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At least 847 records · Page 47

1D topological phases in transition-metal monochalcogenide nanowires

The Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model is a prototypical one-dimensional (1D) diatomic lattice model for non-trivial topological phases and topological excitations. In theory, many variations and extensions of the SSH model have been proposed and explored to better understand the novel aspects of topological physics in low dimensions on the nanoscale. However, the outstanding challenge remains to find real nanomaterials with robust structural stability for realizing the 1D topological states. Here, we develop an extended version of the SSH model with multi-atomic bases of four, six and eight atoms and an imposed screw rotation symmetry. Furthermore, based on first-principles calculations, we demonstrate the realization of this model in transition metal monochalcogenide M 6 X 6 (M = Mo and W; X = S, Se and Te) nanowires. The topological features of the doped M 6 X 6 nanowires are confirmed with non-trivial edge modes and e/2 fractional charges, representative of the 1D non-trivial Zak phase. Our finding not only sheds new light on our fundamental understanding of 1D topological physics, but also significantly extends the scope of 1D topological materials that will attract immediate experimental interest, since isolated M 6 X 6 nanowires have already been synthesized in experiments.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Warming of the lower Columbia River , 1853 to 2018

Abstract Water temperature is a critical ecological indicator; however, few studies have statistically modeled century‐scale trends in riverine or estuarine water temperature, or their cause. Here, we recover, digitize, and analyze archival temperature measurements from the 1850s onward to investigate how and why water temperatures in the lower Columbia River are changing. To infill data gaps and explore changes, we develop regression models of daily historical Columbia River water temperature using time‐lagged river flow and air temperature as the independent variables. Models were developed for three time periods (mid‐19th, mid‐20th, and early 21st century), using archival and modern measurements (1854–1876; 1938–present). Daily and monthly averaged root‐mean‐square errors overall are 0.89°C and 0.77°C, respectively for the 1938–2018 period. Results suggest that annual averaged water temperature increased by 2.2°C ± 0.2°C since the 1850s, a rate of 1.3°C ± 0.1°C/century. Increased water temperatures are seasonally dependent. An increase of approximately 2.0°C ± 0.2°C/century occurs in the July–Dec time‐frame, while springtime trends are statistically insignificant. Rising temperatures change the probability of exceeding ecologically important thresholds; since the 1850s, the number of days with water temperatures over 20°C increased from ~5 to 60 per year, while the number below 2°C decreased from ~10 to 0 days/per year. Overall, the modern system is warmer, but exhibits less temperature variability. The reservoir system reduces sensitivity to short‐term atmospheric forcing. Statistical experiments within our modeling framework suggest that increased water temperature is driven by warming air temperatures (~29%), altered river flow (~14%), and water resources management (~57%).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Accurate parameterization of the kinetic energy functional

The absence of a reliable formulation of kinetic energy density functional has hindered the development of orbital free density functional theory. Using the data-aided learning paradigm, we propose a simple prescription to accurately model the kinetic energy density of any system. Our method relies on a dictionary of functional forms for local and nonlocal contributions which have been proposed in the literature and the appropriate coefficients are calculated via a linear regression framework. To model the nonlocal contributions, we explore two new nonlocal functionals - a functional that captures fluctuations in electronic density and a functional that incorporates gradient information. Since, the analytical functional forms of the kernels present in these nonlocal terms are not known from theory, we propose a basis function expansion to model these seemingly difficult nonlocal quantities. This allows us to easily reconstruct kernels for any system using only a few structures. The proposed method is able to learn kinetic energy densities and total kinetic energies of molecular and periodic systems, such as H 2 , LiH, LiF and a one-dimensional chain of 8 hydrogens using data from Kohn-Sham density functional theory calculations for only a few structures. For the ease of reproduction, codes used to generate the models are provided in the supporting materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Baryon acoustic oscillation theory and modelling systematics for the DESI 2024 results

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of how fitting of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) is carried out within the upcoming Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument’s (DESI) 2024 results using its DR1 data set, and the associated systematic error budget from theory and modelling of the BAO. We derive new results showing how non-linearities in the clustering of galaxies can cause potential biases in measurements of the isotropic (⁠α iso ⁠) and anisotropic (⁠α ap ) BAO distance scales, and how these can be effectively removed with an appropriate choice of reconstruction algorithm. We then demonstrate how theory leads to a clear choice for how to model the BAO and develop, implement, and validate a new model for the remaining smooth-broad-band (i.e. without BAO) component of the galaxy clustering. Finally, we explore the impact of all remaining modelling choices on the BAO constraints from DESI using a suite of high-precision simulations, arriving at a set of best practices for DESI BAO fits, and an associated theory and modelling systematic error. Overall, our results demonstrate the remarkable robustness of the BAO to all our modelling choices and motivate a combined theory and modelling systematic error contribution to the post-reconstruction DESI BAO measurements of no more than 0.1 per cent (0.2 per cent) for its isotropic (anisotropic) distance measurements. We expect the theory and best practices laid out to here to be applicable to other BAO experiments in the era of DESI and beyond.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Modelica-based system modeling for studying control-related faults in chiller plants and boiler plants serving large office buildings

System modeling is critical when studying operation faults in chiller plants and boiler plants. However, current fault models have difficulties faithfully representing the operation of chiller plants and boiler plants under the effects of those faults, especially the control-related ones. In this study, we present a systematic method to develop high-fidelity models for approximating the behaviors of chiller plants and boiler plants under faulty conditions. Compared to existing ones, the resulting fault models have two advantages: first, they better characterize the dynamic patterns in the system operation. In those models, control architecture and control logic are faithfully implemented. Thus, they can be used to study control-related faults, such as incorrect staging control due to sensor bias and mistuned feedback control. Second, they are readily extensible and can support large-scale investigations to explore different faulty conditions/scenarios. Those models are established in a hierarchical structure while modules in each layer can be redeclared and parameterized at upper layers. In such a case, modifications to the models can be realized through model modifiers and the process can be easily streamlined with scripts. We applied the proposed models in a comprehensive fault impact evaluation of the 13 control-related faults of chiller and boiler plants. In this evaluation, the proposed plant model is coupled with the EnergyPlus thermal load model to study the impact of various faulty scenarios. Based on the evaluation results, we identified the faults that have the most significant impacts on the operation of the chiller and boiler plants, respectively. We also found that the relationship between the impacts of the studied faults and the severity level of the faults are highly non-linear

Huang, Sen↗

PINNSTRIPES (Physics-Informed Neural Network SurrogaTe for Rapidly Identifying Parameters in Energy Systems) [SWR-22-12]

Energy systems models typically take the form of complex partial differential equations which make multiple forward calculations prohibitively expensive. Fast and data-efficient construction of surrogate models is of utmost importance for applications that require parameter exploration such as design optimization and Bayesian calibration. In presence of a large number of parameters, surrogate models that capture correct dependencies may be difficult to construct with traditional techniques. The issue is addressed here with the formulation of the surrogate model constructed via Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINN) which capture the dependence with respect to the parameters to estimate, while using a limited amount of data. Since forward evaluations of the surrogate model are cheap, parameter exploration is made inexpensive, even when considering a large number of parameters.

Hassanaly, Malik↗

On rational points in CFT moduli spaces

Motivated by the search for rational points in moduli spaces of two-dimensional conformal field theories, we investigate how points with enhanced symmetry algebras are distributed there. We first study the bosonic sigma-model with S 1 target space in detail and uncover hitherto unknown features. We find for instance that the vanishing of the twist gap, though true for the S 1 example, does not automatically follow from enhanced symmetry points being dense in the moduli space. We then explore the supersymmetric sigma-model on K3 by perturbing away from the torus orbifold locus. Though we do not reach a definite conclusion on the distribution of enhanced symmetry points in the K3 moduli space, we make several observations on how chiral currents can emerge and disappear under conformal perturbation theory.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Microkinetic Modeling: A Tool for Rational Catalyst Design

The design of heterogeneous catalysts relies on understanding the fundamental surface kinetics that controls catalyst performance, and microkinetic modeling is a tool that can help the researcher in streamlining the process of catalyst design. Microkinetic modeling is used to identify critical reaction intermediates and rate-determining elementary reactions, thereby providing vital information for designing an improved catalyst. In this review, we summarize general procedures for developing microkinetic models using reaction kinetics parameters obtained from experimental data, theoretical correlations, and quantum chemical calculations. We examine the methods required to ensure the thermodynamic consistency of the microkinetic model. We describe procedures required for parameter adjustments to account for the heterogeneity of the catalyst and the inherent errors in parameter estimation. We discuss the analysis of microkinetic models to determine the rate determining reactions using the degree of rate control and reversibility of each elementary reaction. We introduce incorporation of Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi relations and scaling relations in microkinetic models and the effects of these relations on catalytic performance and formation of volcano curves. We review the analysis of reaction schemes in terms of the maximum rate of elementary reactions, and we outline a procedure to identify kinetically significant transition states and adsorbed intermediates. Here, we explore the application of generalized rate expressions for the prediction of optimal binding energies of important surface intermediates and to estimate the extent of potential rate improvement. We also explore the application of microkinetic modeling in homogeneous catalysis, electro-catalysis, and transient reaction kinetics. We conclude by highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the application of microkinetic modeling for catalyst design.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Speed of Sound and Baryon Cumulants in Heavy-Ion Collisions

We present a method that may allow an estimate of the value of the speed of sound as well as its logarithmic derivative with respect to the baryon number density in matter created in heavy-ion collisions. To this end, we utilize well-known observables: cumulants of the baryon number distribution. In analyses aimed at uncovering the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter, cumulants gather considerable attention as their qualitative behaviour along the explored range of collision energies is expected to aid in detecting the QCD critical point. We show that the cumulants may also reveal the behavior of the speed of sound in the temperature and baryon chemical potential plane. We demonstrate the applicability of such estimates within two models of nuclear matter, and explore what might be understood from known experimental data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Machine Learning Assisted Reservoir Operation Model for Long–Term Water Management Simulation

This study explores strategies for long-term reservoir simulations by combining generic rule-based reservoir management model (RMM) and machine learning (ML) models for two major multipurpose reservoirs — Allatoona Lake and Lake Sidney Lanier in the southeastern United States. First, a standalone RMM is developed to simulate daily release and storage during Water Year 1981–2015. Next, using Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) as the ML technique, a standalone LSTM model is trained based on reservoir inflow and meteorological observations to simulate reservoir release and estimate reservoir storage through water balance calculation. Three hybrid modeling strategies are developed, one using RMM output as an additional LSTM input (H1), another using LSTM as the initial release estimate in RMM (H2), and the third combining the first two strategies (H3). The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) for release (NSE-r), storage (NSE-s), and their mean (NSE-avg) are used for model evaluation. Overall, H1 improves NSE-r to 0.65 and 0.54 for Allatoona and Lanier, respectively, compared to standalone RMM (0.44 and 0.21); however, its storage trajectory did not produce a physically feasible solution, similar to LSTM. H2 and especially H3 show that they can retain the best features from RMM and LSTM, with H3 NSE-avg being 0.695 and 0.55 for Allatoona and Lanier outperforming RMM (0.615 and 0.29). In conclusion, the findings suggest a robust simulation capacity for large-scale water management in future studies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Maximized Information Gain of Next Generation Pulsed Power Using Optimized Design of Z-Machine Experiments

This project develops a Bayesian optimization approach to extracting insights from Z Machine experimental data to determine if and how these insights can be used to extrapolate to a larger facility. The primary goal is to address the scientific challenge of informing how confidently experimental conditions can be predicted on a next generation facility, the design of which requires the reliable extrapolation of current high energy density technologies to regimes yet unobserved, except by costly high-fidelity computational models. Maximizing the use of presently available data and understanding how it informs future endeavors is critically important to enable transformative pulsed power and the science of extreme conditions. We explore a Bayesian optimization approach to experimental design which combines information theory, experimental data, and computational modeling to explore how information gain can be maximized.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Recent Advances in Domesticating Non-model Microorganisms

Non-model microorganisms have been increasingly explored as microbial cell factories for production of chemicals, fuels, and materials owing to their unique physiology and metabolic capabilities. Yet, these microorganisms often lack facile genetic tools for strain development, which hinders their adoption as production hosts. In this review, we describe recent advances in domestication of non-model microorganisms, including bacteria, actinobacteria, cyanobacteria, yeast, and fungi, with a focus on the development of genetic tools. Furthermore, we highlight some successful applications of non-model microorganisms as microbial cell factories.

synthetic biology↗

A Bezier Curve Informed Melt Pool Geometry to Model Additive Manufacturing Microstructures Using SPPARKS

Additive manufacturing is a transformative technology with the potential to manufacture designs which traditional subtractive machining methods cannot. Additive manufacturing offers fast builds at near final desired geometry; however, material properties and variability from part to part remain a challenge for certification and qualification of metallic components. AM induced metallic microstructures are spatially heterogeneous and highly process dependent. Engineering properties such as strength and toughness are significantly affected by microstructure morphologies resulting from the manufacturing process Linking process parameters to microstructures and ultimately to the dynamic response of AM materials is critical to certifying and qualifying AM built parts and components and improving the performance of AM materials. The AM fabrication process is characterized by building parts layer by layer using a selective laser melt process guided by a computer. A laser selectively scans and melts metal according to a designated geometry. As the laser scans, metal melts, fuses, and solidifies forming the final geometry in a layerwise fashion. As the laser heat source moves away, the metal cools and solidifies forming metallic microstructures. This work describes a microstructure modeling application implemented in the SPPARKS kinetic Monte Carlo computational framework for simulating the resulting microstructures. The application uses Bzier curves and surfaces to model the melt pool surface and spatial temperature profile induced by moving the laser heat source; it simulates the melting and fusing of metal at the laser hot spot and microstructure formation and evolution when the laser moves away. The geometry of the melt pool is quite flexible and we explore effects of variances in model parameters on simulated microstructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NSA Site Science: Use of ARM Observations from Northern Alaska to Evaluate and Improve Prediction Capabilities

The Arctic is warming at a rate nearly double that of the rest of the planet, leading to profound changes in atmospheric, oceanic, and ice processes. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility has played a significant role in Arctic research, operating observatories in Alaska's North Slope for over 25 years. These observatories provide a rich, and wide-reaching dataset that offers insight into atmospheric processes in northern Alaska. This report details the results of a nine-year research project (2015–2024) supported by the DOE Atmospheric Systems Research (ASR) program, that leverages data from ARM’s deployment of observing facilities at Utqiaġvik (known as the North Slope of Alaska, or NSA, site) and Oliktok Point, Alaska. The project was conducted in two phases: - Phase 1 (2015–2019): Focused on understanding key atmospheric processes at Oliktok Point, including cloud formation, high-latitude precipitation, aerosol-cloud interactions, and cloud properties. - Phase 2 (2019–2024): Extended the research to the broader North Slope region, using data from both Oliktok Point and Utqiaġvik. Topics explored included surface energy budgets, atmospheric stability, ice nucleation processes, and microphysics in Arctic clouds. The project resulted in numerous research products, including 50 peer-reviewed publications and dissertations, 169 presentations, and 10 data products. These products cover a variety of topics, including: - Cloud Macro- and Microphysical Properties: Arctic clouds play a crucial role in energy transfer, and accurate representation in models is critical. The study explored cloud transitions, ice crystal shapes, and dual-wavelength radar data to understand ice crystal habits and size distributions. - Aerosol Properties and Processes: The team examined aerosol sources in the Arctic, including industrial emissions and natural sources. Observations showed significant spatial gradients in aerosol concentrations due to human activities and wildfire smoke. The influence of aerosols on cloud formation and the surface energy budget was also assessed. - Aerosol-Cloud Interactions: Research revealed that aerosols might suppress cloud ice production, affecting cloud radiative forcing and precipitation. The impact of local industrial emissions on cloud properties was also investigated. - Contextualizing the North Slope of Alaska in the context of the broader Arctic: To understand broader trends, the project evaluated large-scale circulation patterns and the influence of weather systems on the Arctic. Studies indicated that large-scale processes play a significant role in temperature patterns and the timing of snowmelt. - Advancing ARM Observational and Modeling Capabilities: The project developed new radar data products and advanced measurement techniques, including clutter mitigation and drizzle detection. Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and tethered balloon systems (TBS) were deployed to gather detailed atmospheric data. Additionally, the project supported 10 early career scientists, providing training and mentorship to undergraduate interns, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early career researchers. These efforts contributed to the advancement of ARM research capabilities and fostered a new generation of scientists skilled in Arctic atmospheric research. Ultimately, this ASR-supported project has provided valuable insights into Arctic atmospheric processes and their broader climate implications. Recommendations for future work include continuing support for long-term observing at Arctic locations to foster additional research, further exploration of aerosol-cloud interactions and the potential impacts of enhanced industrialization of the Arctic, and expanded use of uncrewed systems to gather data in this remote and harsh environment. Additionally, the data products developed by this work, and the data products developed through the ARM infrastructure, leave a treasure-trove of additional information that should be explored for many years to come to gain additional insight into physical processes in the Arctic atmosphere that drive the rapid changes occurring in at high latitudes and their global impact.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Advancing AI-Driven Analysis in X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy: Spectral Domain Mapping and Universal Models

In recent years, rapid progress has been made in developing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods for X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis. Compared to traditional XAS analysis methods, AI/ML approaches offer dramatic improvements in efficiency and help eliminate human bias. To advance this field, we advocate an AI-driven XAS analysis pipeline that features several interconnected key building blocks: benchmarks, workflows, databases, and AI/ML models. Specifically, we present two case studies for XAS ML. In the first study, we demonstrate the importance of reconciling the discrepancies between simulation and experiment using spectral domain mapping (SDM). Our ML model, which is trained solely on simulated spectra, predicts an incorrect oxidation state trend for Ti atoms in a combinatorial zinc titanate film. After transforming the experimental spectra into a simulation-like representation using SDM, the same model successfully recovers the correct oxidation state trend. In the second study, we explore the development of universal XAS ML models that are trained on the entire periodic table, which enables them to leverage common trends across elements. Looking ahead, we envision that an AI-driven pipeline can unlock the potential of real-time XAS analysis to accelerate scientific discovery.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scaling considerations for supercritical carbon dioxide cycles including turbomachinery loss models

A modeling framework for the supercritical carbon dioxide recompressed closed Brayton cycle was developed. Unlike typical models, this effort incorporated generalized empirical turbomachinery loss models. Aerodynamic, windage, and leakage losses were considered in order to address the limitations of conventional constant-efficiency turbomachinery assumptions without relying on machine-specific or computationally expensive simulations. The model enables system-level exploration of optimal cycle design across a range of power scales, including smaller scales that are relevant to microreactors and extraterrestrial power applications. Parametric studies and multi-objective optimizations are used to evaluate the trade-offs between thermal efficiency and system compactness based on an analytical heat exchanger scaling model, yielding Pareto-optimal fronts across a range of operating pressures. Results reveal that at small power scales, the Pareto-optimal compressor inlet pressure becomes subcritical due to the increasing influence of density-dependent turbomachinery losses. Here, the relative contributions of each loss mechanism are quantified, and design recommendations are provided for key parameters such as recompression split ratio and generator cavity pressure across varying power scales.

Multi-objective optimization↗

High-throughput characterization, correlation, and mapping of leaf photosynthetic and functional traits in the soybean ( Glycine max ) nested association mapping population

We report photosynthesis is a key target to improve crop production in many species including soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. A challenge is that phenotyping photosynthetic traits by traditional approaches is slow and destructive. There is proof-of-concept for leaf hyperspectral reflectance as a rapid method to model photosynthetic traits. However, the crucial step of demonstrating that hyperspectral approaches can be used to advance understanding of the genetic architecture of photosynthetic traits is untested. To address this challenge, we used full-range (500–2,400 nm) leaf reflectance spectroscopy to build partial least squares regression models to estimate leaf traits, including the rate-limiting processes of photosynthesis, maximum Rubisco carboxylation rate, and maximum electron transport. In total, 11 models were produced from a diverse population of soybean sampled over multiple field seasons to estimate photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll content, leaf carbon and leaf nitrogen percentage, and specific leaf area (with R 2 from 0.56 to 0.96 and root mean square error approximately <10% of the range of calibration data). We explore the utility of these models by applying them to the soybean nested association mapping population, which showed variability in photosynthetic and leaf traits. Genetic mapping provided insights into the underlying genetic architecture of photosynthetic traits and potential improvement in soybean. Notably, the maximum Rubisco carboxylation rate mapped to a region of chromosome 19 containing genes encoding multiple small subunits of Rubisco. We also mapped the maximum electron transport rate to a region of chromosome 10 containing a fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase gene, encoding an important enzyme in the regeneration of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and the sucrose biosynthetic pathway. The estimated rate-limiting steps of photosynthesis were low or negatively correlated with yield suggesting that these traits are not influenced by the same genetic mechanisms and are not limiting yield in the soybean NAM population. Leaf carbon percentage, leaf nitrogen percentage, and specific leaf area showed strong correlations with yield and may be of interest in breeding programs as a proxy for yield. This work is among the first to use hyperspectral reflectance to model and map the genetic architecture of the rate-limiting steps of photosynthesis.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Safety evaluation of connected and automated vehicles in mixed traffic with conventional vehicles at intersections

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) can potentially improve the performance of the transportation system by reducing human errors. This paper investigates the safety impact of CAVs in a mixed traffic with conventional vehicles at intersections. Analyzing real-world AV crashes in California revealed that rear-end crashes at intersections are the dominant crash type. Therefore, to enhance our understanding of the future interactions between human-driven vehicles with CAVs at intersections, a simulation framework was developed to model the mixed traffic environment of Automated Vehicles (AV), cooperative AVs, and conventional human-driven vehicles. In order to model AVs driving behavior, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and cooperative ACC (CACC) models are utilized. Particularly, this study explores system improvements due to automation and connectivity across varying CAV market penetration scenarios. ACC and CACC car following models are used to mimic the behavior of AVs and cooperative AVs. Real-world connected vehicle data are utilized to modify and tune the acceleration/deceleration regimes of the Wiedemann model. Next, the driving volatility concept capturing variability in vehicle speeds was utilized to calibrate the simulation to represent the safety performance of a real-world environment. Two surrogate safety measures are used to evaluate the safety performance of a representative intersection under different market penetration rate of CAVs: the number of longitudinal conflicts and driving volatility. At low levels of ACC market penetration, the safety improvements were found to be marginal, but safety improved substantially with more than 40% ACC penetration. Additional safety improvements can be achieved more quickly through the addition of cooperation and connectivity through CACC. Furthermore, ACC/CACC vehicles were found to improve mobility performance in terms of average speed and travel time at intersections.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗