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At least 1,477 records · Page 82

Smectic pair-density-wave order in EuRbFe 4 As 4

The pair density wave (PDW) is a superconducting state in which Cooper pairs carry centre-of-mass momentum in equilibrium, leading to the breaking of translational symmetry. Experimental evidence for such a state exists in high magnetic field and in some materials that feature density-wave orders that explicitly break translational symmetry. However, evidence for a zero-field PDW state that exists independent of other spatially ordered states has so far been elusive. Here we show that such a state exists in the iron pnictide superconductor EuRbFe 4 As 4 , a material that features co-existing superconductivity (superconducting transition temperature ( T c ) ≈ 37 kelvin) and magnetism (magnetic transition temperature ( T m ) ≈ 15 kelvin). Using spectroscopic imaging scanning tunnelling microscopy (SI-STM) measurements, we show that the superconducting gap at low temperature has long-range, unidirectional spatial modulations with an incommensurate period of about eight unit cells. Upon increasing the temperature above Tm, the modulated superconductor disappears, but a uniform superconducting gap survives to T c . When an external magnetic field is applied, gap modulations disappear inside the vortex halo. The SI-STM and bulk measurements show the absence of other density-wave orders, indicating that the PDW state is a primary, zero-field superconducting state in this compound. FInally, both four-fold rotational symmetry and translation symmetry are recovered above T m , indicating that the PDW is a smectic order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Loop-current charge density wave driven by long-range Coulomb repulsion on the kagomé lattice

Recent experiments on vanadium-based nonmagnetic kagomé metals A⁢V 3 ⁢Sb 5 ⁢(A=K,Rb,Cs) revealed evidence for possible spontaneous time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking in the charge density wave (CDW) ordered state. The long-sought-after quantum order of loop currents has been suggested as a candidate for the TRS breaking state. However, a microscopic model for the emergence of the loop-current CDW due to electronic correlations is still lacking. Here, in this work, we calculate the susceptibility of the real and imaginary bond orders on the kagomé lattice near van Hove filling, and reveal the importance of next-nearest-neighbor Coulomb repulsion V 2 in triggering the instability toward imaginary bond ordered CDW. The concrete effective single-orbital t–V 1 –V 2 model on the kagomé lattice is then studied, where t and V 1 are the hopping and Coulomb repulsion on the nearest-neighbor bonds. We obtain the mean-field ground states, analyze their properties, and determine the phase diagram in the plane spanned by V 1 and V 2 at van Hove filling. The region dominated by V 1 is occupied by a 2⁢a 0 ×2⁢a 0 real CDW insulator with the inverse of Star-of-David (ISD) bond configuration. Increasing V 2 indeed drives a first-order transition from ISD to stabilized loop-current insulators that exhibit four possible current patterns of different topological properties, leading to orbital Chern insulators. We then extend these results away from van Hove filling and show that electron doping helps the stabilization of loop currents, and gives rise to doped orbital Chern insulators with emergent Chern Fermi pockets carrying large Berry curvature and orbital magnetic moment. Our findings provide a concrete model realization of the loop-current Chern metal at the mean-field level for the TRS breaking normal state of the kagomé superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

QCD equation of state at finite chemical potentials for relativistic nuclear collisions

In this work, we review the equation of state of QCD matter at finite densities. We discuss the construction of the equation of state with net baryon number, electric charge, and strangeness using the results of lattice QCD simulations and hadron resonance gas models. Its application to the hydrodynamic analyses of relativistic nuclear collisions suggests that the interplay of multiple conserved charges is important in the quantitative understanding of the dense nuclear matter created at lower beam energies. Several different models of the QCD equation of state are discussed for comparison.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Quantum Computing Algorithms and Applications for Coherent and Strongly Correlated Chemical Systems

This project advanced quantum algorithms, quantum information theory, strongly correlated electronic structure methods, molecular quantum materials, and exciton transport imaging in coherent condensed phase systems. Across the award period, the team developed new methods for open-quantum-system simulation, Hamiltonian learning, state tomography, reduced-density-matrix and contracted-quantum eigensolver approaches, and quantum diagnostics for device capability and openness.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Inherent issues regarding the use of in situ x-ray diffraction measurements to determine temperature in shock-compressed metals

Temperature determination in shock compressed solids constitutes an important and long-standing scientific need. Since the reduction of Bragg diffracted peaks due to temperature increase, using the Debye-Waller factor, is well established, we examined the use of this approach to determine temperatures in shock compressed gold and platinum by representing the shocked state as a superposition of density and temperature changes. Comparison of the calculated and measured diffraction peaks did not show good agreement, because x-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles in the shock compressed state are not governed solely by density and temperature changes. XRD results are also influenced measurably by shock wave induced microstructural changes. Our results demonstrate that contributions from microstructural changes need to be incorporated and modeled in the theoretical analysis to use XRD measurements for reliable temperature determination in shock compressed solids.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Observation of dimension-crossover of a tunable 1D Dirac fermion in topological semimetal NbSi x Te 2

Condensed matter systems in low dimensions exhibit emergent physics that does not exist in three dimensions. When electrons are confined to one dimension (1D), some significant electronic states appear, such as charge density wave, spin-charge separations, and Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) topological state. However, a clear understanding of how the 1D electronic properties connects with topology is currently lacking. Here we systematically investigated the characteristic 1D Dirac fermion electronic structure originated from the metallic NbTe 2 chains on the surface of the composition-tunable layered compound NbSi x Te 2 (x = 0.40 and 0.43) using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We found the Dirac fermion forms a Dirac nodal line structure protected by the combined $\widetilde {M_y}$ and time-reversal symmetry T and proves the NbSi x Te2 system as a topological semimetal, in consistent with the ab-initio calculations. As x decreases, the interaction between adjacent NbTe 2 chains increases and Dirac fermion goes through a dimension-crossover from 1D to 2D, as evidenced by the variation of its Fermi surface and Fermi velocity across the Brillouin zone in consistence with a Dirac SSH model. Our findings demonstrate a tunable 1D Dirac electron system, which offers a versatile platform for the exploration of intriguing 1D physics and device applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On the Azimuthal Variation of Core Plasma in the Equatorial Magnetosphere

Previous results of plasmapause position surveys have been synthesized into a description of the underlying global distribution of plasmasphere-like or core plasma densities unique to a steady state magnetosphere. Under these steady conditions, the boundary between high- and low-density regions is taken to represent the boundary between diurnal near-corotation and large-scale circulation streamlines that traverse the entire magnetosphere. Results indicate a boundary that has a pronounced bulge in the dusk sector that is rotated westward and markedly reduced in size at increased levels of geomagnetic activity (and presumably magnetospheric convection). The derived profile is empirical confirmation of an underlying 'tear drop' distribution of core plasma, which is valid only for prolonged steady conditions and is somewhat different from that associated with the simple superposition of sunward flow and corotation, both in its detailed shape and in its varying orientation. Variation away from the tear drop profile suggests that magnetospheric circulation departs from a uniform flow field, having a radial dependence with respect to the Earth that is qualitatively consistent with electrostatic shielding of the convection electric field and which is rotated westward at increased levels of geophysical activity.

Gallagher, D. L.↗

Self-Forming Thin Interphases and Electrodes Enabling 3-D Structured High Energy Density Batteries

An electrolytically in-situ formed fluoride/lithium based battery has been developed to offer a pathway to scalable reconfigurable solid state batteries of high energy density. Research into the development of novel in-situ formed chemistries encompassing the negative and positive reactive current collectors, and the bi-ion glass conductor along with electrode structure was accomplished with a focused attention on transport. The solid state in-situ batteries were fabricated with a maskless scalable patterning technique to offer a pathway to high throughput, low material loss and fabrication of complex architectures. Such development and integration enabled to achieve the 12 V bipolar batteries at > 1000 Wh/L energy density based on electrode pairs and current collectors.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Design and Development of Advanced Air-Cathodes for Li-Air Battery

NASA's future missions demand high energy density batteries. Current state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) reach the specific energy capacity limits (<250 Wh/kg), thus new electrochemical storage technologies are needed to meet NASA's future mission requirement of >400 Wh/kg. Battery chemistries with higher theoretical energy densities in particular, Li-metal based battery chemistries such as Li-air, are being actively pursued, but there remains a number of issues to be solved. Development of advanced and optimized air cathodes will be crucial for improving capacity retention and cycle life of Li-air battery. The microstructure of carbon substrates and the catalytic oxygen reduction of the air-cathode play critical roles in the electrochemical performance in Li-air batteries. With the development and proper design of air cathodes, the energy efficiency and energy density can be enhanced significantly. In this presentation, the results of advanced permeable air cathodes design with different substrates such as 2D carbon paper or carbon cloth, vs 3D graphene or metal foam, different high surface area carbon materials and incorporation with catalysts on oxygen reduction reactions, different porosity controlling of air cathode as well the additives in electrolyte will be presented. The cycling and rate capability performance of these air-cathodes in the Li-air cells will be discussed as well.

Wu, James J.↗

Relativistic Shapiro Delay Measurements of an Extremely Massive Millisecond Pulsar

Despite its importance to our understanding of physics at supranuclear densities, the equation of state (EoS) of matter deep within neutron stars remains poorly understood. Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are among the most useful astrophysical objects in the Universe for testing fundamental physics, and place some of the most stringent constraints on this high-density EoS. Pulsar timing—the process of accounting for every rotation of a pulsar over long time periods—can precisely measure a wide variety of physical phenomena, including those that allow the measurement of the masses of the components of a pulsar binary system1. One of these, called relativistic Shapiro delay2, can yield precise masses for both an MSP and its companion; however, it is only easily observed in a small subset of high-precision, highly inclined (nearly edge-on) binary pulsar systems. By combining data from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) 12.5-yr data set with recent orbitalphase- specific observations using the Green Bank Telescope, we have measured the mass of the MSP J0740+6620 to be 2.14+0:10-0:09 M⊙ (68.3% credibility interval; the 95.4% credibility interval is 2.14+0:20-0:18 M⊙). It is highly likely to be the most massive neutron star yet observed, and serves as a strong constraint on the neutron star interior EoS.

H T Cromartie↗

Efficient Multiscale Optoelectronic Prediction for Conjugated Polymers

Conjugated polymers represent a high-potential material class due to the tunability of their optoelectronic properties via straightforward processing protocols. However, to in silico tailor these optoelectronic properties, one must compute the conformationally dependent electronic structure over mesoscopic length and time scales. This task represents a challenging multiscale computational problem in which quantum chemistry and atomistic or coarse-grained molecular dynamics must be integrated. Recently, we introduced a methodology, called electronic coarse graining (ECG), that utilizes artificial neural networks to compute ab initio quality electronic structures using only the reduced degrees of freedom of coarse-grained models. Here, we adapt ECG to variable-molecular weight conjugated oligomers by casting the problem in the framework of sequence detection. A machine-learning (ML) architecture employing one-dimensional convolutional neural networks and long short-term memory networks is utilized to compute ground-state orbital energies, charge density distributions, and optical spectra solely from the coarse-grained model's configurational degrees of freedom. Robust molecular weight transferability for ECG is established via a A-ML approach that leverages model electronic Hamiltonians for ground and excited-state property determination. The accuracy and transferability of the ECG methodology opens the door for scalable optoelectronic property prediction in conjugated polymers directly from coarse-grained degrees of freedom.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Theoretical examination of covalency in berkelium(IV) carbonate complexes

Experimental studies on the speciation of berkelium in carbonate media have shown that complexation of berkelium(III) by carbonate results in spontaneous oxidation to berkelium(IV) and that multiple species can be present in solution. We studied two proposed structures present in solution based on theoretical comparisons with spectroscopic data previously reported for Bk(IV) carbonate solutions. The multiconfigurational character of the ground and low-lying excited states in both complexes is demonstrated to result from the strong spin-orbit coupling. Although bonding in Bk(IV) carbonate and carbonate-hydroxide complexes is dominated by strong Coulombic forces, the presence of non-negligible covalent character is supported by ligand-field theory, natural localized orbitals, topological studies of the electron density, and energy transition state natural orbitals for chemical valence. Bond orders based on natural localized molecular orbitals show that Bk-OH bonds possess enhanced orbital overlap, which is reflected in the bond strength. This is also observed in the decomposition of the orbital interaction energy into individual deformation density pairs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Experimental and theoretical evidence of universality in superfluid vortex reconnections

The minimum separation between reconnecting vortices in fluids and superfluids obeys a universal scaling law with respect to time. The prereconnection and the postreconnection prefactors of this scaling law are different, a property related to irreversibility and to energy transfer and dissipation mechanisms. In the present work, we determine the temperature dependence of these prefactors in superfluid helium from experiments and a numeric model which fully accounts for the coupled dynamics of the superfluid vortex lines and the thermal normal fluid component. At all temperatures, we observe a pre- and postreconnection asymmetry similar to that observed in other superfluids and in classical viscous fluids, indicating that vortex reconnections display a universal behavior independent of the small-scale regularizing dynamics. We also numerically show that each vortex reconnection event represents a sudden injection of energy in the normal fluid. Finally we argue that in a turbulent flow, these punctuated energy injections can sustain the normal fluid in a perturbed state, provided that the density of superfluid vortices is large enough.

Reconnections↗