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At least 847 records · Page 47

Dynamic control of nonequilibrium metal-insulator transitions

Here, we demonstrate a first order metal-insulator phase transition in the repulsive, fully frustrated, single-band Hubbard model as a function of the coupling to a fermion bath. Time dependent manipulation of the bath coupling allows switching between metallic and insulating states both across the phase transition and within the coexistence region. We propose a simple nanoelectronic device for experimentally realizing dynamic control of the bath coupling. Analysis of the device characteristics shows that it can act as a two-terminal memristor.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fe-Bearing Phases Indentified by the Moessbauer Spectrometers on the Mars Exploration Rovers: An Overview

The twin Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity have explored the martian surface at Gusev Crater (GC) and Meridiani Planum (MP), respectively, for about two Earth years. The Moessbauer (MB) spectrometers on both rovers have analyzed an aggregate of approx.200 surface targets and have returned to Earth information on the oxidation state of iron, the mineralogical composition of Fe-bearing phases, and the distribution of Fe among oxidation states and phases at the two landing sites [1-7]. To date, 15 component subspectra (10 doublets and 5 sextets) have been identified and most have been assigned to mineralogical compositions. Two subspectra are assigned to phases (jarosite and goethite) that are marker minerals for aqueous processes because they contain hydroxide anion in their structures. In this paper, we give an overview of the Febearing phases identified and their distributions at Gusev crater and Meridiani Planum.

Morris, R. V.↗

SPS solid state antenna power combiner

A concept for a solar power satellite antenna power combiner which utilizes solid state dc-rf converters is described. To avoid the power combining losses associated with circuit hybrids it is proposed that the power from multiple solid state amplifiers be combined by direct coupling of each amplifier's output to the radiating antenna structure. The selected power-combining antenna consists of a printed (metalized) microstrip circuit on a ceramic type dielectric substrate which is backed by a shallow lightweight aluminum cavity which sums the power of four microwave sources. The antenna behaves like two one-half wavelength slot-line antennas coupled together via their common cavity structure. A significant feature of the antenna configuration selected is that the radiated energy is summed to yield a single radiated output phase which represents the average insertion phase of the four power amplifiers. This energy may be sampled and, by comparison with the input signal, one can phase error correct to maintain the insertion phase of all solid state power combining modules at exactly the same value. This insures that the insertion phase of each SPS power combining antenna module is identical. An experiment verification program is described.

Fitzsimmons, G. W.↗

Structural Phase Transitions between Layered Indium Selenide for Integrated Photonic Memory

The primary mechanism of optical memoristive devices relies on phase transitions between amorphous and crystalline states. The slow or energy-hungry amorphous–crystalline transitions in optical phase-change materials are detrimental to the scalability and performance of devices. Leveraging an integrated photonic platform, nonvolatile and reversible switching between two layered structures of indium selenide (In 2 Se 3 ) triggered by a single nanosecond pulse is demonstrated. The high-resolution pair distribution function reveals the detailed atomistic transition pathways between the layered structures. With interlayer “shear glide” and isosymmetric phase transition, switching between the α- and β-structural states contains low re-configurational entropy, allowing reversible switching between layered structures. Broadband refractive index contrast, optical transparency, and volumetric effect in the crystalline–crystalline phase transition are experimentally characterized in molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown thin films and compared to ab initio calculations. Finally, the nonlinear resonator transmission spectra measure of incremental linear loss rate of 3.3 GHz, introduced by a 1.5 µm-long In 2 Se 3 -covered layer, resulted from the combinations of material absorption and scattering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase-Transition Interlayer Enables High-Performance Solid-State Sodium Batteries with Sulfide Solid Electrolyte

All-solid-state sodium (Na) batteries (ASSSBs) using sulfide-based solid electrolytes (SEs) have attracted intensive attention due to their superior safety, high energy density and low cost. However, interfacial issue is one of the biggest challenges to achieve high-performance sulfide-based ASSSBs due to the serious reactions between active Na metal and sulfide SEs at the interface. To address the interfacial challenges, we propose in this paper a simple and efficient approach by introducing a polymer electrolyte as an interlayer to stabilize the interface. Na 3 SbS 4 as a model sulfide SE is used to demonstrate the interlayer strategy to stabilize the interface by preventing the detrimental reactions and inhibiting Na dendrites. As a result, stable Na plating/stripping was observed in Na symmetric cells under the current density of 0.1 mA cm –2 . Moreover, ASSSBs with Na metal and TiS 2 electrode delivered long-term stability over 300 cycles remaining a specific capacity above 100 mAh g –1 , and FeS 2 ||Na cells exhibited an impressive specific capacity of up to 200 mAh g –1 after the 20th cycles. This work demonstrates an efficient strategy to address interfacial challenges between sulfide SEs and Na metal, which contributes to the development of ASSSBs in next-generation energy storage systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Stabilization of the Active Ruthenium Oxycarbonate Phase for Low-Temperature CO 2 Methanation

Interstitial carbon-doped RuO 2 catalyst with the newly reported ruthenium oxycarbonate phase is a key component for low-temperature CO 2 methanation. However, a crucial factor is the stability of interstitial carbon atoms, which can cause catalyst deactivation when removed during the reaction. In this work, the stabilization mechanism of the ruthenium oxycarbonate active phase under reaction conditions is studied by combining advanced operando spectroscopic tools with catalytic studies. Three sequential processes: carbon diffusion, metal oxide reduction, and decomposition of the oxycarbonate phase and their influence by the reaction conditions, are discussed. We present how the reaction variables and catalyst composition can promote carbon diffusion, stabilizing the oxycarbonate catalytically active phase under steady-state reaction conditions and maintaining catalyst activity and stability over long operation times. In addition, insights into the reaction mechanism and a detailed analysis of the catalyst composition that identifies an adequate balance between the two phases, i.e., ruthenium oxycarbonate and ruthenium metal, are provided to ensure an optimum catalytic behavior.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

An investigation of strain cycling behavior of 7075-T6 aluminum under combined state of strain: The effects of out-of-phase, biaxial strain cycling on low cycle fatigue

The effect of out-of-phase strain cycling on the low cycle fatigue of biaxially loaded specimens is discussed. A method to apply phase angles between two strains imposed in two different directions was developed. The data and the proposed theoretical analysis are part of a research program on biaxial strain cycling effect on fatigue life of structural materials.

Zamrik, S. Y.↗

The magnetic state of the lower ionosphere during Pioneer Venus entry phase

During the entry phase of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO), defined as that period at the end of mission in 1992 when the periapsis fell below 185 km, the magnetometer made repeated measurements throughout the post midnight ionosphere until about 0430 LT. In this region the magnetic field is generally stronger at comparable altitudes than it was earlier at times of higher solar activity. This increase combined with a decrease in electron density causes the ratio of the magnetic pressure to thermal pressure to approach unity at altitudes above 200 km, whereas it was much lower than unity at these altitudes during solar maximum. From 160-200 km the magnetic field pressure exceeds that of the ionospheric plasma quite unlike the usual conditions seen at the beginning of the mission. At lowest altitudes below 150 km, however, the field becomes weaker and hence no evidence for a planetary magnetic field is found.

Russell, C. T.↗

The Magnetic State of the Lower Ionosphere During Pioneer Venus Entry Phase

During the entry phase of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, defined as that period at the end of mission in 1992 when the periapsis fell below 185 km, the magnetometer made repeated measurements throughout the post midnight ionosphere until about 0430 LT. In this region the magnetic field is generally stronger at comparable altitudes than it was earlier at times of higher solar activity. This increase combined with a decrease in electron density causes the ratio of the magnetic pressure to thermal pressure to approach unity at altitudes above 200 km, whereas it was much lower than unity at these altitudes during solar maximum. From 160-200 km the magnetic field pressure exceeds that of the ionospheric plasma quite unlike the usual conditions seen at the beginning of the mission. At lowest altitudes below 150 km, however, the field becomes weaker and hence no evidence for a planetary magnetic field is found.

Russell, C. T.↗

Defect-induced electronic smectic state at the surface of nematic materials

Due to the intertwining between electronic nematic and elastic degrees of freedom, lattice defects and structural inhomogeneities commonly found in crystals can have a significant impact on the electronic properties of nematic materials. Here, we show that defects commonly present at the surface of crystals generally shift the wave-vector of the nematic instability to a non-zero value, resulting in an incommensurate electronic smectic phase. Such a smectic state onsets above the bulk nematic transition temperature and is localized near the surface of the sample. We argue that this effect may explain not only recent observations of a modulated nematic phase in iron-based superconductors, but also several previous puzzling experiments that reported signatures consistent with nematic order before the onset of a bulk structural distortion.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Quantum Davidson algorithm for excited states

Abstract Excited state properties play a pivotal role in various chemical and physical phenomena, such as charge separation and light emission. However, the primary focus of most existing quantum algorithms has been the ground state, as seen in quantum phase estimation and the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE). Although VQE-type methods have been extended to explore excited states, these methods grapple with optimization challenges. In contrast, the quantum Krylov subspace (QKS) method has been introduced to address both ground and excited states, positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to quantum phase estimation. However, conventional QKS methodologies depend on a pre-generated subspace through real or imaginary-time evolutions. This subspace is inherently expansive and can be plagued with issues like slow convergence or numerical instabilities, often leading to relatively deep circuits. Our research presents an economic QKS algorithm, which we term the quantum Davidson (QDavidson) algorithm. This innovation hinges on the iterative expansion of the Krylov subspace and the incorporation of a pre-conditioner within the Davidson framework. By using the residues of eigenstates to expand the Krylov subspace, we manage to formulate a compact subspace that aligns closely with the exact solutions. This iterative subspace expansion paves the way for a more rapid convergence in comparison to other QKS techniques, such as the quantum Lanczos. Using quantum simulators, we employ the novel QDavidson algorithm to delve into the excited state properties of various systems, spanning from the Heisenberg spin model to real molecules. Compared to the existing QKS methods, the QDavidson algorithm not only converges swiftly but also demands a significantly shallower circuit. This efficiency establishes the QDavidson method as a pragmatic tool for elucidating both ground and excited state properties on quantum computing platforms.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Extended quantum anomalous Hall states in graphene/hBN moiré superlattices

Electrons in topological flat bands can form new topological states driven by correlation effects. The pentalayer rhombohedral graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) moiré superlattice was shown to host fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE) at approximately 400 mK, triggering discussions around the underlying mechanism and role of moiré effects. In particular, new electron crystal states with non-trivial topology have been proposed. Here, in this paper, we report electrical transport measurements in rhombohedral pentalayer and tetralayer graphene/hBN moiré superlattices at electronic temperatures down to below 40 mK. We observed two more fractional quantum anomalous Hall (FQAH) states and smaller R xx values in pentalayer devices than those previously reported. In the new tetralayer device, we observed FQAHE at moiré filling factors v = 3/5 and 2/3. With a small current at the base temperature, we observed a new extended quantum anomalous Hall (EQAH) state and magnetic hysteresis, where R xy = h/e 2 and vanishing R xx spans a wide range of v from 0.5 to 1.3. At increased temperature or current, EQAH states disappear and partially transition into the FQAH liquid. Furthermore, we observed displacement field-induced quantum phase transitions from the EQAH states to the Fermi liquid, FQAH liquid and the likely composite Fermi liquid. Our observations established a new topological phase of electrons with quantized Hall resistance at zero magnetic field and enriched the emergent quantum phenomena in materials with topological flat bands.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Vestibuloocular reflex of rhesus monkeys after spaceflight

The vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) of two rhesus monkeys was recorded before and after 14 days of spaceflight. The gain (eye velocity/head velocity) of the horizontal VOR, tested 15 and 18 h after landing, was approximately equal to preflight values. The dominant time constant of the animal tested 15 h after landing was equivalent to that before flight. During nystagmus induced by off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR), the latency, rising time constant, steady-state eye velocity, and phase of modulation in eye velocity and eye position with respect to head position were similar in both monkeys before and after flight. There were changes in the amplitude of modulation of horizontal eye velocity during steady-state OVAR and in the ability to discharge stored activity rapidly by tilting during postrotatory nystagmus (tilt dumping) after flight: OVAR modulations were larger, and tilt dumping was lost in the one animal tested on the day of landing and for several days thereafter. If the gain and time constant of the horizontal VOR exchange in microgravity, they must revert to normal soon after landing. The changes that were observed suggest that adaptation to microgravity had caused alterations in way that the central nervous system processes otolith input.

Cohen, Bernard↗

High temperature thermochemical energy storage materials

Disclosed are high enthalpy thermochemical energy storage materials that exhibit high thermal conductivity and stability at high temperature reaction conditions. Disclosed materials include hydride-based alloys that can undergo high temperature reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions without phase change of any metal or metalloid components of the alloy. The materials undergo a reversible exothermic hydrogenation reaction to form a metal hydride and a ternary alloy that includes a high thermal conductivity metal that, in its pure state, would exhibit a phase change at the hydrogenation reaction conditions.

Ward, Patrick A.↗

Revisiting Structural and Electromechanical Properties of the Lead-free (K,Na)NbO 3 High-Piezoelectric Material

Having lead-free systems with excellent piezoelectric responses is crucial to the development of environmentally friendly electromechanical applications. In this work, we build an effective Hamiltonian model to explore the promising (K x Na 1–x )NbO 3 system, whose rich phase diagram near x = 50% remains poorly understood meanwhile exhibiting a colossal effective piezoelectric response. Thanks to the numerical implementation of this effective Hamiltonian scheme into a Monte Carlo Metropolis algorithm, we reveal striking features. First, a long-period state can be the ground state at low temperatures for some concentrations while only a short-period conventional polar ground state exists for larger x. Second, the electric field-driven transformation, via a first-order transition, of this long-period state into a short-period polar state creates large electromechanical strains (on the order of the percent) and is likely the origin of the colossal piezoelectric response reported in KNN, for which we evaluate an effective piezoelectric coefficient of several thousands of pC/N.

(K,Na)NbO3↗

The permanent electric dipole moment of chromium monoxide

The permanent electric dipole moments for the X 5Pi and B 5pi states of gas-phase CrO have been experimentally determined using the sub-Doppler optical technique of intermodulated fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with the Stark effect. The measured values are 3.88 + or - 0.13 and 4.1 + or - 1.8 D for the X and B states, respectively. The theoretical values determined for the X state using multireference CI iterative-natural-orbital and finite-field calculations are in excellent agreement with the experimental value.

Steimle, Timothy C.↗