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DOE OSTI2023

Imaging the Future Threats of the Sand Dunes Along the Northwestern Coast of Nile Delta Using SAR

Although the Sand dunes screen the coastal cities from the sand dunes hazards and their infrastructures from rising sea levels and storms, they might threaten and hide the surrounding developmental projects. Thus, imaging these coastal dunes' internal anatomy and dynamics are crucial to protect the environment. In this study, the Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images were processed and integrated with field observations and surveys to extract information about the past, current, and future behavior of coastal dunes in the Nile Delta-Northwest sector. A conventional change detection method using the supervised Landsat-8 images for the years 2015 and 2017 were generated to show a rapid change in the sand dune cover, where the high-resolution images of Google Earth were used to digitize the dune crests and measure its encroachment rate, which has been reached about 4 m/year with the NW–SE direction. The full-polarimetric ALOS/PALSAR-2 images from the years 2015 and 2017 show very low coherence for the sand dunes, which means these dunes are dynamic, where the changes in both power and phase imbalances of different dune fields during the investigated years (2015 and 2017) show high differences in values, which reached 40 dB and 0.06°, respectively. Finally, the extracted radar facies from the field survey show two successive groups of coastal sand dunes show a decline in the heavy minerals content to a level that might threaten the properties at the shoreline due to sea level rise and wave storms if mitigation actions are not taken place soon.

Ramadan, Rabab↗

DOE OSTI2024

Heavy states in 3d gravity and 2d CFT

We discuss correlators of light fields in heavy states in AdS 3 gravity and holographic 2d CFTs. In the bulk, the propagator of free fields in AdS backgrounds containing a conical defect or a BTZ black hole can be obtained by solving a wave equation, as well as by the method of images. On the boundary, these geometries are sourced by heavy operator insertions, and the propagator is dual to a heavy-light (HHLL) correlator. By matching its expansion in Virasoro blocks to our bulk results, we determine the OPE coefficients of all contributing states in both the s and t channels. In the s channel, these states are excitations of the light field on top of the heavy state, and their OPE coefficients are the amplitudes to create them. The t-channel OPE is dominated by the Virasoro vacuum block, but there is also an infinite family of light two-particle states that contribute to the correlator. The OPE coefficients that couple these states to heavy operators represent their expectation values in heavy backgrounds. We determine them exactly, derive their asymptotic form at large twist, and discuss their behavior near and above the BTZ threshold, where they become thermal one-point functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Path-Integrated X-Ray Digital Image Correlation using Synthetic Reference Images

X-rays can provide images when an object is visibly obstructed, allowing for motion measurements via x-ray digital image correlation (DIC). However, x-ray images are path-integrated and contain data for all objects between the source and detector. If multiple objects are present in the x-ray path, conventional DIC algorithms may fail to correlate the x-ray images. A new DIC algorithm called path-integrated (PI)-DIC addresses this issue by reformulating the matching criterion for DIC to account for multiple, independently-moving objects. PI-DIC requires a set of reference x-ray images of each independent object. However, due to experimental constraints, such reference images might not be obtainable from the experiment. Here, this work focuses on the reliability of synthetically-generated reference images, in such cases. A simplified exemplar is used for demonstration purposes, consisting of two aluminum plates with tantalum x-ray DIC patterns undergoing independent rigid translations. Synthetic reference images based on the “as-designed” DIC patterns were generated. However, PI-DIC with the synthetic images suffered some biases due to manufacturing defects of the patterns. A systematic study of seven identified defect types found that an incorrect feature diameter was the most influential defect. Synthetic images were re-generated with the corrected feature diameter, and PI-DIC errors were improved by a factor of 3-4. Final biases ranged from 0.00-0.04 px, and standard uncertainties ranged from 0.06-0.11 px. In conclusion, PI-DIC accurately measured the independent displacement of two plates from a single series of path-integrated x-ray images using synthetically-generated reference images, and the methods and conclusions derived here can be extended to more generalized cases involving stereo PI-DIC for arbitrary specimen geometry and motion. This work thus extends the application space of x-ray imaging for full-field DIC measurements of multiple surfaces or objects in extreme environments where optical DIC is not possible.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2020

Perovskite-Carbon Nanotube Light-Emitting Fibers

Active fibers with electro-optic functionalities are promising building blocks for the emerging and rapidly growing field of fiber and textile electronics. Yet, there remains significant challenges that require improved understanding of the principles of active fiber assembly to enable the development of fiber-shaped devices characterized by having a small diameter, being lightweight, and having high mechanical strength. To this end, the current frameworks are insufficient, and new designs and fabrication approaches are essential to accommodate this unconventional form factor. Here, we present a first demonstration of a pathway that effectively integrates the foundational components meeting such requirements, with the use of a flexible and robust conductive core carbon nanotube fiber and an organic–inorganic emissive composite layer as the two critical elements. We introduce an active fiber design that can be realized through an all solution-processed approach. In conclusion, we have implemented this technique to demonstrate a three- layered light-emitting fiber with a coaxially coated design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Heisenberg uncertainty of spatially gated electromagnetic fields

A Heisenberg uncertainty relation is derived for spatially-gated electric ΔE and magnetic ΔH field fluctuations. The uncertainty increases for small gating sizes, which implies that in confined spaces, the quantum nature of the electromagnetic field must be taken into account. Optimizing the state of light to minimize ΔE at the expense of ΔH and vice versa should be possible. Spatial confinements and quantum fields may alternatively be realized without gating by interaction of the field with a nanostructure. Possible applications include nonlinear spectroscopy of nanostructures and optical cavities and chiral signals.

Chernyak, Vladimir Y.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Thermodynamics of optical Bloch equations

Abstract Optical Bloch equations (OBE) describe the coherent exchange of energy between a quantum bit (qubit) and a quasi-resonant driving field in the presence of a thermal bath. Despite it being an ubiquitous process in quantum technologies, a sound thermodynamic analysis is still missing. We hereby provide such an analysis, by deriving the relevant framework from first principles. We start from a complete microscopic description of the qubit-bath system where definitions of heat, work and entropy production are unambiguous. We trace out the bath and coarse-grain the resulting expressions in time, using a methodology similar to the derivation of the dynamical master equation, to derive closed expressions for the first and second law in terms of system properties. Long coarse graining times yield the Floquet Master equation and its already known thermodynamic description. Short coarse-graining times yield instead the OBE and a novel thermodynamic framework which explicitly depends on quantum coherences in the qubit’s energy basis which produce quantum signatures in the heat and entropy production flows. This allows us to characterize a genuinely quantum non-equilibrium situation, where the coherences created by the driving field are continuously erased by the bath. Our findings can be readily extended to larger open quantum systems. They carry the seeds for future thermodynamic analyses of quantum gates and the design of quantum engines in the strong coherent driving regime.

Elouard, Cyril↗

DOE OSTI2020

Kink-driven magnetic reconnection in relativistic jets: consequences for X-ray polarimetry of BL Lacs

ABSTRACT We investigate with relativistic MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) simulations the dissipation physics of BL Lac jets, by studying the synchrotron polarization signatures of particles accelerated by the kink instability in a magnetically dominated plasma column. The non-linear stage of the kink instability generates current sheets, where particles can be efficiently accelerated via magnetic reconnection. We identify current sheets as regions where s = Jδ/B is above some predefined threshold (where B is the field strength, J is the current density, and δ is the grid scale), and assume that the particle injection efficiency scales as ∝J2. X-ray emitting particles have short cooling times, so they only probe the field geometry of their injection sites. In contrast, particles emitting in the optical band, which we follow self-consistently as they propagate away from their injection sites while cooling, sample a larger volume, and so they may be expected to produce different polarimetric signatures. We find that the degree of polarization is roughly the same between X-ray and optical bands, because even the optical emitting particles do not travel far from the current sheet where they were injected, due to lack of sufficient kink-generated turbulence. The polarization angle shows a different temporal evolution between the two bands, due to the different regions probed by X-ray and optical emitting particles. In view of the upcoming IXPE satellite, our results can help constrain whether kink-induced reconnection (as opposed to shocks) can be the source of multiwavelength emission from BL Lacs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

The intrinsic X-ray luminosity distribution of an optically selected SDSS quasar population

ABSTRACT In active galactic nuclei, the relationship between UV and X-ray luminosity is well studied (often characterised by αox) but often with heterogeneous samples. We have parametrized the intrinsic distribution of X-ray luminosity, LX, for the optically selected sample of SDSS quasars in the Stripe 82 and XXL fields across redshifts 0.5–3.5. We make use of the available XMM observations and a custom pipeline to produce Bayesian sensitivity curves that are used to derive the intrinsic X-ray distribution in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. We find that the X-ray luminosity distribution is well described by a Gaussian function in log10 LX space with a mean that is dependent on the monochromatic 2500 Å UV luminosity, L2500. We also observe some redshift dependence of the distribution. The mean of the LX distribution increases with redshift while the width decreases. This weak but significant redshift dependence leads to L2500–LX and L2500–αox relations that evolve with redshift, and we produce a redshift- and L2500-dependent αox equation. Neither black hole mass nor Eddington ratio appear to be potential drivers of the redshift evolution.

Rankine, Amy L. (ORCID:0000000220911966)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Comparison of continuum-continuum and Coulomb-laser-coupling delays from visible to midinfrared wavelengths

We compare the various proposed formulas for CLC and CC delays using analytical and numerical methods across a range of wavelengths spanning visible to midinfrared. We show that one of the CC definitions is nearly equal to the CLC delay over a range of photoelectron energies and wavelengths. We furthermore obtain alternate expressions for the CC delays. These expressions are simpler to use and show close correspondence to the CLC delays. Based on this correspondence, we suggest a correction to the CLC delay for low-energy electrons, where the currently used approximation breaks down. Our work provides guidance for when it is valid to treat CC and CLC delays as being equivalent.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering with squeezed light: CARS for quantum-enhanced spectroscopy and imaging

We theoretically investigate quantum-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) using squeezed light to amplify vibrational transition rates at low photon flux. Quantum sensing approaches are needed for nondestructive nanometrology such as in bioimaging where reduced photodamage is desired while retaining resolution and sensitivity. We analyze both single-mode squeezing applied to the pump field and two-mode squeezing between the pump and Stokes fields. We also show that the ordering of displacement and squeezing operations—whether displacement precedes squeezing or squeezing precedes displacement—has an impact on the resulting CARS transition amplitudes due to a difference in the photon number and the quantum-enhancement coefficients, with the latter offering a stronger enhancement in the case of two modes squeezing of the pump and Stokes under experimentally accessible conditions. Furthermore, our calculations capture these quantum enhancements through the intrinsic photon-number correlations of squeezed light, eliminating the need for interferometric detection or higher pump powers that are otherwise required to reach comparable sensitivities in classical CARS. Finally, we outline a quantum plasmonic extension of our model in which local field enhancements caused by surface plasmon excitation in metallic nanoparticles can be incorporated via mode-selective field amplification factors, offering a pathway toward combining squeezed-light quantum optics with surface-enhanced nanoscale spectroscopy and imaging.

Atomic & molecular structure↗

DOE OSTI2022

Pulse shaping in strong-field ionization: Theory and experiments

Intense ultrafast pulses cause dissociative ionization and shaping the pulses may allow control of both electronic and nuclear dynamics that determine ion yields. We report on a combined experimental and theoretical effort to determine how shaped laser pulses affect tunnel ionization, the process that precedes many strong-field phenomena. We carried out experiments on Ar, N 2 , H 2 O, and O 2 using a phase-step function of amplitude 3/4π that is scanned across the spectrum of the pulse. In addition, we changed the amount of chirp in the pulses. Semiclassical as well as fully quantum mechanical time-dependent Schrödinger equation calculations are found to be in excellent agreement with experimental results. We find that precise knowledge of the field parameters in the time and frequency domains is essential to afford reproducible results and quantitative theory and experiment comparisons.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Retrieval of the molecular orientation distribution from atom-pair angular distributions

Imaging laser-induced rotational dynamics is an important and active field due to its applications in capturing reactions in the molecular frame and in molecular imaging. Experimental measurement of the molecular orientation distribution, as a function of the Euler angles, has only been demonstrated for special cases when the detectable signal is generated along the molecular symmetry axis. Here we developed the general theory that maps the probability density distribution of the molecular orientation to the atom-pair angular distributions for nonlinear molecules. With the theory, the molecular orientation distribution can be retrieved from the measured atom-pair angular distribution, which we demonstrate experimentally using ultrafast electron diffractive imaging of impulsively aligned trifluoro-iodomethane molecules. Here, the retrieved molecular orientation distribution is in good agreement with direct numerical simulations of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation using the experimental conditions. Unlike the existing retrieval methods, the retrieval method does not require solving Schrodinger equation, works for any alignment method, and is in principle applicable to asymmetric top molecules.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Conservation law for electromagnetic fields in a space-time-varying medium and its implications

We discuss the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a space-time modulated medium, for which neither energy nor momentum remains conserved. We have found a new conservation law when modulation moves at a constant speed v in a traveling-wave fashion. We use this law to study how light is scattered inside such a medium. We consider both the subluminal (v < c) andsuperluminal (v > c) cases and find that they differ considerably in terms of what remains conserved. We show that the total number of photons is conserved in the subluminal case. In contrast, it is the difference between the forward and backward moving photons that remains conserved in the superluminal case. We also study the reciprocity issue for a space-time modulated medium and found that reciprocity holds in all situations. Here, we develop a quantum formulation of our scattering problem and show that the subluminal case is similar to the action of a beam splitter. In the superluminal case, photon pairs can be generated from vacuum in a fashion analogous to the two-mode frequency down-conversion process.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Optical conductivity study of mixed-valent quasi-one-dimensional CeIr 3 ⁢B 2

Here, we present a combined theoretical and experimental study on the optical conductivity of CeIr 3 ⁢B 2 , where quasi-one-dimensional Ce chains form along the 𝑐 axis of the monoclinic crystal. Significant hybridization-induced features are observed along the Ce chains by broadband infrared spectroscopy, demonstrating mixed-valent behavior over a wide range of temperatures (6–300 K) and energies (up to 0.8 eV). The ferromagnetic transition at 41 K had no noticeable influence on the temperature evolution of the optical conductivity. A comparison with density functional theory plus dynamic mean-field theory calculations demonstrates the quasi-one-dimensional nature of CeIr 3 ⁢B 2 and the local character of the interactions responsible for the electronic renormalization. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the spectroscopic signatures of this mixed-valent compound are captured by theory, providing a clear distinction from the response expected in the integer-valent Kondo regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Controlling colloidal crystals via morphing energy landscapes and reinforcement learning

We report a feedback control method to remove grain boundaries and produce circular shaped colloidal crystals using morphing energy landscapes and reinforcement learning–based policies. We demonstrate this approach in optical microscopy and computer simulation experiments for colloidal particles in ac electric fields. First, we discover how tunable energy landscape shapes and orientations enhance grain boundary motion and crystal morphology relaxation. Next, reinforcement learning is used to develop an optimized control policy to actuate morphing energy landscapes to produce defect-free crystals orders of magnitude faster than natural relaxation times. Morphing energy landscapes mechanistically enable rapid crystal repair via anisotropic stresses to control defect and shape relaxation without melting. This method is scalable for up to at least N = 10 3 particles with mean process times scaling as N 0.5 . Further scalability is possible by controlling parallel local energy landscapes (e.g., periodic landscapes) to generate large-scale global defect-free hierarchical structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

The Influence of Electron Irradiation on the Dielectric Characteristics of Single Crystals of AgGaSe{sub 2}

The influence of various doses of electron irradiation on the dielectric permeability and specific conductance of ternary nonlinear optical crystals of AgGaSe{sub 2} at various frequencies of the measuring field in a range of temperatures of 100–300 K is studied. It is found that the irradiation of single crystals leads to a decrease in the values of dielectric permeability and a significant increase in conductance. It is shown that dielectric permeability and conductance increase with the growth in temperature. It is found that the presence of several types of conductance is characteristic for the crystals of AgGaSe{sub 2}. Substantial frequency dispersion of the dielectric properties of the studied crystals is found.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2021

A pathway to desired functionalities in vertically aligned nanocomposites and related architectures

Epitaxial vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs) and their related architectures have shown many intriguing features that are not available from conventional two-dimensional planar multilayers and heterostructures. The ability to control constituent, interface, microstructure, strain, and defects based on VANs has enabled the multiple degrees of freedom to manipulate the optical, magnetic, electrochemical, electronic, ionic, and superconducting properties for specific applications. This field has rapidly expanded from the interest in oxide:oxide to oxide:metal, metal:nitride and nitride:nitride systems. To achieve unparalleled properties of the materials, three-dimensional super-nanocomposites based on a hybrid of VAN and multilayer architectures have been recently explored as well. The challenges and opportunities of VAN films are also discussed in this article.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Roadmap to Advance Heliostat Technologies for High Temperature Solar-Thermal Systems

Since its establishment, the Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon) has made substantial progress toward closing many of the gaps in concentrating solar power (CSP) research. Numerous techno-economic studies have been performed, investigating topics ranging from the trade-off between size and temperature for industrial process heat applications to optimization of the heliostat design itself for various applications. Significant improvements have been made in optical metrology techniques, with first steps toward in situ measurement of heliostat fields. Several standards have been, and continue to be, developed with the coordination of an international group of CSP industry participants. Training programs have been developed, with universities including CSP in their engineering curricula, and many public webinars have been held to provide broad access to the latest CSP research. Improved CSP components such as mirror facets and wireless communication systems have been developed, and the solar tower at Sandia National Laboratories has been upgraded with a testbed for closed-loop controls research and development. Field deployment challenges involving heliostat foundations and sensitive wildlife habitats have been explored, with progress made toward methods for streamlining project development and permitting. Additional knowledge has been added to the body of work on wind behavior of heliostats and arrays of heliostats, with progress made toward a holistic understanding of wind design methods. Finally, techniques have been developed and demonstrated for assessing soiling conditions at a proposed project site, with predictive models for the soiling rate showing good results. Taking these results together, HelioCon has contributed greatly to the global CSP research and development effort over the past several years.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗