torus eXperiment

The National Spherical Torus eXperiment (NSTX) can exhibit a major loss of high-harmonic fast wave (HHFW) power along scrape-off layer (SOL) field lines passing in front of the antenna, resulting in bright and hot spirals on both the upper and lower divertor regions. One possible mechanism for this loss is RF sheaths forming at the divertors. Here, we demonstrate that swept-voltage Langmuir probe characteristics for probes under the spiral are shifted relative to those not under the spiral in a manner consistent with RF rectification. We estimate both the magnitude of the RF voltage across the sheath and the sheath heat flux transmission coefficient in the presence of the RF field. Although precise comparison between the computed heat flux and infrared (IR) thermography cannot yet be made, the computed heat deposition compares favorably with the projections from IR camera measurements. The RF sheath losses are significant and contribute substantially to the total SOL losses of HHFW power to the divertor for the cases studied. This work will guide future experimentation on NSTX-U, where a wide-angle IR camera and a dedicated set of coaxial Langmuir probes for measuring the RF sheath voltage directly will quantify the contribution of RF sheath rectification to the heat deposition from the SOL to the divertor.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

β -Ga 2 O 3 Schottky barrier diodes with 4.1 MV/cm field strength by deep plasma etching field-termination Available

In this work, we demonstrate a deep mesa etch design for efficient edge field termination in β-Ga 2 O 3 Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). The proposed design enabled parallel plate fields higher than 4.1 MV/cm with negligible change to the device ON characteristics. The effect of BCl 3 /Cl 2 -based dry etch on (100) and (010) etched vertical sidewalls is also analyzed. A remarkable anisotropy in depletion was observed for etch along (100) and (010) sidewalls. In conclusion, this work provides insight into the impact of etching on n-type Ga 2 O 3 and shows a promising method to realize efficient field termination for high breakdown field strength SBDs.

42 ENGINEERING↗

THE HST EXTREME DEEP FIELD (XDF): COMBINING ALL ACS AND WFC3/IR DATA ON THE HUDF REGION INTO THE DEEPEST FIELD EVER

The eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) combines data from 10 years of observations with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and the Wide-Field Camera 3 Infra-Red (WFC3/IR) into the deepest image of the sky ever in the optical/near-IR. Since the initial observations of the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF) in 2003, numerous surveys and programs, including supernovae follow-up, HUDF09, CANDELS, and HUDF12, have contributed additional imaging data across this region. However, these images have never been combined and made available as one complete ultra-deep image dataset. We combine them now with the XDF program. Our new and improved processing techniques provide higher quality reductions of the total dataset. All WFC3/IR and optical ACS data sets have been fully combined and accurately matched, resulting in the deepest imaging ever taken at these wavelengths, ranging from 29.1 to 30.3 AB mag (5σ in a 0.''35 diameter aperture) in 9 filters. The combined image therefore reaches to 31.2 AB mag 5σ (32.9 at 1σ) for a flat f {sub ν} source. The gains in the optical for the four filters done in the original ACS HUDF correspond to a typical improvement of 0.15 mag, with gains of 0.25 mag in the deepest areas. Such gains are equivalent to adding ∼130 to ∼240 orbits of ACS data to the HUDF. Improved processing alone results in a typical gain of ∼0.1 mag. Our 5σ (optical+near-IR) SExtractor catalogs reveal about 14,140 sources in the full field and about 7121 galaxies in the deepest part of the XDF.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Gemini frontier fields: wide-field adaptive optics K{sub s}-band imaging of the galaxy clusters MACS J0416.1-2403 and ABELL 2744

We have observed two of the six Frontier Fields galaxy clusters, MACS J0416.1-2403 and Abell 2744, using the Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS) and the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI). With 0.″ 08–0.″ 10 FWHM our data are nearly diffraction-limited over a 100{sup ′′}×100{sup ′′} wide area. GeMS/GSAOI complements the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) redwards of 1.6 μm with twice the angular resolution. We reach a 5σ depth of K{sub s}∼25.6 mag (AB) for compact sources. In this paper, we describe the observations, data processing, and initial public data release. We provide fully calibrated, co-added images matching the native GSAOI pixel scale as well as the larger plate scales of the HST release, adding to the legacy value of the Frontier Fields. Our work demonstrates that even for fields at high galactic latitude where natural guide stars are rare, current multi-conjugated adaptive optics technology at 8 m telescopes has opened a new window on the distant universe. Observations of a third Frontier Field, Abell 370, are planned.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Spatially enhanced electric field induced second harmonic (SEEFISH) generation for measurements of electric field distributions in high-pressure plasmas

Abstract The spatial resolution of the ps electric field induced second harmonic (EFISH) generation has been enhanced by using non-collinear pump laser beam arrangements. The pump laser beam (1064 nm, nominal pulse duration 150 ps, pulse energy 20–40 mJ) is separated into two coaxial or crossing beams, overlapping only near the focal point. The spatially enhanced EFISH (SEEFISH) signal is generated over a shorter beam overlap region compared to the collinear beam arrangement. Blocking of either of the two beams results in a complete suppression of the signal. The signal is spatially isolated from the ‘conventional’ EFISH signal and measured by a photomultiplier detector. Measurements of a known Laplacian field generated between two parallel cylinder electrodes in ambient air shows that SEEFISH improves the spatial resolution of the measurements by up to a factor of 2, such that the measurement results agree with the Laplacian field distribution. The spatial resolution is improved further by reducing the focal distance of the lens. The magnitude of the SEEFISH signal is significantly lower compared to that of the single-beam EFISH and decreases rapidly as the beam crossing angle is increased, due to the phase mismatch. This approach has a significant potential for measurements of electric field distributions in high-pressure plasmas, with an additional benefit of removing the stray second harmonic signal from the optical access windows.

Physics↗

Cosmological observables in multi-field inflation with a non-flat field space

Using δN formalism, in the context of a generic multi-field inflation driven on a non-flat field space background, we revisit the analytic expressions of the various cosmological observables such as scalar/tensor power spectra, scalar/tensor spectral tilts, non-Gaussianity parameters, tensor-to-scalar ratio, and the various runnings of these observables. In our backward formalism approach, the subsequent expressions of observables automatically include the terms beyond the leading order slow-roll expansion correcting many of the expression at subleading order. To connect our analysis properly with the earlier results, we rederive the (well) known (single field) expressions in the limiting cases of our generic formulae. Further, in the light of PLANCK results, we examine for the compatibility of the consistency relations within the slow-roll regime of a two-field roulette poly-instanton inflation realized in the context of large volume scenarios.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

System-on-chip integrated circuit technology applications on the DIII-D tokamak for multi-field measurements

Several mm-wave diagnostics on the DIII-D tokamak provide multi-scale and multi-dimensional measurements of plasma profile evolution and turbulence fluctuations. Mm-wave fusion plasma diagnostics that adopt system-on-chip integrated circuit technology can provide better space utilization, flexible installation, and improved sensitivity. In order to further extend this technology for additional fusion facilities with a higher toroidal magnetic field, V-band (55–75 GHz) and F-band (90–140 GHz) chips for Microwave Imaging Reflectometer (MIR) and Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) instruments are developed and tested in the Davis Millimeter Wave Research Center (DMRC). Current measurement data show that correlation between these SoC-based diagnostic instruments with other state-of-the-art diagnostics enables co-located multi-field turbulence fluctuation measurement.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Discovering new events beyond the catalogue—application of empirical matched field processing to Salton Sea geothermal field seismicity

Using empirical matched field processing (MFP), we compare 4 yr of continuous seismic data to a set of 195 master templates from within an active geothermal field and identify over 140 per cent more events than were identified using traditional detection and location techniques alone. In managed underground reservoirs, a substantial fraction of seismic events can be excluded from the official catalogue due to an inability to clearly identify seismic-phase onsets. Empirical MFP can improve the effectiveness of current seismic detection and location methodologies by using conventionally located events with higher signal-to-noise ratios as master events to define wavefield templates that could then be used to map normally discarded indistinct seismicity. Since MFP does not require picking, it can be carried out automatically and rapidly once suitable templates are defined. In this application, we extend MFP by constructing local-distance empirical master templates using Southern California Earthquake Data Center archived waveform data of events originating within the Salton Sea Geothermal Field. We compare the empirical templates to continuous seismic data collected between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2011. The empirical MFP method successfully identifies 6249 additional events, while the original catalogue reported 4352 events. The majority of these new events are lower-magnitude events with magnitudes between M0.2–M0.8. Here, the increased spatial-temporal resolution of the microseismicity map within the geothermal field illustrates how empirical MFP, when combined with conventional methods, can significantly improve seismic network detection capabilities, which can aid in long-term sustainability and monitoring of managed underground reservoirs.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Field-induced decays in XXZ triangular-lattice antiferromagnets

In this work, we investigate field-induced transformations in the dynamical response of the XXZ model on the triangular lattice that are associated with the anharmonic magnon coupling and decay phenomena. A set of concrete theoretical predictions is made for a close physical realization of the spin-1/2 XXZ model, Ba 3 CoSb 2 O 9 . We demonstrate that dramatic modifications in magnon spectrum must occur in low out-of-plane fields that are easily achievable for this material. The hallmark of the effect is a coexistence of the clearly distinct well-defined magnon excitations with significantly broadened ones in different regions of the k–ω space. The field-induced decays are generic for this class of models and become more prominent at larger anisotropies and in higher fields.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Pion production in a transport model based on mean fields from chiral effective field theory

We develop a Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) transport model based on the Sk χm* energy density functional, which is constructed from fitting the nuclear equation of state and nucleon effective masses in asymmetric nuclear matter predicted by the two- and three-body chiral interactions as well as the binding energies of finite nuclei. This new χBUU transport model is then used to study how baryon mean-field potentials affect the kinematics of a scattering or decay process and the equilibrium properties of a hot N–Δ–π system in a box with periodic boundary conditions. We find that the inclusion of mean-field potentials in the energy conservation condition for scattering and decay processes is necessary to maintain the equilibrium numbers of N,Δ, and π. Although the baryon mean-field potentials have significant effects on the total Δ and π numbers, they only slightly affect the ratio of effective negatively to positively charged pions. We also study pion production in central 197 Au + 197 Au collisions at the incident energy of E/A = 400 MeV and compare the results with the experimental data from the Four Pi (FOPI) Collaboration at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung mbH (GSI) in Germany. We find that our model can well describe the experimental results and the threshold effect due to baryon mean-field potentials does not affect much the charged pion ratio in this model. Here, we further make predictions on pion production for the ongoing experiments of 132 Sn + 124 Sn and 108 Sn + 112 Sn at the incident energy of E/A = 270 MeV by the SAMURAI Pion-Reconstruction and Ion-Tracker (SπRIT) Collaboration at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) in Japan.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Non-Gaussianity and Large Scale Structure in a two-field Inflationary model

Single-field inflationary models predict nearly Gaussian initial conditions, and hence a detection of non-Gaussianity would be a signature of the more complex inflationary scenarios. In this paper we study the effect on the cosmic microwave background and on large-scale structure from primordial non-Gaussianity in a two-field inflationary model in which both the inflaton and curvaton contribute to the density perturbations. We show that in addition to the previously described enhancement of the galaxy bias on large scales, this setup results in large-scale stochasticity. We provide joint constraints on the local non-Gaussianity parameter f*{sub NL} and the ratio {zeta} of the amplitude of primordial perturbations due to the inflaton and curvaton using WMAP and Sloan Digital Sky Survey data.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Nonvolatile Electric Field Control of Thermal Magnons in the Absence of an Applied Magnetic Field

Spin transport through magnetic insulators has been demonstrated in a variety of materials and is an emerging pathway for next-generation spin-based computing. To modulate spin transport in these systems, one typically applies a sufficiently strong magnetic field to allow for deterministic control of magnetic order. Here, we make use of the well-known multiferroic magnetoelectric, BiFeO 3 , to demonstrate nonvolatile, hysteretic, electric-field control of thermally excited magnon current in the absence of an applied magnetic field. The findings in this work are an important step toward magnon-based devices, where electric-field-only control is highly desirable.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗