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Probing the nature of dark matter with accreted globular cluster streams
ABSTRACT The steepness of the central density profiles of dark matter (DM) in low-mass galaxy haloes (e.g. dwarf galaxies) is a powerful probe of the nature of DM. We propose a novel scheme to probe the inner profiles of galaxy subhaloes using stellar streams. We show that the present-day morphological and dynamical properties of accreted globular cluster (GC) streams – those produced from tidal stripping of GCs that initially evolved within satellite galaxies and later merged with the Milky Way (MW) – are sensitive to the central DM density profile and mass of their parent satellites. GCs that accrete within cuspy cold dark matter (CDM) subhaloes produce streams that are physically wider and dynamically hotter than streams that accrete inside cored subhaloes. A first comparison of MW streams ‘GD-1’ and ‘Jhelum’ (likely of accreted GC origin) with our simulations indicates a preference for cored subhaloes. If these results hold up in future data, the implication is that either the DM cusps were erased by baryonic feedback, or their subhaloes naturally possessed cored density profiles implying particle physics models beyond CDM. Moreover, accreted GC streams are highly structured and exhibit complex morphological features (e.g. parallel structures and ‘spurs’). This implies that the accretion scenario can naturally explain the recently observed peculiarities in some of the MW streams. We also propose a novel mechanism for forming ‘gaps’ in stellar streams when the remnant of the parent subhalo (which hosted the GC) later passes through the GC stream. This encounter can last a longer time (and have more of an impact) than the random encounters with DM subhaloes previously considered, because the GC stream and its parent subhalo are on similar orbits with small relative velocities. Current and future surveys of the MW halo will uncover numerous faint stellar streams and provide the data needed to substantiate our preliminary tests with this new probe of DM.
Probing autoionization decay lifetimes of the 4d−16ℓ core-excited states in xenon using attosecond noncollinear four-wave-mixing spectroscopy
The decay of core-excited states is a sensitive probe of autoionization dynamics and correlation effects in many-electron systems, occurring on ultrafast timescales. Xenon, with its dense manifold of autoionizing resonances that can be coupled with near-infrared light, provides a platform to investigate these processes. In this work, the autoionization decay lifetimes of 4d-16ℓ (ℓ = s, p, d, …) core-excited states in xenon atoms are probed with extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond noncollinear four-wave-mixing (FWM) spectroscopy. The 4d{5/2,3/2}-16p XUV-bright states (optically dipole-allowed) exhibit decay lifetimes of ∼6 fs, which is consistent with spectator-type decay. In contrast, the 4d{5/2,3/2}-16s and 4d{5/2,3/2}-16d XUV-dark states (optically dipole forbidden) show longer decay lifetimes of ∼20 fs. Photoionization calculations confirm that all core-hole states with 4d character should decay via spectator channels in ≤6 fs, suggesting that the apparently longer dark-state decay times arise from an alternative mechanism. A few-level simulation of the FWM process shows that the inclusion of a nearby, longer-lived dark state can mimic the experimental FWM signal, suggesting population cycling with a second electronic state with non-4d character. Ab initio calculations support the presence of such multielectron excited states in the 60-70 eV range. These results demonstrate that FWM signals can encode coupled-state dynamics when probing complex systems, highlighting the importance of combining theoretical and experimental approaches to disentangle accurate core-level decay pathways and lifetimes.
Novel type of chimera spiral waves arising from decoupling of a diffusible component
Spiral waves composed of coherent traveling waves surrounding a core containing stochastically distributed stationary areas are found in numerical simulations of a three-variable reaction-diffusion system with one diffusible species. In the spiral core, diffusion of this component (w) mediates transitions between dynamic states of the subsystem formed by the other two components, whose dynamics is more rapid than that of w. Diffusive coupling between adjacent sites can be “on” or “off” depending on the subsystem state. The incoherent structures in the spiral core are produced by this decoupling of the slow diffusive component from the fast non-diffusing subsystem. The phase diagram reveals that the region of incoherent behavior in chimera spirals grows drastically, leading to modulation and breakup of the spirals, in the transition zones between 1{sup n-1} and 1{sup n} local mixed-mode oscillations.
Parallel Adaptive High-Order CFD Simulations Characterizing Cavity Acoustics for the Complete SOFIA Aircraft
This paper presents one-of-a-kind MPI-parallel computational fluid dynamics simulations for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). SOFIA is an airborne, 2.5-meter infrared telescope mounted in an open cavity in the aft of a Boeing 747SP. These simulations focus on how the unsteady flow field inside and over the cavity interferes with the optical path and mounting of the telescope. A temporally fourth-order Runge-Kutta, and spatially fifth-order WENO-5Z scheme was used to perform implicit large eddy simulations. An immersed boundary method provides automated gridding for complex geometries and natural coupling to a block-structured Cartesian adaptive mesh refinement framework. Strong scaling studies using NASA's Pleiades supercomputer with up to 32,000 cores and 4 billion cells shows excellent scaling. Dynamic load balancing based on execution time on individual AMR blocks addresses irregularities caused by the highly complex geometry. Limits to scaling beyond 32K cores are identified, and targeted code optimizations are discussed.
Structure and dynamics of a compact state of a multidomain protein, the mercuric ion reductase
Here, the functional efficacy of colocalized, linked protein domains is dependent on linker flexibility and system compaction. However, the detailed characterization of these properties in aqueous solution presents an enduring challenge. Here, we employ a novel, to our knowledge, combination of complementary techniques, including small-angle neutron scattering, neutron spin-echo spectroscopy, and all-atom molecular dynamics and coarse-grained simulation, to identify and characterize in detail the structure and dynamics of a compact form of mercuric ion reductase (MerA), an enzyme central to bacterial mercury resistance. MerA possesses metallochaperone-like N-terminal domains (NmerA) tethered to its catalytic core domain by linkers. The NmerA domains are found to interact principally through electrostatic interactions with the core, leashed by the linkers so as to subdiffuse on the surface over an area close to the core C-terminal Hg(II)-binding cysteines. How this compact, dynamical arrangement may facilitate delivery of Hg(II) from NmerA to the core domain is discussed.
Transient Efficiency Flexibility and Reliability Optimization of Coal-Fired Power Plants: Model-Predictive Control Library Development (Report)
This document pertains to the reporting requirements of DOE contract FE-0031767. The document covers the development of a model predictive control (MPC) library for implementing MPC for a general dynamic system. The library is implemented in a standardized manner in Matlab/Simulink, where core functions on model prediction, linearization and formulation and solution of a quadratic programming (QP) optimization problem is done in the core library - independent of the specific application. The user can provide the application-specific dynamic model in continuous and discrete time, to rapidly implement and test the MPC performance in a desktop simulation. The MPC optimization objective and constraints are also easily configured via an Excel file to allow iterative refinement as needed. Finally, the MPC library enables a rapid deployment to a target environment through auto C-code generation and containerization. The MPC library works seamlessly with the model based estimation (MBE) library to obtain the overall output feedback control solution. In this program, the reduced order model (ROM) of a coal-fired power plant (CFPP) is used to implement and test the MPC solution.
The melting curve of iron to 250 gigapascals - A constraint on the temperature at earth's center
The melting curve of iron, the primary constituent of earth's core, has been measured to pressures of 250 gigapascals with a combination of static and dynamic techniques. The melting temperature of iron at the pressure of the core-mantle boundary (136 GPa) is 4800 + or - 200 K, whereas at the inner core-outer core boundary (330 GPa), it is 7600 + or - 500 K. A melting temperature for iron-rich alloy of 6600 K at the inner core-outer core boundary and a maximum temperature of 6900 K at earth's center are inferred. This latter value is the first experimental upper bound on the temperature at earth's center, and these results imply that the temperature of the lower mantle is significantly less than that of the outer core.
Dynamical friction in cuspy galaxies
In this paper, we treat the problem of the dynamical friction decay of a massive object moving in an elliptical galaxy with a cuspidal inner distribution of the mass density. We present results obtained by both self-consistent, direct summation, N-body simulations, as well as by a new semi-analytical treatment of dynamical friction valid in such cuspy central regions of galaxies. A comparison of these results indicates that the proposed semi-analytical approximation is the only reliable one in cuspy galactic central regions, where the standard Chandrasekhar's local approximation fails and also gives estimates of decay times that are correct at 1% with respect to those given by N-body simulations. The efficiency of dynamical friction in cuspy galaxies is found definitively higher than in core galaxies, especially on more radially elongated satellite orbits. As another relevant result, we find a proportionality of the dynamical friction decay time to the –0.67 power of the satellite mass, M, shallower than the standardly adopted M {sup –1} dependence.
Magnetic field, frequency and temperature dependence of complex conductance of ultrathin La1.65Sr0.45CuO4/La2CuO4 films and the organic superconductors κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br
We used atomic-layer molecular beam epitaxy (ALL-MBE) to synthesize bilayer films of a cuprate metal (La1.65Sr0.45CuO4La1.65Sr0.45CuO4, LSCO) and a cuprate insulator (La2CuO4La2CuO4, LCO), in which interface superconductivity occurs in a layer that is just one-half unit cell thick. We have studied the magnetic field and temperature dependence of the complex sheet conductance, σ(ω)σ(ω), of these films, and compared them to κκ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br2Cu[N(CN)2]Br single crystals. The magnetic field HH was applied both parallel and perpendicular to the 2D conducting layers. Experiments have been carried out at frequencies between 23 kHz and 50 MHz using either two-coil mutual inductance technique, or the LC resonators with spiral or rectangular coils. The real and the imaginary parts of the mutual-inductance M(T,ω)M(T,ω) between the coil and the sample were measured and converted to complex conductivity. For HH perpendicular to the conducting layers, we observed almost identical behavior in both films and κκ-Br single crystals: (i) the transition onset in the inductive response, L-1kLk-1(T) occurs at a temperature lower by 2 K than in Reσ(T)Reσ(T), (ii) this shift is almost constant with magnetic field up to 8 T; (iii) the vortex diffusion constant D(T)D(T) is exponential due to pinning of vortex cores. These results can be described by the extended dynamic theory of the Berezinski–Kosterlitz–Thouless (BKT) transition and dynamics of bound vortex–antivortex pairs with short separation lengths.
Asynchronous Two-Level Checkpointing Scheme for Large-Scale Adjoints in the Spectral-Element Solver Nek5000
Adjoints are an important computational tool for large-scale sensitivity evaluation, uncertainty quantification, and derivative-based optimization. An essential component of their performance is the storage/recomputation balance in which efficient checkpointing methods play a key role. We introduce a novel asynchronous two-level adjoint checkpointing scheme for multistep numerical time discretizations targeted at large-scale numerical simulations. The checkpointing scheme combines bandwidth-limited disk checkpointing and binomial memory checkpointing. Based on assumptions about the target petascale systems, which we later demonstrate to be realistic on the IBM Blue Gene/Q system Mira, we create a model of the expected performance of our checkpointing approach and validate it using the highly scalable Navier-Stokes spectralelement solver Nek5000 on small to moderate subsystems of the Mira supercomputer. In turn, this allows us to predict optimal algorithmic choices when using all of Mira. We also demonstrate that two-level checkpointing is significantly superior to single-level checkpointing when adjoining a large number of time integration steps. To our knowledge, this is the first time two-level checkpointing had been designed, implemented, tuned, and demonstrated on fluid dynamics codes at large scale of 50k+ cores.
Contorted Octabenzocircumbiphenyl Sorts Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Structural Specificity
Here, we use a nonplanar aromatic molecule, contorted octabenzocircumbiphenyl (c-OBCB), to sort semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by their chiral angles. From absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy studies, we find that c-OBCB preferentially binds and sorts for a number of semiconducting carbon nanotubes with chiral angles greater than 12°. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the contorted aromatic core of c-OBCB binds strongly to only certain SWNTs, especially those with matching curvature, and that this discriminatory binding interaction is reinforced by preferences of the side chains on the c-OBCB to stick to SWNT surface rather than interact with the solvent. This opens the door to side chain/solvent engineering to bias the selection of certain (m,n) SWNT variants. We also investigate the temperature dependence of hole mobility in field-effect transistors comprising c-OBCB-sorted semiconducting carbon-nanotube networks and find hole transport in these networks to be thermally activated.
Evolution of Excited-State Dynamics in Periodic Au 28 , Au 36 , Au 44 , and Au 52 Nanoclusters
An understanding of the correlation between the atomic structure and optical properties of gold nanoclusters is essential for exploration of their functionalities and applications involving light harvesting and electron transfer. We report the femto-nanosecond excited state dynamics of a periodic series of face-centered cubic (FCC) gold nanoclusters (including Au 28 , Au 36 , Au 44 , and Au 52 ), which exhibit a set of unique features compared with other similar sized clusters. Molecular-like ultrafast S n → S 1 internal conversions (i.e., radiationless electronic transitions) are observed in the relaxation dynamics of FCC periodic series. Excited-state dynamics with near-HOMO–LUMO gap excitation lacks ultrafast decay component, and only the structural relaxation dominates in the dynamical process, which proves the absence of core–shell relaxation. Interestingly, both the relaxation of the hot carriers and the band-edge carrier recombination become slower as the size increases. The evolution in excited-state properties of this FCC series offers new insight into the structure-dependent properties of metal nanoclusters, which will benefit their optical energy harvesting and photocatalytic applications.
Structural distortion and electron redistribution in dual-emitting gold nanoclusters
Deciphering the complicated excited-state process is critical for the development of luminescent materials with controllable emissions in different applications. Here we report the emergence of a photo-induced structural distortion accompanied by an electron redistribution in a series of gold nanoclusters. Such unexpected slow process of excited-state transformation results in near-infrared dual emission with extended photoluminescent lifetime. We demonstrate that this dual emission exhibits highly sensitive and ratiometric response to solvent polarity, viscosity, temperature and pressure. Thus, a versatile luminescent nano-sensor for multiple environmental parameters is developed based on this strategy. Furthermore, we fully unravel the atomic-scale structural origin of this unexpected excited-state transformation, and demonstrate control over the transition dynamics by tailoring the bi-tetrahedral core structures of gold nanoclusters. Overall, this work provides a substantial advance in the excited-state physical chemistry of luminescent nanoclusters and a general strategy for the rational design of next-generation nano-probes, sensors and switches.
Self-generated concentration and modulus gradient coating design to protect Si nano-wire electrodes during lithiation
Surface coatings as artificial solid electrolyte interphases have been actively pursued as an effective way to improve the cycle efficiency of nanostructured Si electrodes for high energy density lithium ion batteries, where the mechanical stability of the surface coatings on Si is as critical as Si itself. However, the chemical composition and mechanical property change of coating materials during the lithiation and delithiation process imposed a grand challenge to design coating/Si nanostructure as an integrated electrode system. In our work, we first developed reactive force field (ReaxFF) parameters for Li–Si–Al–O materials to simulate the lithiation process of Si-core/Al 2 O 3 -shell and Si-core/SiO 2 -shell nanostructures. With reactive dynamics simulations, we were able to simultaneously track and correlate the lithiation rate, compositional change, mechanical property evolution, stress distributions, and fracture. A new mechanics model based on these varying properties was developed to determine how to stabilize the coating with a critical size ratio. Furthermore, we discovered that the self-accelerating Li diffusion in Al 2 O 3 coating forms a well-defined Li concentration gradient, leading to an elastic modulus gradient, which effectively avoids local stress concentration and mitigates crack propagation. Finally, based on these results, we propose a modulus gradient coating, softer outside, harder inside, as the most efficient coating to protect the Si electrode surface and improve its current efficiency.
The active CGCG 077-102 NED02 galaxy within the Abell 2063 galaxy cluster
Context.Within the framework of investigating the link between the central super massive black holes in the cores of galaxies and the galaxies themselves, we detected a variable X-ray source in the center of CGCG 077-102 NED02, which is a member of the CGCG 077-102 galaxy pair within the Abell 2063 cluster of galaxies. Aims.Our goal is to combine X-ray and optical data to demonstrate that this object harbors an active super massive black hole in its core, and to relate this to the dynamical status of the galaxy pair within the Abell 2063 cluster. Methods.We usedChandraandXMM-Newtonarchival data to derive the X-ray spectral shape and variability. We also obtained optical spectroscopy to detect the expected emission lines that are typically found in active galactic nuclei. Finally, we used public ZTF imaging data to investigate the optical variability. Results.There is no evidence of multiple X-ray sources or extended components within CGCG 077-102 NED02. Single X-ray spectral models fit the source well. We detect significant, nonrandom inter-observation 0.5–10 keV X-ray flux variabilities, for observations separated by ∼4 days for short-term variations and by up to ∼700 days for long-term variations. Optical spectroscopy points toward a passive galaxy for CGCG 077-102 NED01 and a Seyfert for CGCG 077-102 NED02. The classification of CGCG 077-102 NED02 is also consistent with its X-ray luminosity of over 10 42 erg s −1 . We do not detect short-term variability in the optical ZTF light curves. However, we find a significant long-term stochastic variability in theg-band that can be well described by the damped random walk model with a best-fit characteristic damping timescale ofτ DRW = 30 −12 +28 days. Finally, the CGCG 077-102 galaxy pair is deeply embedded within the Abell 2063 potential, with a long enough history within this massive structure to have been affected by the influence of this cluster for a long time. Conclusions.Our observations point toward a moderately massive black hole in the center of CGCG 077-102 NED02 of ∼10 6 M ⊙ . As compared to another similar pair in the literature, CGCG 077-102 NED02 is not heavily obscured, perhaps because of the surrounding intracluster medium ram-pressure stripping.
HIPED: Machine learning framework for spherical tokamak pedestal prediction and optimization
We introduce a Machine Learning framework, HIPED (HeIght and width Predictor for Edge Dynamics), for predicting and optimizing pedestal and core performance in spherical tokamak plasmas. Trained on pedestal and core datasets from the third MAST-U campaign, HIPED provides accurate estimates of pedestal height and width. The results reveal notable differences compared with conventional aspect-ratio studies; for instance, a simple power-law relation between pedestal width and height has very low accuracy. Instead, additional parameters such as normalized plasma pressure, elongation, and Greenwald fraction significantly improve accuracy. HIPED can also be trained only on `control room parameters' to inform experimentalists of which controllable parameters to adjust for improving core-integrated performance. The framework further includes a multi-objective optimization scheme that helps guide experimental planning and optimization. We find Pareto-optimal discharges with respect to various features, including distance from edge-localized modes and normalized plasma pressure, track their parameter trajectories over time, and identify the control room parameters required for these Pareto-optimal discharges. This provides a framework for systematically optimizing core and edge performance according to different experimental priorities.
XRISM/Resolve view of Abell 2319: Turbulence, sloshing, and ICM dynamics
Here, we present results from XRISM/Resolve observations of the core of the galaxy cluster Abell 2319, focusing on its kinematic properties. The intracluster medium (ICM) exhibits temperatures of approximately 8 keV across the core, with a prominent cold front and a high-temperature region (~11 keV) in the north-west. The average gas velocity in the 3' x 4' region around the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) covered by two Resolve pointings is consistent with that of the BCG to within 40 km s -1 and we found modest average velocity dispersion of 230–250 km s -1 . On the other hand, spatially resolved spectroscopy reveals interesting variations. A blueshift of up to ~230 km s -1 is observed around the east edge of the cold front, where the gas with the lowest specific entropy is found. The region further south inside the cold front shows only a small velocity difference from the BCG; however, its velocity dispersion is enhanced to ~400 km s -1 , implying the development of turbulence. These characteristics indicate that we are observing sloshing motion with some inclination angle following BCG and that gas phases with different specific entropy participate in sloshing with their own velocities, as expected from simulations. No significant evidence for a high-redshift ICM component associated with the subcluster Abell 2319B was found in the region covered by the current Resolve pointings. These results highlight the importance of sloshing and turbulence in shaping the internal structure of Abell 2319. Further deep observations are necessary to better understand the mixing and turbulent processes within the cluster.