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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Constraining the nuclear spin distribution using improved 197 Au neutron resonance parameters

New neutron transmission data at resonance energies using a 197 Au sample were measured using an early version of the Device for Indirect Capture Experiments on Radionuclides (DICER), which is under development at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). These data were combined with previous neutron transmission and capture data in a simultaneous R-matrix analysis to extract improved neutron resonance parameters for this nuclide. As a result, total radiation widths, Γ γ , were obtained for 33 J=1 and 44 J=2 197 Au+n resonances. Γ γ distributions for these two spins states were compared to distributions calculated according to the nuclear statistical model using published nuclear level density (NLD) and photon strength functions (PSF) measured using the Oslo technique. The calculated distributions were found to be narrower and the average values for the two spins states closer together than the data. The calculation can be brought into agreement with the data by substantial modifications to the spin distribution in 198 Au as a function of excitation energy. As far as we know, the spin distribution currently is otherwise poorly constrained. The modified spin distribution changes the shapes of the NLD and PSF extracted using the Oslo technique and so could have broad implications.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nucleon localization function in rotating nuclei

An electron localization function was originally introduced to visualize in positional space bond structures in molecules. It became a useful tool to describe electron configurations in atoms, molecules, and solids. In nuclear physics, a nucleon localization function (NLF) has been used to characterize cluster structures in light nuclei, formation of fragments in fission, and pasta phases appearing in the inner crust of neutron stars. In the case of a deformed rotating nucleus, several NLFs can be introduced, depending on the definition of the spin-quantization axis, direction of the total angular momentum, and self-consistent symmetries of the system. Contributions to the NLF from the current density, spin-current tensor density, and density gradient terms are negligible in the nuclear interior. The oscillating pattern of the simplified NLF can be explained in terms of a constructive interference between kinetic-energy and particle densities. The characteristic nodal pattern seen in the NLF in the direction of major axis of a rotating nucleus comes from single-particle orbits carrying large aligned angular momentum. The variation of the NLF along the minor axis of the nucleus can be traced back to deformation-aligned orbits.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Chirality-induced spin selectivity as a mechanism to control product selectivity during electrochemical CO 2 reduction

Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction often suffers from competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which lowers efficiency and limits product selectivity. Recent studies suggest that electron spin, when controlled at an electrode surface, can influence reaction pathways, but direct evidence linking spin effects to suppressed HER has been limited. Here, in this work, we show that helical chiral copper (Cu) electrodes reduce competing HER during CO 2 reduction, consistent with spin polarization induced via the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect. The helically structured Cu electrodes are fabricated by electrodeposition with a chiral templating reagent. Time-resolved Kerr ellipticity measurements, which track spin-polarized carriers generated by an ultrafast Seebeck current, confirm spin accumulation at the chiral Cu surface. This spin polarization disfavours H—H bond formation, thereby suppressing HER and enabling formate production alongside CO. These findings demonstrate that chirality-based spin control offers a strategy for steering selectivity in CO 2 reduction and other reactions where HER is an undesired competitor.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tuning Spin-Orbit Torques Across the Phase Transition in VO 2 /NiFe Heterostructure

The emergence of spin-orbit torques as a promising approach to energy-efficient magnetic switching has generated large interest in material systems with easily and fully tunable spin-orbit torques. We report current-induced spin-orbit torques in VO 2 /NiFe heterostructures are investigated using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance, where the VO 2 layer undergoes a prominent insulator-metal transition. A roughly twofold increase in the Gilbert damping parameter, α, with temperature is attributed to the change in the VO 2 /NiFe interface spin absorption across the VO 2 phase transition. More remarkably, a large modulation (±100%) and a sign change of the current-induced spin-orbit torque across the VO 2 phase transition suggest two competing spin-orbit torque generating mechanisms. The bulk spin Hall effect in metallic VO 2 , corroborated by the first-principles calculation of the spin Hall conductivity σ SH ≈ -10 4 ($\frac{\hbar}{e}$) Ω -1 m -1 , is verified as the main source of the spin-orbit torque in the metallic phase. The self-induced/anomalous torque in NiFe, with opposite sign and a similar magnitude to the bulk spin Hall effect in metallic VO 2 , can be the other competing mechanism that dominates as temperature decreases. For applications, the strong tunability of the torque strength and direction opens a new route to tailor spin-orbit torques of materials that undergo phase transitions for new device functionalities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Deterministic Current–Induced Perpendicular Switching in Epitaxial Co/Pt Layers without an External Field

Current–induced spin–orbit torques (SOTs) have emerged as a powerful tool to control magnetic elements and non–uniform magnetic textures such as domain walls and skyrmions. SOT–induced switching of perpendicular magnetization generally requires an external field to break the rotational symmetry of the spin–orbit effective fields responsible for the deterministic reversal. The proposed mechanisms to eliminate this requirement often rely on complex multilayer structures that necessitate laborious optimization in the material and spin transport properties, making them less attractive for applications. Herein, current–induced, external field–free switching of an epitaxial MgO/Pt/Co trilayer with an extremely large perpendicular anisotropy in excess of 3 Tesla is reported. It is found that switching occurs due to the interplay of strong SOTs, local anisotropy fluctuations, and the Dzyaloshinkii–Moriya interaction inherent to this epitaxial system. Finally, given that these layers constitute the base stack of a magnetic tunnel junction, this switching mechanism offers the most technologically viable path toward devices such as field–free SOT–based magnetic random–access memories.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Manipulation of the van der Waals Magnet Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6 by Spin–Orbit Torques

In this work, we report measurements of current-induced thermoelectric and spin-orbit torque effects within devices in which multilayers of the semiconducting 2-dimensional van der Waals magnet Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6 (CGT) are integrated with Pt and Ta metal overlayers. We show that the magnetic orientation of the CGT can be detected accurately either electrically (using an anomalous Hall effect) or optically (using magnetic circular dichroism) with good consistency. The samples exhibit large thermoelectric effects, but nevertheless the spin-orbit torque can be measured quantitatively using the angle-dependent second harmonic Hall technique. For CGT/Pt we measure the spin-orbit torque efficiency to be similar to conventional metallic-ferromagnet/Pt devices with the same Pt resistivity. The interfacial transparency for spin currents is therefore similar in both classes of devices. Our results demonstrate the promise of incorporating semiconducting 2D magnets within spin-orbitronic and magneto-thermal devices.

2D magnets↗
NASA NTRS2005

Recreation Embedded State Tuning for Optimal Readiness and Effectiveness (RESTORE)

Physiological self-regulation training is a behavioral medicine intervention that has demonstrated capability to improve psychophysiological coping responses to stressful experiences and to foster optimal behavioral and cognitive performance. Once developed, these psychophysiological skills require regular practice for maintenance. A concomitant benefit of these physiologically monitored practice sessions is the opportunity to track crew psychophysiological responses to the challenges of the practice task in order to detect shifts in adaptability that may foretell performance degradation. Long-duration missions will include crew recreation periods that will afford physiological self-regulation training opportunities. However, to promote adherence to the regimen, the practice experience that occupies their recreation time must be perceived by the crew as engaging and entertaining throughout repeated reinforcement sessions on long-duration missions. NASA biocybernetic technologies and publications have developed a closed-loop concept that involves adjusting or modulating (cybernetic, for governing) a person's task environment based upon a comparison of that person's physiological responses (bio-) with a training or performance criterion. This approach affords the opportunity to deliver physiological self-regulation training in an entertaining and motivating fashion and can also be employed to create a conditioned association between effective performance state and task execution behaviors, while enabling tracking of individuals psychophysiological status over time in the context of an interactive task challenge. This paper describes the aerospace spin-off technologies in this training application area as well as the current spin-back application of the technologies to long-duration missions - the Recreation Embedded State Tuning for Optimal Readiness and Effectiveness (RESTORE) concept. The RESTORE technology is designed to provide a physiological self-regulation training countermeasure for maintaining and reinforcing cognitive readiness, resilience under psychological stress, and effective mood states in long-duration crews. The technology consists of a system for delivering physiological self-regulation training and for tracking crew central and autonomic nervous system function; the system interface is designed to be experienced as engaging and entertaining throughout repeated training sessions on long-duration missions. Consequently, this self-management technology has threefold capability for recreation, behavioral health problem prophylaxis and remediation, and psychophysiological assay. The RESTORE concept aims to reduce the risk of future manned exploration missions by enhancing the capability of individual crewmembers to self-regulate cognitive states through recreation-embedded training protocols to effectively deal with the psychological toll of long-duration space flight.

Pope, Alan T.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Operational requirements and the geostationary platform

For 22 years (from ATS-1 to GOES-H) a single technology has dominated imaging from geosynchronous altitudes. In 1990, with the scheduled launch of GOES-I, a major change will occur which will in turn open the way for the Geostationary Platform. The need for improved observations of severe storms has led NOAA to a decision to replace spinning geostationary spacecraft with a three-axis-stabilized type (non-spinning) vehicle already common among communications spacecraft and demonstrated by INSAT. Also, the current spin-scan imager with sounder channels will be replaced by separate instruments capable of independent aiming. The advantages and challenges of the changes are discussed.

Sparkman, James K., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Torque Reversal and Spin-Down of the Accretion-Powered Pulsar 4U 1626-67

Over 5 yr of hard X-ray (20-60 keV) monitoring of the 7.66 s accretion-powered pulsar 4U 1626-67 with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory/BATSE large-area detectors has revealed that the neutron star is now steadily spinning down, in marked contrast to the steady spin-up and spin-down torques differ by only 15% with the neutron star spin changing on a timescale |v/v| approximately equals 5000 yr in both states. The current spin-down rate is itself decreasing on a timescale |v/v| approximately equals 26 yr. The long-term timing history shows small-amplitude variations on a 4000 day timescale, which are probably due to variations in the mass transfer rate. The pulsed 20-60 keV emission from 4U 1626-67 is well-fitted by a power-law spectrum with photon index gamma = 4.9 and a typical pulsed intensity of 1.5 x 10(exp -10) ergs cm (exp -2)s(exp -1). The low count rates with BATSE prohibited us from constraining the reported 42 minute binary orbit, but we can rule out long-period orbits in the range 2 days < or = P(orb) < or = 900 days. We compare the long-term torque behavior of 4U 1626-67 to other disk-fed accreting pulsars and discuss the implications of our results for the various theories of magnetic accretion torques. The abrupt change in the sign of the torque is difficult to reconcile with the extremely smooth spin-down now observed. The strength of the torque noise in 4U 1626-67, approximately 10(exp -22) Hz(exp 2)s(exp -2) Hz(exp -1), is the smallest ever measured for an accreting X-ray pulsar, and it is comparable to the timing noise seen in young radio pulsars. We close by pointing out that the core temperature and external torque (the two parameters potentially relevant to internal sources of timing noise) of an accreting neutron star are also comparable to those of young radio pulsars.

Chakrabarty, Deepto L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Controlling the helicity of light by electrical magnetization switching

Controlling the intensity of emitted light and charge current is the basis of transferring and processing information. By contrast, robust information storage and magnetic random-access memories are implemented using the spin of the carrier and the associated magnetization in ferromagnets. In this study, the missing link between the respective disciplines of photonics, electronics and spintronics is to modulate the circular polarization of the emitted light, rather than its intensity, by electrically controlled magnetization. Here we demonstrate that this missing link is established at room temperature and zero applied magnetic field in light-emitting diodes through the transfer of angular momentum between photons, electrons and ferromagnets. With spin-orbit torque a charge current generates also a spin current to electrically switch the magnetization. This switching determines the spin orientation of injected carriers into semiconductors, in which the transfer of angular momentum from the electron spin to photon controls the circular polarization of the emitted light. The spin-photon conversion with the nonvolatile control of magnetization opens paths to seamlessly integrate information transfer, processing and storage. Our results provide substantial advances towards electrically controlled ultrafast modulation of circular polarization and spin injection with magnetization dynamics for the next-generation information and communication technology, including space-light data transfer. The same operating principle in scaled-down structures or using two-dimensional materials will enable transformative opportunities for quantum information processing with spin-controlled single-photon sources, as well as for implementing spin-dependent time-resolved spectroscopies.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Study of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, spin–orbit torque, and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in the heavy metal/CoFeB bilayers with Ir 22 Mn 78 insertion

The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), current-induced spin–orbit torques (SOTs), and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) in the as-grown W or Ta/Ir 22 Mn 78 (IrMn)/CoFeB/MgO stacks with varying IrMn layer thicknesses were investigated. The in-plane magnetized W/CoFeB/MgO sample becomes perpendicularly magnetized after inserting the IrMn layer without the requirement of the annealing process. The effective magnetization fields 4π Meff show a nonmonotonic dependence on the IrMn layer thickness, which reaches the maximum in magnitude at a thickness of tIrMn = 0.75 nm. The SOT effective fields corresponding to damping-like and field-like torques decrease with the insertion layer thickness. Moreover, the variation of the IrMn layer thickness leads to the change of the DMI in magnitude and sign change from positive (favoring right-handed chirality) to negative (favoring left-handed chirality). The realization of changing the PMA, SOTs, and DMI by inserting the IrMn layer provides more flexibility in the design of spintronic devices.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Theory of tunneling between two-dimensional electron layers driven by spin pumping: Adiabatic regime and beyond

Tunneling spectroscopy between parallel two-dimensional (2D) electronic systems provides a powerful method to probe the underlying electronic properties by measuring tunneling conductance. Here, in this work, we present a theoretical framework for spin transport in 2D-to-2D tunneling systems, driven by spin pumping. This theory applies to a vertical heterostructure where two layers of metallic 2D electron systems are separated by an insulating barrier, with one layer exchange coupled to a magnetic layer driven at resonance. Utilizing a nonperturbative Floquet-Keldysh formalism, we derive general expressions for the tunneling spin and charge currents across a broad range of driving frequencies, extending beyond the traditional adiabatic pumping regime. At low frequencies, we obtain analytical results that recover the known behaviors in the adiabatic regime. However, at higher frequencies, our numerical findings reveal significant deviations in the dependence of spin and charge currents on both frequency and precession angle. This work offers fresh insights into the role of magnetization dynamics in tunneling transport, opening up new avenues for exploring nonadiabatic spin pumping phenomena.

Green's function methods↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Cosmological Bootstrap: Spinning correlators from symmetries and factorization

We extend the cosmological bootstrap to correlators involving massless spinning particles, focusing on spin-1 and spin-2. In de Sitter space, these correlators are constrained both by symmetries and by locality. In particular, the de Sitter isometries become conformal symmetries on the future boundary of the spacetime, which are reflected in a set of Ward identities that the boundary correlators must satisfy. We solve these Ward identities by acting with weight-shifting operators on scalar seed solutions. Using this weight-shifting approach, we derive three- and four-point correlators of massless spin-1 and spin-2 fields with conformally coupled scalars. Four-point functions arising from tree-level exchange are singular in particular kinematic configurations, and the coefficients of these singularities satisfy certain factorization properties. We show that in many cases these factorization limits fix the structure of the correlators uniquely, without having to solve the conformal Ward identities. The additional constraint of locality for massless spinning particles manifests itself as current conservation on the boundary. We find that the four-point functions only satisfy current conservation if the s, t, and u-channels are related to each other, leading to nontrivial constraints on the couplings between the conserved currents and other operators in the theory. For spin-1 currents this implies charge conservation, while for spin-2 currents we recover the equivalence principle from a purely boundary perspective. For multiple spin-1 fields, we recover the structure of Yang--Mills theory. Finally, we apply our methods to slow-roll inflation and derive a few phenomenologically relevant scalar-tensor three-point functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS2004

Theory of electrically controlled resonant tunneling spin devices

We report device concepts that exploit spin-orbit coupling for creating spin polarized current sources using nonmagnetic semiconductor resonant tunneling heterostructures, without external magnetic fields. The resonant interband tunneling psin filter exploits large valence band spin-orbit interaction to provide strong spin selectivity.

spin filters↗
DOE OSTI2022

Third harmonic characterization of antiferromagnetic heterostructures

Abstract Electrical switching of antiferromagnets is an exciting recent development in spintronics, which promises active antiferromagnetic devices with high speed and low energy cost. In this emerging field, there is an active debate about the mechanisms of current-driven switching of antiferromagnets. For heavy-metal/ferromagnet systems, harmonic characterization is a powerful tool to quantify current-induced spin-orbit torques and spin Seebeck effect and elucidate current-induced switching. However, harmonic measurement of spin-orbit torques has never been verified in antiferromagnetic heterostructures. Here, we report harmonic measurements in Pt/ α -Fe 2 O 3 bilayers, which are explained by our modeling of higher-order harmonic voltages. As compared with ferromagnetic heterostructures where all current-induced effects appear in the second harmonic signals, the damping-like torque and thermally-induced magnetoelastic effect contributions in Pt/ α -Fe 2 O 3 emerge in the third harmonic voltage. Our results provide a new path to probe the current-induced magnetization dynamics in antiferromagnets, promoting the application of antiferromagnetic spintronic devices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observation of plaid-like spin splitting in a noncoplanar antiferromagnet

Spatial, momentum and energy separation of electronic spins in condensed matter systems guides the development of novel devices where spin-polarized current is generated and manipulated. Recent attention on a set of previously overlooked symmetry operations in magnetic materials leads to the emergence of a new type of spin splitting, enabling giant and momentum-dependent spin polarization of energy bands on selected antiferromagnets. Despite the ever-growing theoretical predictions, the direct spectroscopic proof of such spin splitting is still lacking. Here, we provide solid spectroscopic and computational evidence for the existence of such materials. In the noncoplanar antiferromagnet MnTe 2 , the in-plane components of spin are found to be antisymmetric about the high-symmetry planes of the Brillouin zone, comprising a plaid-like spin texture in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state. Such an unconventional spin pattern, further found to diminish at the high- temperature paramagnetic state, stems from the intrinsic AFM order instead of spin- orbit coupling (SOC). Furthermore, our finding demonstrates a new type of quadratic spin texture induced by time-reversal breaking, placing AFM spintronics on a firm basis and paving the way for studying exotic quantum phenomena in related materials.

Electronic devices↗
DOE OSTI2025

Applications of quantum materials in nuclear physics experiments (Final Report)

The goals of this project are to search for hypothesized spin-hall effects of neutrons and variants of neutron-electron hybrid spin hall effects in quantum materials with strong spin-orbit-coupling (SOC) – such as: • Deflection of neutrons dependent on spin (polarization) states (a); • Electrical current induced electron spin polarization or (dynamically polarized) nuclear spin polarization (as suggested in PI’s prior work) may affect polarization states of transmitted or reflected neutron beam • Spin polarized neutrons transfer some spin angular momenta to electrons, which get converted to electronic charge voltage via electronic inverse spin Hall effect (b), which if realized, offers an electrical method to detect neutron spins.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗