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At least 739 records · Page 41

Dynamics of qudit gates and effects of spectator modes on optimal control pulses

Qudit gates for high-dimensional quantum computing can be synthesized with high precision using numerical quantum optimal control techniques. Large circuits are broken down into modules and the tailored pulses for each module can be used as primitives for a qudit compiler. Application of the pulses of each module in the presence of extra modes may decrease their effectiveness due to crosstalk. In this paper, we address this problem by simulating qudit dynamics for circuit quantum electrodynamics systems. As a test case, we take pulses for single-qudit swap gates optimized in isolation and then apply them in the presence of spectator modes each of which are in Fock states. We provide an experimentally relevant scaling formula that can be used as a bound on the fidelity decay. Our results show that frequency shift from spectator mode populations has to be ≲ 0.1 % of the qudit's nonlinearity in order for high-fidelity single-qudit gates to be useful in the presence of occupied spectator modes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

ER stress and viral defense: Advances and future perspectives on plant unfolded protein response in pathogenesis

Viral infections pose significant threats to crop productivity and agricultural sustainability. The frequency and severity of these infections are increasing, and pathogens are evolving rapidly under the influence of climate change. This underscores the importance of exploring the fundamental mechanisms by which plants defend themselves against dynamic viral threats. One such mechanism is the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is activated when the protein folding demand exceeds the capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum, particularly under adverse environmental conditions. While the key regulators of the UPR in response to viral infections have been identified, our understanding of how they modulate the UPR to suppress plant viral infections at the molecular and genetic levels is still in its infancy. Recent findings have shown that, in response to plant viral infections, the UPR swiftly reprograms transcriptional changes to support cellular, metabolic, and physiological processes associated with cell viability. However, the underlying mechanisms and functional outcomes of these changes remain largely unexplored. Here, we highlight recent advances in plant UPR research and summarize key findings related to viral infection–induced UPR, focusing on the balance between prosurvival and prodeath strategies. We also discuss the potential of systems-level approaches to uncover the full extent of the functional link between the UPR and plant responses to viral infections.

ER stress↗

Improved Upper Limit on Degree-scale CMB B -mode Polarization Power from the 670 Square-degree POLARBEAR Survey

We report an improved measurement of the degree-scale cosmic microwave background B-mode angular-power spectrum over 670 deg 2 sky area at 150 GHz with Polarbear. In the original analysis of the data, errors in the angle measurement of the continuously rotating half-wave plate, a polarization modulator, caused significant data loss. By introducing an angle-correction algorithm, the data volume is increased by a factor of 1.8. We report a new analysis using the larger data set. We find the measured B-mode spectrum is consistent with the ΛCDM model with Galactic dust foregrounds. We estimate the contamination of the foreground by cross-correlating our data and Planck 143, 217, and 353 GHz measurements, where its spectrum is modeled as a power law in angular scale and a modified blackbody in frequency. We place an upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio r < 0.33 at 95% confidence level after marginalizing over the foreground parameters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A novel high frequency, high bandwidth, three phase Mach–Zehnder optical data link

In inertial confinement fusion, hydrogen isotopes are fused together under high pressures and temperatures. Typically, the duration of these experiments is incredibly short, on the order of around 60–150 ps. Due to the high radiation environment, a detector’s signal is typically data linked far distances to a protected location. The diagnostic challenge for fusion reaction history measurements is to measure signals of interest maximizing dynamic range while also maintaining time resolution on the order of 10 ps. In this work, we present a new experimental optical data link used to efficiently transport diagnostic signals over great distances to the recording system while not restricting the dynamic range. The concept of a three phase Mach–Zehnder modulator system is introduced as well as a description of the physical prototype. The initial results from testing at the OMEGA facility show that this system is a viable method for signal transportation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

A New Coupled Biogeochemical Modeling Approach Provides Accurate Predictions of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes Across Diverse Tidal Wetlands

Abstract Tidal wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services, including storing large amounts of carbon. However, the net exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) in tidal wetlands are highly uncertain. While several biogeochemical models can operate in tidal wetlands, they have yet to be parameterized and validated against high‐frequency, ecosystem‐scale CO 2 and CH 4 flux measurements across diverse sites. We paired the Cohort Marsh Equilibrium Model (CMEM) with a version of the PEPRMT model called PEPRMT‐Tidal, which considers the effects of water table height, sulfate, and nitrate availability on CO 2 and CH 4 emissions. Using a model‐data fusion approach, we parameterized the model with three sites and validated it with two independent sites, with representation from the three marine coasts of North America. Gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R eco ) modules explained, on average, 73% of the variation in CO 2 exchange with low model error (normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) <1). The CH 4 module also explained the majority of variance in CH 4 emissions in validation sites ( R 2 = 0.54; nRMSE = 1.15). The PEPRMT‐Tidal‐CMEM model coupling is a key advance toward constraining estimates of greenhouse gas emissions across diverse North American tidal wetlands. Further analyses of model error and case studies during changing salinity conditions guide future modeling efforts regarding four main processes: (a) the influence of salinity and nitrate on GPP, (b) the influence of laterally transported dissolved inorganic C on R eco , (c) heterogeneous sulfate availability and methylotrophic methanogenesis impacts on surface CH 4 emissions, and (d) CH 4 responses to non‐periodic changes in salinity.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Dynamic control of molecular transport MXene transistor membranes

Controlled spatial confinement and surface properties of lamellar 2D nanomaterial membranes could enhance many precision separation processes. Traditionally, researchers view channel dimensions, surface properties, and permeation rates of these membranes as intrinsic properties that cannot be modulated in operando. We report that gate voltage applied to the conducting laminar MXene membrane can modulate the permeation rate of ions and neutral solutes, as well as its effective size rejection. In operando wide-angle x-ray scattering measurements reveal that these changes are not driven by electrically induced variations in the d spacing of the MXene layers. Instead, experimental data and continuum electrokinetic modeling reveal that ion transport through the MXene channels is primarily affected by Donnan equilibrium at the membrane-solution interface. We also report a strong increase in the permeation rates through the membrane under a low-frequency ac voltage gating regime that we attribute to diffusioosmotic flow oscillations induced in the membrane. Overall, MXene “transistor” membranes provide a previously unidentified approach to dynamic control of molecular separations.

Pendse, Aaditya [Lawrence Livermore National Labor↗

Radio Frequency Field Programable Gate Array Implementation of Reflectometry Cable Monitoring

This document describes the development of a field programable gate array (FPGA) radio frequency system on a chip (RF SoC) adaptation and evaluation of the single-board device to perform both Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) and Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) for offline and online cable testing. The work builds on and leverages the work of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in airport millimeter wave technology by using the same development hardware employed in that program. The work is performed under sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program and the task objective is to confirm and demonstrate feasibility to adapt FPGA technology for a cost-effective multiplexed single-board electronic module to perform cable tests that are equivalent to commercial and laboratory test instruments for FDR and SSTDR cable tests. The developed 2-channel (extendable to 7 channels) system was compared to dedicated and proven test instruments and shown to produce equivalent results on a range of cables and with a range of damage types. The FPGA reflectometry test board is one of several technologies that could facilitate implementation of online monitoring of safety critical cable systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Cooperative Atomically Dispersed Fe–N 4 and Sn–N x Moieties for Durable and More Active Oxygen Electroreduction in Fuel Cells

One grand challenge for deploying porous carbons with embedded metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) moieties as platinum group metal (PGM)-free electrocatalysts in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells is their fast degradation and inferior activity. Here, we report the modulation of the local environment at Fe–N 4 sites via the application of atomic Sn–N x sites for simultaneously improved durability and activity. We discovered that Sn–N x sites not only promote the formation of the more stable D2 FeN 4 C 10 sites but also invoke a unique D3 SnN x –Fe II N 4 site that is characterized by having atomically dispersed bridged Sn–N x and Fe–N 4 . This new D3 site exhibits significantly improved stability against demetalation and several times higher turnover frequency for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to the shift of the reaction pathway from a single-site associative mechanism to a dual-site dissociative mechanism with the adjacent Sn site facilitating a lower overpotential cleavage of the O–O bond. This mechanism bypasses the formation of the otherwise inevitable intermediate that is responsible for demetalation, where two hydroxyl intermediates bind to one Fe site. Lastly, a mesoporous Fe/Sn-PNC catalyst exhibits a positively shifted ORR half-wave potential and more than 50% lower peroxide formation. This, in combination with the stable D3 site and enriched D2 Fe sites, significantly enhanced the catalyst’s durability as demonstrated in membrane electrode assemblies using complementary accelerated durability testing protocols.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cas9-induced large deletions and small indels are controlled in a convergent fashion

Repair of Cas9-induced double-stranded breaks results primarily in formation of small insertions and deletions (indels), but can also cause potentially harmful large deletions. While mechanisms leading to the creation of small indels are relatively well understood, very little is known about the origins of large deletions. Using a library of clonal NGS-validated mouse embryonic stem cells deficient for 32 DNA repair genes, we have shown that large deletion frequency increases in cells impaired for non-homologous end joining and decreases in cells deficient for the central resection gene Nbn and the microhomology-mediated end joining gene Polq. Across deficient clones, increase in large deletion frequency was closely correlated with the increase in the extent of microhomology and the size of small indels, implying a continuity of repair processes across different genomic scales. Furthermore, by targeting diverse genomic sites, we identified examples of repair processes that were highly locus-specific, discovering a role for exonuclease Trex1. Finally, we present evidence that indel sizes increase with the overall efficiency of Cas9 mutagenesis. These findings may have impact on both basic research and clinical use of CRISPR-Cas9, in particular in conjunction with repair pathway modulation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Deep Learning for Spectral Filling in Radio Frequency Applications

Due to the Internet of Things (IoT) proliferation, Radio Frequency (RF) channels are increasingly congested with new kinds of devices, which carry unique and diverse communication needs. This poses complex challenges in modern digital communications, and calls for the development of technological innovations that (i) optimize capacity (bitrate) in limited bandwidth environments, (ii) integrate cooperatively with already-deployed RF protocols, and (iii) are adaptive to the ever-changing demands in modern digital communications. In this paper we present methods for applying deep neural networks for spectral filling. Given an RF channel transmitting digital messages with a pre-established modulation scheme, we automatically learn novel modulation schemes for sending extra information, in the form of additional messages, “around” the fixed-modulation signals (i.e., without interfering with them). In so doing, we effectively increase channel capacity without increasing bandwidth. We further demonstrate the ability to generate signals that closely resemble the original modulations, such that the presence of extra messages is undetectable to third-party listeners. We present three computational experiments demonstrating the efficacy of our methods, and conclude by discussing the implications of our results for modern RF applications.

Setzler, Matthew D.↗

Thickness-dependent polaron crossover in tellurene

Polarons, quasiparticles from electron-phonon coupling, are crucial for material properties including high-temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance. However, scarce studies have investigated polaron formation in low-dimensional materials with phonon polarity and electronic structure transitions. In this work, we studied polarons of tellurene, composed of chiral Te chains. The frequency and linewidth of the A 1 phonon, which becomes increasingly polar for thinner tellurene, change abruptly for thickness below 10 nanometers, where field-effect mobility drops rapidly. These phonon and transport signatures, combined with phonon polarity and band structure, suggest a crossover from large polarons in bulk tellurium to small polarons in few-layer tellurene. Effective field theory considering phonon renormalization in the small-polaron regime semiquantitatively reproduces the phonon hardening and broadening effects. This polaron crossover stems from the quasi–one-dimensional nature of tellurene, where modulation of interchain distance reduces dielectric screening and promotes electron-phonon coupling. Our work provides valuable insights into the influence of polarons on phononic, electronic, and structural properties in low-dimensional materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Nanoparticle-Induced Disorder at Complex Liquid–Liquid Interfaces: Effects of Curvature and Compositional Synergy on Functional Surfaces

The self-assembly of surfactant monolayers at interfaces plays a sweeping role in tasks ranging from household cleaning to the regulation of the respiratory system. The synergy between different nanoscale species at an interface can yield assemblies with exceptional properties, which enhance or modulate their function. However, understanding the mechanisms underlying coassembly, as well as the effects of intermolecular interactions at an interface, remains an emerging and challenging field of study. Herein, we study the interactions of gold nanoparticles striped with hydrophobic and hydrophilic ligands with phospholipids at a liquid–liquid interface and the resulting surface-bound complexes. We show that these nanoparticles, which are themselves minimally surface active, have a direct concentration-dependent effect on the rapid reduction of tension for assembling phospholipids at the interface, implying molecular coassembly. Through the use of sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy, we reveal that nanoparticles impart structural disorder to the lipid molecular layers, which is related to the increased volumes that amphiphiles can sample at the curved surface of a particle. The results strongly suggest that hydrophobic and electrostatic attractions imparted by nanoparticle functionalization drive lipid–nanoparticle complex assembly at the interface, which synergistically aids lipid adsorption even when lipids and nanoparticles approach the interface from opposite phases. The use of tensiometric and spectroscopic analyses reveals a physical picture of the system at the nanoscale, allowing for a quantitative analysis of the intermolecular behavior that can be extended to other systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Optics-on-a-chip for ultrafast manipulation of 350-MHz hard x-ray pulses

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are miniature devices integrated into a vast range of industrial and consumer applications. Optical MEMS are developed for dynamic spatiotemporal control in lightwave manipulation and communication as modulators, switches, multiplexers, spectrometer, etc. However, they have not been shown to function similarly in sub-nm wavelength regimes, namely, with hard x-rays, as high-brilliance pulsed x-rays have proven powerful for addressing challenges in time-domain science, from energy conversion to neurobiological control. While desirable temporal properties of x-ray pulses can be enhanced by optics, conventional x-ray optics are inherently massive in size, hence, never dynamic. We demonstrate highly ultrafast x-ray optics-on-a-chip based on MEMS capable of modulating hard x-ray pulses exceeding 350 MHz, 10 3 × higher than any other mechanical modulator, with a pulse purity >10 6 without compromising the spectral brilliance. Moreover, the timing characteristics of the devices can be tuned on-the-fly to deliver optimal pulse properties to create a host of dynamic x-ray instruments and applications, impossible with traditional optics of 10 9 × bulkier and more massive. The advent of the ultrafast optics-on-a-chip heralds a new paradigm of x-ray photonics, time-domain science, and accelerator diagnostics, especially at not only the future-generation light sources that offer coherent and high-frequency pulses but also lab-based facilities that normally do not offer timing structures.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Subseasonal Variability of U.S. Coastal Sea Level from MJO and ENSO Teleconnection Interference

Abstract Climate variability affects sea levels as certain climate modes can accelerate or decelerate the rising sea level trend, but subseasonal variability of coastal sea levels is underexplored. This study is the first to investigate how remote tropical forcing from the MJO and ENSO impact subseasonal U.S. coastal sea level variability. Here, composite analyses using tide gauge data from six coastal regions along the U.S. East and West Coasts reveal influences on sea level anomalies from both the MJO and ENSO. Tropical MJO deep convection forces a signal that results in U.S. coastal sea level anomalies that vary based on MJO phase. Further, ENSO is shown to modulate both the MJO sea level response and background state of the teleconnections. The sea level anomalies can be significantly enhanced or weakened by the MJO-associated anomaly along the East Coast due to constructive or destructive interference with the ENSO-associated anomaly, respectively. The West Coast anomaly is found to be dominated by ENSO. We examine physical mechanisms by which MJO and ENSO teleconnections impact coastal sea levels and find consistent relationships between low-level winds and sea level pressure that are spatially varying drivers of the variability. Two case studies reveal how MJO and ENSO teleconnection interference played a role in notable coastal flooding events. Much of the focus on sea level rise concerns the long-term trend associated with anthropogenic warming, but on shorter time scales, we find subseasonal climate variability has the potential to exacerbate the regional coastal flooding impacts. Significance Statement Coastal flooding due to sea level rise is increasingly threatening communities, but natural fluctuations of coastal sea levels can exacerbate the human-caused sea level rise trend. This study assesses the role of tropical influences on coastal subseasonal (2 weeks–3 months) sea level heights. Further, we explore the mechanisms responsible, particularly for constructive interference of signals contributing to coastal flooding events. Subseasonal signals amplify or suppress the lower-frequency signals, resulting in higher or lower sea level heights than those expected from known climate modes (e.g., ENSO). Low-level onshore winds and reduced sea level pressure connected to the tropical phenomena are shown to be indicators of increased U.S. coastal sea levels, and vice versa. Two case studies reveal how MJO and ENSO teleconnection interference played a role in notable coastal flooding events. Much of the focus on sea level rise concerns the long-term trend associated with anthropogenic warming, but on shorter time scales, we find subseasonal climate variability has the potential to exacerbate the regional coastal flooding impacts.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗

Excited-State Dynamics and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Hyperpolarizable Chromophores Based on Conjugated Bis(terpyridyl)Ru(II) and Palladium and Platinum Porphyrinic Components: Impact of Heavy Metals upon Supermolecular Electro-Optic Properties

A new series of strongly coupled oscillators based upon (porphinato)Pd, (porphinato)Pt, and bis(terpyridyl)-ruthenium(II) building blocks is described. These RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu chromophores feature bis- (terpyridyl)Ru(II) moieties connected to the (porphinato)metal unit via an ethyne linker that bridges the 4!-terpyridyl and porphyrin macrocycle meso-carbon positions. Pump–probe transient optical data demonstrate sub-picosecond excited singlet-to-triplet-state relaxation. The relaxed lowest-energy triplet (T 1 ) excited states of these chromophores feature absorption manifolds that span the 800–1200 nm spectral region, microsecond triplet-state lifetimes, and large absorptive extinction coefficients [ε(T 1 → T n ) > 4 × 10 4 M –1 cm –1 ]. Dynamic hyperpolarizability (β λ ) values were determined from hyper-Rayleigh light scattering (HRS) measurements carried out at several incident irradiation wavelengths over the 800–1500 nm spectral region. Relative to benchmark RuPZn and RuPZnRu chromophores which showed large βHRS values over the 1200–1600 nm range, RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu displayed large βHRS values over the 850–1200 nm region. Generalized Thomas–Kuhn sum (TKS) rules and experimental hyperpolarizability values were utilized to determine excited state-to-excited state transition dipole terms from experimental electronic absorption data and thus assessed frequency-dependent β λ values, including two- and three-level contributions for both β zzz and β xzx tensor components to the RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu hyperpolarizability spectra. Furthermore, these analyses qualitatively rationalize how the βzzz and βxzx tensor elements influence the observed irradiation wavelength-dependent hyperpolarizability magnitudes. The TKS analysis suggests that supermolecules related to RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu will likely feature intricate dependences of experimentally determined βHRS values as a function of irradiation wavelength that derive from substantial singlet–triplet mixing, and complex interactions among multiple different β tensor components that modulate the long wavelength regime of the nonlinear optical response.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pantropical Indo-Atlantic temperature gradient modulates multi-decadal AMOC variability in models and observations

Abstract Interconnections between ocean basins are recognized as an important driver of climate variability. Recent modeling evidence suggests that the North Atlantic climate can respond to persistent warming of the tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) relative to the rest of the tropics (rTIO). Here, we use observational data to demonstrate that multi-decadal changes in pantropical ocean temperature gradients lead to variations of an SST-based proxy of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The largest contribution to this temperature gradient-AMOCconnection comes from gradients between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. TherTIOindex yields the strongest connection of this tropical temperature gradient to theAMOC. Focusing on the internally generated signal in three observational products reveals that an SST-basedAMOCproxy index has closely followed low-frequency changes ofrTIOtemperature with about 26-year lag since 1870. Analyzing the pre-industrial control simulations of 44 CMIP6 climate models shows that theAMOCproxy index lags simulated mid-latitudeAMOCvariations by 4 ± 4 years. These model simulations reveal the mechanism connectingAMOCvariations to pantropical ocean temperature gradients at a 27 ± 2 years lag, matching the observed time lag in 28 out of the 44 analyzed models. rTIO temperature changes affect the North Atlantic climate through atmospheric planetary waves, impacting temperature and salinity in the subpolar North Atlantic, which modifies deep convection and ultimately the AMOC. Through this mechanism, observed internalrTIOvariations can serve as a multi-decadal precursor ofAMOCchanges with important implications forAMOCdynamics and predictability.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗

Dynamically robust coordinated set point tracking of distributed DERs at point of common coupling

Low-inertia operation of small-scale power systems, such as a microgrid or a portion of a long feeder, requires careful coordination of the controller performance of the constituting devices. This challenge is exacerbated in microgrids serving the functionalities of a conventional synchronous-based generation unit while comprised of smaller DERs operating mainly interfaced through power electronics converters. This paper builds on the idea of set point modulation and proposes a two-level control strategy that aims to achieve superior performance at the point of common coupling (PCC) of microgrids by combining a local control level with a distributed and coordinated level. Several case studies on both AC and DC systems, the CIGRE low-voltage benchmark system as the AC system and a test DC microgrid, validate the performance of the proposed approach. The real-world applicability of the approach is established via a high-fidelity power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) experimental setup and an application case study on grid frequency regulation. The proposed approach enables a microgrid to participate in ancillary service provisions where speed and quality of regulation are critical.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A High-Current Pulsed Prototype Power Supply

The Accelerator Controls Operations Research Network (ACORN) project aims to modernize the accelerator control system and replace aging power supplies at Fermilab. As part of this effort, outdated RF ferrite bias power supplies will be redesigned. These power supplies are essential for tuning the resonant frequency of RF cavities by delivering programmable current outputs of up to 2500 A and voltages ranging from −10 V to +35 V. They operate at a repetition rate of 15 Hz in the Booster ring, and 1 Hz at the Main Injector ring. The power supplies utilize a bank of transistors in the linear region, connected in parallel with the load, to actively regulate the output current from a 12-pulse SCR bridge. To support this upgrade, a new bias power supply topology was developed as proof of concept. The design utilizes an IGBT Hbridge operating in Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) mode, controlled by a microcontroller. A prototype, constructed using spare components, successfully delivered an output current of 500 A at a repetition rate of 15 Hz during initial testing. The circuit's bandwidth was measured at 480 Hz, highlighting opportunities for further optimization in the controller design to achieve the target bandwidth of 2 kHz.

Bullman, Austin [ORNL]↗