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At least 1,171 records · Page 65

Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions

Light contains both spin and orbital angular momentum. Despite contributing equally to the total photonic angular momentum, these components derive from quite different parts of the electromagnetic field profile, namely its polarization and spatial variation, respectively, and therefore do not always share equal influence in light–matter interactions. With the growing interest in utilizing light’s orbital angular momentum to practice added control in the study of atomic systems, it becomes increasingly important for students and researchers to understand the subtlety involved in these interactions. In this article, we present a review of the fundamental concepts and recent experiments related to the interaction of beams containing orbital angular momentum with atoms. An emphasis is placed on understanding light’s angular momentum from the perspective of both classical waves and individual photons. We then review the application of these beams in recent experiments, namely single- and few-photon transitions, strong-field ionization, and high-harmonic generation, highlighting the role of light’s orbital angular momentum and the atom’s location within the beam profile within each case.

Optics↗

Fully Distributed Multi-Material Magnetic Sensing Structures for Multiparameter DAS Applications

This dissertation demonstrates the first of its kind distributed magnetic field sensor based on a fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) scheme. Ferromagnetic nickel and Metglas® were dispersed internally within a fiber optic preform and then drawn on an in-house fiber optic draw tower to lengths in the kilometers. Due to the close proximity of the ferromagnetic metals and fiber optic core, the magnetostrictive strain response of the ferromagnetic materials when exposed to a magnetic field would perturbate within the fiber cladding and transfer that strain, internally, to the fiber optic core. Strain resulting from the magnetostrictive effect allows the DAS based sensor to accurately translate strain into readable magnetic field data. Due to the high sensitivity seen in this sensor design, multiparameter sources, acoustic and magnetic fields, were tested and validated and a three dimensional magnetic-field vector sensor was proposed. Numerical analysis of the novel sensor design was first implemented using COMSOL Multiphysics, where inputs such as magnetostrictive element shape, size, distance, and number were first investigated. Upon optimizing system constraints, the sensor design was further modified such that single mode operation was consistent across multiple fiber draws while retaining high strain transfer from the ferromagnetic elements to the fiber optic core. Ferromagnetic material selection was evaluated as a function of the saturation magnetostriction constants and a total of 4 modules were used to fully characterize the complex physics involved in this sensor design. All fabrication and testing were performed in-house using a full scale 3-story fiber draw tower and custom environmental testing stations to imitate naturally occurring events such as magnetic or acoustic point sources. A unique stacking method was used to embed ferromagnetic nickel and Metglas® into a fiber optic preform which when combined with a custom fiber draw process resulted in consistent multi-material fibers drawn to lengths of 1-km. In-house testing facilities included different types of electromagnetic generators, in addition to a soil test bed, and an outdoor test bed which allowed 100 meters of fiber to be tested simultaneously. All tested sensors demonstrated high strain transfer capabilities on the order of 0.01-10 μϵ depending on the materials used, ferromagnetic rod number, and core to metal spacing. Due to the sensitivity of the system the difference between AC and DC was distinct, and directional magnetostriction was studied. Transverse and longitudinal magnetic wave propagation was controlled through a solenoid and rectangular Helmholtz coil, both built in-house. A three-dimensional magnetic field vector sensor was proposed due to the success of the magnetic field sensor, and a design was proposed and initially tested to validate direction as a function of field strength and distance. To summarize, this dissertation explores the first fully distributed magnetic field sensor using DAS based techniques and one of the first multi-material fiber draw processes which can produce consistent single mode fiber up to 1-km. Due to extensive FEA modeling, multiple iterations of the magnetic sensor were fully characterized and an equation describing the relationship between sensor design and strain transfer has been created and validated experimentally. Multi-parameter tests including acoustic and magnetic fields were implemented and an algorithm was developed to separate the mixed signals. Finally, a test was performed to demonstrate the feasibility of sensing magnetic fields directionally. Cumulative results demonstrate a high-quality sensor alternative to current designs which may surpass other magnetic sensors due to innate multi-parameter capabilities, in addition to the inexpensive production cost and extremely long operating lengths.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Hawai‘i National Marine Renewable Energy Center (HINMREC)

The Hawaii National Marine Renewable Energy Center (HINMREC) was established to facilitate the commercialization of wave energy converter (WEC) devices, and to accelerate development and testing of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technologies. Housed at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) of the University of Hawaii (UH), this program started with execution of the contract between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and UH in March 2009, and activities ran through the end of the project in September 2019. The DOE tasked HINMREC with facilitating and accelerating the build-out of the Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS), the nation’s first grid-connected open water wave energy conversion test facility, located off Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in Kaneohe, on the island of Oahu. WETS was expanded from an existing test berth at 30m water depth to include test berths at 60m and 80m water depths. In recognition of the high costs associated with at-sea testing and evaluation of WEC devices, it was deemed imperative that HINMREC seek ways to reduce costs to developers by providing key research support to these early-stage technologies. WETS and HINMREC’s support allowed development of wave energy technology by providing a testing infrastructure that allows technology developers to test, demonstrate and evaluate their WEC devices, and generate data in order to advance WEC designs toward commercial readiness. HINMREC’s roles have included support in the establishment of the full site, including of wave resource characterization and site survey, followed by the essential roles of independent WEC device power performance assessment and environmental monitoring in support of deployed pre-commercial WECs. This DOE-funded work transitioned effectively to continue Navy-funded tasks for OTEC development, and activities at WETS, now under Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) funding. A secondary objective in the establishment of HINMREC was to assist the private sector in moving OTEC systems beyond proof-of-concept to pre-commercialization, primarily focused on system and component engineering, and local and global investigations into the potential environmental impacts of OTEC systems. HINMREC was tasked with maintaining high-resolution models of ocean thermal resources and the potential sustainable power output of OTEC systems. Ongoing tests begun previously under Navy funding at the OTEC Heat Exchangers (HXs) Test Facility at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), in Kona on Hawaii Island, have been continued to identify cost-effective aluminum alloys for use in OTEC systems operating in the corrosive marine environment.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect with charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in Xe–Xe collisions at s NN = 5.44 TeV

Charge-dependent two- and three-particle correlations measured in Xe–Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = TeV are presented. Results are obtained for charged particles in the pseudorapidity range |η| and transverse momentum interval 02. ≤ p T < GeV/c for different collision centralities. The three-particle correlator γ αβ ≡ $\langle$cos(φ α + φ β - 2Ψ a )$\rangle$, calculated for different combinations of charge sign α and β, is expected to be sensitive to the presence of the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME). Its magnitude is similar to the one observed in Pb–Pb collisions in contrast to a smaller CME signal in Xe–Xe collisions than in Pb–Pb collisions predicted by Monte Carlo (MC) calculations including a magnetic field induced by the spectator protons. These observations point to a large non-CME contribution to the correlator. Furthermore, the charge dependence of γ αβ can be described by a blast wave model calculation that incorporates background effects and by the Anomalous Viscous Fluid Dynamics model with values of the CME signal consistent with zero. The Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb results are combined with the expected CME signal dependence on the system size from the MC calculations including a magnetic field to obtain the fraction of CME contribution in γ αβ , $f$ CME . The CME fraction is compatible with zero for the 30% most central events in both systems and then becomes positive. This yields an upper limit of 2% (3%) and 25% (32%) at 95% (99.7%) confidence level for the CME signal contribution to γ αβ in the 0–70% Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb collisions, respectively.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Study of magnetic reconnection at low- β using laser-powered capacitor coils

Magnetic reconnection is a ubiquitous fundamental process in space and astrophysical plasmas that rapidly converts magnetic energy into some combination of flow energy, thermal energy, and non-thermal energetic particles. Over the past decade, a new experimental platform has been developed to study magnetic reconnection using strong coil currents powered by high-power lasers at low plasma beta, typical conditions under which reconnection is energetically important in space and astrophysics. KJ-class lasers were used to drive parallel currents to reconnect MG-level magnetic fields in a quasi-axisymmetric geometry, similar to the magnetic reconnection experiment or MRX, and thus this platform is named micro-MRX. This presentation summarizes two major findings from micro-MRX: direct measurement of accelerated electrons and observation of ion acoustic waves during anti-parallel reconnection. The angular dependence of the measured electron energy spectrum and the resulting accelerated energies, supported by particle-in-cell simulations, indicate that direct acceleration by the out-of-plane reconnection electric field is at work. Furthermore, a sudden onset of ion acoustic bursts has been measured by collective Thomson scattering in the exhaust of magnetic reconnection, followed by electron acoustic bursts with electron heating and bulk acceleration. These results demonstrate that the micro-MRX platform offers a novel and unique approach to study magnetic reconnection in the laboratory in addition to the capabilities provided by traditional magnetized plasma experiments such as MRX and the upcoming Facility for Laboratory Reconnection experiments (FLARE). Future prospects to study other particle acceleration mechanisms and ion acoustic waves from magnetic reconnection are also discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Singlet, triplet, and pair density wave superconductivity in the doped triangular-lattice moiré system

Recent experimental progress has established the twisted bilayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) as a highly tunable platform for studying many-body physics. Particularly, the homobilayer TMDs under displacement field are believed to be described by a generalized triangular-lattice Hubbard model with a spin-dependent hopping phase θ. To explore the effects of θ on the system, we perform density matrix renormalization group calculations for the relevant triangular lattice t-J model. By changing θ at small hole doping, we obtain a region of quasi-long-range superconducting order coexisting with charge and spin density wave within 0 < θ < π/3. The superconductivity is composed of a dominant spin singlet d-wave and a subdominant triplet p-wave pairing. Intriguingly, the S z = ±1 triplet pairing components feature pair-density waves. In addition, we find a region of triplet superconductivity coexisting with charge-density wave and ferromagnetism within π/3 < θ < 2π/3, which is related to the former phase at smaller θ by a combined operation of spin-flip and gauge transformation. Furthermore, our findings provide insights and directions for experimental search for exotic superconductivity in twisted TMD systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Possible Observation of Quadrupole Waves in Spin Nematics

Discovery of new states of matter is a key objective in modern condensed matter physics, which often leads to revolutionary technological advancements such as superconductivity. Quantum spin nematic, a “hidden order” that evades conventional magnetic probes, is one such state. Na 2 ⁢BaNi⁢(PO 4 ) 2 is a potential spin nematic material, suggested by the observation of a two-magnon Bose-Einstein condensation from above the saturation field. However, direct confirmation of the spin nematicity remains elusive. Here, this Letter presents inelastic neutron scattering spectra from the putative spin nematic phases of Na 2⁢ BaNi⁢(PO 4 ) 2 , revealing low-energy quadrupole waves that are absent in the neighboring conventional magnetic phases. A spin-one model quantitatively captures the full details of the spin excitation spectra across all low-temperature phases, providing direct evidence of the spin nematic orders. Additionally, we show evidence of the three-magnon continuum and two-magnon bound states in the 1/3-magnetization plateau, revealing condensation of the two-magnon bound state as the origin of the low-field spin nematic supersolid phase.

Sheng, Jieming [Southern University of Science and↗

Ionization waves in low-current dc discharges in noble gases obtained with a hybrid kinetic-fluid model

A hybrid kinetic-fluid model is used to study ionization waves (striations) in a low-current plasma column of dc discharges in noble gases. Coupled solutions of a kinetic equation for electrons, a drift-diffusion equation for ions, and a Poisson equation for the electric field are obtained to clarify the nature of plasma stratification in the positive column. A simplified two-level excitation-ionization model is used for the conditions when the nonlinear effects due to stepwise ionization, gas heating, and Coulomb interactions among electrons are negligible. It is confirmed that the nonlocal effects are responsible for the formation of moving striations in dc discharges at low plasma densities and low values of pR (the product of gas pressure and tube radius). Here, the calculated properties of self-excited waves of S–, P–, and R types in neon and S type in argon agree with available experimental data. The reason for helium plasma stability to stratification is clarified. It is shown that sustaining stratified plasma is more efficient than striation-free plasma when the ionization rate is a nonlinear function of the electric field. However, the nonlinear dependence of the ionization rate on the electric field is not required for plasma stratification. Striations of S–, P–, and R types in neon exist with minimal or no ionization enhancement. Effects of the column length and plasma density on the wave properties are demonstrated.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Wave Tank Testing Report for Controls Validation of a Heaving Point Absorber

The core objectives of this project is to improve the power capture of three different wave energy conversion (WEC) devices by more than 50% using an advanced control system and validate the attained improvements using wave tank and full scale testing. In parallel, we will bring along the development of a wave prediction system that is required to enable effective control and test it at full scale. The purposes of this report are to: 1. Plan and document the 1/25th scale device testing at the wave-tank facility; 2. Document the test article, setup and methodology, sensor and instrumentation, mooring, electronics, wiring, and data flow and quality assurance; 3. Communicate the testing results between the associated members; 4. Facilitate reviews that will help to ensure all aspects (risk, safety, testing procedures, etc.); 5. Provide a systematic guide to setting up, executing and decommissioning the experiment.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Anisotropic topological surface states in thin-film monoclinic Ag 2 Se

Silver chalcogenide systems have recently attracted significant attention due to their promising topological insulating properties. Here we conducted systematic low-temperature local scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and first-principles studies on the surface states of monoclinic Ag 2 Se thin films grown using molecular beam epitaxy. Through the use of quasi-particle interference patterns, we have observed evidence for topological surface states on the selenium-terminated surfaces with different types of defect densities. The results of ab initio calculations confirm the existence of nontrivial topological surface states in the monoclinic Ag 2 Se structure, for which such properties have not been previously reported. The energy dispersion determined using voltage-dependent standing wave patterns suggests that these topological states have an anisotropic Dirac cone structure. In conclusion, this discovery may lead to new applications for monoclinic Ag 2 Se in the rapidly growing fields of nanoelectronics and spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hydraulic fracturing experiments at 1500 m depth in a deep mine: Highlights from the kISMET project

In support of the U.S. DOE SubTER Crosscut initiative, we established a field test facility in a deep mine and designed and carried out in situ hydraulic fracturing experiments relevant to enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in crystalline rock to characterize the stress field, understand the effects of rock fabric on fracturing, and gain experience in monitoring using geophysical methods. The project also included pre- and post-fracturing simulation and analysis, and laboratory measurements and experiments. The kISMET (permeability (k) and Induced Seismicity Management for Energy Technologies) site was established in the West Access Drift of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) 4757 ft (1450 m) below ground (on the 4850 ft level (4850L)) in phyllite of the Precambrian Poorman Formation. We drilled and continuously cored five near-vertical boreholes in a line on 3 m (10 ft) spacing, deviating the two outermost boreholes slightly to create a five-spot pattern around the test borehole centered in the test volume 40 m below the drift invert (floor) at a total depth of ~1490 m (4890 ft). Laboratory measurements of core from the center test borehole showed P-wave velocity heterogeneity along each core indicating strong, fine-scale (~1 cm or smaller) changes in the mechanical properties of the rock. Field measurements of the stress field by hydraulic fracturing showed that the minimum horizontal stress at the kISMET site averages 21.7 MPa (3146 psi) trending approximately N-S (356 degrees azimuth) and plunging slightly NNW at 12°. The vertical and horizontal maximum stresses are similar in magnitude at 42-44 MPa (6090-6380 psi) for the depths of testing, which averaged approximately 1530 m (5030 ft). Hydraulic fractures were remarkably uniform suggesting core-scale and larger rock fabric did not play a role in controlling fracture orientation. Analytical solutions suggest that the fracture radius of the large fracture (stimulation test) was more than 6 m (20 ft), depending on the unknown amount of leak-off.

Oldenburg, C↗

Nondestructive Evaluation of Stress Corrosion Cracking in a Welded Steel Plate Using Guided Ultrasonic Waves

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) had occurred in early-generation high-level nuclear waste tanks constructed by welding carbon steel. This paper describes an ultrasonic inspection system and its fundamental ability to detect and quantify the length of SCC on thick welded steel plates. The finite element method (FEM) was applied to simulate the welding process to estimate the welding residual stress field. Growth of stress corrosion cracks is driven by crack stress intensities exceeding the subcritical cracking threshold intensity. The subject plate was experimentally inspected with ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to characterize the extent of SCC. The NDE system uses a piezoelectric transducer to generate guided waves in the thick steel plate, and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) to measure multidimensional time–space wavefield data over a user-defined scanning area in the plate surface. The measured wavefield data can show wave interactions in a localized area in the plate due to the presence of the discontinuities of the SCC. To generate an inspection image that can precisely show the crack’s location and/or the dimension, the wavefield data are further processed to generate inspection image that maps the entire sample plate so the crack can be clearly identified in the plate while its length can be readily estimated. In conclusion, the ultrasonic test results for crack length agree well with the visually estimated length and are close to that predicted by the FEM for cracks in the weld residual stress field.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Topological freeze-out by semi-annihilation

We point out that a QCD-like dark sector can be coupled to the Standard Model by gauging the topological Skyrme current, which measures the dark baryon number in the infrared, to give a technically natural model for dark matter. This coupling allows for a semi-annihilation process χχ → χX μ , where X μ is the gauge boson mediator and χ a dark pion field, which plays the dominant role in setting the dark matter relic abundance. The topological interaction is purely p-wave and so free from indirect detection constraints. We show that the dark matter pion mass needs to be in the range 10 MeV ≲ m χ ≲ 1 TeV; towards the lighter end of this range, there can moreover be significant self-interactions. We discuss prospects for probing this scenario at collider experiments, ranging from the LHC to low-energy e + e − colliders, future Higgs factories, and beam-dump experiments.

Models for Dark Matter↗

A Gauss-Radau-Laguerre Discrete Variable Representation for Use in Continuum Electron Dynamics

In this work, we detail an implementation, suitable for calculations on highly correlated ionizing systems, of a modified finite element discrete variable representation (FE-DVR) appended with a Gauss-Radau-Laguerre element. The appended element includes exterior complex scaling (ECS) to impose outgoing wave boundary conditions on treatments of processes involving continuum electrons. In this “infinite range” ECS (irECS), the complications that introduce reflections from the end of the grid when the last ECS finite element has finite range are avoided by the use of the Laguerre-weighted exponentially decaying tails, while outgoing wave boundary conditions are still imposed via the ECS transformation. For highly correlated systems in the absence of strong external fields we find that accurate two-electron integrals are essential in this modified FE-DVR. To accurately compute the two-electron integrals over the entire ECS contour, we present a detailed examination of the implications from the boundary terms that arise in a solution of Poisson’s equation with the Radau-Laguerre basis. A boundary term correction is necessary, and when included, the Radau-Laguerre DVR can accurately describe highly correlated states such as the doubly excited states of helium over the entire ECS contour.

elements↗

i -Wave Symmetry Altermagnetism and Anomalous Hall Conductivity in Monolayer FeCl 3

In this work, the FeCl 3 monolayer is proposed to host a rare and exotic i -wave symmetry altermagnetism. Using first-principles calculations, we performed a detailed investigation of the structural stability and electronic, magnetic, and spintronic properties of monolayer FeCl 3 . Our results suggest the system is semiconducting in nature and exhibits i-wave symmetry nonrelativistic spin splitting (NRSS), originating from its hexagonal crystal structure with roto-inversion symmetries and anisotropic crystal field. The momentum-resolved spin-splitting further supports the presence of spin-dependent topological features. Further, the monolayer exhibits sizable conventional spin-Hall and anomalous Hall conductivities, highlighting its promise as a versatile platform for next-generation flexo-spintronic applications.

altermagnetism↗

Theoretical investigation of the triggering of neoclassical tearing modes by transient resonant magnetic perturbations in NSTX

The extended perturbed equilibrium code asymptotic matching code is used to simulate the triggering of n = 1 neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) by a pulsed, rotating, n = 1, resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) in two example NSTX discharges. Although the two discharges are significantly different from one another, the results of the two sets of simulations are quite similar. The critical n = 1 RMP pulse amplitude required to trigger an n = 1 NTM is minimized when the RMP pulse rotation frequency matches the linear natural frequency of an n = 1 tearing mode, resonant within the plasma, that is metastable to an NTM. However, if there is a frequency mismatch, then the seed magnetic island chain driven at the relevant resonant surface is forced to rotate with respect to the RMP, because the RMP pulse amplitude is nowhere near sufficient to lock the island chain to the RMP. This rotation causes the critical RMP pulse amplitude required to trigger an NTM to oscillate as the RMP pulse duration is varied. Furthermore, the critical amplitude is minimized when the RMP pulse duration is such that seed island chain executes a half-integer number of rotations with respect to the pulse. All of the minima have the same value.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Eigenmode twist by energy flux during fast-ion driven instabilities

Twisting of the spatial structure of eigenmodes by energy fluxes generated due to the spatial channeling (SC)—the fast-ion energy and momentum transfer across the magnetic field by destabilized modes—is considered. It is revealed that there is a correlation between the direction of the radial wave energy flux, orientation of the mode twist (MT), and the direction of mode rotation. The mode twist parameter is introduced and relations connecting it with the energy flux are established. It is shown the energy flux transforms zeros of the radial profile of the mode amplitude into minima (i.e., zeros disappear). It is found that the radial group velocity and phase velocity of reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAEs) have opposite directions. These findings can be used for diagnostics of the energy fluxes during fast-ion driven instabilities and understanding whether the SC degrades or improves plasma performance. Specific calculations are carried out for fast magnetoacoustic modes, FMMs (known also as compressional Alfvén eigenmodes, CAEs), and Alfvén eigenmodes, AEs. A DIII-D experiment where RSAEs were observed is considered. It is concluded that an outward SC took place in this experiment. Peculiarities of various modes are discussed, which may explain why twisting of AEs, but not of FMMs, was observed experimentally in the DIII-D and NSTX tokamaks.

Kolesnichenko, Ya. I. (ORCID:0000000323219681)↗