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At least 109 records · Page 6

IrRep: Symmetry eigenvalues and irreducible representations of ab initio band structures

Here, we present IrRep – a Python code that calculates the symmetry eigenvalues of electronic Bloch states in crystalline solids and the irreducible representations under which they transform. As input it receives bandstructures computed with state-of-the-art Density Functional Theory codes such as VASP, Quantum Espresso, or Abinit, as well as any other code that has an interface to Wannier90. Our code is applicable to materials in any of the 230 space groups and double groups preserving time-reversal symmetry with or without spin-orbit coupling included, for primitive or conventional unit cells. This makes IrRep a powerful tool to systematically analyze the connectivity and topological classification of bands, as well as to detect insulators with non-trivial topology, following the Topological Quantum Chemistry formalism: IrRep can generate the input files needed to calculate the (physical) elementary band representations and the symmetry-based indicators using the [CheckTopologicalMat: https://www.cryst.ehu.es/cgi-bin/cryst/programs/magnetictopo.pl] routine of the Bilbao Crystallographic Server. It is also particularly suitable for interfaces with other plane-waves based codes, due to its flexible structure.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to extend EFIT equilibrium reconstruction

Recent progress in the application of machine learning (ML)/artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to improve the Equilibrium Fitting (EFIT) code equilibrium reconstruction for fusion data analysis applications is presented. A device-independent portable core equilibrium solver capable of computing or reconstructing equilibrium for different tokamaks has been created to facilitate adaptation of ML/AI algorithms. A large EFIT database comprising of DIII-D magnetic, motional Stark effect, and kinetic reconstruction data has been generated for developments of EFIT model-order-reduction (MOR) surrogate models to reconstruct approximate equilibrium solutions. Furthermore, a neural-network MOR surrogate model has been successfully trained and tested using the magnetically reconstructed datasets with encouraging results. Other progress includes developments of a Gaussian process Bayesian framework that can adapt its many hyperparameters to improve processing of experimental input data and a 3D perturbed equilibrium database from toroidal full magnetohydrodynamic linear response modeling using the Magnetohydrodynamic Resistive Spectrum - Feedback (MARS-F) code for developments of 3D-MOR surrogate models.

Gaussian process↗

Beam Dynamics Studies at the PIP-II Injector Test Facility

A series of beam dynamic studies were performed in 2020-2021 at the PIP-II Injector Test Facility (PIP2IT) that has been built to validate the concept of the front-end of the PIP-II linac being constructed at Fermilab. PIP2IT is comprised of a 30-keV H- ion source, a 2 m-long Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT), a 2.1- MeV CW RFQ, followed by a 10-m Medium Energy Beam Transport (MEBT), 2 cryomodules accelerating the beam to 16 MeV and a High-Energy Beam Transport (HEBT) bringing the beam to a dump. This paper presents beam dynamics - related measurements performed at PIP2IT such as the Twiss parameters with Allison scanners, beam envelopes along the injector, and transverse and longitudinal rms emittance reconstruction. These measurements are compared with predictions from the beam dynamics code Tracewin.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Dual incorporation of non-canonical amino acids enables production of post-translationally modified selenoproteins

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) can occur on almost all amino acids in eukaryotes as a key mechanism for regulating protein function. The ability to study the role of these modifications in various biological processes requires techniques to modify proteins site-specifically. One strategy for this is genetic code expansion (GCE) in bacteria. The low frequency of post-translational modifications in bacteria makes it a preferred host to study whether the presence of a post-translational modification influences a protein’s function. Genetic code expansion employs orthogonal translation systems engineered to incorporate a modified amino acid at a designated protein position. Selenoproteins, proteins containing selenocysteine, are also known to be post-translationally modified. Selenoproteins have essential roles in oxidative stress, immune response, cell maintenance, and skeletal muscle regeneration. Their complicated biosynthesis mechanism has been a hurdle in our understanding of selenoprotein functions. As technologies for selenocysteine insertion have recently improved, we wanted to create a genetic system that would allow the study of post-translational modifications in selenoproteins. By combining genetic code expansion techniques and selenocysteine insertion technologies, we were able to recode stop codons for insertion of N ε -acetyl- l -lysine and selenocysteine, respectively, into multiple proteins. The specificity of these amino acids for their assigned position and the simplicity of reverting the modified amino acid via mutagenesis of the codon sequence demonstrates the capacity of this method to study selenoproteins and the role of their post-translational modifications. Moreover, the evidence that Sec insertion technology can be combined with genetic code expansion tools further expands the chemical biology applications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Propagation of EMIC Waves From Shabansky Orbits in the Dayside Magnetosphere

We explore the characteristics of EMIC waves generated in a non-dipole, compressed magnetic field at the minimum of the magnetic field. We conducted 2D full-wave simulations using the Petra-M code, focusing on a compressed magnetic field in the outer dayside magnetosphere for a range of L values (L = 8 - 10). By comparing the simulation results with MMS observations, we aim to understand how the observed wave characteristics are affected by a shifting source region across different L-shells. Our findings indicate that the direction of the Poynting vector systematically changes depending on the local source location of the wave, which is consistent with the observations. EMIC waves propagate along the magnetic field line and reach both the northern and southern hemispheres; however, there is a notable difference in the power of EMIC waves between the two hemispheres, indicating seasonal asymmetries in their occurrence.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Power balance and divertor asymmetries in the Super-X divertors of MAST-U using SOLPS-ITER

Spherical tokamaks (STs) present unique challenges and opportunities in the area of particle and power exhaust, intensified due to their more compact sizes. Substantial efforts are underway in STs to determine the limits in dissipative operational regimes and advanced divertor solutions, including at MAST-U which provides access to the Super-X divertor configuration. Power balance, and upper/lower divertor asymmetries have been studied using SOLPS-ITER simulations of the MAST-U Super-X divertor. A set of simulations with experimentally inferred transport coefficients with E x B and diamagnetic drifts activated, consisting of density and power scans, and high field side vs low field side gas puff locations, have been used for code experimentation to uncover trends beyond the current experimental parameter space. The upper biased asymmetry (U:L > 1) of the ratio of the peaks of the plasma energy flux densities at the outer targets increases with heating power and decreases with gas puff strength, going from symmetric to up to a factor of 15. The upper target electron temperature has been found to be a good ordering quantity for the magnitude of this asymmetry for all heating powers, gas puff strength, and gas puff locations. The lower divertor biased asymmetry (U:L < 1) of the radiation patterns processed through SOLPS-based bolometry synthetic diagnostics is in qualitative agreement with resistive bolometry experimental results, and it is in quantitative agreement with the trend of the total volume radiation within the divertors of SOLPS. However, radiation measurements alone are not sufficient to infer the magnitude of the asymmetry of the peaks of the power loads at the targets.

MAST-U↗

Community Data Mining Approach for Surface Complexation Database Development

This paper presents a comprehensive data-to-model workflow, including a findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable (FAIR) community sorption database (newly developed LLNL Surface Complexation/Ion Exchange (L-SCIE) database) along with a data fitting workflow to efficiently optimize surface complexation reaction constants with multiple surface complexation model (SCM) constructs. This workflow serves as a universal framework to mine, compile, and analyze large numbers of published sorption data as well as to estimate reaction constants for parameterizing reactive transport models. Here the framework includes (1) data digitization from published papers, (2) data unification including unit conversions, and (3) data-model integration and reaction constant estimation using geochemical software PHREEQC coupled with the universal parameter estimation code PEST. We demonstrate our approach using an analysis of U(VI) sorption to quartz based on a first L-SCIE implementation, concluding that a multisite SCM construct with carbonate surface species yielded the best fit to community data. Surface complexation reaction constants extracted from this approach captured all available sorption data available in the literature and provided insight into previously published reaction constants and surface complexation model constructs. The L-SCIE sorption database presented herein allows for automating this approach across a wide range of metals and minerals and implementing novel machine learning approaches to reactive transport in the future.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Advanced Modeling and Simulation Methods for Evaluation of Thermal Neutron Scattering Materials

With the rise of interest in thermal neutron scattering data for advanced reactor, criticality safety, and shielding applications, new experimental data are required for evaluation of new materials or for re-evaluation (or validations) of previously evaluated materials. New experimental data are evaluated in a three-step process: (1) computing the phonon characteristics, (2) computing the dynamic structure factor (DSF) from the data, and (3) using the experimental setup to simulate the experimental data. All three steps have challenges, ranging from the need for a sufficiently general material simulation code—a processing code that can compute the corresponding DSF—to having a detailed layout of the instrument/beamline/facility where the data were measured. Whereas phonon characteristics of materials can be computed using various methods (molecular dynamics, density functional theory, etc.), a high-fidelity computation of the DSF and the simulation of the experiment based on the DSF is vital to the accuracy of the evaluation. The latter two steps can be achieved by using the two corresponding code systems developed by instrument scientists at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory: (1) OCLIMAX, a program that calculates the dynamic structure factor from DFT and MD simulation results, and (2) MCViNE, a Monte Carlo neutron ray-tracing program designed to simulate neutron scattering experiments. Recently, polyethylene and yttrium hydride were measured at the Wide Angular-Range Chopper (ARCS) and SEQUOIA instrument stations of the SNS. These experiments are simulated using the density functional theory code, the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP), to compute its phonon characteristics (eigenvalues/vectors and PDOS), which is then processed using OCLIMAX to yield the DSF, and finally the data at each instrument station are simulated by the MCViNE for comparison to the measured data for evaluation. For comparison to conventional evaluation methods, the scattering data processed from OCLIMAX are compared against those processed from the LEAPR module of NJOY, and the results from MCViNE simulations are compared against previously used simplified beamline models implemented in the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Creep, Fatigue, and Creep-Fatigue Testing of Alloy 709 Base Metal at ORNL (FY 2021)

The testing activities and research in support of ASME Code qualification of Alloy 709, an advanced austenitic steel, are being carried out at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Argonne National Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory. ORNL has been tasked to carry out a subset of the Code Case testing for creep rupture, fatigue and creep-fatigue. The focus of the FY 2021 Code Case testing on Alloy 709 base metal at ORNL includes (1) continuing the long-term creep rupture testing on ESR1100 and AOD1100; (2) adding ESR1150-AH to the creep Code Case testing matrix; and (3) continuing fatigue and creep-fatigue Code Case testing on ESR1150- AH. This report summarizes the status and the preliminary test results of FY 2021 planned Code Case testing at ORNL.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

EMPIRE User Manual

This is the user manual for EMPIRE, a simulation code for electromagnetics and plasma physics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Manuscript model outputs, model source code, and figure scripts: The role of geomorphology in mediating biomass allocation impacts on salt-marsh resilience and carbon accumulation

This data package provides model source code (C++), model outputs, and figure generation scripts (R) needed to reproduce the following manuscript: Bruns, Nicholas E., Genevieve L. Noyce, and Matthew L. Kirwan. "The Role of Geomorphology in Mediating Biomass Allocation Impacts on Salt-Marsh Resilience and Carbon Accumulation." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 327 (December 2025): 109549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109549. This manuscript investigates how geomorphology mediates the impact of biomass allocation shifts on salt marsh persistence and carbon (C) sequestration under sea level rise. We use a 1-D soil-column model (Kirwan and Mudd 2012) to perform experiments across a range of static root:shoot ratios (RSR = 1-4) spanning observed values. The model explicitly simulates interactions between tidal inundation, productivity, inorganic sediment deposition, and organic matter accumulation. Experiments determine whether geomorphic feedbacks amplify, dampen, or leave unchanged the ecosystem response to biomass allocation shifts. A first experiment uses constant sea level rise (2.5 mm/yr) to examine equilibrium dynamics and their influence on carbon accumulation rates across different suspended sediment concentrations (SSC). A second set of experiments calculates threshold sea level rise rates for marsh drowning across RSR and SSC combinations. Final experiments apply accelerating sea level rise scenarios (2000-2200) derived from NOAA projections (Sweet et al. 2022) to generate an envelope of expected responses, quantifying the importance of biomass allocation shifts on marsh carbon accumulation and persistence. All experiments are repeated across SSC ranging from 5-50 mg/L to investigate how these interactions vary in micro-tidal marshes with different sediment supplies. Package contents: * README.txt with detailed description of package contents and instructions for reproducing manuscript figures and model outputs * R scripts for generating all manuscript figures * C++ baseline model code from Kirwan and Mudd (2012) * C++ source code for 4 experimental model variants used in the manuscript, extending above baseline code * Model input files (.csv, .txt) including sea level rise scenarios * Model output files (.txt) used in manuscript analyses Temporal coverage: Model simulations span years 1900-2200, with accelerating sea level rise scenarios for 2000-2200. Key variables: Root:shoot ratio, suspended sediment concentration, carbon accumulation rate, vertical accretion rate, marsh elevation, inundation depth, threshold sea level rise rate.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A coded aperture with sub-mean-free-path thickness for implosion geometry imaging on ICF and IFE experiments

Inertial confinement fusion and inertial fusion energy experiments diagnose the geometry of the fusion region through imaging of the neutrons released through fusion reactions. Pinhole arrays typically used for such imaging require thick substrates to obtain high contrast along with a small pinhole diameter to obtain high resolution capability, resulting in pinholes that have large aspect ratios. This leads to expensive pinhole arrays that have small solid angles and are difficult to align. Here, we propose a coded aperture with scatter and partial attenuation (CASPA) for fusion neutron imaging that relaxes the thick substrate requirement for good image contrast. These coded apertures are expected to scale to larger solid angles and are easier to align without sacrificing imaging resolution or throughput. We use Monte Carlo simulations (Geant4) to explore a coded aperture design to measure neutron implosion asymmetries on fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and discuss the viability of this technique, matching the current nominal resolution of 10 µm. The results show that a 10 mm thick tungsten CASPA can image NIF implosions with neutron yields above 10 14 with quality comparable to unprocessed data from a current NIF neutron imaging aperture. Furthermore, this CASPA substrate is 20 times thinner than the current aperture arrays for fusion neutron imaging and less than one mean free-path of 14.1 MeV neutrons through the substrate. Since the resolution, solid angle, and throughput are decoupled in coded aperture imaging, the resolution and solid angle achievable with future designs will be limited primarily by manufacturing capability.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

On the role of ion temperature gradient turbulence in driving ion thermal transport in neutral beam injection-heated L-mode plasmas in a superconducting tokamak

In this paper, we report a detailed experimental study of the role of ion-temperature-gradient driven turbulence in driving ion thermal transport in neutral beam injection (NBI)-heated L-mode plasmas in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) (Wan et al 2000 Nucl. Fusion 40 1057) coupled with linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations. Significant ion-scale turbulence k ⟂ < cm −1 (k ⟂ < 1.5, where k ⟂ where is the perpendicular wavenumber and ρ s is the ion gyroradius calculated using local electron temperature T e ), measured with a microwave reflectometer, is observed in the plasma core at for r/a ≈ 0.265 and 0.5 (where r is half the diameter of the closed flux surface at a given radial position, and a is half the diameter of the last closed flux surface). Local linear stability analysis with experimental equilibrium quantities at these two radial locations using the GS2 gyrokinetic code shows that the most unstable ion-scale micro-instability is the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode. Since the computed maximum ion-scale linear growth rates are larger than the local Waltz-Miller E × B shearing rate (Waltz and Miller 1999 Phys. Plasmas 6 4265), the E × B shear is unable to suppress ion-scale turbulence, consistent with the experimental observation of ion-scale turbulence. Experimental ion and electron thermal transports, calculated with power balance analysis, are both anomalous with ion thermal transport being the dominant channel. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations using the electrostatic global particle-in-cell gyrokinetic tokamak simulation (GTS) code (Weixing Wang et al 2010 Phys. Plasmas 17 072511) show good quantitative agreement between predicted ion thermal transport and that from the power balance analysis. These results demonstrate for the first time the important role of ITG turbulence in driving thermal transport in NBI-heated L-mode plasmas in EAST, showing the effectiveness of GTS code in simulating electrostatic turbulence in EAST and the need of suppressing ITG turbulence to improve energy confinement in EAST.

Sun, P. J. [Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hef↗

4D Imaging of ZnO-Coated Nanoporous Al 2 O 3 Aerogels by Chemically Sensitive Ptychographic Tomography: Implications for Designer Catalysts

The 3D chemical structure (4D spectromicroscopy) of nanoporous Al 2 O 3 aerogels coated with ZnO by atomic layer deposition (ALD) was studied by multienergy scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. These materials are representative of a class of designer catalysts in which the nanoporous support is prepared separately from the active catalyst material, which is subsequently introduced by ALD, thereby allowing independent optimization of the morphology, chemistry, and spatial distribution of the support and catalyst. The samples studied were prepared by Ga ion and Xe plasma focused ion beam (FIB) milling as well as drop casting from water suspension. Zn L and Al K edge spectra of six samples with three different ZnO loadings were measured to investigate how loading and different sample preparation methods affect the 3D distribution of the ZnO and Al 2 O 3 . Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and ptychographic imaging at two energies each at the Zn L 3 and Al K edge were measured. The ptychography data were analyzed by using the SHARP reconstruction code to generate quantitative 2D chemical maps of the Al 2 O 3 and the ZnO. The STXM and ptychography maps were then measured at a sequence of tilt angles, covering up to 160° of rotation. The 3D structure of the ZnO and Al 2 O 3 was derived from the tilt series data by tomographic reconstruction using a compressed sensing algorithm. A twodimensional spatial resolution (half-period) of 6 nm, measured by Fourier ring correlation, and a 3D spatial resolution (half-period) of 9 nm, measured by Fourier shell correlation, were achieved when using the COSMIC beamline at the Advanced Light Source (ALS). The results show that for all of the ZnO loadings studied there is nonuniform coverage of the ZnO on the Al 2 O 3 aerogel framework. In addition, we found that both FIB methods create sample artifacts, although the distortion was less with Xe plasma than Ga ion FIB.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A cost comparison of various hourly-reliable and net-zero hydrogen production pathways in the United States

Hydrogen (H 2 ) as an energy carrier may play a role in various hard-to-abate subsectors, but to maximize emission reductions, supplied hydrogen must be reliable, low-emission, and low-cost. Here, we build a model that enables direct comparison of the cost of producing net-zero, hourly-reliable hydrogen from various pathways. To reach net-zero targets, we assume upstream and residual facility emissions are mitigated using negative emission technologies. For the United States (California, Texas, and New York), model results indicate next-decade hybrid electricity-based solutions are lower cost ($2.02-$2.88/kg) than fossil-based pathways with natural gas leakage greater than 4% ($2.73-$5.94/kg). These results also apply to regions outside of the U.S. with a similar climate and electric grid. However, when omitting the net-zero emission constraint and considering the U.S. regulatory environment, electricity-based production only achieves cost-competitiveness with fossil-based pathways if embodied emissions of electricity inputs are not counted under U.S. Tax Code Section 45V guidance.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Charge breeders: Development of diagnostic tools to probe the underlying physics

Charge breeders were developed more than 20 years ago in the context of radioactive ion beam (RIB) production. The main goal is to boost the charge state of a singly charged RIB to a higher value matching the A/Q of a post-accelerator. In that way, the RIB produced at some tens of keV can efficiently be accelerated to energies in a range of few MeV/u up to several tens of MeV/u, which is of interest for nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics experiments. Two families of charge breeders have been developed: one based on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ECRISs) suitable for Continuous Wave (CW) operation and another built around Electron Beam Ion Sources (EBISs) used for pulsed post-accelerators. For many years, experimental studies have been carried out to enhance the charge breeding process and improve the extracted beam quality, i.e., purity, intensity, emittance, and time structure. The evolution of the charge breeders is also closely related to the emergence of new facilities delivering even more exotic beams. Diagnostic tools, such as Faraday cups, beam profile monitors, and emittance scanners, are mandatory to tune the machines and evaluate their performances. However, to go beyond that, a better understanding of plasma physics (in ECRIS) and electron-ion interactions (in EBIS), as well as the 1+ beam characteristics, for instance, energy spread transverse emittance, is needed. Therefore, simulation codes modeling the physics phenomena in both type of charge breeders were developed to support the understanding of experimental outputs and to gain insights into non-observable parameters. Nevertheless, more sophisticated diagnostic tools are required to improve the charge breeding performance and to extend the potential applications toward new RIB facilities. This Review will present the two kinds of charge breeders and their technical evolutions. It will review the diagnostic tools and simulation codes employed for operation and evaluation of the internal physics processes.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Scenario optimization for the tokamak ramp-down phase in RAPTOR: Part A. Analysis and model validation on ASDEX Upgrade

We discuss how the combination of experimental observations and rapid modeling has enabled to improve understanding of the tokamak ramp-down phase in ASDEX Upgrade. A series of dedicated experiments has been performed, to disentangle the effect of individual actuators like plasma current, auxiliary heating and plasma shaping. Optimized discharge termination strategies with increased margin with respect to radiative and vertical stability limits are proposed and tested in experiment. Radiative collapse of the edge $T$ $e$ profile after the HL back-transition is avoided by initially maintaining auxiliary heating during L-mode, showing beneficial effects even after the auxiliary heating is turned off. The capability of the RAPTOR code to model the time evolution of the internal inductance $\ell$ $i3$ has been validated, including the effect of a change in the $I$ $p$ ramp-down rate and the HL transition timing. The reduction of $\ell$ $i3$ caused by rapid compression of the plasma cross-section has been quantitatively recovered in simulations. Successful modeling of the $\ell$ $i3$ time evolution is essential to optimize ramp-down scenarios for future fusion reactors, for which vertical stability and power balance control will be more challenging.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗