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At least 91 records · Page 5

Turbulence-level dependence of cosmic ray parallel diffusion

ABSTRACT Understanding the transport of energetic cosmic rays belongs to the most challenging topics in astrophysics. Diffusion due to scattering by electromagnetic fluctuations is a key process in cosmic ray transport. The transition from a ballistic to a diffusive-propagation regime is presented in direct numerical calculations of diffusion coefficients for homogeneous magnetic field lines subject to turbulent perturbations. Simulation results are compared with theoretical derivations of the parallel diffusion coefficient’s dependences on the energy and the fluctuation amplitudes in the limit of weak turbulence. The present study shows that the widely used extrapolation of the energy scaling for the parallel diffusion coefficient to high turbulence levels predicted by quasi-linear theory does not provide a universally accurate description in the resonant-scattering regime. It is highlighted here that the numerically calculated diffusion coefficients can be polluted for low energies due to missing resonant interaction possibilities of the particles with the turbulence. Five reduced-rigidity regimes are established, which are separated by analytical boundaries derived in this work. Consequently, a proper description of cosmic ray propagation can only be achieved by using a turbulence-level-dependent diffusion coefficient and can contribute to solving the Galactic cosmic ray gradient problem.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Transition in particle transport under resonant magnetic perturbations in a tokamak

Abstract Nonlinear 3D MHD simulations and validations reveal that the hybrid particle-MHD transport is a key process for driving the pump-out in the presence of Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMPs) in the KSTAR tokamak. Particle transport and the resulting density pump-out by RMPs are shown to be composed of not only the classical flow convection near magnetic islands due to polarization but also the neoclassical ion diffusion across perturbed magnetic surfaces. The latter is known as the Neoclassical Toroidal Viscosity (NTV) and is integrated into nonlinear MHD simulations here for the first time, revealing that the two-stage pump-outs observed in KSTAR experiments are reproduced only with such integrated nonlinear MHD and transport evolution. Near-resonant responses, which have received less attention than the resonant response, play distinct roles in the pump-out along with the island formation. In addition, this modeling is used to investigate the pump-outs in double-null-like plasmas and numerically capture the effect of the double-null shape on the pump-outs, which may explain the difficulty of Edge Localized Mode (ELM) suppression access in double-like plasmas. This reveals new aspects of the impact toroidal geometry and mode coupling have on 3D physics and reveals the importance of near-resonant components in suppressing ELMs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Anomalous Resistivity and Electron Heating by Lower Hybrid Drift Waves during Magnetic Reconnection with a Guide Field

The lower hybrid drift wave (LHDW) has been a candidate for anomalous resistivity and electron heating inside the electron diffusion region of magnetic reconnection. In a laboratory reconnection layer with a finite guide field, quasielectrostatic LHDW (ES-LHDW) propagating along the direction nearly perpendicular to the local magnetic field is excited in the electron diffusion region. ES-LHDW generates large density fluctuations ($δn_{\text e}$, about 25% of the mean density) that are correlated with fluctuations in the out-of-plane electric field ($δE_Y$, about twice larger than the mean reconnection electric field). With a small phase difference (~ 30°) between two fluctuating quantities, the anomalous resistivity associated with the observed ES-LHDW is twice larger than the classical resistivity and accounts for 20% of the mean reconnection electric field. After we verify the linear relationship between $δn_{\text e}$ and $δE_Y$, anomalous electron heating by LHDW is estimated by a quasilinear analysis. The estimated electron heating is about 2.6 ± 0.3 MW / m 3 , which exceeds the classical Ohmic heating of about 2.0 ± 0.2 MW / m 3 . This LHDW-driven heating is consistent with the observed trend of higher electron temperatures when the wave amplitude is larger. Finally, presented results provide the first direct estimate of anomalous resistivity and electron heating power by LHDW, which demonstrates the importance of wave-particle interactions in magnetic reconnection.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Formation and evolution of protostellar accretion discs – I. Angular-momentum budget, gravitational self-regulation, and numerical convergence

Here, we investigate the formation and early evolution of a protostellar disc from a magnetized prestellar core using non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations including ambipolar diffusion and Ohmic dissipation. The dynamical contraction of the prestellar core ultimately leads to the formation of a first hydrostatic core, after ambipolar diffusion decouples the magnetic field from the predominantly neutral gas. The hydrostatic core accumulates angular momentum from the infalling material, evolving into a rotationally supported torus; this ‘first hydrostatic torus’ then forms an accreting protostar and a rotationally supported disc. The disc spreads out by gravitational instability, reaching ~30 au in diameter at ~3 kyr after protostar formation. The total mass and angular momentum of the protostar–disc system are determined mainly by accretion of gas from an infalling pseudo-disc, which has low specific angular momentum because of magnetic braking; their removal from the protostar–disc system by outflow and disc magnetic braking are negligible, in part because the magnetic field is poorly coupled there. The redistribution of angular momentum within the protostar–disc system is facilitated mainly by gravitational instability; this allows formation of relatively large discs even when the specific angular momentum of infalling material is low. We argue that such discs should remain marginally unstable as they grow (with Toomre Q ~ 1–2), an idea that is broadly consistent with recent observational estimates for Class 0/I discs. We discuss the numerical convergence of our results, and show that properly treating the inner boundary condition is crucial for achieving convergence at an acceptable computational cost.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Controlling Noncollinear Ferromagnetism in van der Waals Metal–Organic Magnets

Van der Waals (vdW) magnets both allow exploration of fundamental 2D physics and offer a route toward exploiting magnetism in next generation information technology, but vdW magnets with complex, noncollinear spin textures are currently rare. We report here the syntheses, crystal structures, magnetic properties and magnetic ground states of four bulk vdW metal–organic magnets (MOMs): FeCl 2 (pym), FeCl 2 (btd), NiCl 2 (pym), and NiCl 2 (btd), pym = pyrimidine and btd = 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole. Using a combination of neutron diffraction and bulk magnetometry we show that these materials are noncollinear magnets. Although only NiCl 2 (btd) has a ferromagnetic ground state, we demonstrate that low-field hysteretic metamagnetic transitions produce states with net magnetization in zero-field and high coercivities for FeCl 2 (pym) and NiCl 2 (pym). By combining our bulk magnetic data with diffuse scattering analysis and broken-symmetry density-functional calculations, we probe the magnetic superexchange interactions, which when combined with symmetry analysis allow us to suggest design principles for future noncollinear vdW MOMs. These materials, if delaminated, would prove an interesting new family of 2D magnets.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Crystal Growth of Quaternary RE 2 EuSi 2 S 8 ( RE = Ce–Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb) Using Flux-Assisted Boron Chalcogen Mixture (BCM) Method: Investigation of Magnetic and Luminescence Properties

A series of quaternary rare-earth containing thiosilicates with the general formula RE 2 EuSi 2 S 8 (RE = Ce–Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb) has been synthesized via the flux-assisted boron chalcogen mixture (BCM) crystal growth method. High-quality single crystals were obtained, and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The RE 2 EuSi 2 S 8 series crystallizes in the trigonal system, adopting the space group R-3c. Polycrystalline samples were employed for physical property measurements, including magnetic susceptibility measurements, UV–visible diffuse reflectance, and photoluminescent response. Magnetic data of RE 2 EuSi 2 S 8 ( RE = Ce, Nd, and Gd) were collected over the 2–300 K temperature range. The samples were paramagnetic behavior with negative Weiss constants (θ W = −11.05, −10.55, and −1.35 K respectively). Their thermal stability was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Optical band gaps, estimated from diffuse reflectance spectra, were determined to be 2.2(1) eV for Ce 2 EuSi 2 S 8 , 1.8(1) eV for Nd 2 EuSi 2 S 8 , and 1.7(1) eV for Gd 2 EuSi 2 S 8 respectively. Finally, photoluminescence measurements were collected on Ce 2 EuSi 2 S 8 and Tb 2 EuSi 2 S 8 single crystals.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Structure and magnetism of the triangular lattice material YbBO 3

Abstract YbBO 3 is a member of the orthoborate family of materials which contains a triangular arrangement of Yb 3+ ions. Here we study the physical properties of YbBO 3 with neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, specific heat, and ac susceptibility measurements. The neutron diffraction measurements confirm that our samples of YbBO 3 crystallize in the monoclinic space group C 2 / c (#15) which contains two crystallographically distinct Yb 3+ sites decorating a slightly distorted triangular lattice. Heat capacity and ac susceptibility measurements indicate a potential transition to magnetic order at 0.4 K. In agreement with these observations, neutron diffraction measurements at 0.044 K observe magnetic Bragg peaks which can be indexed by a propagation vector of (0 0 1). Although determining a unique spin configuration corresponding to the observed magnetic Bragg peaks is not possible, model refinements indicate that the ordered moments are likely in the range of 0.4–0.9 μ B and, notably, require moments on both Yb sites. In addition to the magnetic Bragg peaks, diffuse scattering at low Q is observed indicating that the transition does not correspond to complete long range magnetic order. The two-site picture for YbBO 3 is further evidenced by the number of crystal field excitations observed by inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Together these results show that YbBO 3 is a two-site triangular lattice material with signatures of long-range order as well as shorter ranged spin correlations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Cross-field electron diffusion due to the coupling of drift-driven microinstabilities

In this paper, the nonlinear interaction between kinetic instabilities driven by multiple ion beams and magnetized electrons is investigated. Electron diffusion across magnetic field lines is enhanced by the coupling of plasma instabilities. Here, a two-dimensional collisionless particle-in-cell simulation is performed accounting for singly and doubly charged ions in a cross-field configuration. Consistent with prior linear kinetic theory analysis and observations from coherent Thomson scattering experiments, the present simulations identify an ion-ion two-stream instability due to multiply charged ions (flowing in the direction parallel to the applied electric field) which coexists with the electron cyclotron drift instability (propagating perpendicular to the applied electric field and parallel to the ExB drift). Small-scale fluctuations due to the coupling of these naturally driven kinetic modes are found to be a mechanism that can enhance cross-field electron transport and contribute to the broadening of the ion velocity distribution functions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Challenges in Pulsed-Field Gradient Nuclear Magnetic Resonance on Magnetically Heterogeneous Interfaces: Sequence and Field-Dependent Apparent Diffusion Coefficients

It is well known that the internal gradient (gi) that exists within pores haunts the diffusion coefficient (D) as measured by the pulsed-field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Several PFG-NMR methods developed to determine an accurate D were not successful. Then, the steady-state diffusion coefficient (Dapp,8) for the cation [C4mim]+ of [C4mim][Tf2N]; [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium][bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imde] ionic liquid confined in ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) were determined by comparing Dapp,8 obtained from 1H PFG-NMR performed with three different stimulated echo sequences: STE, APFG, and MPFG under the two external magnetic field strength, B0 = 9.4 and 14.1 Tesla. The measured Dapp,8 which is an order of magnitude smaller than D of bulk [C4mim][Tf2N], is in good agreement between APFG and MPFG both in B0 = 9.4 and 14.1 Tesla. However, the strong gi artifact, which caused apparent diffusion coefficient (Dapp) depending strongly and weakly on B0 and temperature, respectively, in diffusion-time dependent Dapp, Dapp(?) obtained from a sequence with monopolar gradients (STE) was suppressed by using sequences employing bipolar gradients (APFG and MPFG) in the region of steady-state diffusion. But incompletely suppressed gi artifact resulting in the different behaviors of the early part of Dapp(?) between the sequences leads a ˜ 0.6 and 0.9 in MPFG and APFG, respectively, in the relationship between mean squared displacement and diffusion time: = 2Dta, where a = 0.5 and 1 for 1-dimensional single file diffusion and 3-dimensional bulk diffusion, respectively. The above observations clearly show that the diffusion behavior of ions/molecules within the pores and pore structure, such as the surface-to-volume ratio? (D?_app (?)=D_0 [1-4/(9vp) S/V v(D_0 ?)]) and tortuosity (T = D0/Dapp,8), are possible to be misunderstood, especially in the systems with a non-negligible gi. This work demonstrates that it may be necessary to test several PFG sequences under multiple external magnetic fields for the correct determination of the diffusion behavior of ions/molecules in the pores with a larger internal gradient, gi.

Han, Kee Sung↗

Magnetic-field generation and its effect on ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability in diffusive ablation fronts

The effects of self-generated magnetic fields on the ablative Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) instability are investigated in the linear regime. The main governing parameters are the Froude number (Fr), which stands for the ratio between ablative convection and acceleration of the target, and the Mach number at the ablation front (Ma), assumed to be small (isobaricity). During the development of the RT instability, magnetic fields are generated due to misalignment between pressure and density gradients (Biermann-battery effect). They accumulate at the section of the ablation front where the Nernst and the plasma velocities cancel each other. The magnetic field modifies the dynamics of the instability through the Righi–Leduc term, which acts as a heat source in the energy equation. It is found that the B fields affect perturbations with short wavelengths up to the most unstable wave in the spectrum. Here, the B field plays a destabilizing role for moderate Froude numbers and becomes stabilizing for large Froude numbers. For plastic ablators, the Fr threshold is found to be Fr = 5.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Short-range magnetic correlations in quasicrystalline i -Tb-Cd

Here, we report on elastic and inelastic neutron scattering from single-grain isotopically enriched samples to elucidate the local magnetic correlations between Tb 3+ moments in quasicrystalline i -Tb-Cd. The inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the crystalline electric field excitations demonstrated that the Tb 3+ moments are directed primarily along the local fivefold axes of the Tsai-type cluster as was found for the TbCd 6 approximant phase. Based on the inelastic measurements, we consider a simple Ising-type model for the moment configurations on a single Tb 3+ icosahedron and enumerate the lowest energy moment configurations. We then calculate the diffuse scattering from these configurations and compare with the experimental magnetic diffuse scattering measurements to identify the most likely single cluster moment configurations and find reasonable agreement between the broad features observed in our scattering simulations. We further use a heuristic glass model as well as large-scale Monte-Carlo simulations of a multicluster model to consider the role of higher-order (longer-range) intercluster correlations for magnetic frustration and the magnetic scattering.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Limits on dark matter annihilation from the shape of radio emission in M31

Well-motivated models of dark matter often result in a population of electrons and positrons within galaxies produced through dark matter annihilation — usually in association with gamma rays. As they diffuse through galactic magnetic fields, these e ± produce synchrotron radio emission. The intensity and morphology of this signal depends on the properties of the interstellar medium through which the e ± propagate. Using observations of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) to construct a model of the gas, magnetic fields, and starlight, we set constraints on dark matter annihilation to b$\overline{b}$ using the morphology of 3.6 cm radio emission. As the emission signal at the center of M31 is very sensitive to the diffusion coefficient and dark matter profile, we base our limits on the differential flux in the region between 0.9 – 6.9 kpc from the center. We exclude annihilation cross sections ≳ 3 × 10 −25 cm 3 /s in the mass range 10 – 500 GeV, with a maximum sensitivity of 7 × 10 −26 cm 3 /s at 20 – 40 GeV. Though these limits are weaker than those found in previous studies of M31, they are robust to variations of the diffusion coefficient.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Implications of a two-fluid heat diffusion model for RF condensation effects in magnetic islands

Theoretical calculations have predicted an “RF condensation” effect through which the temperature perturbation and current drive may be nonlinearly enhanced in electron cyclotron (EC) heated magnetic islands. Previously, two-fluid effects had been neglected in the OCCAMI code used to model RF condensation. For realistic experimental conditions, we show that two-fluid effects in an EC heated plasma may have a major impact on RF condensation. Less collisional plasmas, where electron and ion temperatures are decoupled, exhibit an enhanced linear temperature perturbation in the island, and an even stronger nonlinear enhancement of the perturbed temperature. This can occur even when nonlinear effects are small in the single-fluid limit. We also calculate corresponding hysteresis effects. Finally, we demonstrate that other physical effects, including the rotation of the magnetic island and the Gaussian spread of the beam from a gyrotron, can significantly decrease the predicted observable RF condensation effect.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Design of a high energy density experiment to measure the suppression of hydrodynamic instability in an applied magnetic field

A transverse magnetic field can suppress the hydrodynamic instability growth of an unstable plasma interface. This effect, of interest to inertial confinement fusion and astrophysics, has mostly been studied via simulation. Here, we present the design of an experiment at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to demonstrate this effect in a laboratory. Simulations indicate that the timescale for the diffusion of the magnetic field across the mixing region should be at least comparable to the timescale of the instability growth in order to have a measurable suppression effect. This motivates the use of lower density target materials than usual high energy density (HED) hydrodynamics experiments to permit faster hydrodynamics and higher plasma conductivities (through higher temperature), for a given laser drive and magnetic field. We discuss a target design for creating a Rayleigh–Taylor unstable HED plasma interface that uses 320 mg/cc iodine-doped carbon foam as the heavy material, 20 mg/cc carbon foam as the light material, and a 6 lm amplitude, a 120 lm wavelength ripple machined at the interface, which shows a measurable suppression effect with a nominal NIF drive and a 30 T magnetic field (the present facility limit). Here, models indicate lower density foams that may display even larger suppression effects, as the Hohlraum drive also radiatively preheats the foam to permit even higher temperatures and, hence, higher conductivities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Physical properties of the quasi-two-dimensional square lattice antiferromagnet Ba 2 FeSi 2 O 7

In this work, we report magnetization (χ, M ), magnetic specific heat ( C M ), and neutron powder diffraction results on a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) S = 2 square lattice antiferromagnet Ba 2 FeSi 2 O 7 consisting of FeO 4 tetrahedrons with highly compressive tetragonal distortion (27%). Despite of the quasi-2D lattice structure, both χ and C M present three-dimensional magnetic long-range ordering below the Néel temperature T N = 5.2 K . Neutron diffraction data show a collinear Q m = (1,0,1/2) antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure below T N but the ordered moment aligned in the a b plane is suppressed by 26% from the ionic spin S = 2 value ( 4 μ B ). Both the AFM structure and the suppressed moments are well explained by using Monte Carlo simulations with a large single-ion in-plane anisotropy D = 1 .4 meV and a rather small Heisenberg exchange J intra = 0 .15 meV in the plane. The characteristic 2D spin fluctuations are recognized in the magnetic entropy release and diffuse scattering above T N . This new quasi-2D magnetic system also displays unusual nonmonotonic dependence of T N as a function of magnetic field H .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low-Field Regime of Magnon Transport in PLD-Grown YIG Films

The diffusive propagation of magnons in the archetypal magnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is being actively explored for low-power and low-loss data communication. However, operation under external magnetic fields reduces the magnon diffusion length and attenuates the voltage amplitude at measurement terminals of magnonic devices. Here, we explore the low-field and field-free regime of diffusive magnon transport in YIG films, demonstrating that the field-induced suppression of magnon diffusion length can be fully inhibited only at the zero-field limit. Even a modest field of 10 mT attenuates the nonlocal spin voltage by ~20% in an ~1 μm long transport channel. We further identify the often overlooked in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy as the dominant factor governing magnon transport in the low-field regime. Using Stoner-Wohlfarth macrospin simulations, we quantify the anisotropy parameters and reveal a 10-fold enhancement at low temperatures, a key finding for field-free operation of magnonic devices under cryogenic conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Chain extension epoxide polymerization to well‐defined block polymers using a N‐Al Lewis pair catalyst

Block polyethers comprised of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEG or PEO) segments form the basis of ABA-type PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO poloxamer materials. The inverse architecture with an internal hydrophilic PEO segment flanked by hydrophobic blocks can be difficult to prepare with control of architecture by use of traditional anionic polymerization. These oxyanionic polymerizations are plagued by chain-transfer-to-monomer side reactions that occur with substituted epoxides such as propylene oxide (PO). Herein, we report a new method for the preparation of block polymers through a controlled polymerization involving a N-Al Lewis adduct catalyst and an aluminum alkoxide macroinitiator. The Lewis pair catalyst was able to chain-extend commercial PEO macroinitiators to prepare di-, tri-, and pentablock polyethers with low dispersity and reasonable monomer tolerance. Chain extension was confirmed using size exclusion chromatography and diffusion ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In conclusion, the resulting block polymers were additionally analyzed with small-angle X-ray scattering to correlate the morphology to molecular architecture.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗