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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Skyrmion superconductivity: DMRG evidence for a topological route to superconductivity

It was recently suggested that the topology of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene's (MATBG) flat bands could provide a novel mechanism for superconductivity distinct from both weakly coupled BCS theory and the d-wave phenomenology of the high-T c cuprates. In this work, we examine this possibility using a density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) study of a model which captures the essential features of MATBG's symmetry and topology. Here, using large-scale cylinder-DMRG calculations to obtain the ground state and its excitations as a function of the electron doping, we find clear evidence for superconductivity driven by the binding of electrons into charge-2e skyrmions. Remarkably, this binding is observed even in the regime where the unscreened Coulomb repulsion is by far the largest energy scale, demonstrating the robustness of this topological, all-electronic pairing mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

The contribution of bends and constrictions of a superconducting film to the photon detection by a single-photon superconducting detector

The contribution of bends and constrictions by a superconducting film to the detection by a single photon superconducting detector is investigated. It has been shown that, for currents smaller than the minimal detection current of a straight film, the detection efficiency of a film with a constriction attains saturation upon an increase in the current, which coincides qualitatively with the behavior of this dependence observed in the experiment. It has also been found that the effect of bends in the film and the external magnetic field on the detection efficiency for low-energy photons is essential, while for high-energy photons no such influence is observed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Correlated charge noise and relaxation errors in superconducting qubits

In This report, the central challenge in building a quantum computer is error correction. Unlike classical bits, which are susceptible to only one type of error, quantum bits (“qubits”) are susceptible to two types of error, corresponding to flips of the qubit state about the X- and Z-directions. While the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle precludes simultaneous monitoring of X- and Z-flips on a single qubit, it is possible to encode quantum information in large arrays of entangled qubits that enable accurate monitoring of all errors in the system, provided the error rate is low. Another crucial requirement is that errors cannot be correlated. Here, we characterize a superconducting multiqubit circuit and find that charge fluctuations are highly correlated on a length scale over 600 µm; moreover, discrete charge jumps are accompanied by a strong transient suppression of qubit energy relaxation time across the millimeter-scale chip. The resulting correlated errors are explained in terms of the charging event and phonon-mediated quasiparticle poisoning associated with absorption of gamma rays and cosmic-ray muons in the qubit substrate. Robust quantum error correction will require the development of mitigation strategies to protect multiqubit arrays from correlated errors due to particle impacts.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ga lithography in sputtered niobium for superconductive micro and nanowires

This work demonstrates the use of focused ion beam (FIB) implanted Ga as a lithographic mask for plasma etching of Nb films. Using a highly collimated Ga beam of a FIB, Nb is implanted 12 nm deep with a 14 nm thick Ga layer providing etch selectivity better than 15:1 with fluorine based etch chemistry. Implanted square test patterns, both 10 μm by 10 μm and 100 μm by 100 μm, demonstrate that doses above than 7.5 × 10{sup 15 }cm{sup −2} at 30 kV provide adequate mask protection for a 205 nm thick, sputtered Nb film. The resolution of this dry lithographic technique is demonstrated by fabrication of nanowires 75 nm wide by 10 μm long connected to 50 μm wide contact pads. The residual resistance ratio of patterned Nb films was 3. The superconducting transition temperature (T{sub c}) = 7.7 K was measured using a magnetic properties measurement system. This nanoscale, dry lithographic technique was extended to sputtered TiN and Ta here and could be used on other fluorine etched superconductors such as NbN, NbSi, and NbTi.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Dimensional reduction and ionic gating induced enhancement of superconductivity in atomically thin crystals of 2H-TaSe 2

The effects of dimensional reduction and ion intercalation on superconductivity (SC) in the presence of charge density waves (CDWs) in two-dimensional crystals of 2H-TaSe 2 were characterized. We prepared atomically thin crystals by mechanical exfoliation and performed electrical transport measurements on devices made by photolithography. The superconducting transition temperature ($T$ $^{SC}_{c}$) was found to increase monotonically as the thickness decreased, changing from 0.14 K in the bulk to higher than 1.4 K for a 3-nm-thick crystal. Here, the temperature dependence of upper critical field was found to be anomalous. The CDW transition temperature ($T$ $^{CDW}_{c}$) was found to decrease, but to a less extent than $T$ $^{SC}_{c}$, from 120 K in the bulk to around 113 K for the 3-nm-thick crystal. In addition, ion intercalation was found to increase $T$ $^{SC}_{c}$ and suppress $T$ $^{CDW}_{c}$ in an atomically thin crystal of 2H-TaSe 2 . The implications of these findings are discussed. We suggest that dimensional reduction and ion intercalation are potentially effective ways to engineer material properties for layered transition metal chalcogenides.

2D material↗
DOE OSTI2019

Dynamics and Critical Currents in Fast Superconducting Vortices at High pulsed Magnetic Fields [Novel Dynamics and Critical Currents in Fast Superconducting Vortices at High pulsed Magnetic Fields]

Nonlinear electrical transport studies at high pulsed magnetic fields, above the range accessible by dc magnets, are of direct fundamental relevance to the physics of superconductors, domain-wall, charge-density waves, and topological semimetal. All-superconducting very high field magnets also make it technologically relevant to study vortex matter in this regime. However, pulsed magnetic fields reaching 100 T in milliseconds impose technical and fundamental challenges that have prevented the realization of these studies. Here, we present a technique for sub-microsecond smart current-voltage measurements, which enables the determination of the superconducting critical current in pulsed magnetic fields, beyond the reach of any dc magnet. We demonstrate the excellent agreement of this technique with low dc field measurements on Y 0.77 Gd 0.23 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 coated conductors with and without BaHfO 3 nanoparticles. Exploring the uncharted high-magnetic-field region, we discover a characteristic influence of the magnetic field rate of change ( dH/dt ) on the current-voltage curves in a superconductor. As a result, we fully capture this unexplored vortex physics through a theoretical model based on the asymmetry of the vortex-velocity profile produced by the applied current.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Integration of Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) Systems Optimized with Second-Generation, High-Temperature Superconducting (2G-HTS) Technology with a Major Fossil-Fueled Asset

Utility companies and fossil fueled generation assets are seeking combinations of “hybrid energy storage” to allow power to be provided in advance of, and to otherwise complement, peaking natural gas-fired generation. American Maglev Technology of Florida Inc. (AMT) learned during the Phase I program based on interactions with NRG Energy (NRG) that energy storage such as superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) can qualify as a Black Start unit in most markets, ensuring orderly re-start of grid operations and fossil fueled power plants and serving as an important asset of hybrid energy storage technology. In conjunction with the University of Houston (UH), AMT and NRG are working together to scale up low-cost, high- efficiency, second-generation high-temperature superconducting (2G-HTS) technology for deployment across several markets, with a primary focus on the commercial development of utility grid-scale SMES (g-SMES) systems. Ultimately the program confirmed that the novel g-SMES design can meet the performance and financial requirements of the fossil power plant industry, while exhibiting continuous grid-voltage regulation; cost-effective, peak-hour energy storage with almost infinite life; increased input/output efficiency; and the capability to undergo millions of charging cycles, without degradation, representing a significant improvement over lithium ion and other conventional storage technologies. We believe wide scale deployment of this technology is feasible and practical when compared to the higher life cycle cost and relatively short lifespan of chemical batteries. Based on these findings, the future for deployment of SMES at many fossil-fueled power plants exceeding 100MW capability is bright. Further de-risking g-SMES technology would pave the way for the construction of a subscale prototype. Eventually, scaled-down versions of SMES are expected to be competitive with the multi-billion-dollar lithium-ion market for a wide range of commercial, industrial, and transportation uses. There is long-term potential for commercialization and widespread deployment of this disruptive technology, which would spawn a new worldwide supply chain and create domestic, high-tech manufacturing jobs in the green industry.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Transient superconductivity without superconductivity

Recent experiments on K 3 C 60 and layered copper-oxide materials have reported substantial changes in the optical response following application of an intense THz pulse. These data have been interpreted as the stimulation of a transient superconducting state even at temperatures well above the equilibrium transition temperature. We propose an alternative phenomenology based on the assumption that the pulse creates a nonsuperconducting, though nonequilibrium, situation in which the linear response conductivity is negative. The negative conductivity implies that the spatially uniform prepulse state is unstable and evolves to a new state with a spontaneous electric polarization. Furthermore, this state exhibits coupled oscillations of entropy and electric charge whose coupling to incident probe radiation modifies the reflectivity, leading to an apparently superconductinglike response that resembles the data. Dependencies of the reflectivity on polarization and angle of incidence of the probe are predicted and other experimental consequences are discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Metastable CaSH 3 Phase Composed of HS Honeycomb Sheets that is Superconducting Under Pressure

Evolutionary searches have predicted a number of ternary Ca–S–H phases that could be synthesized at pressures of 100–300 GPa. P6 3 /mmc CaSH 2 , Pnma CaSH 2 , Cmc2 1 CaSH 6 , and I$\bar{4}$CaSH 20 were composed of a Ca–S lattice along with H 2 molecules coordinated in a “side-on” fashion to Ca. The H–H bond lengths in these semiconducting phases were elongated because of H 2 σ → Ca d donation, and Ca d → H 2 σ* back-donation, via a Kubas-like mechanism. P$\bar{6}$m2 CaSH 3 , consisting of two-dimensional HS and CaH 2 sheets, was metastable and metallic above 128 GPa. The presence of van Hove singularities increased its density of states at the Fermi level and concomitantly the superconducting critical temperature, which was estimated to be as high as ~100 K at 128 GPa. Furthermore, this work will inspire the search for superconductivity in materials based upon honeycomb HX (X = S, Se, Te) and MH 2 (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) layers under pressure.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Prediction of intrinsic topological superconductivity in Mn-doped GeTe monolayer from first-principles

The recent discovery of topological superconductors (TSCs) has sparked enormous interest. The realization of TSC requires a delicate tuning of multiple microscopic parameters, which remains a great challenge. Here, we develop a first-principles approach to quantify realistic conditions of TSC by solving self-consistently Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation based on a Wannier function construction of band structure, in presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling, Zeeman splitting and electron-phonon coupling. We further demonstrate the power of this method by predicting the Mn-doped GeTe (Ge 1- x Mn x Te) monolayer—a well-known dilute magnetic semiconductor showing superconductivity under hole doping—to be a Class D TSC with Chern number of -1 and chiral Majorana edge modes. By constructing a first-principles phase diagram in the parameter space of temperature and Mn concentration, we propose the TSC phase can be induced at a lower-limit transition temperature of ~40 mK and the Mn concentration of x ~0.015%. Our approach can be generally applied to TSCs with a phonon-mediated pairing, providing useful guidance for future experiments.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2020

Superconductivity and strong correlations in moiré flat bands

Strongly correlated systems can give rise to spectacular phenomenology, from high-temperature superconductivity to the emergence of states of matter characterized by long-range quantum entanglement. Low-density flat-band systems play a vital role because the energy range of the band is so narrow that the Coulomb interactions dominate over kinetic energy, putting these materials in the strongly-correlated regime. Experimentally, when a band is narrow in both energy and momentum, its filling may be tuned in situ across the whole range, from empty to full. Recently, one particular flat-band system—that of van der Waals heterostructures, such as twisted bilayer graphene—has exhibited strongly correlated states and superconductivity, but it is still not clear to what extent the two are linked. As a result, we review the status and prospects for flat-band engineering in van der Waals heterostructures and explore how both phenomena emerge from the moiré flat bands.

Balents, Leon↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effects of heating power on divertor in-out asymmetry and scrape-off layer flow in reversed field on Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak

The dependence of divertor asymmetry and scrape-off layer (SOL) flow on heating power has been investigated in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). Divertor plasma exhibits an outboard-enhanced in-out asymmetry in heat flux in lower single null configuration for in reversed (ion ∇B drift direction toward the upper X-point) field directions. Upper single null exhibits an inboard-favored asymmetry in low heating power condition, while exhibits an outboard-favored asymmetry when increasing the heating power. Double null has the strongest in-out asymmetry in heat flux, favoring the outer divertor. The in-out asymmetry ratios of q{sub t,out}/q{sub t,in} and P{sub out}/P{sub total} increase with the power across the separatrix P{sub loss}, which is probably induced by the enhanced radial particle transport due to a large pressure gradient. The characteristics of the measured SOL parallel flow under various discharge conditions are consistent with the Pfirsch-Schlüter (PS) flow with the parallel Mach number M{sub ∥} decreasing with the line averaged density but increasing with P{sub loss}, in the same direction as the PS flow. The contributions of both poloidal E×B drift and parallel flow on poloidal particle transport in SOL on EAST are also assessed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗