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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

Two distinctive regimes in the charge transport of a magnetic topological ultra thin film

Abstract The effect of the magnetic impurities on the charge transport in a magnetic topological ultra-thin film (MTF) is analytically investigated by applying the semi-classical Boltzmann framework through a modified relaxation-time approximation. Our results for the relaxation time of electrons as well as the charge conductivity of the system exhibit two distinct regimes of transport. We show that the generated charge current in a MTF is always dissipative and anisotropic when both conduction bands are involved in the charge transport. The magnetic impurities induce a chirality selection rule for the transitions of electrons which can be altered by changing the orientation of the magnetic impurities. On the other hand, when a single conduction band participates in the charge transport, the resistivity is isotropic and can be entirely suppressed due to the corresponding chirality selection rule. Our findings propose a method to determine an onset thickness at which a crossover from a three-dimensional magnetic topological insulator to a (two-dimensional) MTF occurs.

Sabzalipour, Amir (ORCID:0000000195830880)↗

Device, system, and method for measuring internal impedance of a test battery using frequency response

Battery impedance testing devices, circuits, systems, and related methods are disclosed. An impedance measurement device includes a current driver configured to generate an excitation current signal to be applied to a test battery responsive to a control signal, and a processor operably coupled with the current driver. The processor is configured to generate the control signal during an auto-ranging mode and a measuring mode. The auto-ranging mode applies the excitation current signal to the test battery over a plurality of different amplitudes to measure a response to the excitation current signal at each amplitude. The measuring mode applies the excitation current signal to the test battery for an amplitude responsive to the results of the auto-ranging mode. Improved sensitivity and resolution may be achieved for low impedance batteries with a rapid measurement time.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Macroscopic kinematics of the Hall electric field under influence of carrier magnetic moments

The relativistic effect on electromagnetic forces yields two types of forces which depend on the velocity of the relevant particles: (i) the usual Lorentz force exerted on a moving charged particle and (ii) the apparent Lorentz force exerted on a moving magnetic moment. In sharp contrast with type (i), the type (ii) force originates due to the transverse field induced by the Hall effect (HE). This study incorporates both forces into a Drude-type equation with a fully spin-polarized condition to investigate the effects of self-consistency of the source and the resultant fields on the HE. We also examine the self-consistency of the carrier kinematics and electromagnetic dynamics by simultaneously considering the Drude type equation and Maxwell equations at low frequencies. Thus, our approach can predict both the dc and ac characteristics of the HE, demonstrating that the dc current condition solely yields the ordinary HE, while the ac current condition yields generation of both fundamental and second harmonic modes of the HE field. When the magnetostatic field is absent, the simultaneous presence of dc and ac longitudinal currents generates the ac HE that has both fundamental frequency and second harmonic.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Λ and Λ ¯ spin interaction with meson fields generated by the baryon current in high energy nuclear collisions

We propose a dynamical mechanism which provides an interaction between the spins of hyperons and antihyperons and the vorticity of the baryon current in noncentral high energy nuclear collisions. The interaction is mediated by massive vector and scalar bosons, which is well known to describe the nuclear spin-orbit force. It follows from the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation and leads to a strong-interaction Zeeman effect. The interaction may explain the difference in polarizations of Λ and Λ¯ hyperons as measured by the STAR Collaboration at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Here, the signs and magnitudes of the meson-baryon couplings are closely connected to the binding energies of hypernuclei and to the abundance of hyperons in neutron stars.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Observing Exoplanets with High Dispersion Coronagraphy. I. The Scientific Potential of Current and Next-generation Large Ground and Space Telescopes

Direct imaging of exoplanets presents a formidable technical challenge owing to the small angular separation and high contrast between exoplanets and their host stars. High Dispersion Coronagraphy (HDC) is a pathway to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to Earth-like planets in the habitable zone. Here, we present a framework to simulate HDC observations and data analyses. The goal of these simulations is to perform a detailed analysis of the trade-off between raw star light suppression and spectral resolution for various instrument configurations, target types, and science cases. We predict the performance of an HDC instrument at Keck observatory for characterizing directly imaged gas-giant planets in near-infrared bands. We also simulate HDC observations of an Earth-like planet using next-generation ground-based (TMT) and spaced-base telescopes (HabEx and LUVOIR). We conclude that ground-based ELTs are more suitable for HDC observations of an Earth-like planet than future space-based missions owing to the considerable difference in collecting area. For ground-based telescopes, HDC observations can detect an Earth-like planet in the habitable zone around an M-dwarf star at 10{sup −4} star light suppression level. Compared to the 10{sup −7} planet/star contrast, HDC relaxes the star light suppression requirement by a factor of 10{sup 3}. For space-based telescopes, detector noise will be a major limitation at spectral resolutions higher than 10{sup 4}. Considering detector noise and speckle chromatic noise, R = 400 (1600) is the optimal spectral resolutions for HabEx (LUVOIR). The corresponding star light suppression requirement to detect a planet with planet/star contrast = 6.1×10{sup −11} is relaxed by a factor of 10 (100) for HabEx (LUVOIR).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Test results of modified electrical charged particle generator for application to fog dispersal

Modifications to a charged particle generator for use in fog dispersal applications were made and additional testing carried out. The modified nozzle, however, did not work as planned, and reported results are the unmodified nozzle. The addition of a positive displacement pump to supply the liquid water was highly successful. Measurements of the generator output current were made with a cylindrical collector system as well as with the needle probe used in previous studies. Measurements with the cylindrical collector and the needle probe showed identical agreement within the variability of the experiment. A high-voltage prove was purchased, and measurements of the corona voltage as well as the voltage variation in the charged particle jet were made. Electric fields in the vertical direction on the order of 1,000,000 v/m were measured. The voltage distribution along the centerline of the jet was compared with the numerical solutions of the Poisson equation and showed very good agreement. Velocity measurements using a pitot tube were made. The resulting measurements were compared with theoretical and other reported experimental results. The measured data showed the appropriate trends and agreed well with reported results. Based on the measured current-to-mass ratio from the charged particle generator, a calculation of the average droplet size was made. Droplet sizes were estimated to range between 0.8 and 0.4 microns. Using measured data, an analysis of the height to which the droplet can be dispersed by the charged particle generator was made. Although the mathematical model is highly simplified, the results indicated that particles would achieve heights on the order of 80 m.

Frost, W.↗

Low cost paths to binary optics

Application of binary optics has been limited to a few major laboratories because of the limited availability of fabrication facilities such as e-beam machines and the lack of standardized design software. Foster-Miller has attempted to identify low cost approaches to medium-resolution binary optics using readily available computer and fabrication tools, primarily for the use of students and experimenters in optical computing. An early version of our system, MacBEEP, made use of an optimized laser film recorder from the commercial typesetting industry with 10 micron resolution. This report is an update on our current efforts to design and build a second generation MacBEEP, which aims at 1 micron resolution and multiple phase levels. Trails included a low cost scanning electron microscope in microlithography mode, and alternative laser inscribers or photomask generators. Our current software approach is based on Mathematica and PostScript compatibility.

Nelson, Arthur↗

Optical Sensors for Planetary Radiant Energy (OSPREy): Calibration and Validation of Current and Next-Generation NASA Missions

A principal objective of the Optical Sensors for Planetary Radiance Energy (OSPREy) activity is to establish an above-water radiometer system as a lower-cost alternative to existing in-water systems for the collection of ground-truth observations. The goal is to be able to make high-quality measurements satisfying the accuracy requirements for the vicarious calibration and algorithm validation of next-generation satellites that make ocean color and atmospheric measurements. This means the measurements will have a documented uncertainty satisfying the established performance metrics for producing climate-quality data records. The OSPREy approach is based on enhancing commercial-off-the-shelf fixed-wavelength and hyperspectral sensors to create hybridspectral instruments with an improved accuracy and spectral resolution, as well as a dynamic range permitting sea, Sun, sky, and Moon observations. Greater spectral diversity in the ultraviolet (UV) will be exploited to separate the living and nonliving components of marine ecosystems; UV bands will also be used to flag and improve atmospheric correction algorithms in the presence of absorbing aerosols. The short-wave infrared (SWIR) is expected to improve atmospheric correction, because the ocean is radiometrically blacker at these wavelengths. This report describes the development of the sensors, including unique capabilities like three-axis polarimetry; the documented uncertainty will be presented in a subsequent report.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗

System and method of detecting cavitation in pumps

A system and method for detecting cavitation in pumps for fixed and variable supply frequency applications is disclosed. The system includes a controller having a processor programmed to repeatedly receive real-time operating current data from a motor driving a pump, generate a current frequency spectrum from the current data, and analyze current data within a pair of signature frequency bands of the current frequency spectrum. The processor is further programmed to repeatedly determine fault signatures as a function of the current data within the pair of signature frequency bands, repeatedly determine fault indices based on the fault signatures and a dynamic reference signature, compare the fault indices to a reference index, and identify a cavitation condition in a pump based on a comparison between the reference index and a current fault index.

42 ENGINEERING↗

On the reversibility of the Meissner effect and the angular momentum puzzle

It is generally believed that the laws of thermodynamics govern superconductivity as an equilibrium state of matter, and hence that the normal-superconductor transition in a magnetic field is reversible under ideal conditions. Because eddy currents are generated during the transition as the magnetic flux changes, the transition has to proceed infinitely slowly to generate no entropy. Experiments showed that to a high degree of accuracy no entropy was generated in these transitions. However, in this paper we point out that for the length of times over which these experiments extended, a much higher degree of irreversibility due to decay of eddy currents should have been detected than was actually observed. We also point out that within the conventional theory of superconductivity no explanation exists for why no Joule heat is generated in the superconductor to normal transition when the supercurrent stops. In addition we point out that within the conventional theory of superconductivity no mechanism exists for the transfer of momentum between the supercurrent and the body as a whole, which is necessary to ensure that the transition in the presence of a magnetic field respects momentum conservation. We propose a solution to all these questions based on the alternative theory of hole superconductivity. The theory proposes that in the normal-superconductor transition there is a flow and backflow of charge in direction perpendicular to the phase boundary when the phase boundary moves. We show that this flow and backflow explains the absence of Joule heat generated by Faraday eddy currents, the absence of Joule heat generated in the process of the supercurrent stopping, and the reversible transfer of momentum between the supercurrent and the body, provided the current carriers in the normal state are holes. - Highlights: • The normal-superconductor phase transition is reversible. • Within the conventional theory, Foucault currents give rise to irreversibility. • To suppress Foucault currents, charge has to flow in direction perpendicular to the phase boundary. • The charge carriers have to be holes. • This solves also the angular momentum puzzle associated with the Meissner effect.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Evaluating and Explaining Natural Language Generation with GenX

Current methods for evaluation of natural language generation models focus on measuring text quality but fail to probe the model creativity, i.e., its ability to generate novel but coherent text sequences not seen in the training corpus. We present the GenX tool which is designed to enable interactive exploration and explanation of natural language generation outputs with a focus on the detection of memorization. We demonstrate the utility of the tool on two domain-conditioned generation use cases - phishing emails and ACL abstracts.

Duskin, Kayla R.↗

Spin transport modified by magnetic order

Spintronics has developed over the years from initially generating spin-polarized charge currents from exchange interaction in ferromagnets, into a more general concept, where electronic spin current can be generated and manipulated by spin–orbit interactions and in addition magnonic spin currents can occur in magnetically ordered materials even if they are insulating. Thus the interplay between spin transport and magnetic order has been a very active research field, which has developed many new ideas, such as thermal spin transport and electronic spin currents with unusual symmetries generated by magnetically ordered materials. This article discusses a few selected examples in order to illustrate some of the complexities that can be encountered in these systems. A particular focus is on the contributions from Chia-Ling Chien and his research group, who often explored many of the topics at the forefront of spintronics research, while critically examining unproven assumptions made by other researchers in the field.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetoelectronic phenomena due to quantum magnetization fluctuations

The goal of the project was to identify techniques to study magnetoelectronic phenomena such as spin transfer (ST) that stem from the quantum-mechanical nature of magnetization, and utilize them to characterize these quantum phenomena. The first such technique, electronic measurements based on the dependence of resistance on the population of spin-wave quanta (magnons) in a magnetic nanostructure, was shown by detailed measurements to be significantly influenced by the current-driven generation of a highly nonequilibrium phonon distribution by electrical current. This previously unrecognized phenomenon adds to the understanding of current-induced heating phenomena, qualitatively changes the methodology of analysis of current-induced heating common in scientific studies and engineering of current-carrying nanostructures. It benefits the public by providing a new direction for mitigation of Joule heating effects in electronic devices. The project also included quantum simulations of current-induced effects in magnetic nanostructures, which revealed that linear momentum and energy conservation are important for ST. Only angular momentum conservation was previously believed to be important. This finding is important for the fundamental understanding of ST, and for the design of efficient magnetoelectronic devices taking advantage of these conservation laws. Simulations also showed that non-classical ST is dominant in antiferromagnets, which will transform the understanding of ST in these systems. Finally, experimental studies of spin-transfer in ultrathin transition metal films revealed very large non-classical effects which were traced to the quantum origins of magnetism associated in the studied systems with the formation of an orbital liquid state. These findings i) transform the understanding of "conventional" transition-metal magnetism, ii) open a new field of studies in magnetism and a new method for the electronic control of magnetic properties and magnetism itself, and iii) provide a new approach to the development of efficient magnetoelectronic devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗