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At least 937 records · Page 52

Electro-optic sampling beam position monitor for relativistic electron beams

Here, an electro-optic sampling beam position monitor for installation at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory FACET-II facility is described. Simulations of the detector signal were performed using realistic electron beam current profiles, demonstrating that this single-shot, non-destructive, compact detector is capable of resolving the relative transverse offset and longitudinal separation of an ultra-relativistic, two-bunch electron beam to order 1 μm and 10 fs, respectively. A design study was performed to optimize the detector’s response to the ultra-relativistic two-bunch electron beam utilized in plasma wakefield accelerator experiments. In addition, the expected sensitivity to beam tilt is studied for typical electron beams used in free electron lasers.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Geant4 simulations of sampling and homogeneous hadronic calorimeters with dual readout for future colliders

Calorimeters with dual readout measure both scintillation and Cherenkov light produced in their active media. They offer improvements in energy resolution and, therefore, have become increasingly interesting due to the need for precision jet measurements at Higgs factories. Furthermore, this paper presents GEANT4 simulations of single-particle responses in sampling and homogeneous calorimeters, and demonstrates the effect of inclusion of Cherenkov light in the reconstruction of energies.

Detector modeling and simulations↗

The impact of sampling scale: A comparison of methods for estimating external contaminant exposure in free-ranging wildlife

The impacts of contaminants on wildlife are dose dependent, and thus being able to track or predict exposure following contamination events is important for monitoring ecosystem health. However, the ability to track exposure in free-ranging wildlife is often severely limited. Consequently, researchers have predominantly relied on simple methods for estimating contaminant exposures in wildlife with little regard for spatial contaminant heterogeneity or an animal’s use of diverse habitats. We evaluated the influence sampling scale (i.e., how finely contaminant distribution and organism’s spatial use of the landscape is mapped) has on (1) realism and (2) conservativeness of exposure estimates. To do this, we monitored the actual exposure of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Fukushima, Japan to radioactive contamination using GPS27 coupled contaminant monitors placed on individual animals. We compared empirical exposures to estimates generated by combining varying amounts of information about an individual boar’s location and/or movement, with the distribution of contamination on the landscape. Here we found that the most realistic exposure estimates were produced when finer-scale contaminant distribution surveys (e.g., airborne surveys) were combined with more accurate estimates of an individual’s space use (e.g., home ranges or core areas). Importantly, estimates of exposure based on single point surveys at a trap site (a simple method commonly used in the literature), did not correlate with actual exposure rates, suggesting dose-effects studies using this method may result in spurious conclusions. These results suggest that researchers seeking realistic estimates of exposure, such as in dose-effect studies, should ensure they have adequately accounted for fine-scale contaminant distribution patterns and areas of higher use by study organisms. However, conservative estimates of exposure i.e., intentionally over-predicting exposure as is done in initial tiers of ecological risk analyses) were not as scale sensitive and could be achieved with a single known location and coarse contaminant distribution maps.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗

Accelerating the discovery of low-energy structure configurations: A computational approach that integrates first-principles calculations, Monte Carlo sampling, and Machine Learning

Finding Minimum Energy Configurations (MECs) is essential in fields such as physics, chemistry, and materials science, as they represent the most stable states of the systems. In particular, identifying such MECs in multi-component alloys considered candidate PFMs is key because it determines the most stable arrangement of atoms within the alloy, directly influencing its phase stability, structural integrity, and thermo-mechanical properties. However, since the search space grows exponentially with the number of atoms considered, obtaining such MECs using computationally expensive first-principles DFT calculations often results in a cumbersome task. To escape the above compromise between physical fidelity and computational efficiency, we have developed a novel physics-based data-driven approach that combines Monte Carlo sampling, first-principles DFT calculations, and Machine Learning to accelerate the discovery of MECs in multi-component alloys. More specifically, we have leveraged well-established Cluster Expansion (CE) techniques with Local Outlier Factor models to establish strategies that enhance the reliability of the CE method. In this work, we demonstrated the capabilities of the proposed approach for the particular case of a tungsten-based quaternary high-entropy alloy. However, the method is applicable to other types of alloys and enables a wide range of applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Rapid analysis of 237 Np and Pu isotopes in unseparated sample matrices using ICP-MS/MS

Inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) is an emerging technique for measuring actinide isotopes when assessing pre- and post- detonation nuclear material. In this study, ICP-MS/MS was investigated for direct Np and Pu quantitation in unseparated, dissolved bulk soil matrices. To achieve this, purified nitric oxide (NO) was investigated for the reactivity of Th, Np, U, Pu, Am, and Cm. Purifying NO prior to the collision reaction cell (CRC) results in increased sensitivity and allows for higher gas flows to be utilized for the removal of interferences. Here, the interference from uranium hydrides was mitigated to less than 3.85 x 10 -11 . This method was demonstrated on standard reference materials which were measured for 237 Np and 238,239,240 Pu in dilute sample digestions. The 238 Pu measurement was validated by spiking into a standard reference material and was accurately measured with an excess of 85000 of 238 U.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Combining Mass Spectrometry of Picoliter Samples with a Multicompartment Electrodynamic Trap for Probing the Chemistry of Droplet Arrays

Single droplet levitation provides contactless access to the microphysical and chemical properties of micrometer-sized samples. Most applications of droplet levitation to chemical and biological systems use nondestructive optical techniques to probe droplet properties. To provide improved chemical specificity, we coupled a multicompartment quadrupole electrodynamic trap (QET) with single droplet mass spectrometry. Our QET continuously traps a monodisperse droplet population (tens to hundreds of droplets) and allows for the simultaneous sizing of a single droplet using its Mie scattering pattern. Single droplets are subsequently ejected into the ionization region of an ambient pressure inlet mass spectrometer. We optimized two complementary soft ionization techniques for picoliter aqueous droplets: (1) paper spray (PS) ionization and (2) thermal desorption glow discharge (TDGD) ionization. Both techniques detect oxygenated organic acids in single droplets, with signal-to-noise ratios >100 and detection limits on the order of 10 pg. Sensitivity and reproducibility across single droplets are driven by the droplet deposition location and spray stability in PS-MS and the ionization region humidity and analyte evaporation rate in TDGD-MS. Importantly, the analyte evaporation rate can control the TDGD-MS quantitative capability because high evaporation rates result in significant ion suppression. Additionally, this effect is mitigated by optimizing the vaporization temperature, droplet size range, and analyte volatility. We demonstrate quantitative and reproducible measurements with a droplet internal standard (<10% RSD) and compare the sensitivity of PS-MS and TDGD-MS. Finally, we demonstrate the application of QET-MS to the study of heterogeneous chemical kinetics with the reaction of gas phase O 3 and aqueous maleic acid droplets.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Deep learning to generate in silico chemical property libraries and candidate molecules for small molecule identification in complex samples

Comprehensive and unambiguous identification of small molecules in complex samples will revolutionize our understanding of the role of metabolites in biological systems. Existing and emerging technologies have enabled measurement of chemical properties of molecules in complex mixtures and, in concert, are sensitive enough to resolve even stereoisomers. Despite these experimental advances, small molecule identification is inhibited by (i) chemical reference libraries (e.g. mass spectra, collision cross section, and other measurable property libraries) representing <1% of known molecules, limiting the number of possible identifications, and (ii) the lack of a method to generate candidate matches directly from experimental features (i.e. without a library). To this end, we developed a variational autoencoder (VAE) to learn a continuous numerical, or latent, representation of molecular structure to expand reference libraries for small molecule identification. We extended the VAE to include a chemical property decoder, trained as a multitask network, in order to shape the latent representation such that it assembles according to desired chemical properties. The approach is unique in its application to metabolomics and small molecule identification, with its focus on properties that can be obtained from experimental measurements (m/z, CCS) paired with its training paradigm, which involved a cascade of transfer learning iterations. First, molecular representation is learned from a large dataset of structures with m/z labels. Next, in silico property values are used to continue training, as experimental property data is limited. Finally, the network is further refined by being trained with the experimental data. This allows the network to learn as much as possible at each stage, enabling success with progressively smaller datasets without overfitting. Once trained, the network can be used to predict chemical properties directly from structure, as well as generate candidate structures with desired chemical properties. Our approach is orders of magnitude faster than first-principles simulation for CCS property prediction. Additionally, the ability to generate novel molecules along manifolds, defined by chemical property analogues, positions DarkChem as highly useful in a number of application areas, including metabolomics and small molecule identification, drug discovery and design, chemical forensics, and beyond.

Colby, Sean M.↗

A Case Study in Assessing a Potential Severity Framework for Incidents from a Decadal Sample

In this study, the primary objective of this case study is to determine the applicability and feasibility of a framework that leverages occupational incident details to prospectively identify “potential Serious Injury or Fatality” (pSIF) cases. This study comprehensively reviewed a random sample of 1,081 injury and illness cases across 21 generalized incident types spanning over a decade at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a U.S. Department of Energy research and development facility with more than 9,000 employees. The review applied a general framework that classified each case on information suitability, potential severity, and future incident mitigation. The findings from the study indicate that 86.6% of the cases had sufficient information to make a high-confidence determination on potential severity, underscoring the feasibility of applying this general framework. Additionally, cases with a higher pSIF score had, on average, a higher level of institutional response. Implementing a simplified methodology for incident classification that emphasizes incidents that pose high potential severity, regardless of incident type, can help LLNL prioritize resources and tailor responses to such incidents using a graded approach. LLNL has recognized the value of this capability and is integrating the framework into their injury and illness process in the 2024 calendar year.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

Molecular Imaging Reveals Two Distinct Mixing States of PM 2.5 Particles Sampled in a Typical Beijing Winter Pollution Case

Mixing states of aerosol particles are crucial for understanding the role of aerosols in influencing air quality and climate. However, a fundamental understanding of the complex mixing states is still lacking because most traditional analysis techniques only reveal bulk chemical and physical properties with limited surface and 3-D information. In this research, 3-D molecular imaging enabled by ToF-SIMS was used to elucidate the mixing states of PM 2.5 samples obtained from a typical Beijing winter haze event. In light pollution cases, a thin organic layer covers separated inorganic particles, while in serious pollution cases, ion exchange and an organic-inorganic mixing surface on large-area particles were observed. Finally, the new results provide key 3-D molecular information of mixing states, which is highly desirable for reducing uncertainty and bias in representing aerosol-cloud interactions in current Earth System Models, and improving the understanding of aerosols on air quality and human health.

3-D molecular imaging↗

Benchmarking an Embedded Adaptive Sampling Configuration Interaction Method for Surface Reactions: H 2 Desorption from and CH 4 Dissociation on Cu(111)

Embedded (emb-) correlated wavefunction (CW) theory enables accurate assessments of both ground- and excited-state reaction mechanisms involved in heterogeneous catalysis. Embedded multireference second-order perturbation theory (emb-MRPT2) based on reference wavefunctions generated via embedded complete active space self-consistent field (emb-CASSCF) theory is currently state-of-the-art. However, the factorial scaling of CASSCF limits the size of active space and the complexity of systems that can be studied. In this work, we assess the efficacy of an alternative CW method, adaptive sampling configuration interaction (ASCI)–which enables large active spaces to be used–for studying surface reactions. We couple ASCI with density functional embedding theory (DFET) and benchmark its performance for two reactions: H 2 desorption from and CH 4 dissociation on the Cu(111) surface. Unlike embedded complete active space second-order perturbation theory (emb-CASPT2) that accurately reproduces a measured H 2 desorption barrier, embedded ASCI, using a very large active space (though one that still comprises a small portion of the full set of orbitals) fails to do so. Adding an extra correlation term from embedded Møller–Plesset second-order perturbation theory (emb-MP2) improves the desorption barrier and endothermicity predictions. Thus, the inaccuracy of embedded ASCI comes from the missing dynamic correlation from the many other electrons and orbitals not included in the active space. For CH 4 dissociation, again embedded ASCI overestimates the dissociation barrier compared to emb-CASPT2 predictions. Adding dynamic correlation from emb-MP2 helps correct the barrier. However, this composite approach suffers from double counting of correlation within embedded ASCI followed by emb-MP2 calculations. We therefore conclude that the state-of-the-art emb-MRPT2 based on reference wavefunctions generated via emb-CASSCF remains the method of choice for studying surface reactions. emb-ASCI is useful when large active spaces beyond the limit of emb-CASSCF are essential, such as to study complex surface reactions with significant multiconfigurational character (static correlation) but weak dynamic correlation.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Multitask Machine Learning of Collective Variables for Enhanced Sampling of Rare Events

Computing accurate reaction rates is a central challenge in computational chemistry and biology because of the high cost of free energy estimation with unbiased molecular dynamics. In this work, a data-driven machine learning algorithm is devised to learn collective variables with a multitask neural network, where a common upstream part reduces the high dimensionality of atomic configurations to a low dimensional latent space and separate downstream parts map the latent space to predictions of basin class labels and potential energies. Here, the resulting latent space is shown to be an effective low-dimensional representation, capturing the reaction progress and guiding effective umbrella sampling to obtain accurate free energy landscapes. This approach is successfully applied to model systems including a 5D Müller Brown model, a 5D three-well model, the alanine dipeptide in vacuum, and an Au(110) surface reconstruction unit reaction. It enables automated dimensionality reduction for energy controlled reactions in complex systems, offers a unified and data-efficient framework that can be trained with limited data, and outperforms single-task learning approaches, including autoencoders.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

FLAMES─Fast, Low-Storage, Accurate, and Memory-Efficient Adaptive Sampling─Approach to Resolve Spatially Dependent Dynamics of Molecular Liquids

Many critical phenomena in soft matter occur at large length scales, necessitating the resolution of their structure and dynamics at low wavenumbers. However, resolving wavenumber-dependent dynamics computationally via molecular dynamics simulations presents significant challenges, as these phenomena span several orders of magnitude in both time and length scales, resulting in high computational costs and memory demands. Here, this work highlights the computational and memory challenges associated with analyzing molecular trajectories in reciprocal space and demonstrates a method to address them. We introduce FLAMESFast, Low-storage, Accurate, and Memory-Efficient adaptive Sampling, which is a direct method for calculation of structure factors, allowing us to select only the required number of wavevectors for binning. We also use wavenumber-dependent time steps to extract dynamics. Our FLAMES approach effectively mitigates computational and memory/storage bottlenecks. We demonstrate the method using simulations of a model system, liquid octane, at various temperatures. Comparisons with experimental data and real space computation show that the FLAMES technique achieves high accuracy in resolving temperature- and spatially dependent dynamics while being significantly more computationally efficient and requiring less memory and storage than methods based on a uniform wavevector grid and fixed temporal spacing.

Chen, Guang [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Ar↗

Modern Approaches to Exact Diagonalization and Selected Configuration Interaction with the Adaptive Sampling CI Method

Recent advances in selected configuration interaction methods have made them competitive with the most accurate techniques available and, hence, creating an increasingly powerful tool for solving quantum Hamiltonians. In this work, we build on recent advances from the adaptive sampling configuration interaction (ASCI) algorithm. We show that a useful paradigm for generating efficient selected CI/exact diagonalization algorithms is driven by fast sorting algorithms, much in the same way iterative diagonalization is based on the paradigm of matrix vector multiplication. We present several new algorithms for all parts of performing a selected CI, which includes new ASCI search, dynamic bit masking, fast orbital rotations, fast diagonal matrix elements, and residue arrays. The ASCI search algorithm can be used in several different modes, which includes an integral driven search and a coefficient driven search. The algorithms presented here are fast and scalable, and we find that because they are built on fast sorting algorithms they are more efficient than all other approaches we considered. After introducing these techniques, we present ASCI results applied to a large range of systems and basis sets to demonstrate the types of simulations that can be practically treated at the full-CI level with modern methods and hardware, presenting double- and triple-ζ benchmark data for the G1 data set. The largest of these calculations is Si$_2$H$_6$ which is a simulation of 34 electrons in 152 orbitals. We also present some preliminary results for fast deterministic perturbation theory simulations that use hash functions to maintain high efficiency for treating large basis sets.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

CASSCF with Extremely Large Active Spaces Using the Adaptive Sampling Configuration Interaction Method

The complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method is the principal approach employed for studying strongly correlated systems. However, exact CASSCF can only be performed on small active spaces of ~20 electrons in ~20 orbitals due to exponential growth in the computational cost. Here, we show that employing the Adaptive Sampling Configuration Interaction (ASCI) method as an approximate Full CI solver in the active space allows CASSCF-like calculations within chemical accuracy (<1 kcal/mol for relative energies) in active spaces with more than ~50 active electrons in ~50 active orbitals, significantly increasing the sizes of systems amenable to accurate multiconfigurational treatment. The main challenge with using any selected CI-based approximate CASSCF is the orbital optimization problem; they tend to exhibit large numbers of local minima in orbital space due to their lack of invariance to active–active rotations (in addition to the local minima that exist in exact CASSCF). We highlight methods that can avoid spurious local extrema as a practical solution to the orbital optimization problem. We employ ASCI-SCF to demonstrate a lack of polyradical character in moderately sized periacenes with up to 52 correlated electrons and compare against heat-bath CI on an iron porphyrin system with more than 40 correlated electrons.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Transition Path Sampling Study of the Feruloyl Esterase Mechanism

Serine hydrolases cleave peptide and ester bonds and are ubiquitous in nature, with applications in biotechnology, in materials, and as drug targets. The serine hydrolase two-step mechanism employs a serine–histidine–aspartate/glutamate catalytic triad, where the histidine residue acts as a base to activate poor nucleophiles (a serine residue or a water molecule) and as an acid to allow the dissociation of poor leaving groups. This mechanism has been the subject of debate regarding how histidine shuttles the proton from the nucleophile to the leaving group. To elucidate the reaction mechanism of serine hydrolases, we employ quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics-based transition path sampling to obtain the reaction coordinate using the Aspergillus niger feruloyl esterase A (AnFaeA) as a model enzyme. The optimal reaction coordinates include terms involving nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl carbon and proton transfer to, and dissociation of, the leaving group. During the reaction, the histidine residue undergoes a reorientation on the time scale of hundreds of femtoseconds that supports the “moving histidine” mechanism, thus calling into question the “ring flip” mechanism. We find a concerted mechanism, where the transition state coincides with the tetrahedral intermediate with the histidine residue pointed between the nucleophile and the leaving group. Moreover, motions of the catalytic aspartate toward the histidine occur concertedly with proton abstraction by the catalytic histidine and help stabilize the transition state, thus partially explaining how serine hydrolases enable poor nucleophiles to attack the substrate carbonyl carbon. Rate calculations indicate that the second step (deacylation) is rate-determining, with a calculated rate constant of 66 s –1 . Altogether, these results reveal the pivotal role of active-site dynamics in the catalytic mechanism of AnFaeA, which is likely similar in other serine hydrolases.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Neural Network Sampling of the Free Energy Landscape for Nitrogen Dissociation on Ruthenium

In heterogeneous catalysis, free energy profiles of reactions govern the mechanisms, rates, and equilibria. Energetics are conventionally computed using the harmonic approximation (HA), which requires determination of critical states a priori. Here, we use neural networks to efficiently sample and directly calculate the free energy surface (FES) of a prototypical heterogeneous catalysis reaction—the dissociation of molecular nitrogen on ruthenium—at density-functional-theory-level accuracy. We find that the vibrational entropy of surface atoms, often neglected in HA for transition metal catalysts, contributes significantly to the reaction barrier. The minimum free energy path for dissociation reveals an “on-top” adsorbed molecular state prior to the transition state. While a previously reported flat-lying molecular metastable state can be identified in the potential energy surface, it is absent in the FES at relevant reaction temperatures. Finally, these findings demonstrate the importance of identifying critical points self-consistently on the FES for reactions that involve considerable entropic effects.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Exploring the Ion Solvation Environments in Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes through Free-Energy Sampling

The success of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in solid-state polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries is well established. Recently, in order to understand this success and to explore possible alternatives, we studied polyacetal electrolytes to deepen the understanding of the effect of the local chemical structure on ion transport. Advanced molecular dynamics techniques using newly developed, tailored interaction potentials have helped elucidate the various coordination environments of ions in these systems. In particular, the competition between cation-Anion pairing and coordination by the polymer has been explored using free-energy sampling (metadynamics). At equivalent reduced temperatures, with respect to the polymer-specific glass-Transition temperature, two-dimensional free-energy plots reveal the existence of multiple coordination environments for the lithium (Li) ions in these systems and their relative stabilities. Furthermore, we observe that the Li-ion movement in PEO follows a serial, stepwise pathway when moving from one coordination state to another, whereas this happens in a more continuous and concerted fashion in a polyacetal such as poly(1,3-dioxalane) [P(EO-MO)]. The implication is that interconversion between coordination states of the Li ions may be easier in P(EO-MO). However, the overarching observation from our free-energy analysis is that Li-ion coordination is dominated by the polymer (in either case) and contact-ion pairs are rare. We rationalize the observed higher increase in glass-Transition temperature (Tg) with salt loading in polyacetals as due to intermolecular Li-ion coordination involving multiple polymer chains, rather than just one chain for PEO-based electrolytes. This interchain coupling in the polyacetals, resulting in the higher Tg, works against any gains due to variations in Li-ion coordination that might enhance transport processes over PEO. Further research is required to overcome the interdependence between local coordination and macroscopic properties to compete with PEO electrolytes at the same absolute working temperature.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electrochemical Nutrient Recovery for the Food–Energy–Water Nexus at Municipal Wastewater Facilities: Multivariate Analyses of Seasonal Sampling and Reactor Performance

Digester-equipped municipal wastewater facilities generate recycle streams with high nutrient loads that increase energy consumption and can cause environmental pollution. The reduction of these loads through electrochemical nutrient recovery (ENR) could enhance the food–energy–water nexus by producing fertilizer (struvite). This study investigated the recovery process through a 1 year sampling of recycle streams and the implementation of nutrient recovery. Time series analyses showed that P (as orthophosphate) concentration was time-variant in digester effluent streams, while N (as ammonia) concentration was time-variant in only the aerobic system. Furthermore, these two nutrient concentrations did not correlate in any of the recycle streams. Subsequent multivariate screening analyses identified anode type, NH 4 + concentration, cathodic potential, P concentration, and temperature as most significant for ENR. Finally, the optimum conditions of cathodic potential, anode area-to-volume ratio, and temperature applied to a real recycle stream resulted in 95% P recovery with 0.03 kWh/kg P. This energy consumption is significantly lower than process energy for conventional P fertilizers (1.1 kWh/kg P) and chemical recovery processes at scale (1.7–12.9 kWh/kg P). Overall, this study recommended specific process controls for nutrient recovery, expanded the variables evaluated for ENR, and demonstrated the ability to significantly impact energy demand associated with P-based fertilizers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗