DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jensen, Brian James

There is a scientific need to obtain new data to constrain and refine next generation multi-phase equation-of-state (EOS) for metals. Experiments are needed to locate phase boundaries, determine transition kinetic times, and to obtain EOS and Hugoniot data for relevant phases. The objectives of the current work was to examine the multiphase properties for cerium including the dynamic melt boundary and the low-pressure solid-solid phase transition through the critical point. These objectives were addressed by performing plate impact experiment that used multiple experimental configuration including front-surface impact experiments to directly measure transition kinetics, multislug experiments that used the overtake methodmore » to measure sound speeds at pressure, and preheat experiments to map out phase boundaries. Preliminary data and analysis obtained for cerium will be presented.« less

Problem-Solving Phase Transitions During Team Collaboration.

PubMed

Wiltshire, Travis J; Butner, Jonathan E; Fiore, Stephen M

2018-01-01

Multiple theories of problem-solving hypothesize that there are distinct qualitative phases exhibited during effective problem-solving. However, limited research has attempted to identify when transitions between phases occur. We integrate theory on collaborative problem-solving (CPS) with dynamical systems theory suggesting that when a system is undergoing a phase transition it should exhibit a peak in entropy and that entropy levels should also relate to team performance. Communications from 40 teams that collaborated on a complex problem were coded for occurrence of problem-solving processes. We applied a sliding window entropy technique to each team's communications and specified criteria for (a) identifying data points that qualify as peaks and (b) determining which peaks were robust. We used multilevel modeling, and provide a qualitative example, to evaluate whether phases exhibit distinct distributions of communication processes. We also tested whether there was a relationship between entropy values at transition points and CPS performance. We found that a proportion of entropy peaks was robust and that the relative occurrence of communication codes varied significantly across phases. Peaks in entropy thus corresponded to qualitative shifts in teams' CPS communications, providing empirical evidence that teams exhibit phase transitions during CPS. Also, lower average levels of entropy at the phase transition points predicted better CPS performance. We specify future directions to improve understanding of phase transitions during CPS, and collaborative cognition, more broadly. Copyright © 2017 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Roles of strain and domain boundaries on the phase transition stability of VO2 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jian, Jie; Chen, Aiping; Chen, Youxing; Zhang, Xinghang; Wang, Haiyan

2017-10-01

The fundamental phase transition mechanism and the stability of the semiconductor-to-metal phase transition properties during multiple thermal cycles have been investigated on epitaxial vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films via both ex situ heating and in situ heating by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). VO2 thin films were deposited on c-cut sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Ex situ studies show the broadening of transition sharpness (ΔT) and the width of thermal hysteresis (ΔH) after 60 cycles. In situ TEM heating studies reveal that during thermal cycles, large strain was accumulated around the domain boundaries, which was correlated with the phase transition induced lattice constant change and the thermal expansion. It suggests that the degradation of domain boundary structures in the VO2 films not only caused the transition property reduction (e.g., the decrease in ΔT and ΔH) but also played an important role in preventing the film from fracture during thermal cycles.

Ultrafast Dynamics in Vanadium Dioxide: Separating Spatially Segregated Mixed Phase Dynamics in the Time-domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilton, David

2011-10-01

In correlated electronic systems, observed electronic and structural behavior results from the complex interplay between multiple, sometimes competing degrees-of- freedom. One such material used to study insulator-to-metal transitions is vanadium dioxide, which undergoes a phase transition from a monoclinic-insulating phase to a rutile-metallic phase when the sample is heated to 340 K. The major open question with this material is the relative influence of this structural phase transition (Peirels transition) and the effects of electronic correlations (Mott transition) on the observed insulator-to-metal transition. Answers to these major questions are complicated by vanadium dioxide's sensitivity to perturbations in the chemical structure in VO2. For example, related VxOy oxides with nearly a 2:1 ratio do not demonstrate the insulator-to- metal transition, while recent work has demonstrated that W:VO2 has demonstrated a tunable transition temperature controllable with tungsten doping. All of these preexisting results suggest that the observed electronic properties are exquisitely sensitive to the sample disorder. Using ultrafast spectroscopic techniques, it is now possible to impulsively excite this transition and investigate the photoinduced counterpart to this thermal phase transition in a strongly nonequilibrium regime. I will discuss our recent results studying the terahertz-frequency conductivity dynamics of this photoinduced phase transition in the poorly understood near threshold temperature range. We find a dramatic softening of the transition near the critical temperature, which results primarily from the mixed phase coexistence near the transition temperature. To directly study this mixed phase behavior, we directly study the nucleation and growth rates of the metallic phase in the parent insulator using non-degenerate optical pump-probe spectroscopy. These experiments measure, in the time- domain, the coexistent phase separation in VO2 (spatially separated insulator and metal islands) and, more importantly, their dynamic evolution in response to optical excitation.

Effect of doping in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Akbar, S. A.; Wong, M. S.; Botelho, M. J.; Sung, Y. M.; Alauddin, M.; Drummer, C. E.; Fair, M. J.

1991-01-01

The results of the effect of doping on the superconducting transition in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system are reported. Samples were prepared under identical conditions with varying types (Pb, Sb, Sn, Nb) and amounts of dopants. All samples consisted of multiple phases, and showed stable and reproducible superconducting transitions. Stabilization of the well known 110 K phase depends on both the type and amount of dopant. No trace of superconducting phase of 150 K and above was observed.

Analyzing optical properties of thin vanadium oxide films through semiconductor-to-metal phase transition using spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jianing; Pribil, Greg K.

2017-11-01

We investigated the optical behaviors of vanadium dioxide (VO2) films through the semiconductor-to-metal (STM) phase transition using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Correlations between film thickness and refractive index were observed resulting from the absorbing nature of these films. Simultaneously analyzing data at multiple temperatures using Kramers-Kronig consistent oscillator models help identify film thickness. Nontrivial variations in resulting optical constants were observed through STM transition. As temperature increases, a clear increase is observed in near infrared absorption due to Drude losses that accompany the transition from semiconducting to metallic phases. Thin films grown on silicon and sapphire substrate present different optical properties and thermal hysteresis due to lattice stress and compositional differences.

Curvature perturbation and waterfall dynamics in hybrid inflation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbar Abolhasani, Ali; Firouzjahi, Hassan; Sasaki, Misao

2011-10-01

We investigate the parameter spaces of hybrid inflation model with special attention paid to the dynamics of waterfall field and curvature perturbations induced from its quantum fluctuations. Depending on the inflaton field value at the time of phase transition and the sharpness of the phase transition inflation can have multiple extended stages. We find that for models with mild phase transition the induced curvature perturbation from the waterfall field is too large to satisfy the COBE normalization. We investigate the model parameter space where the curvature perturbations from the waterfall quantum fluctuations vary between the results of standard hybrid inflation and the results obtained here.

Morphology transition of the primary silicon particles in a hypereutectic A390 alloy in high pressure die casting.

PubMed

Wang, J; Guo, Z; Song, J L; Hu, W X; Li, J C; Xiong, S M

2017-11-03

The microstructure of a high-pressure die-cast hypereutectic A390 alloy, including PSPs, pores, α-Al grains and Cu-rich phases, was characterized using synchrotron X-ray tomography, together with SEM, TEM and EBSD. The Cu-rich phases exhibited a net morphology and distributed at the boundaries of the α-Al grains, which in turn surrounded the PSPs. Statistical analysis of the reconstructed 1000 PSPs showed that both equivalent diameter and shape factor of the PSPs exhibited a unimodal distribution with peaks corresponding to 25 μm and 0.78, respectively.) PSPs morphology with multiple twinning were observed and morphological or growth transition of the PSPs from regular octahedral shape (with a shape factor of 0.85 was mainly caused by the constraint of the Cu-rich phases. In particular, the presence of the Cu-rich phases restricted the growth of the α-Al grains, inducing stress on the internal silicon particles, which caused multiple twinning occurrence with higher growth potential and consequently led to growth transitions of the PSPs.

Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-profiling for biomarker discovery applied to human polycystic ovarian syndrome.

PubMed

Cordeiro, Fernanda B; Ferreira, Christina R; Sobreira, Tiago Jose P; Yannell, Karen E; Jarmusch, Alan K; Cedenho, Agnaldo P; Lo Turco, Edson G; Cooks, R Graham

2017-09-15

We describe multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-profiling, which provides accelerated discovery of discriminating molecular features, and its application to human polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis. The discovery phase of the MRM-profiling seeks molecular features based on some prior knowledge of the chemical functional groups likely to be present in the sample. It does this through use of a limited number of pre-chosen and chemically specific neutral loss and/or precursor ion MS/MS scans. The output of the discovery phase is a set of precursor/product transitions. In the screening phase these MRM transitions are used to interrogate multiple samples (hence the name MRM-profiling). MRM-profiling was applied to follicular fluid samples of 22 controls and 29 clinically diagnosed PCOS patients. Representative samples were delivered by flow injection to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer set to perform a number of pre-chosen and chemically specific neutral loss and/or precursor ion MS/MS scans. The output of this discovery phase was a set of 1012 precursor/product transitions. In the screening phase each individual sample was interrogated for these MRM transitions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for statistical analysis. To evaluate the method's performance, half the samples were used to build a classification model (testing set) and half were blinded (validation set). Twenty transitions were used for the classification of the blind samples, most of them (N = 19) showed lower abundances in the PCOS group and corresponded to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids. Agreement of 73% with clinical diagnosis was found when classifying the 26 blind samples. MRM-profiling is a supervised method characterized by its simplicity, speed and the absence of chromatographic separation. It can be used to rapidly isolate discriminating molecules in healthy/disease conditions by tailored screening of signals associated with hundreds of molecules in complex samples. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hypopituitarism induced by traumatic brain injury in the transition phase.

PubMed

Aimaretti, G; Ambrosio, M R; Di Somma, C; Gasperi, M; Cannavò, S; Scaroni, C; De Marinis, L; Baldelli, R; Bona, G; Giordano, G; Ghigo, E

2005-12-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with hypopituitarism in general and GH deficiency (GHD) in particular; the consequences of this on growth and development are likely to be critical in children and adolescents in the so-called "transition phase". In order to verify the consequences of TBI on pituitary function in the transition phase, we studied a population of adolescents and young adults 3 and 12 months after brain injury [no. = 23, 9 females, 14 males; age: 16-25 yr; body mass index (BMI): 21.9 +/- 0.6 kg/m2]. At 3 months, hypopituitarism was present in 34.6%. Total, multiple and isolated deficits were present in 8.6, 4.3 and 21.7%, respectively. Diabetes insipidus (DI) was present in 8.6% patients and mild hyperprolactinemia in 4.3%. At 12 months, hypopituitarism was present in 30.3%. Total, multiple and isolated deficits were present in 8.6, 4.3 and 17.4%, respectively. DI was present in 4.3% of patients and mild hyperprolactinemia in 4.3%. Total hypopituitarism was always confirmed at retesting. Multiple and isolated hypopituitarism were confirmed in 0/1 and 2/5, respectively. Two/23 patients showed isolated hypopituitarism at 12 months only; 1 patient with isolated at 3 months showed multiple hypopituitarism at retesting. GHD and secondary hypogonadism were the most common acquired pituitary deficits. These results show the high risk of TBI-induced hypopituitarism also in the transition age. Thus it is recommended that pediatric endocrinologists follow-up pituitary function of children and adolescents after brain injuries.

Artificial gravity field, astrophysical analogues, and topological phase transitions in strained topological semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zhiming; Guan, Shan; Yao, Yugui; Yang, Shengyuan

Effective gravity and gauge fields are emergent properties intrinsic for low-energy quasiparticles in topological semimetals. Here, taking two Dirac semimetals as examples, we demonstrate that applied lattice strain can generate warped spacetime, with fascinating analogues in astrophysics. Particularly, we study the possibility of simulating black-hole/white-hole event horizons and gravitational lensing effect. Furthermore, we discover strain-induced topological phase transitions, both in the bulk materials and in their thin films. Especially in thin films, the transition between the quantum spin Hall and the trivial insulating phases can be achieved by a small strain, naturally leading to the proposition of a novel piezo-topological transistor device. Our result not only bridges multiple disciplines, revealing topological semimetals as a unique table-top platform for exploring interesting phenomena in astrophysics and general relativity; it also suggests realistic materials and methods to achieve controlled topological phase transitions with great potential for device applications.

Evolution from successive phase transitions to "morphotropic phase boundary" in BaTiO3-based ferroelectrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chao; Ke, Xiaoqin; Yao, Yonggang; Yang, Sen; Ji, Yuanchao; Liu, Wenfeng; Yang, Yaodong; Zhang, Lixue; Hao, Yanshuang; Ren, Shuai; Zhang, Le; Ren, Xiaobing

2018-04-01

Obtaining superior physical properties for ferroic materials by manipulating the phase transitions is a key concern in solid state physics. Here, we investigated the dielectric permittivity, piezoelectric coefficient d33, storage modulus, and crystal symmetry of (1-x)Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3-x(Ba1-yCay)TiO3 (BZT-xBCyT) systems to demonstrate the gradual evolution process from successive phase transitions in BaTiO3 to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) regime in BZT-xBC0.3T. Furthermore, we analysed with a Landau-type theoretical model to show that the high field-sensitive response (dielectric permittivity) originates from a small polarization anisotropy and low energy barrier at the quadruple point. Together, the intermediate orthorhombic phase regime and the tetragonal-orthorhombic and orthorhombic-rhombohedral phase boundaries constitute the MPB. Our work not only reconciles the arguments regarding whether the structural state around the MPB corresponds to a single-phase regime or a multiple-phase-coexistence regime but also suggests an effective method to design high-performance functional ferroic materials by tailoring the successive phase transitions.

Machine learning–enabled identification of material phase transitions based on experimental data: Exploring collective dynamics in ferroelectric relaxors

DOE PAGES

Li, Linglong; Yang, Yaodong; Zhang, Dawei; ...

2018-03-30

Exploration of phase transitions and construction of associated phase diagrams are of fundamental importance for condensed matter physics and materials science alike, and remain the focus of extensive research for both theoretical and experimental studies. For the latter, comprehensive studies involving scattering, thermodynamics, and modeling are typically required. We present a new approach to data mining multiple realizations of collective dynamics, measured through piezoelectric relaxation studies, to identify the onset of a structural phase transition in nanometer-scale volumes, that is, the probed volume of an atomic force microscope tip. Machine learning is used to analyze the multidimensional data sets describingmore » relaxation to voltage and thermal stimuli, producing the temperature-bias phase diagram for a relaxor crystal without the need to measure (or know) the order parameter. The suitability of the approach to determine the phase diagram is shown with simulations based on a two-dimensional Ising model. Finally, these results indicate that machine learning approaches can be used to determine phase transitions in ferroelectrics, providing a general, statistically significant, and robust approach toward determining the presence of critical regimes and phase boundaries.« less

Pressure-Induced Irreversible Phase Transition in the Energetic Material Urea Nitrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shourui; Zou, Bo

2013-06-01

The behavior of energetic material Urea Nitrate ((NH2)2 COH+ . NO3-,UN) has been investigated up to the pressure of ~26 GPa. UN exhibits the typical supramolecular structure with uronium cation and nitrate anion held together by multiple hydrogen bonds in the layer. Both Raman and XRD data provide obvious evidence for the distorted phase transition in the pressure range ~9-15 GPa. Further analysis indicates phase II has Pc symmetry. The mechanism for the phase transition involves collapse of the initial 2D supramolecular structure to 3D hydrogen-bonded networks in phase Pc. Importantly, the transition is irreversible and leads to a large reduction in volume on release of pressure. The density in phase Pc has been increased by ~11.8% compared to the phase P21/ c under ambient conditions and therefore phase Pc is expected to have much higher detonation power. This study opens new opportunities for preparing energetic materials with high density combining supramolecular chemistry with high-pressure techniques. Corresponding author. E-mail: zoubo@jlu.edu.cn This work is supported by National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Nos. 91227202, and 21073071).

Machine learning–enabled identification of material phase transitions based on experimental data: Exploring collective dynamics in ferroelectric relaxors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Linglong; Yang, Yaodong; Zhang, Dawei

Exploration of phase transitions and construction of associated phase diagrams are of fundamental importance for condensed matter physics and materials science alike, and remain the focus of extensive research for both theoretical and experimental studies. For the latter, comprehensive studies involving scattering, thermodynamics, and modeling are typically required. We present a new approach to data mining multiple realizations of collective dynamics, measured through piezoelectric relaxation studies, to identify the onset of a structural phase transition in nanometer-scale volumes, that is, the probed volume of an atomic force microscope tip. Machine learning is used to analyze the multidimensional data sets describingmore » relaxation to voltage and thermal stimuli, producing the temperature-bias phase diagram for a relaxor crystal without the need to measure (or know) the order parameter. The suitability of the approach to determine the phase diagram is shown with simulations based on a two-dimensional Ising model. Finally, these results indicate that machine learning approaches can be used to determine phase transitions in ferroelectrics, providing a general, statistically significant, and robust approach toward determining the presence of critical regimes and phase boundaries.« less

Impact of heat treatment on the physical properties of noncrystalline multisolute systems concentrated in frozen aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Izutsu, Ken-ichi; Yomota, Chikako; Kawanishi, Toru

2011-12-01

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of heat treatment on the miscibility of multiple concentrated solutes that mimic biopharmaceutical formulations in frozen solutions. The first heating thermal analysis of frozen solutions containing either a low-molecular-weight saccharide (e.g., sucrose, trehalose, and glucose) or a polymer (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone and dextran) and their mixtures from -70°C showed a single transition at glass transition temperature of maximally freeze-concentrated solution (T(g) ') that indicated mixing of the freeze-concentrated multiple solutes. The heat treatment of single-solute and various polymer-rich mixture frozen solutions at temperatures far above their T(g) ' induced additional ice crystallization that shifted the transitions upward in the following scan. Contrarily, the heat treatment of frozen disaccharide-rich solutions induced two-step heat flow changes (T(g) ' splitting) that suggested separation of the solutes into multiple concentrated noncrystalline phases, different in the solute compositions. The extent of the T(g) ' splitting depended on the heat treatment temperature and time. Two-step glass transition was observed in some sucrose and dextran mixture solids, lyophilized after the heat treatment. Increasing mobility of solute molecules during the heat treatment should allow spatial reordering of some concentrated solute mixtures into thermodynamically favorable multiple phases. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Development of diapiric structures in the upper mantle due to phase transitions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, M.; Yuen, D. A.; Zhao, W.; Honda, S.

1991-01-01

Solid-state phase transition in time-dependent mantle convection can induce diapiric flows in the upper mantle. When a deep mantle plume rises toward phase boundaries in the upper mantle, the changes in the local thermal buoyancy, local heat capacity, and latent heat associated with the phase change at a depth of 670 kilometers tend to pinch off the plume head from the feeding stem and form a diapir. This mechanism may explain episodic hot spot volcanism. The nature of the multiple phase boundaries at the boundary between the upper and lower mantle may control the fate of deep mantle plumes, allowing hot plumes to go through and retarding the tepid ones.

Effects of the interaction range on structural phases of flexible polymers.

PubMed

Gross, J; Neuhaus, T; Vogel, T; Bachmann, M

2013-02-21

We systematically investigate how the range of interaction between non-bonded monomers influences the formation of structural phases of elastic, flexible polymers. Massively parallel replica-exchange simulations of a generic, coarse-grained model, performed partly on graphics processing units and in multiple-gaussian modified ensembles, pave the way for the construction of the structural phase diagram, parametrized by interaction range and temperature. Conformational transitions between gas-like, liquid, and diverse solid (pseudo) phases are identified by microcanonical statistical inflection-point analysis. We find evidence for finite-size effects that cause the crossover of "collapse" and "freezing" transitions for very short interaction ranges.

Raman spectroscopy and dielectric Studies of multiple phase transitions in ZnO:Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Harish Kumar; Sreenivas, K.; Gupta, Vinay; Scott, J. F.; Katiyar, R. S.

2008-03-01

We present Raman and dielectric data on Ni-doped ZnO (Zn1-xNixO) ceramics as a function of Ni concentration (x =0.03, 0.06, and 0.10) and temperature. A mode (around 130cm-1) is identified as TA(M) [J. M. Calleja and M. Cardona, Phys. Rev. B 16, 3753 (1977)] and appears due to an antiferromagnetic phase transition at low temperatures (100K) via the spin-orbit mechanism [P. Moch and C. Dugautier, Phys. Lett. A 43, 169 (1973)]. A strong dielectric anomaly occurs at around 430-460K, depending on Ni concentration, and is due to extrinsic electret effects (Ni ionic conduction) and not to a ferroelectric phase transition.

Substrate Temperature effect on the transition characteristics of Vanadium (IV) oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Tsung-Han; Wei, Wei; Jin, Chunming; Narayan, Jay

2008-10-01

One of the semiconductor to metal transition material (SMT) is Vanadium Oxide (VO2) which has a very sharp transition temperature close to 340 K as the crystal structure changes from monoclinic phase (semiconductor) into tetragonal phase (metal phase). We have grown high-quality epitaxial vanadium oxide (VO2) films on sapphire (0001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition for oxygen pressure 10-2torr and obtained interesting results without further annealing treatments. The epitaxial growth via domain matching epitaxy, where integral multiples of planes matched across the film-substrate interface. We were able to control the transition characteristics such as the sharpness (T), amplitude (A) of SMT transition and the width of thermal hysteresis (H) by altering the substrate temperature from 300 ^oC, 400 ^oC, 500 ^oC, and 600 ^oC. We use the XRD to identify the microstructure of film and measure the optical properties of film. Finally the transition characteristics is observed by the resistance with the increase of temperature by Van Der Pauw method from 25 to 100 ^oC to measure the electrical resistivity hystersis loop during the transition temperature.

Critical behaviors and phase transitions of black holes in higher order gravities and extended phase spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherkatghanad, Zeinab; Mirza, Behrouz; Mirzaiyan, Zahra; Mansoori, Seyed Ali Hosseini

We consider the critical behaviors and phase transitions of Gauss-Bonnet-Born-Infeld-AdS black holes (GB-BI-AdS) for d = 5, 6 and the extended phase space. We assume the cosmological constant, Λ, the coupling coefficient α, and the BI parameter β to be thermodynamic pressures of the system. Having made these assumptions, the critical behaviors are then studied in the two canonical and grand canonical ensembles. We find “reentrant and triple point phase transitions” (RPT-TP) and “multiple reentrant phase transitions” (multiple RPT) with increasing pressure of the system for specific values of the coupling coefficient α in the canonical ensemble. Also, we observe a reentrant phase transition (RPT) of GB-BI-AdS black holes in the grand canonical ensemble and for d = 6. These calculations are then expanded to the critical behavior of Born-Infeld-AdS (BI-AdS) black holes in the third-order of Lovelock gravity and in the grand canonical ensemble to find a van der Waals (vdW) behavior for d = 7 and a RPT for d = 8 for specific values of potential ϕ in the grand canonical ensemble. Furthermore, we obtain a similar behavior for the limit of β →∞, i.e. charged-AdS black holes in the third-order of the Lovelock gravity. Thus, it is shown that the critical behaviors of these black holes are independent of the parameter β in the grand canonical ensemble.

Strategies for Time-resolved X-ray Diffraction of Phase Transitions with Laser Compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benedetti, Laura Robin; Eggert, J. H.; Bradley, D. K.; Bell, P. M.; Kilkenny, J. D.; Palmer, N.; Petre, R. B.; Rygg, J. R.; Sorce, C.; Collins, G. W.; Boehly, T. R.

2017-10-01

As part of a program to document kinetics of phase transitions under laser-driven dynamic compression, we are designing a platform to make multiple x-ray diffraction measurements during a single laser experiment. Our plans include experimental development at Omega-EP and eventual implementation at NIF. We will present our strategy for designing a robust platform that can effectively document a wide variety of phase transformations by utilizing both streaked and multiple-frame imaging detectors. Preliminary designs utilize a novel CMOS detector designed by Sandia National Lab. Our initial experiments include scoping studies that will focus on photometrics and shielding requirements in the high EMP environment close to the target. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, LLNL-ABS-734470.

Multiple Phase Transitions in the Culture Dissemination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bing; Han, Yuexing; Chen, Luonan; Aihara, Kazuyuki

We study the coevolution process in the Axelrod’s model with the consideration of agents’ abilities to access to the information. With a parameter to control the ability of communication, we observe two kinds of phase transitions both for cultural domains and network fragments, respectively. With the simulation results, we find the relationship between the critical value and the controlled parameter. The results indicate that the powerful ability to access to the information benefits the dissemination of culture in the system.

Evidence for a Peierls phase-transition in a three-dimensional multiple charge-density waves solid

PubMed Central

Mansart, Barbara; Cottet, Mathieu J. G.; Penfold, Thomas J.; Dugdale, Stephen B.; Tediosi, Riccardo; Chergui, Majed; Carbone, Fabrizio

2012-01-01

The effect of dimensionality on materials properties has become strikingly evident with the recent discovery of graphene. Charge ordering phenomena can be induced in one dimension by periodic distortions of a material’s crystal structure, termed Peierls ordering transition. Charge-density waves can also be induced in solids by strong coulomb repulsion between carriers, and at the extreme limit, Wigner predicted that crystallization itself can be induced in an electrons gas in free space close to the absolute zero of temperature. Similar phenomena are observed also in higher dimensions, but the microscopic description of the corresponding phase transition is often controversial, and remains an open field of research for fundamental physics. Here, we photoinduce the melting of the charge ordering in a complex three-dimensional solid and monitor the consequent charge redistribution by probing the optical response over a broad spectral range with ultrashort laser pulses. Although the photoinduced electronic temperature far exceeds the critical value, the charge-density wave is preserved until the lattice is sufficiently distorted to induce the phase transition. Combining this result with ab initio electronic structure calculations, we identified the Peierls origin of multiple charge-density waves in a three-dimensional system for the first time. PMID:22451898

Phase transitions in Pareto optimal complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seoane, Luís F.; Solé, Ricard

2015-09-01

The organization of interactions in complex systems can be described by networks connecting different units. These graphs are useful representations of the local and global complexity of the underlying systems. The origin of their topological structure can be diverse, resulting from different mechanisms including multiplicative processes and optimization. In spatial networks or in graphs where cost constraints are at work, as it occurs in a plethora of situations from power grids to the wiring of neurons in the brain, optimization plays an important part in shaping their organization. In this paper we study network designs resulting from a Pareto optimization process, where different simultaneous constraints are the targets of selection. We analyze three variations on a problem, finding phase transitions of different kinds. Distinct phases are associated with different arrangements of the connections, but the need of drastic topological changes does not determine the presence or the nature of the phase transitions encountered. Instead, the functions under optimization do play a determinant role. This reinforces the view that phase transitions do not arise from intrinsic properties of a system alone, but from the interplay of that system with its external constraints.

Interplay of the Glass Transition and the Liquid-Liquid Phase Transition in Water

PubMed Central

Giovambattista, Nicolas; Loerting, Thomas; Lukanov, Boris R.; Starr, Francis W.

2012-01-01

Water has multiple glassy states, often called amorphous ices. Low-density (LDA) and high-density (HDA) amorphous ice are separated by a dramatic, first-order like phase transition. It has been argued that the LDA-HDA transformation connects to a first-order liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) above the glass transition temperature Tg. Direct experimental evidence of the LLPT is challenging to obtain, since the LLPT occurs at conditions where water rapidly crystallizes. In this work, we explore the implications of a LLPT on the pressure dependence of Tg(P) for LDA and HDA by performing computer simulations of two water models – one with a LLPT, and one without. In the absence of a LLPT, Tg(P) for all glasses nearly coincide. When there is a LLPT, different glasses exhibit dramatically different Tg(P) which are directly linked with the LLPT. Available experimental data for Tg(P) are only consistent with the scenario including a LLPT. PMID:22550566

Interplay of the Glass Transition and the Liquid-Liquid Phase Transition in Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giovambattista, Nicolas; Loerting, Thomas; Lukanov, Boris R.; Starr, Francis W.

2012-05-01

Water has multiple glassy states, often called amorphous ices. Low-density (LDA) and high-density (HDA) amorphous ice are separated by a dramatic, first-order like phase transition. It has been argued that the LDA-HDA transformation connects to a first-order liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) above the glass transition temperature Tg. Direct experimental evidence of the LLPT is challenging to obtain, since the LLPT occurs at conditions where water rapidly crystallizes. In this work, we explore the implications of a LLPT on the pressure dependence of Tg(P) for LDA and HDA by performing computer simulations of two water models - one with a LLPT, and one without. In the absence of a LLPT, Tg(P) for all glasses nearly coincide. When there is a LLPT, different glasses exhibit dramatically different Tg(P) which are directly linked with the LLPT. Available experimental data for Tg(P) are only consistent with the scenario including a LLPT.

Evidence of a Critical Phase Transition in Purely Temporal Dynamics with Long-Delayed Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faggian, Marco; Ginelli, Francesco; Marino, Francesco; Giacomelli, Giovanni

2018-04-01

Experimental evidence of an absorbing phase transition, so far associated with spatiotemporal dynamics, is provided in a purely temporal optical system. A bistable semiconductor laser, with long-delayed optoelectronic feedback and multiplicative noise, shows the peculiar features of a critical phenomenon belonging to the directed percolation universality class. The numerical study of a simple, effective model provides accurate estimates of the transition critical exponents, in agreement with both theory and our experiment. This result pushes forward a hard equivalence of nontrivial stochastic, long-delayed systems with spatiotemporal ones and opens a new avenue for studying out-of-equilibrium universality classes in purely temporal dynamics.

Refractive index modulation of Sb70Te30 phase-change thin films by multiple femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Kai; Wang, Yang; Jiang, Minghui; Wu, Yiqun

2016-05-01

In this study, the controllable effective refractive index modulation of Sb70Te30 phase-change thin films between amorphous and crystalline states was achieved experimentally by multiple femtosecond laser pulses. The modulation mechanism was analyzed comprehensively by a spectral ellipsometer measurement, surface morphology observation, and two-temperature model calculations. We numerically demonstrate the application of the optically modulated refractive index of the phase-change thin films in a precisely adjustable color display. These results may provide further insights into ultrafast phase-transition mechanics and are useful in the design of programmable photonic and opto-electrical devices based on phase-change memory materials.

Refractive index modulation of Sb{sub 70}Te{sub 30} phase-change thin films by multiple femtosecond laser pulses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lei, Kai; Wang, Yang, E-mail: ywang@siom.ac.cn; Jiang, Minghui

2016-05-07

In this study, the controllable effective refractive index modulation of Sb{sub 70}Te{sub 30} phase-change thin films between amorphous and crystalline states was achieved experimentally by multiple femtosecond laser pulses. The modulation mechanism was analyzed comprehensively by a spectral ellipsometer measurement, surface morphology observation, and two-temperature model calculations. We numerically demonstrate the application of the optically modulated refractive index of the phase-change thin films in a precisely adjustable color display. These results may provide further insights into ultrafast phase-transition mechanics and are useful in the design of programmable photonic and opto-electrical devices based on phase-change memory materials.

Direct Visualisation of the Structural Transformation between the Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Lamellar and Bicontinuous Cubic Mesophase.

PubMed

Tran, Nhiem; Zhai, Jiali; Conn, Charlotte E; Mulet, Xavier; Waddington, Lynne J; Drummond, Calum J

2018-05-29

The transition between the lyotropic liquid crystalline lamellar and the bicontinuous cubic mesophase drives multiple fundamental cellular processes involving changes in cell membrane topology including endocytosis and membrane budding. While several theoretical models have been proposed to explain this dynamic transformation, experimental validation of these models has been challenging due to the short lived nature of the intermediates present during the phase transition. Herein, we report the direct observation of a lamellar to bicontinuous cubic phase transition in nanoscale dispersions using a combination of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and static small angle X-ray scattering. The results represent the first experimental confirmation of a theoretical model which proposed that the bicontinuous cubic phase originates from the centre of a lamellar vesicle, then propagates outward via the formation of inter-lamellar attachments and stalks. The observation was possible due to the precise control of the lipid composition to place the dispersion systems at the phase boundary of a lamellar and a cubic phase, allowing for the creation of long-lived structural intermediates. By surveying the nanoparticles using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, a complete phase transition sequence was established.

Exploration of metastability and hidden phases in correlated electron crystals visualized by femtosecond optical doping and electron crystallography

PubMed Central

Han, Tzong-Ru T.; Zhou, Faran; Malliakas, Christos D.; Duxbury, Phillip M.; Mahanti, Subhendra D.; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.; Ruan, Chong-Yu

2015-01-01

Characterizing and understanding the emergence of multiple macroscopically ordered electronic phases through subtle tuning of temperature, pressure, and chemical doping has been a long-standing central issue for complex materials research. We report the first comprehensive studies of optical doping–induced emergence of stable phases and metastable hidden phases visualized in situ by femtosecond electron crystallography. The electronic phase transitions are triggered by femtosecond infrared pulses, and a temperature–optical density phase diagram is constructed and substantiated with the dynamics of metastable states, highlighting the cooperation and competition through which the macroscopic quantum orders emerge. These results elucidate key pathways of femtosecond electronic switching phenomena and provide an important new avenue to comprehensively investigate optical doping–induced transition states and phase diagrams of complex materials with wide-ranging applications. PMID:26601190

Depinning and nonequilibrium dynamic phases of particle assemblies driven over random and ordered substrates: A review

DOE PAGES

Reichhardt, Charles; Olson Reichhardt, Cynthia Jane

2016-12-20

Here, we review the depinning and nonequilibrium phases of collectively interacting particle systems driven over random or periodic substrates. This type of system is relevant to vortices in type-II superconductors, sliding charge density waves, electron crystals, colloids, stripe and pattern forming systems, and skyrmions, and could also have connections to jamming, glassy behaviors, and active matter. These systems are also ideal for exploring the broader issues of characterizing transient and steady state nonequilibrium flow phases as well as nonequilibrium phase transitions between distinct dynamical phases, analogous to phase transitions between different equilibrium states. We discuss the differences between elastic andmore » plastic depinning on random substrates and the different types of nonequilibrium phases which are associated with specific features in the velocity-force curves, fluctuation spectra, scaling relations, and local or global particle ordering. We describe how these quantities can change depending on the dimension, anisotropy, disorder strength, and the presence of hysteresis. Within the moving phase we discuss how there can be a transition from a liquid-like state to dynamically ordered moving crystal, smectic, or nematic states. Systems with periodic or quasiperiodic substrates can have multiple nonequilibrium second or first order transitions in the moving state between chaotic and coherent phases, and can exhibit hysteresis. We also discuss systems with competing repulsive and attractive interactions, which undergo dynamical transitions into stripes and other complex morphologies when driven over random substrates. Throughout this work we highlight open issues and future directions such as absorbing phase transitions, nonequilibrium work relations, inertia, the role of non-dissipative dynamics such as Magnus effects, and how these results could be extended to the broader issues of plasticity in crystals, amorphous solids, and jamming phenomena.« less

Depinning and nonequilibrium dynamic phases of particle assemblies driven over random and ordered substrates: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichhardt, C.; Olson Reichhardt, C. J.

2017-02-01

We review the depinning and nonequilibrium phases of collectively interacting particle systems driven over random or periodic substrates. This type of system is relevant to vortices in type-II superconductors, sliding charge density waves, electron crystals, colloids, stripe and pattern forming systems, and skyrmions, and could also have connections to jamming, glassy behaviors, and active matter. These systems are also ideal for exploring the broader issues of characterizing transient and steady state nonequilibrium flow phases as well as nonequilibrium phase transitions between distinct dynamical phases, analogous to phase transitions between different equilibrium states. We discuss the differences between elastic and plastic depinning on random substrates and the different types of nonequilibrium phases which are associated with specific features in the velocity-force curves, fluctuation spectra, scaling relations, and local or global particle ordering. We describe how these quantities can change depending on the dimension, anisotropy, disorder strength, and the presence of hysteresis. Within the moving phase we discuss how there can be a transition from a liquid-like state to dynamically ordered moving crystal, smectic, or nematic states. Systems with periodic or quasiperiodic substrates can have multiple nonequilibrium second or first order transitions in the moving state between chaotic and coherent phases, and can exhibit hysteresis. We also discuss systems with competing repulsive and attractive interactions, which undergo dynamical transitions into stripes and other complex morphologies when driven over random substrates. Throughout this work we highlight open issues and future directions such as absorbing phase transitions, nonequilibrium work relations, inertia, the role of non-dissipative dynamics such as Magnus effects, and how these results could be extended to the broader issues of plasticity in crystals, amorphous solids, and jamming phenomena.

Experimental evidence for stochastic switching of supercooled phases in NdNiO3 nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Devendra; Rajeev, K. P.; Alonso, J. A.

2018-03-01

A first-order phase transition is a dynamic phenomenon. In a multi-domain system, the presence of multiple domains of coexisting phases averages out the dynamical effects, making it nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of phase transition dynamics. Here, we report the metal-insulator transition in samples of sub-micrometer size NdNiO3 where the effect of averaging is minimized by restricting the number of domains under study. We observe the presence of supercooled metallic phases with supercooling of 40 K or more. The transformation from the supercooled metallic to the insulating state is a stochastic process that happens at different temperatures and times in different experimental runs. The experimental results are understood without incorporating material specific properties, suggesting that the behavior is of universal nature. The size of the sample needed to observe individual switching of supercooled domains, the degree of supercooling, and the time-temperature window of switching are expected to depend on the parameters such as quenched disorder, strain, and magnetic field.

A multiphase equation of state of three solid phases, liquid, and gas for titanium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pecker, S.; Eliezer, S.; Fisher, D.; Henis, Z.; Zinamon, Z.

2005-08-01

A multiple-phase equation of state of the α phase, β phase, ω phase, liquid, and gas for titanium is presented. This equation of state is thermodynamically consistent, based on a three-term semiempirical model for the Helmholtz free energy. The parameters of the free energy are first evaluated from the experimental data and solid-state theoretical calculations. Then, the values of the parameters are adjusted using a numerical minimization scheme based on the simplex algorithm, to values that best reproduce measured phase diagrams and other experimental data. The predicted phase diagram shows a compression-induced β-ω transition, up to a β-ω-liquid triple point at ˜45GPa and ˜2200K. For pressures above this triple point, the melting occurs from the ω phase. Moreover, no β-ω transition is predicted along the Hugoniot curve starting at STP conditions.

First-principles studiesy of the order-disorder phase transition in FeCo using Wang-Landau Monte-Carlo method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Zongrui; Eisenbach, Markus; Stocks, G. Malcolm

Simulating order-disorder phase transitions in magnetic materials requires the accurate treatment of both the atomic and magnetic interactions, which span a vast configuration space. Using FeCo as a prototype system, we demonstrate that this can be addressed by combining the Locally Self-consistent Multiple Scattering (LSMS) method with the Wang-Landau (WL) Monte-Carlo algorithm. Fe-Co based materials are interesting magnetic materials but a reliable phase diagram of the binary Fe-Co system is still difficult to obtain. Using the combined WL-LSMS method we clarify the existence of the disordered A2 phase and predict the Curie temperature between it and the ordered B2 phase. The WL-LSMS method is readily applicable to the study of second-order phase transitions in other binary and multi-component alloys, thereby providing a means to the direct simulation of order-disorder phase transitions in complex alloys without need of intervening classical model Hamiltonians. We also demonstrate the capability of our method to guide the design of new magnetic materials. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering Division and it used Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility resources at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Non-equilibrium phase transition in mesoscopic biochemical systems: from stochastic to nonlinear dynamics and beyond

PubMed Central

Ge, Hao; Qian, Hong

2011-01-01

A theory for an non-equilibrium phase transition in a driven biochemical network is presented. The theory is based on the chemical master equation (CME) formulation of mesoscopic biochemical reactions and the mathematical method of large deviations. The large deviations theory provides an analytical tool connecting the macroscopic multi-stability of an open chemical system with the multi-scale dynamics of its mesoscopic counterpart. It shows a corresponding non-equilibrium phase transition among multiple stochastic attractors. As an example, in the canonical phosphorylation–dephosphorylation system with feedback that exhibits bistability, we show that the non-equilibrium steady-state (NESS) phase transition has all the characteristics of classic equilibrium phase transition: Maxwell construction, a discontinuous first-derivative of the ‘free energy function’, Lee–Yang's zero for a generating function and a critical point that matches the cusp in nonlinear bifurcation theory. To the biochemical system, the mathematical analysis suggests three distinct timescales and needed levels of description. They are (i) molecular signalling, (ii) biochemical network nonlinear dynamics, and (iii) cellular evolution. For finite mesoscopic systems such as a cell, motions associated with (i) and (iii) are stochastic while that with (ii) is deterministic. Both (ii) and (iii) are emergent properties of a dynamic biochemical network. PMID:20466813

Quantum percolation phase transition and magnetoelectric dipole glass in hexagonal ferrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowley, S. E.; Vojta, T.; Jones, A. T.; Guo, W.; Oliveira, J.; Morrison, F. D.; Lindfield, N.; Baggio Saitovitch, E.; Watts, B. E.; Scott, J. F.

2017-07-01

Hexagonal ferrites not only have enormous commercial impact (£2 billion/year in sales) due to applications that include ultrahigh-density memories, credit-card stripes, magnetic bar codes, small motors, and low-loss microwave devices, they also have fascinating magnetic and ferroelectric quantum properties at low temperatures. Here we report the results of tuning the magnetic ordering temperature in PbF e12 -xG axO19 to zero by chemical substitution x . The phase transition boundary is found to vary as TN˜(1-x /xc ) 2 /3 with xc very close to the calculated spin percolation threshold, which we determine by Monte Carlo simulations, indicating that the zero-temperature phase transition is geometrically driven. We find that this produces a form of compositionally tuned, insulating, ferrimagnetic quantum criticality. Close to the zero-temperature phase transition, we observe the emergence of an electric dipole glass induced by magnetoelectric coupling. The strong frequency behavior of the glass freezing temperature Tm has a Vogel-Fulcher dependence with Tm finite, or suppressed below zero in the zero-frequency limit, depending on composition x . These quantum-mechanical properties, along with the multiplicity of low-lying modes near the zero-temperature phase transition, are likely to greatly extend applications of hexaferrites into the realm of quantum and cryogenic technologies.

Electrophoretic-like gating used to control metal-insulator transitions in electronically phase separated manganite wires.

PubMed

Guo, Hangwen; Noh, Joo H; Dong, Shuai; Rack, Philip D; Gai, Zheng; Xu, Xiaoshan; Dagotto, Elbio; Shen, Jian; Ward, T Zac

2013-08-14

Electronically phase separated manganite wires are found to exhibit controllable metal-insulator transitions under local electric fields. The switching characteristics are shown to be fully reversible, polarity independent, and highly resistant to thermal breakdown caused by repeated cycling. It is further demonstrated that multiple discrete resistive states can be accessed in a single wire. The results conform to a phenomenological model in which the inherent nanoscale insulating and metallic domains are rearranged through electrophoretic-like processes to open and close percolation channels.

Modeling of Shock Waves with Multiple Phase Transitions in Condensed Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Missonnier, Marc; Heuzé, Olivier

2006-07-01

When a shock wave crosses a solid material and subjects it to solid-solid or solid-liquid phase transition, related phenomena occur: shock splitting, and the corresponding released shock wave after reflection. Modelling of these phenomena raises physical and numerical issues. After shock loading, such materials can reach different kinds of states: single-phase states, binary-phase states, and triple points. The thermodynamic path can be studied and easily understood in the (V,E) or (V,S) planes. In the case of 3 phase tin (β,γ, and liquid) submitted to shock waves, seven states can occur: β,γ, liquid, β-γ, β-liquid, γ-liquid, and β-γ-liquid. After studying the thermodynamic properties with a complete 3-phase Equation of State, we show the existence of these seven states with a hydrodynamic simulation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Jae Wook; Artyukhin, Sergei; Mun, Eun Deok

In this paper, we report the discovery of a metamagnetic phase transition in a polar antiferromagnet Ni 3TeO 6 that occurs at 52 T. The new phase transition accompanies a colossal magnetoelectric effect, with a magnetic-field-induced polarization change of 0.3 μC/cm 2, a value that is 4 times larger than for the spin-flop transition at 9 T in the same material, and also comparable to the largest magnetically induced polarization changes observed to date. Via density-functional calculations we construct a full microscopic model that describes the data. We model the spin structures in all fields and clarify the physics behindmore » the 52 T transition. The high-field transition involves a competition between multiple different exchange interactions which drives the polarization change through the exchange-striction mechanism. Finally, the resultant spin structure is rather counterintuitive and complex, thus providing new insights on design principles for materials with strong magnetoelectric coupling.« less

High Pressure-Temperature Phase Diagram of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, Matthew; Chellappa, Raja; Liu, Zhenxian; Preston, Daniel; Sandstrom, Mary; Dattelbaum, Dana; Vohra, Yogesh; Velisavljevic, Nenad

2013-06-01

1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethelyne (FOX-7) is a less sensitive energetic material with performance comparable to commonly used secondary explosives such as RDX and HMX. At ambient pressure, FOX-7 exhibits complex polymorphism with at least three structurally distinct phases (α, β, and γ) . In this study, we have investigated the high P-T stability of FOX-7 polymorphs using synchrotron mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. At ambient pressure, our MIR spectra confirmed the known α --> β (110 °C) and β --> γ (160 °C) phase transitions; as well as, indicated an additional phase transition, γ --> δ (210°C), with the δ phase being stable up to 250 °C prior to melt/decomposition. In situ MIR spectra obtained during isobaric heating at 0.9 GPa revealed that the α --> β transition occurs at 180 °C, while β --> β + δ phase transition shifted to 300 °C with suppression of γ phase. Decomposition was observed above 325 °C. Based on multiple high P-T measurements, we have established the first high P-T phase diagram of FOX-7. This work was, in part, supported by the US DOE under contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396 and Science Campaign 2 Program. MB acknowledges additional support from the NSF BD program. Use of NSLS (DE-AC02-98CH10886) beamline U2A (COMPRES, No.EAR01-35554, CDAC).

Electric-field induced phase transitions of dielectric colloids: Impact of multiparticle effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Jeffery A.; Docoslis, Aristides

2012-05-01

The thermodynamic framework for predicting the electric-field induced fluid like-solid like phase transition of dielectric colloids developed by Khusid and Acrivos [Phys. Rev. E. 54, 5428 (1996)] is extended to examine the impact of multiscattering/multiparticle effects on the resulting phase diagrams. This was accomplished using effective permittivity models suitable both over the entire composition region for hard spheres (0≤c

Magnetic Phase Diagram of α-RuCl3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sears, Jennifer; Kim, Young-June; Zhao, Yang; Lynn, Jeffrey

The layered honeycomb material α-RuCl3 is thought to possess unusual magnetic interactions including a strong bond-dependent Kitaev term, offering a potential opportunity to study a material near a well understood spin liquid phase. Although this material orders magnetically at low temperatures and is thus not a realization of a Kitaev spin liquid, it does show a broad continuum of magnetic excitations reminiscent of that expected for the spin liquid phase. It has also been proposed that a magnetic field could destabilize the magnetic order in this material and induce a transition into a spin liquid phase. Low temperature magnetization and specific heat measurements in this material have suggested a complex magnetic phase diagram with multiple unidentified magnetic phases present at low temperature. This has provided motivation for our work characterizing the magnetic transitions and phase diagram in α-RuCl3. I will present detailed bulk measurements combined with magnetic neutron diffraction measurements to map out the phase diagram and identify the various phases present.

Phase transitions in distributed control systems with multiplicative noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allegra, Nicolas; Bamieh, Bassam; Mitra, Partha; Sire, Clément

2018-01-01

Contemporary technological challenges often involve many degrees of freedom in a distributed or networked setting. Three aspects are notable: the variables are usually associated with the nodes of a graph with limited communication resources, hindering centralized control; the communication is subject to noise; and the number of variables can be very large. These three aspects make tools and techniques from statistical physics particularly suitable for the performance analysis of such networked systems in the limit of many variables (analogous to the thermodynamic limit in statistical physics). Perhaps not surprisingly, phase-transition like phenomena appear in these systems, where a sharp change in performance can be observed with a smooth parameter variation, with the change becoming discontinuous or singular in the limit of infinite system size. In this paper, we analyze the so called network consensus problem, prototypical of the above considerations, that has previously been analyzed mostly in the context of additive noise. We show that qualitatively new phase-transition like phenomena appear for this problem in the presence of multiplicative noise. Depending on dimensions, and on the presence or absence of a conservation law, the system performance shows a discontinuous change at a threshold value of the multiplicative noise strength. In the absence of the conservation law, and for graph spectral dimension less than two, the multiplicative noise threshold (the stability margin of the control problem) is zero. This is reminiscent of the absence of robust controllers for certain classes of centralized control problems. Although our study involves a ‘toy’ model, we believe that the qualitative features are generic, with implications for the robust stability of distributed control systems, as well as the effect of roundoff errors and communication noise on distributed algorithms.

Successive Magnetic-Field-Induced Transitions and Colossal Magnetoelectric Effect in Ni 3 TeO 6

DOE PAGES

Kim, Jae Wook; Artyukhin, Sergei; Mun, Eun Deok; ...

2015-09-24

In this paper, we report the discovery of a metamagnetic phase transition in a polar antiferromagnet Ni 3TeO 6 that occurs at 52 T. The new phase transition accompanies a colossal magnetoelectric effect, with a magnetic-field-induced polarization change of 0.3 μC/cm 2, a value that is 4 times larger than for the spin-flop transition at 9 T in the same material, and also comparable to the largest magnetically induced polarization changes observed to date. Via density-functional calculations we construct a full microscopic model that describes the data. We model the spin structures in all fields and clarify the physics behindmore » the 52 T transition. The high-field transition involves a competition between multiple different exchange interactions which drives the polarization change through the exchange-striction mechanism. Finally, the resultant spin structure is rather counterintuitive and complex, thus providing new insights on design principles for materials with strong magnetoelectric coupling.« less

Accessing the exceptional points of parity-time symmetric acoustics

PubMed Central

Shi, Chengzhi; Dubois, Marc; Chen, Yun; Cheng, Lei; Ramezani, Hamidreza; Wang, Yuan; Zhang, Xiang

2016-01-01

Parity-time (PT) symmetric systems experience phase transition between PT exact and broken phases at exceptional point. These PT phase transitions contribute significantly to the design of single mode lasers, coherent perfect absorbers, isolators, and diodes. However, such exceptional points are extremely difficult to access in practice because of the dispersive behaviour of most loss and gain materials required in PT symmetric systems. Here we introduce a method to systematically tame these exceptional points and control PT phases. Our experimental demonstration hinges on an active acoustic element that realizes a complex-valued potential and simultaneously controls the multiple interference in the structure. The manipulation of exceptional points offers new routes to broaden applications for PT symmetric physics in acoustics, optics, microwaves and electronics, which are essential for sensing, communication and imaging. PMID:27025443

Quantum phase transition in dimerised spin-1/2 chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Aparajita; Bhadra, Sreeparna; Saha, Sonali

2015-11-01

Quantum phase transition in dimerised antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain has been studied. A staircase structure in the variation of concurrence within strongly coupled pairs with that of external magnetic field has been observed indicating multiple critical (or critical like) points. Emergence of entanglement due to external magnetic field or magnetic entanglement is observed for weakly coupled spin pairs too in the same dimer chain. Though closed dimerised isotropic XXX Heisenberg chains with different dimer strengths were mainly explored, analogous studies on open chains as well as closed anisotropic (XX interaction) chains with tilted external magnetic field have also been studied.

Twinning induced by the rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase transition in lanthanum gallate (LaGaO3)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, W. L.; Lu, H. Y.

2006-10-01

Phase-transformation-induced twins in pressureless-sintered lanthanum gallate (LaGaO3) ceramics have been analysed using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Twins are induced by solid state phase transformation upon cooling from the rhombohedral (r, Rbar{3}c) to orthorhombic ( o, Pnma) symmetry at ˜145°C. Three types of transformation twins {101} o , {121} o , and {123} o were found in grains containing multiple domains that represent orientation variants. Three orthorhombic orientation variants were distinguished from the transformation domains converged into a triple junction. These twins are the reflection type as confirmed by tilting experiment in the microscope. Although not related by group-subgroup relation, the transformation twins generated by phase transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic are consistent with those derived from taking cubic Pm {bar {3}}m aristotype of the lowest common supergroup symmetry as an intermediate metastable structure. The r→ o phase transition of first order in nature may have occurred by a diffusionless, martensitic-type or discontinuous nucleation and growth mechanism.

Structural, vibrational, and electrical properties of 1 T -TiT e2 under hydrostatic pressure: Experiments and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajaji, V.; Dutta, Utpal; Sreeparvathy, P. C.; Sarma, Saurav Ch.; Sorb, Y. A.; Joseph, B.; Sahoo, Subodha; Peter, Sebastian C.; Kanchana, V.; Narayana, Chandrabhas

2018-02-01

We report the structural, vibrational, and electrical transport properties up to ˜16 GPa of 1 T -TiT e2 , a prominent layered 2D system. We clearly show signatures of two isostructural transitions at ˜2 GPa and ˜4 GPa obtained from the minima in c /a ratio concomitant with the phonon linewidth anomalies of Eg and A1 g modes around the same pressures, providing a strong indication of unusual electron-phonon coupling associated with these transitions. Resistance measurements present nonlinear behavior over similar pressure ranges shedding light on the electronic origin of these pressure-driven isostructural transitions. These multiple indirect signatures of an electronic transition at ˜2 GPa and ˜4 GPa are discussed in connection with the recent theoretical proposal for 1 T -TiT e2 and also the possibility of an electronic topological transition from our electronic Fermi surface calculations. Between 4 GPa and ˜8 GPa , the c /a ratio shows a plateau suggesting a transformation from an anisotropic 2D layer to a quasi-3D crystal network. First-principles calculations suggest that the 2D to quasi-3D evolution without any structural phase transitions is mainly due to the increased interlayer Te-Te interactions (bridging) via the charge density overlap. In addition, we observed a first-order structural phase transition from the trigonal (P 3 ¯m 1 ) to monoclinic (C 2 /m ) phase at higher pressure regions. We estimate the start of this structural phase transition to be ˜8 GPa and also the coexistence of two phases [trigonal (P 3 ¯m 1 ) and monoclinic (C 2 /m )] was observed from ˜8 GPa to ˜16 GPa .

Variability-induced transition in a net of neural elements: From oscillatory to excitable behavior.

PubMed

Glatt, Erik; Gassel, Martin; Kaiser, Friedemann

2006-06-01

Starting with an oscillatory net of neural elements, increasing variability induces a phase transition to excitability. This transition is explained by a systematic effect of the variability, which stabilizes the formerly unstable, spatially uniform, temporally constant solution of the net. Multiplicative noise may also influence the net in a systematic way and may thus induce a similar transition. Adding noise into the model, the interplay of noise and variability with respect to the reported transition is investigated. Finally, pattern formation in a diffusively coupled net is studied, because excitability implies the ability of pattern formation and information transmission.

Fermi surface reconstruction and multiple quantum phase transitions in the antiferromagnet CeRhIn5

PubMed Central

Jiao, Lin; Chen, Ye; Kohama, Yoshimitsu; Graf, David; Bauer, E. D.; Singleton, John; Zhu, Jian-Xin; Weng, Zongfa; Pang, Guiming; Shang, Tian; Zhang, Jinglei; Lee, Han-Oh; Park, Tuson; Jaime, Marcelo; Thompson, J. D.; Steglich, Frank; Si, Qimiao; Yuan, H. Q.

2015-01-01

Conventional, thermally driven continuous phase transitions are described by universal critical behavior that is independent of the specific microscopic details of a material. However, many current studies focus on materials that exhibit quantum-driven continuous phase transitions (quantum critical points, or QCPs) at absolute zero temperature. The classification of such QCPs and the question of whether they show universal behavior remain open issues. Here we report measurements of heat capacity and de Haas–van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations at low temperatures across a field-induced antiferromagnetic QCP (Bc0 ≈ 50 T) in the heavy-fermion metal CeRhIn5. A sharp, magnetic-field-induced change in Fermi surface is detected both in the dHvA effect and Hall resistivity at B0* ≈ 30 T, well inside the antiferromagnetic phase. Comparisons with band-structure calculations and properties of isostructural CeCoIn5 suggest that the Fermi-surface change at B0* is associated with a localized-to-itinerant transition of the Ce-4f electrons in CeRhIn5. Taken in conjunction with pressure experiments, our results demonstrate that at least two distinct classes of QCP are observable in CeRhIn5, a significant step toward the derivation of a universal phase diagram for QCPs. PMID:25561536

Multiple Olivine Phase Transitions in the Shocked Martian Meteorite Tissint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharp, T. G.; Hu, J.; Walton, E. L.

2013-09-01

In some melt regions of Tissint olivine dissociated into silicate perovskite + magnesiowüstite while in others it transformed into ringwoodite. These different reactions and reaction mechanisms can be explained by local temperature variations.

Measuring temperature induced phase change kinetics in subcutaneous fatty tissues using near infrared spectroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging and optical coherence tomography (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sajjadi, Amir Y.; Carp, Stefan A.; Manstein, Dieter

2017-02-01

Monitoring phase transition in adipose tissue and formation of lipid crystals is important in Cryo-procedures such as cryosurgery or Selective Cryolipolysis (SC). In this work, we exploited a Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) method to monitor the onset of fat freezing/melting. Concurrent measurements using frequency domain NIRS and MR Spectroscopy during cooling/heating were performed on an in vitro porcine skin sample with a thick subcutaneous fat layer in a human MR scanner. The NIRS probe was placed on the skin measuring the average optical scattering of the fatty layer. Two fiber optic temperature probes were inserted in the area of the MRS and NIRS measurements. To further investigate the microscopic features of the phase-transition, an identical cooling/heating procedure was replicated on the same fat tissue while being imaged by Optical Coherence Tomography. The temperature relationships of optical scattering, MRS peak characteristics and OCT reflection intensity were analyzed to find signatures related to the onset of phase transition. The optical scattering in the fatty tissues decreases during the heating and increases by cooling. However, there is an inflexion in the rate of change of the scattering while the phase transition happens in the fatty layer. The methylene fat peaks on the MR Spectrum are also shown to be broadened during the cooling. OCT intensity displays a sharp increase at the transition temperature. The results from multiple samples show two transition points around 5-10 ˚C (cooling) and 15-20 ˚C (heating) through all three methods, demonstrating that adipose tissue phase change can be monitored non-invasively.

Superconductivity in multiple phases of compressed GeS b2T e4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenberg, E.; Hen, B.; Layek, Samar; Pozin, I.; Friedman, R.; Shelukhin, V.; Rosenberg, Y.; Karpovski, M.; Pasternak, M. P.; Sterer, E.; Dagan, Y.; Rozenberg, G. Kh.; Palevski, A.

2017-02-01

Here we report the discovery of superconductivity in multiple phases of the compressed GeS b2T e4 (GST) phase change memory alloy, which has attracted considerable attention for the last decade due to its unusual physical properties with many potential applications. Superconductivity is observed through electrical transport measurements, both for the amorphous (a -GST) and for the crystalline (c -GST) phases. The superconducting critical temperature Tc continuously increases with applied pressure, reaching a maximum Tc=6 K at P =20 GPa for a -GST, whereas the critical temperature of the cubic phase reaches a maximum Tc=8 K at 30 GPa. This material system, exhibiting a superconductor-insulator quantum phase transition, has an advantage over disordered metals since it has a continuous control of the crystal structure and the electronic properties using pressure as an external stimulus.

Laser Gyro Attitude Control System Feasibility Study.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-24

GYROS (Distinguishable by method used to circumvent lock-in phenomenon) M ECHANICAL DITHER ,. MAGNETIC MIRROR DILAG (MULTI-OSCILLATOR) Figure 1...by a multiple transit of a light beam within a closed optical cavity (a three- mirror system). The beam traverses the cavity continuously; after each...circulation a small fraction of the beam intensity is output at one of the mirrors . Each transit incurs a phase % %0 ? % o I" us ol *..~% % %~*,~*)*f

Imaging the Dynamics of the Ferroelectric Stripe Phase Near a Field-Driven Phase Transition in Bismuth Ferrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laanait, Nouamane; Li, Qian; Zhang, Zhan; Kalinin, Sergei

Electric field-driven phase transitions in multiferroic systems such as Bismuth Ferrite could potentially host interesting domain dynamics due to the coexistence of multiple order parameters. Structural imaging of these dynamics under a host of elastic and electric boundary conditions is therefore of interest. Here, we present X-ray diffraction microscopy (XDM) studies of the domain wall dynamics in a bismuth ferrite thin-film near the field-driven transition from rhombohedral to monoclinic (R to M). XDM is a novel full-field imaging technique that uses Bragg diffraction contrast to image structural configurations with sub-100nm lateral resolutions and fast acquisition times (milliseconds to seconds per image). We find that under electric fields 100 kV/cm, a bismuth ferrite thin-film (100 nm BiFeO3/DyScO3 (110)) undergoes a structural phase transition but that this new phase (M) is pinned by the preexisting ferroelectric/ferroelastic stripe phase (R). At higher fields ( 300 kV/cm), we observe unusually slow domain wall dynamics in the stripe phase, consisting of periodicity doubling, domain wall roughening and crowding. These observed ferroelastic domain wall spatial dynamics are weakly constrained by the crystal symmetry of the orthorhombic substrate but exhibit nonlinear dynamics more commonly associated with disordered nematic systems. This work was supported by the Eugene P. Wigner Fellowship program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility.

Relaxation dynamics of maximally clustered networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klaise, Janis; Johnson, Samuel

2018-01-01

We study the relaxation dynamics of fully clustered networks (maximal number of triangles) to an unclustered state under two different edge dynamics—the double-edge swap, corresponding to degree-preserving randomization of the configuration model, and single edge replacement, corresponding to full randomization of the Erdős-Rényi random graph. We derive expressions for the time evolution of the degree distribution, edge multiplicity distribution and clustering coefficient. We show that under both dynamics networks undergo a continuous phase transition in which a giant connected component is formed. We calculate the position of the phase transition analytically using the Erdős-Rényi phenomenology.

Influence of phase inversion on the formation and stability of one-step multiple emulsions.

PubMed

Morais, Jacqueline M; Rocha-Filho, Pedro A; Burgess, Diane J

2009-07-21

A novel method of preparation of water-in-oil-in-micelle-containing water (W/O/W(m)) multiple emulsions using the one-step emulsification method is reported. These multiple emulsions were normal (not temporary) and stable over a 60 day test period. Previously, reported multiple emulsion by the one-step method were abnormal systems that formed at the inversion point of simple emulsion (where there is an incompatibility in the Ostwald and Bancroft theories, and typically these are O/W/O systems). Pseudoternary phase diagrams and bidimensional process-composition (phase inversion) maps were constructed to assist in process and composition optimization. The surfactants used were PEG40 hydrogenated castor oil and sorbitan oleate, and mineral and vegetables oils were investigated. Physicochemical characterization studies showed experimentally, for the first time, the significance of the ultralow surface tension point on multiple emulsion formation by one-step via phase inversion processes. Although the significance of ultralow surface tension has been speculated previously, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental confirmation. The multiple emulsion system reported here was dependent not only upon the emulsification temperature, but also upon the component ratios, therefore both the emulsion phase inversion and the phase inversion temperature were considered to fully explain their formation. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the formation of these normal multiple emulsions is not a result of a temporary incompatibility (at the inversion point) during simple emulsion preparation, as previously reported. Rather, these normal W/O/W(m) emulsions are a result of the simultaneous occurrence of catastrophic and transitional phase inversion processes. The formation of the primary emulsions (W/O) is in accordance with the Ostwald theory ,and the formation of the multiple emulsions (W/O/W(m)) is in agreement with the Bancroft theory.

Phase Restructuring in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Highly Stable Energy Storage.

PubMed

Leng, Kai; Chen, Zhongxin; Zhao, Xiaoxu; Tang, Wei; Tian, Bingbing; Nai, Chang Tai; Zhou, Wu; Loh, Kian Ping

2016-09-28

Achieving homogeneous phase transition and uniform charge distribution is essential for good cycle stability and high capacity when phase conversion materials are used as electrodes. Herein, we show that chemical lithiation of bulk 2H-MoS 2 distorts its crystalline domains in three primary directions to produce mosaic-like 1T' nanocrystalline domains, which improve phase and charge uniformity during subsequent electrochemical phase conversion. 1T'-Li x MoS 2 , a macroscopic dense material with interconnected nanoscale grains, shows excellent cycle stability and rate capability in a lithium rechargeable battery compared to bulk or exfoliated-restacked MoS 2 . Transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the interconnected MoS 2 nanocrystals created during the phase change process are reformable even after multiple cycles of galvanostatic charging/discharging, which allows them to play important roles in the long term cycling performance of the chemically intercalated TMD materials. These studies shed light on how bulk TMDs can be processed into quasi-2D nanophase material for stable energy storage.

Dual-comb spectroscopy of molecular electronic transitions in condensed phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Byungmoon; Yoon, Tai Hyun; Cho, Minhaeng

2018-03-01

Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) utilizes two phase-locked optical frequency combs to allow scanless acquisition of spectra using only a single point detector. Although recent DCS measurements demonstrate rapid acquisition of absolutely calibrated spectral lines with unprecedented precision and accuracy, complex phase-locking schemes and multiple coherent averaging present significant challenges for widespread adoption of DCS. Here, we demonstrate Global Positioning System (GPS) disciplined DCS of a molecular electronic transition in solution at around 800 nm, where the absorption spectrum is recovered by using a single time-domain interferogram. We anticipate that this simplified dual-comb technique with absolute time interval measurement and ultrabroad bandwidth will allow adoption of DCS to tackle molecular dynamics investigation through its implementation in time-resolved nonlinear spectroscopic studies and coherent multidimensional spectroscopy of coupled chromophore systems.

Supermode-density-wave-polariton condensation with a Bose–Einstein condensate in a multimode cavity

PubMed Central

Kollár, Alicia J.; Papageorge, Alexander T.; Vaidya, Varun D.; Guo, Yudan; Keeling, Jonathan; Lev, Benjamin L.

2017-01-01

Phase transitions, where observable properties of a many-body system change discontinuously, can occur in both open and closed systems. By placing cold atoms in optical cavities and inducing strong coupling between light and excitations of the atoms, one can experimentally study phase transitions of open quantum systems. Here we observe and study a non-equilibrium phase transition, the condensation of supermode-density-wave polaritons. These polaritons are formed from a superposition of cavity photon eigenmodes (a supermode), coupled to atomic density waves of a quantum gas. As the cavity supports multiple photon spatial modes and because the light–matter coupling can be comparable to the energy splitting of these modes, the composition of the supermode polariton is changed by the light–matter coupling on condensation. By demonstrating the ability to observe and understand density-wave-polariton condensation in the few-mode-degenerate cavity regime, our results show the potential to study similar questions in fully multimode cavities. PMID:28211455

Discrete Time Crystals: Rigidity, Criticality, and Realizations.

PubMed

Yao, N Y; Potter, A C; Potirniche, I-D; Vishwanath, A

2017-01-20

Despite being forbidden in equilibrium, spontaneous breaking of time translation symmetry can occur in periodically driven, Floquet systems with discrete time-translation symmetry. The period of the resulting discrete time crystal is quantized to an integer multiple of the drive period, arising from a combination of collective synchronization and many body localization. Here, we consider a simple model for a one-dimensional discrete time crystal which explicitly reveals the rigidity of the emergent oscillations as the drive is varied. We numerically map out its phase diagram and compute the properties of the dynamical phase transition where the time crystal melts into a trivial Floquet insulator. Moreover, we demonstrate that the model can be realized with current experimental technologies and propose a blueprint based upon a one dimensional chain of trapped ions. Using experimental parameters (featuring long-range interactions), we identify the phase boundaries of the ion-time-crystal and propose a measurable signature of the symmetry breaking phase transition.

Dissipation-Induced Anomalous Multicritical Phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soriente, M.; Donner, T.; Chitra, R.; Zilberberg, O.

2018-05-01

We explore the influence of dissipation on a paradigmatic driven-dissipative model where a collection of two level atoms interact with both quadratures of a quantum cavity mode. The closed system exhibits multiple phase transitions involving discrete and continuous symmetries breaking and all phases culminate in a multicritical point. In the open system, we show that infinitesimal dissipation erases the phase with broken continuous symmetry and radically alters the model's phase diagram. The multicritical point now becomes brittle and splits into two tricritical points where first- and second-order symmetry-breaking transitions meet. A quantum fluctuations analysis shows that, surprisingly, the tricritical points exhibit anomalous finite fluctuations, as opposed to standard tricritical points arising in He 3 -He 4 mixtures. Our work has direct implications for a variety of fields, including cold atoms and ions in optical cavities, circuit-quantum electrodynamics as well as optomechanical systems.

On simulated annealing phase transitions in phylogeny reconstruction.

PubMed

Strobl, Maximilian A R; Barker, Daniel

2016-08-01

Phylogeny reconstruction with global criteria is NP-complete or NP-hard, hence in general requires a heuristic search. We investigate the powerful, physically inspired, general-purpose heuristic simulated annealing, applied to phylogeny reconstruction. Simulated annealing mimics the physical process of annealing, where a liquid is gently cooled to form a crystal. During the search, periods of elevated specific heat occur, analogous to physical phase transitions. These simulated annealing phase transitions play a crucial role in the outcome of the search. Nevertheless, they have received comparably little attention, for phylogeny or other optimisation problems. We analyse simulated annealing phase transitions during searches for the optimal phylogenetic tree for 34 real-world multiple alignments. In the same way in which melting temperatures differ between materials, we observe distinct specific heat profiles for each input file. We propose this reflects differences in the search landscape and can serve as a measure for problem difficulty and for suitability of the algorithm's parameters. We discuss application in algorithmic optimisation and as a diagnostic to assess parameterisation before computationally costly, large phylogeny reconstructions are launched. Whilst the focus here lies on phylogeny reconstruction under maximum parsimony, it is plausible that our results are more widely applicable to optimisation procedures in science and industry. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The phase diagram of ammonium nitrate.

PubMed

Chellappa, Raja S; Dattelbaum, Dana M; Velisavljevic, Nenad; Sheffield, Stephen

2012-08-14

The pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram of ammonium nitrate (AN) [NH(4)NO(3)] has been determined using synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy measurements. Phase boundaries were established by characterizing phase transitions to the high temperature polymorphs during multiple P-T measurements using both XRD and Raman spectroscopy measurements. At room temperature, the ambient pressure orthorhombic (Pmmn) AN-IV phase was stable up to 45 GPa and no phase transitions were observed. AN-IV phase was also observed to be stable in a large P-T phase space. The phase boundaries are steep with a small phase stability regime for high temperature phases. A P-V-T equation of state based on a high temperature Birch-Murnaghan formalism was obtained by simultaneously fitting the P-V isotherms at 298, 325, 446, and 467 K, thermal expansion data at 1 bar, and volumes from P-T ramping experiments. Anomalous thermal expansion behavior of AN was observed at high pressure with a modest negative thermal expansion in the 3-11 GPa range for temperatures up to 467 K. The role of vibrational anharmonicity in this anomalous thermal expansion behavior has been established using high P-T Raman spectroscopy.

The phase diagram of ammonium nitrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chellappa, Raja S.; Dattelbaum, Dana M.; Velisavljevic, Nenad; Sheffield, Stephen

2012-08-01

The pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram of ammonium nitrate (AN) [NH4NO3] has been determined using synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy measurements. Phase boundaries were established by characterizing phase transitions to the high temperature polymorphs during multiple P-T measurements using both XRD and Raman spectroscopy measurements. At room temperature, the ambient pressure orthorhombic (Pmmn) AN-IV phase was stable up to 45 GPa and no phase transitions were observed. AN-IV phase was also observed to be stable in a large P-T phase space. The phase boundaries are steep with a small phase stability regime for high temperature phases. A P-V-T equation of state based on a high temperature Birch-Murnaghan formalism was obtained by simultaneously fitting the P-V isotherms at 298, 325, 446, and 467 K, thermal expansion data at 1 bar, and volumes from P-T ramping experiments. Anomalous thermal expansion behavior of AN was observed at high pressure with a modest negative thermal expansion in the 3-11 GPa range for temperatures up to 467 K. The role of vibrational anharmonicity in this anomalous thermal expansion behavior has been established using high P-T Raman spectroscopy.

Unusual ground states in {R_5T_4X_{10}} (R  =  rare earth; T  =  Rh, Ir; and X  =  Si, Ge, Sn): a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramakrishnan, S.; van Smaalen, Sander

2017-11-01

Rare earth compounds of the type R_5T_4X10 (R  =  rare earth; T  =  Rh, Ir, and X  =  Si, Ge, Sn) display a variety of phase transitions towards exotic states, including charge density waves (CDW), local moment magnetism, antiferromagnetism in the heavy fermion state, superconductivity and giant positive magnetoresistance. They support strongly correlated electron systems. In particular, R 5Ir4 Si10 (R  =  Dy-Lu) exhibit strong coupling CDWs with high transition temperatures, and superconductivity or magnetic ordering at lower temperatures. R_5T4 Ge10 (R  =  Gd-Tm T  =  Co, Rh, Ir) show multiple magnetic transitions with large magnetoresistance below the magnetic transitions. Finally, the light rare earth series R_5T4 Sn10 (R  =  Ce, Pr, Nd; T  =  Rh, Ir) display heavy fermion behaviour (for Ce and Pr) or possess giant positive magnetoresistance (for Nd) at low temperatures. This review provides a comprehensive overview of compounds, crystal structures and phase transitions. This is followed by an in-depth discussion of the mechanisms of the phase transitions and the properties of the ordered states.

Multiple Quantum Phase Transitions in a two-dimensional superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergeal, Nicolas; Biscaras, J.; Hurand, S.; Feuillet-Palma, C.; Lesueur, J.; Budhani, R. C.; Rastogi, A.; Caprara, S.; Grilli, M.

2013-03-01

We studied the magnetic field driven Quantum Phase Transition (QPT) in electrostatically gated superconducting LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces. Through finite size scaling analysis, we showed that it belongs to the (2 +1)D XY model universality class. The system can be described as a disordered array of superconducting islands coupled by a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Depending on the 2DEG conductance tuned by the gate voltage, the QPT is single (corresponding to the long range phase coherence in the whole array) or double (one related to local phase coherence, the other one to the array). By retrieving the coherence length critical exponent ν, we showed that the QPT can be ``clean'' or ``dirty'' according to the Harris criteria, depending on whether the phase coherence length is smaller or larger than the island size. The overall behaviour is well described by a model of coupled superconducting puddles in the framework of the fermionic scenario of 2D superconducting QPT.

Dynamic Testing of the NASA Hypersonic Project Combined Cycle Engine Testbed for Mode Transition Experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2011-01-01

NASA is interested in developing technology that leads to more routine, safe, and affordable access to space. Access to space using airbreathing propulsion systems has potential to meet these objectives based on Airbreathing Access to Space (AAS) system studies. To this end, the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program (FAP) Hypersonic Project is conducting fundamental research on a Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) propulsion system. The TBCC being studied considers a dual flow-path inlet system. One flow-path includes variable geometry to regulate airflow to a turbine engine cycle. The turbine cycle provides propulsion from take-off to supersonic flight. The second flow-path supports a dual-mode scramjet (DMSJ) cycle which would be initiated at supersonic speed to further accelerate the vehicle to hypersonic speed. For a TBCC propulsion system to accelerate a vehicle from supersonic to hypersonic speed, a critical enabling technology is the ability to safely and effectively transition from the turbine to the DMSJ-referred to as mode transition. To experimentally test methods of mode transition, a Combined Cycle Engine (CCE) Large-scale Inlet testbed was designed with two flow paths-a low speed flow-path sized for a turbine cycle and a high speed flow-path designed for a DMSJ. This testbed system is identified as the CCE Large-Scale Inlet for Mode Transition studies (CCE-LIMX). The test plan for the CCE-LIMX in the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 10- by 10-ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel (10x10 SWT) is segmented into multiple phases. The first phase is a matrix of inlet characterization (IC) tests to evaluate the inlet performance and establish the mode transition schedule. The second phase is a matrix of dynamic system identification (SysID) experiments designed to support closed-loop control development at mode transition schedule operating points for the CCE-LIMX. The third phase includes a direct demonstration of controlled mode transition using a closed loop control system developed with the data obtained from the first two phases. Plans for a fourth phase include mode transition experiments with a turbine engine. This paper, focusing on the first two phases of experiments, presents developed operational and analysis tools for streamlined testing and data reduction procedures.

Enhanced sampling by multiple molecular dynamics trajectories: carbonmonoxy myoglobin 10 micros A0-->A(1-3) transition from ten 400 picosecond simulations.

PubMed

Loccisano, Anne E; Acevedo, Orlando; DeChancie, Jason; Schulze, Brita G; Evanseck, Jeffrey D

2004-05-01

The utility of multiple trajectories to extend the time scale of molecular dynamics simulations is reported for the spectroscopic A-states of carbonmonoxy myoglobin (MbCO). Experimentally, the A0-->A(1-3) transition has been observed to be 10 micros at 300 K, which is beyond the time scale of standard molecular dynamics simulations. To simulate this transition, 10 short (400 ps) and two longer time (1.2 ns) molecular dynamics trajectories, starting from five different crystallographic and solution phase structures with random initial velocities centered in a 37 A radius sphere of water, have been used to sample the native-fold of MbCO. Analysis of the ensemble of structures gathered over the cumulative 5.6 ns reveals two biomolecular motions involving the side chains of His64 and Arg45 to explain the spectroscopic states of MbCO. The 10 micros A0-->A(1-3) transition involves the motion of His64, where distance between His64 and CO is found to vary up to 8.8 +/- 1.0 A during the transition of His64 from the ligand (A(1-3)) to bulk solvent (A0). The His64 motion occurs within a single trajectory only once, however the multiple trajectories populate the spectroscopic A-states fully. Consequently, multiple independent molecular dynamics simulations have been found to extend biomolecular motion from 5 ns of total simulation to experimental phenomena on the microsecond time scale.

Probing lattice dynamics and electron-phonon coupling in the topological nodal-line semimetal ZrSiS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singha, Ratnadwip; Samanta, Sudeshna; Chatterjee, Swastika; Pariari, Arnab; Majumdar, Dipanwita; Satpati, Biswarup; Wang, Lin; Singha, Achintya; Mandal, Prabhat

2018-03-01

Topological materials provide an exclusive platform to study the dynamics of relativistic particles in table-top experiments and offer the possibility of wide-scale technological applications. ZrSiS is a newly discovered topological nodal-line semimetal and has drawn enormous interests. In this paper, we have investigated the lattice dynamics and electron-phonon interaction in single-crystalline ZrSiS using Raman spectroscopy. Polarization and angle-resolved Raman data have been analyzed using crystal symmetries and theoretically calculated atomic vibrational patterns along with phonon dispersion spectra. Wavelength- and temperature-dependent measurements show the complex interplay of electron and phonon degrees of freedom, resulting in resonant phonon and quasielastic electron scattering through interband transition. Our high-pressure Raman studies reveal vibrational anomalies, which are the signature of structural phase transitions. Further investigations through high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction clearly show pressure-induced structural transitions and coexistence of multiple phases, which also indicate possible electronic topological transitions in ZrSiS. This study not only provides the fundamental information on the phonon subsystem, but also sheds some light in understanding the topological nodal-line phase in ZrSiS and other isostructural systems.

Temperature sensing of adipose tissue heating with the luminescent upconversion nanoparticles as nanothermometer: in vitro study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanina, I. Yu.; Volkova, E. K.; Zaharevich, A. M.; Konyukhova, J. G.; Kochubey, V. I.; Tuchin, V. V.

2017-03-01

The luminescence spectra of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) imbedded in fat tissue were measured in a wide temperature range, from room to human body and further to hyperthermic temperatures. The two types of synthesized UCNP [NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+] specimens, namely, powdered as-is and embedded into polymer film, were used. The results show that the luminescence of UCNPs placed under the adipose tissue layer is reasonably good sensitive to temperature change and reflects phase transitions of lipids in tissue cells. The most likely, multiple phase transitions are associated with the different components of fat cells such as phospholipids of cell membrane and lipids of fat droplets. In the course of fat cell heating, lipids of fat droplet first transit from a crystalline form to a liquid crystal form and then to a liquid form, which is characterized by much less scattering. The phase transitions of lipids were observed as the changes of the slope of the temperature dependence of UCNP luminescence intensity. The obtained results confirm a high sensitivity of the luminescent UCNPs to the temperature variations within tissues and show a strong potential for providing a controllable tissue thermolysis.

A mononuclear iron(II) complex: cooperativity, kinetics and activation energy of the solvent-dependent spin transition.

PubMed

Bushuev, Mark B; Pishchur, Denis P; Logvinenko, Vladimir A; Gatilov, Yuri V; Korolkov, Ilya V; Shundrina, Inna K; Nikolaenkova, Elena B; Krivopalov, Viktor P

2016-01-07

The system [FeL2](BF4)2 (1)-EtOH-H2O (L is 4-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine) shows a complicated balance between the relative stabilities of solvatomorphs and polymorphs of the complex [FeL2](BF4)2. New solvatomorphs, 1(LS)·EtOH·H2O and β-1(LS)·xH2O, were isolated in this system. They were converted into four daughter phases, 1(A/LS), 1(D/LS), 1(E/LS)·yEtOH·zH2O and 1(F/LS). On thermal cycling in sealed ampoules, the phases 1(LS)·EtOH·H2O and β-1(LS)·xH2O transform into the anhydrous phase 1(A/LS). The hysteresis loop width for the (A/LS) ↔ (A/HS) spin transition depends on the water and ethanol contents in the ampoule and varies from ca. 30 K up to 145 K. The reproducible hysteresis loop of 145 K is the widest ever reported one for a spin crossover complex. The phase 1(A/LS) combines the outstanding spin crossover properties with thermal robustness allowing for multiple cycling in sealed ampoules without degradation. The kinetics of the 1(A/LS) → 1(A/HS) transition is sigmoidal which is indicative of strong cooperative interactions. The cooperativity of the 1(A/LS) → 1(A/HS) transition is related to the formation of a 2D supramolecular structure of the phase 1(A/LS). The activation energy for the spin transition is very high (hundreds of kJ mol(-1)). The kinetics of the 1(A/HS) → 1(A/LS) transition can either be sigmoidal or exponential depending on the water and ethanol contents in the ampoule. The phases 1(D/LS) and 1(F/LS) show gradual crossover, whereas the phase 1(E/LS)·yEtOH·yH2O shows a reversible hysteretic transition associated with the solvent molecule release and uptake.

Multiple Phase Transitions in the model multiferroic BiFeO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreisel, Jens

2012-02-01

Bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 (BFO) is commonly considered a model system for multiferroics, and is perhaps the only material that is both magnetic and a ferroelectric with a strong electric polarization at 300K [1]. Despite numerous investigations, the crystal structures of BFO as a function of temperature and pressure are still not established and lead to ongoing controversial reports in the literature [1,3]. Besides being a model multiferroic, BFO is also one of the very few materials that present both octahedra tilts and strong cation displacements at room temperature. Here we report the high-pressure phase transitions in BFO by both synchrotron x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, namely a surprising richness of six phase transitions in the 0--60 GPa range [2-3]. At low pressures, 4 transitions are evidenced at 4, 6, 7 and 11 GPa. In this range, the crystals display in that range unusual large unit cells and complex domain structures, which suggests a competition between complex tilt systems and possibly off-center cation displacements. The non polar Pnma phase remains stable over a large pressure range between 11 and 38 GPa. The two high pressure phase transitions at 38 and 48 GPa are marked by the occurrence of larger unit cells and an increase of the distortion away from the cubic parent perovskite cell. The previously reported insulator-to-metal transition appears to be symmetry breaking. Finally, we will present a new schematic P-T phase diagram for BFO and discuss the recently reported phase transition in highly strained BFO films [4,5] in the light of our high-pressure findings. [4pt] [1] G. Catalan, J. F. Scott, Advanced Materials 21, 1 (2009).[0pt] [2] R. Haumont et al., Phys. Rev. B 79, 184110 (2009).[0pt] [3] M. Guennou et al., Phys. Rev. B 2011, accepted http://arxiv.org/abs/1108.0704.2011[0pt] [4] J. Kreisel et al. J. Phys.: Cond. Matt. 23, 342202 (2011).[0pt] [5] W. Siemons et al. Appl. Phys. Express 4 (2011).

The putative liquid-liquid transition is a liquid-solid transition in atomistic models of water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limmer, David T.; Chandler, David

2011-10-01

We use numerical simulation to examine the possibility of a reversible liquid-liquid transition in supercooled water and related systems. In particular, for two atomistic models of water, we have computed free energies as functions of multiple order parameters, where one is density and another distinguishes crystal from liquid. For a range of temperatures and pressures, separate free energy basins for liquid and crystal are found, conditions of phase coexistence between these phases are demonstrated, and time scales for equilibration are determined. We find that at no range of temperatures and pressures is there more than a single liquid basin, even at conditions where amorphous behavior is unstable with respect to the crystal. We find a similar result for a related model of silicon. This result excludes the possibility of the proposed liquid-liquid critical point for the models we have studied. Further, we argue that behaviors others have attributed to a liquid-liquid transition in water and related systems are in fact reflections of transitions between liquid and crystal.

Stationary phase method and delay times for relativistic and non-relativistic tunneling particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bernardini, A.E.

2009-06-15

The stationary phase method is frequently adopted for calculating tunneling phase times of analytically-continuous Gaussian or infinite-bandwidth step pulses which collide with a potential barrier. This report deals with the basic concepts on deducing transit times for quantum scattering: the stationary phase method and its relation with delay times for relativistic and non-relativistic tunneling particles. After reexamining the above-barrier diffusion problem, we notice that the applicability of this method is constrained by several subtleties in deriving the phase time that describes the localization of scattered wave packets. Using a recently developed procedure - multiple wave packet decomposition - for somemore » specifical colliding configurations, we demonstrate that the analytical difficulties arising when the stationary phase method is applied for obtaining phase (traversal) times are all overcome. In this case, we also investigate the general relation between phase times and dwell times for quantum tunneling/scattering. Considering a symmetrical collision of two identical wave packets with an one-dimensional barrier, we demonstrate that these two distinct transit time definitions are explicitly connected. The traversal times are obtained for a symmetrized (two identical bosons) and an antisymmetrized (two identical fermions) quantum colliding configuration. Multiple wave packet decomposition shows us that the phase time (group delay) describes the exact position of the scattered particles and, in addition to the exact relation with the dwell time, leads to correct conceptual understanding of both transit time definitions. At last, we extend the non-relativistic formalism to the solutions for the tunneling zone of a one-dimensional electrostatic potential in the relativistic (Dirac to Klein-Gordon) wave equation where the incoming wave packet exhibits the possibility of being almost totally transmitted through the potential barrier. The conditions for the occurrence of accelerated and, eventually, superluminal tunneling transmission probabilities are all quantified and the problematic superluminal interpretation based on the non-relativistic tunneling dynamics is revisited. Lessons concerning the dynamics of relativistic tunneling and the mathematical structure of its solutions suggest revealing insights into mathematically analogous condensed-matter experiments using electrostatic barriers in single- and bi-layer graphene, for which the accelerated tunneling effect deserves a more careful investigation.« less

External noise-induced transitions in a current-biased Josephson junction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Qiongwei; Xue, Changfeng, E-mail: cfxue@163.com; Tang, Jiashi

We investigate noise-induced transitions in a current-biased and weakly damped Josephson junction in the presence of multiplicative noise. By using the stochastic averaging procedure, the averaged amplitude equation describing dynamic evolution near a constant phase difference is derived. Numerical results show that a stochastic Hopf bifurcation between an absorbing and an oscillatory state occurs. This means the external controllable noise triggers a transition into the non-zero junction voltage state. With the increase of noise intensity, the stationary probability distribution peak shifts and is characterised by increased width and reduced height. And the different transition rates are shown for large andmore » small bias currents.« less

Magnetic properties of checkerboard lattice: a Monte Carlo study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jabar, A.; Masrour, R.; Hamedoun, M.; Benyoussef, A.

2017-12-01

The magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic mixed-spin Ising model in the checkerboard lattice are studied using Monte Carlo simulations. The variation of total magnetization and magnetic susceptibility with the crystal field has been established. We have obtained a transition from an order to a disordered phase in some critical value of the physical variables. The reduced transition temperature is obtained for different exchange interactions. The magnetic hysteresis cycles have been established. The multiples hysteresis cycle in checkerboard lattice are obtained. The multiples hysteresis cycle have been established. The ferrimagnetic mixed-spin Ising model in checkerboard lattice is very interesting from the experimental point of view. The mixed spins system have many technological applications such as in domain opto-electronics, memory, nanomedicine and nano-biological systems. The obtained results show that that crystal field induce long-range spin-spin correlations even bellow the reduced transition temperature.

Photoelectron spectroscopic study of the anionic transition metalorganic complexes [Fe(1,2)(COT)](-) and [Co(COT)](-).

PubMed

Li, Xiang; Eustis, Soren N; Bowen, Kit H; Kandalam, Anil

2008-09-28

The gas-phase, iron and cobalt cyclooctatetraene cluster anions, [Fe(1,2)(COT)](-) and [Co(COT)](-), were generated using a laser vaporization source and studied using mass spectrometry and anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Density functional theory was employed to compute the structures and spin multiplicities of these cluster anions as well as those of their corresponding neutrals. Both experimental and theoretically predicted electron affinities and photodetachment transition energies are in good agreement, authenticating the structures and spin multiplicities predicted by theory. The implied spin magnetic moments of these systems suggest that [Fe(COT)], [Fe(2)(COT)], and [Co(COT)] retain the magnetic moments of the Fe atom, the Fe(2) dimer, and the Co atom, respectively. Thus, the interaction of these transition metal, atomic and dimeric moieties with a COT molecule does not quench their magnetic moments, leading to the possibility that these combinations may be useful in forming novel magnetic materials.

Bit-mapped Holograms Using Phase Transition Mastering (PTM) and Blu-ray Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnhart, Donald

2013-02-01

Due to recent advances made in data storage, cloud computing, and Blu-ray mastering technology, it is now straight forward to calculate, store, transfer, and print bitmapped holograms that use terabytes of data and tera-pixels of information. This presentation reports on the potential of using the phase transition mastering (PTM) process to construct bitmapped, computer generated holograms with spatial resolutions of 5000 line-pairs/mm (70 nm pixel width). In particular, for Blu-ray disk production, Sony has developed a complete process that could be alternately deployed in holographic applications. The PTM process uses a 405 nm laser to write phase patterns onto a layer of imperfect transition metal oxides that is deposited onto an 8 inch silicon wafer. After the master hologram has been constructed, its imprint can then be cheaply mass produced with the same process as Blu-ray disks or embossed holograms. Unlike traditional binary holograms made with expensive e-beam lithography, the PTM process has the potential for multiple phase levels using inexpensive optics similar to consumer-grade desktop Blu-ray writers. This PTM process could revolutionise holography for entertainment, industrial, and scientific applications.

Dissociation of Calcium Transients and Force Development following a Change in Stimulation Frequency in Isolated Rabbit Myocardium.

PubMed

Haizlip, Kaylan M; Milani-Nejad, Nima; Brunello, Lucia; Varian, Kenneth D; Slabaugh, Jessica L; Walton, Shane D; Gyorke, Sandor; Davis, Jonathan P; Biesiadecki, Brandon J; Janssen, Paul M L

2015-01-01

As the heart transitions from one exercise intensity to another, changes in cardiac output occur, which are modulated by alterations in force development and calcium handling. Although the steady-state force-calcium relationship at various heart rates is well investigated, regulation of these processes during transitions in heart rate is poorly understood. In isolated right ventricular muscle preparations from the rabbit, we investigated the beat-to-beat alterations in force and calcium during the transition from one stimulation frequency to another, using contractile assessments and confocal microscopy. We show that a change in steady-state conditions occurs in multiple phases: a rapid phase, which is characterized by a fast change in force production mirrored by a change in calcium transient amplitude, and a slow phase, which follows the rapid phase and occurs as the muscle proceeds to stabilize at the new frequency. This second/late phase is characterized by a quantitative dissociation between the calcium transient amplitude and developed force. Twitch timing kinetics, such as time to peak tension and 50% relaxation rate, reached steady-state well before force development and calcium transient amplitude. The dynamic relationship between force and calcium upon a switch in stimulation frequency unveils the dynamic involvement of myofilament-based properties in frequency-dependent activation.

Phase restructuring in transition metal dichalcogenides for highly stable energy storage

DOE PAGES

Leng, Kai; Chen, Zhongxin; Zhao, Xiaoxu; ...

2016-09-16

Achieving homogeneous phase transition and uniform charge distribution is essential for good cycle stability and high capacity when phase conversion materials are used as electrodes. Herein, we show that chemical lithiation of bulk 2H-MoS 2 distorts its crystalline domains in three primary directions to produce mosaic-like 1T' nanocrystalline domains, which improve phase and charge uniformity during subsequent electrochemical phase conversion. 1T'-Li xMoS 2, a macroscopic dense material with interconnected nanoscale grains, shows excellent cycle stability and rate capability in a lithium rechargeable battery compared to bulk or exfoliated-restacked MoS 2. Transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the interconnected MoS 2more » nanocrystals created during the phase change process are reformable even after multiple cycles of galvanostatic charging/discharging, which allows them to play important roles in the long term cycling performance of the chemically intercalated TMD materials. Finally, these studies shed light on how bulk TMDs can be processed into quasi-2D nanophase material for stable energy storage.« less

Chaotic phase synchronization in bursting-neuron models driven by a weak periodic force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ando, Hiroyasu; Suetani, Hiromichi; Kurths, Jürgen; Aihara, Kazuyuki

2012-07-01

We investigate the entrainment of a neuron model exhibiting a chaotic spiking-bursting behavior in response to a weak periodic force. This model exhibits two types of oscillations with different characteristic time scales, namely, long and short time scales. Several types of phase synchronization are observed, such as 1:1 phase locking between a single spike and one period of the force and 1:l phase locking between the period of slow oscillation underlying bursts and l periods of the force. Moreover, spiking-bursting oscillations with chaotic firing patterns can be synchronized with the periodic force. Such a type of phase synchronization is detected from the position of a set of points on a unit circle, which is determined by the phase of the periodic force at each spiking time. We show that this detection method is effective for a system with multiple time scales. Owing to the existence of both the short and the long time scales, two characteristic phenomena are found around the transition point to chaotic phase synchronization. One phenomenon shows that the average time interval between successive phase slips exhibits a power-law scaling against the driving force strength and that the scaling exponent has an unsmooth dependence on the changes in the driving force strength. The other phenomenon shows that Kuramoto's order parameter before the transition exhibits stepwise behavior as a function of the driving force strength, contrary to the smooth transition in a model with a single time scale.

Paramagnetic and glass transitions in sudoku

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, A.; Ackland, G. J.

2012-09-01

We study the statistical mechanics of a model glassy system based on sudoku, a familiar and popular mathematical puzzle. Sudoku puzzles provide a very rare example of a class of frustrated systems with a unique ground state without symmetry. Here, the puzzle is recast as a thermodynamic system where the number of violated rules defines the energy. We use Monte Carlo simulation to show that the “sudoku Hamiltonian” exhibits two transitions as a function of temperature, a paramagnetic, and a glass transition. Of these, the intermediate condensed phase is the only one that visits the ground state (i.e., it solves the puzzle, though this is not the purpose of the study). Both transitions are associated with an entropy change, paramagnetism measured from the dynamics of the Monte Carlo run, showing a peak in specific heat, while the residual glass entropy is determined by finding multiple instances of the glass by repeated annealing. There are relatively few such simple models for frustrated or glassy systems that exhibit both ordering and glass transitions; sudoku puzzles are unique for the ease with which they can be obtained, with the proof of the existence of a unique ground state via the satisfiability of all constraints. Simulations suggest that in the glass phase there is an increase in information entropy with lowering temperature. In fact, we have shown that sudoku puzzles have the type of rugged energy landscape with multiple minima that typifies glasses in many physical systems. This puzzling result is a manifestation of the paradox of the residual glass entropy. These readily available puzzles can now be used as solvable model Hamiltonian systems for studying the glass transition.

Bimodality emerges from transport model calculations of heavy ion collisions at intermediate energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallik, S.; Das Gupta, S.; Chaudhuri, G.

2016-04-01

This work is a continuation of our effort [S. Mallik, S. Das Gupta, and G. Chaudhuri, Phys. Rev. C 91, 034616 (2015)], 10.1103/PhysRevC.91.034616 to examine if signatures of a phase transition can be extracted from transport model calculations of heavy ion collisions at intermediate energy. A signature of first-order phase transition is the appearance of a bimodal distribution in Pm(k ) in finite systems. Here Pm(k ) is the probability that the maximum of the multiplicity distribution occurs at mass number k . Using a well-known model for event generation [Botzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) plus fluctuation], we study two cases of central collision: mass 40 on mass 40 and mass 120 on mass 120. Bimodality is seen in both the cases. The results are quite similar to those obtained in statistical model calculations. An intriguing feature is seen. We observe that at the energy where bimodality occurs, other phase-transition-like signatures appear. There are breaks in certain first-order derivatives. We then examine if such breaks appear in standard BUU calculations without fluctuations. They do. The implication is interesting. If first-order phase transition occurs, it may be possible to recognize that from ordinary BUU calculations. Probably the reason this has not been seen already is because this aspect was not investigated before.

Optimal resource diffusion for suppressing disease spreading in multiplex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaolong; Wang, Wei; Cai, Shimin; Stanley, H. Eugene; Braunstein, Lidia A.

2018-05-01

Resource diffusion is a ubiquitous phenomenon, but how it impacts epidemic spreading has received little study. We propose a model that couples epidemic spreading and resource diffusion in multiplex networks. The spread of disease in a physical contact layer and the recovery of the infected nodes are both strongly dependent upon resources supplied by their counterparts in the social layer. The generation and diffusion of resources in the social layer are in turn strongly dependent upon the state of the nodes in the physical contact layer. Resources diffuse preferentially or randomly in this model. To quantify the degree of preferential diffusion, a bias parameter that controls the resource diffusion is proposed. We conduct extensive simulations and find that the preferential resource diffusion can change phase transition type of the fraction of infected nodes. When the degree of interlayer correlation is below a critical value, increasing the bias parameter changes the phase transition from double continuous to single continuous. When the degree of interlayer correlation is above a critical value, the phase transition changes from multiple continuous to first discontinuous and then to hybrid. We find hysteresis loops in the phase transition. We also find that there is an optimal resource strategy at each fixed degree of interlayer correlation under which the threshold reaches a maximum and the disease can be maximally suppressed. In addition, the optimal controlling parameter increases as the degree of inter-layer correlation increases.

Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions.

PubMed

Wehrman, Matthew D; Milstrey, Melissa J; Lindberg, Seth; Schultz, Kelly M

2018-04-19

The microstructure of soft matter directly impacts macroscopic rheological properties and can be changed by factors including colloidal rearrangement during previous phase changes and applied shear. To determine the extent of these changes, we have developed a microfluidic device that enables repeated phase transitions induced by exchange of the surrounding fluid and microrheological characterization while limiting shear on the sample. This technique is µ 2 rheology, the combination of microfluidics and microrheology. The microfluidic device is a two-layer design with symmetric inlet streams entering a sample chamber that traps the gel sample in place during fluid exchange. Suction can be applied far away from the sample chamber to pull fluids into the sample chamber. Material rheological properties are characterized using multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT). In MPT, fluorescent probe particles are embedded into the material and the Brownian motion of the probes is recorded using video microscopy. The movement of the particles is tracked and the mean-squared displacement (MSD) is calculated. The MSD is related to macroscopic rheological properties, using the Generalized Stokes-Einstein Relation. The phase of the material is identified by comparison to the critical relaxation exponent, determined using time-cure superposition. Measurements of a fibrous colloidal gel illustrate the utility of the technique. This gel has a delicate structure that can be irreversibly changed when shear is applied. µ 2 rheology data shows that the material repeatedly equilibrates to the same rheological properties after each phase transition, indicating that phase transitions do not play a role in microstructural changes. To determine the role of shear, samples can be sheared prior to injection into our microfluidic device. µ 2 rheology is a widely applicable technique for the characterization of soft matter enabling the determination of rheological properties of delicate microstructures in a single sample during phase transitions in response to repeated changes in the surrounding environmental conditions.

One-step formation of w/o/w multiple emulsions stabilized by single amphiphilic block copolymers.

PubMed

Hong, Liangzhi; Sun, Guanqing; Cai, Jinge; Ngai, To

2012-02-07

Multiple emulsions are complex polydispersed systems in which both oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion exists simultaneously. They are often prepared accroding to a two-step process and commonly stabilized using a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactants. Recently, some reports have shown that multiple emulsions can also be produced through one-step method with simultaneous occurrence of catastrophic and transitional phase inversions. However, these reported multiple emulsions need surfactant blends and are usually described as transitory or temporary systems. Herein, we report a one-step phase inversion process to produce water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsions stabilized solely by a synthetic diblock copolymer. Unlike the use of small molecule surfactant combinations, block copolymer stabilized multiple emulsions are remarkably stable and show the ability to separately encapsulate both polar and nonpolar cargos. The importance of the conformation of the copolymer surfactant at the interfaces with regards to the stability of the multiple emulsions using the one-step method is discussed.

Coordinated encoding between cell types in the retina: insights from the theory of phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharpee, Tatyana

2015-03-01

In this talk I will describe how the emergence of some types of neurons in the brain can be quantitatively described by the theory of transitions between different phases of matter. The two key parameters that control the separation of neurons into subclasses are the mean and standard deviation of noise levels among neurons in the population. The mean noise level plays the role of temperature in the classic theory of phase transitions, whereas the standard deviation is equivalent to pressure, in the case of liquid-gas transitions, or to magnetic field for magnetic transitions. Our results account for properties of two recently discovered types of salamander OFF retinal ganglion cells, as well as the absence of multiple types of ON cells. We further show that, across visual stimulus contrasts, retinal circuits continued to operate near the critical point whose quantitative characteristics matched those expected near a liquid-gas critical point and described by the nearest-neighbor Ising model in three dimensions. Because the retina needs to operate under changing stimulus conditions, the observed parameters of cell types corresponded to metastable states in the region between the spinodal line and the line describing maximally informative solutions. Such properties of neural circuits can maximize information transmission in a given environment while retaining the ability to quickly adapt to a new environment. NSF CAREER award 1254123 and NIH R01EY019493

IMM tracking of a theater ballistic missile during boost phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchins, Robert G.; San Jose, Anthony

1998-09-01

Since the SCUD launches in the Gulf War, theater ballistic missile (TBM) systems have become a growing concern for the US military. Detection, tracking and engagement during boost phase or shortly after booster cutoff are goals that grow in importance with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This paper addresses the performance of tracking algorithms for TBMs during boost phase and across the transition to ballistic flight. Three families of tracking algorithms are examined: alpha-beta-gamma trackers, Kalman-based trackers, and the interactive multiple model (IMM) tracker. In addition, a variation on the IMM to include prior knowledge of a booster cutoff parameter is examined. Simulated data is used to compare algorithms. Also, the IMM tracker is run on an actual ballistic missile trajectory. Results indicate that IMM trackers show significant advantage in tracking through the model transition represented by booster cutoff.

Using nonequilibrium dynamics to probe competing orders in a Mott-Peierls system

DOE PAGES

Wang, Y.; Moritz, B.; Chen, C. -C.; ...

2016-02-24

Competition between ordered phases, and their associated phase transitions, are significant in the study of strongly correlated systems. Here, we examine one aspect, the nonequilibrium dynamics of a photoexcited Mott-Peierls system, using an effective Peierls-Hubbard model and exact diagonalization. Near a transition where spin and charge become strongly intertwined, we observe antiphase dynamics and a coupling-strength-dependent suppression or enhancement in the static structure factors. The renormalized bosonic excitations coupled to a particular photoexcited electron can be extracted, which provides an approach for characterizing the underlying bosonic modes. The results from this analysis for different electronic momenta show an uneven softeningmore » due to a stronger coupling near k F. As a result, this behavior reflects the strong link between the fermionic momenta, the coupling vertices, and ultimately, the bosonic susceptibilities when multiple phases compete for the ground state of the system.« less

Collapse transition in polymer models with multiple monomers per site and multiple bonds per edge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodrigues, Nathann T.; Oliveira, Tiago J.

2017-12-01

We present results from extensive Monte Carlo simulations of polymer models where each lattice site can be visited by up to K monomers and no restriction is imposed on the number of bonds on each lattice edge. These multiple monomer per site (MMS) models are investigated on the square and cubic lattices, for K =2 and 3, by associating Boltzmann weights ω0=1 , ω1=eβ1 , and ω2=eβ2 to sites visited by 1, 2, and 3 monomers, respectively. Two versions of the MMS models are considered for which immediate reversals of the walks are allowed (RA) or forbidden (RF). In contrast to previous simulations of these models, we find the same thermodynamic behavior for both RA and RF versions. In three dimensions, the phase diagrams, in space β2×β1 , are featured by coil and globule phases separated by a line of Θ points, as thoroughly demonstrated by the metric νt, crossover ϕt, and entropic γt exponents. The existence of the Θ lines is also confirmed by the second virial coefficient. This shows that no discontinuous collapse transition exists in these models, in contrast to previous claims based on a weak bimodality observed in some distributions, which indeed exists in a narrow region very close to the Θ line when β1<0 . Interestingly, in two dimensions, only a crossover is found between the coil and globule phases.

Comparison of temperature sensing of the luminescent upconversion and ZnCdS nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanina, I. Yu.; Volkova, E. K.; Sagaidachnaya, E. A.; Konyukhova, J. G.; Kochubey, V. I.; Tuchin, V. V.

2018-02-01

The luminescence spectra of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and ZnCdS nanoparticles (ZnCdSNPs) were measured and analyzed in a wide temperature range: from room to human body and further to a hyperthermic temperature resulting in tissue morphology change. The results show that the luminescence signal of UCNPs and ZnCdSNPs placed within the tissue is reasonably good sensitive to temperature change and accompanied by phase transitions of lipid structures of adipose tissue. The most likely that the multiple phase transitions are associated with the different components of fat cells, such as phospholipids of cell membrane and lipids of fat droplets. In the course of fat cell heating, lipids of fat droplet first transit from a crystalline form to a liquid crystal form and then to a liquid form, which is characterized by much less scattering. The results of phase transitions of lipids were observed as the changes in the slope of the temperature dependence of the intensity of luminescence of the film with nanoparticles embedded into tissue. The obtained results confirm a high sensitivity of the luminescent UCNPs and ZnCdSNPs to the temperature variations within thin tissue samples and show a strong potential for the controllable tissue thermolysis.

Shock wave experiments on gallium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jensen, Brian; Branch, Brittany; Cherne, Frank

2017-06-01

Gallium exhibits a complex phase diagram with multiple solid phases, an anomalous melt boundary, and a low-temperature melt transition making it a suitable material for shock wave studies focused on multiphase properties including kinetics and strength. Apart from high-pressure shock wave data that exists for the liquid phase, there is a clear lack of data in the low-pressure regime where much of the complexity in the phase diagram exists. In this work, a series of shock wave experiments were performed to begin examining the low-pressure region of the phase diagram. Additional data on a gallium alloy, which remains liquid at room temperature, will be presented and compared to data available for pure gallium (LA-UR-17-21449).

Spin ordering and electronic texture in the bilayer iridate Sr3Ir2O7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhital, Chetan; Khadka, Sovit; Yamani, Z.; de la Cruz, Clarina; Hogan, T. C.; Disseler, S. M.; Pokharel, Mani; Lukas, K. C.; Tian, Wei; Opeil, C. P.; Wang, Ziqiang; Wilson, Stephen D.

2012-09-01

Through a neutron scattering, charge transport, and magnetization study, the correlated ground state in the bilayer iridium oxide Sr3Ir2O7 is explored. Our combined results resolve scattering consistent with a high temperature magnetic phase that persists above 600 K, reorients at the previously defined TAF=280 K, and coexists with an electronic ground state whose phase behavior suggests the formation of a fluctuating charge or orbital phase that freezes below T*≈70 K. Our study provides a window into the emergence of multiple electronic order parameters near the boundary of the metal to insulator phase transition of the 5d Jeff=1/2 Mott phase.

Drop impact into a deep pool: vortex shedding and jet formation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Agbaglah, G.; Thoraval, M. -J.; Thoroddsen, S. T.

2015-02-01

One of the simplest splashing scenarios results from the impact of a single drop on a deep pool. The traditional understanding of this process is that the impact generates an axisymmetric sheet-like jet that later breaks up into secondary droplets. Recently it was shown that even this simplest of scenarios is more complicated than expected because multiple jets can be generated from a single impact event and there are transitions in the multiplicity of jets as the experimental parameters are varied. Here, we use experiments and numerical simulations of a single drop impacting on a deep pool to examine themore » transition from impacts that produce a single jet to those that produce two jets. Using high-speed X-ray imaging methods we show that vortex separation within the drop leads to the formation of a second jet long after the formation of the ejecta sheet. Using numerical simulations we develop a phase diagram for this transition and show that the capillary number is the most appropriate order parameter for the transition.« less

Phase Transition Control for High Performance Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Solar Cells.

PubMed

Zhang, Xu; Munir, Rahim; Xu, Zhuo; Liu, Yucheng; Tsai, Hsinhan; Nie, Wanyi; Li, Jianbo; Niu, Tianqi; Smilgies, Detlef-M; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G; Mohite, Aditya D; Zhao, Kui; Amassian, Aram; Liu, Shengzhong Frank

2018-05-01

Ruddlesden-Popper reduced-dimensional hybrid perovskite (RDP) semiconductors have attracted significant attention recently due to their promising stability and excellent optoelectronic properties. Here, the RDP crystallization mechanism in real time from liquid precursors to the solid film is investigated, and how the phase transition kinetics influences phase purity, quantum well orientation, and photovoltaic performance is revealed. An important template-induced nucleation and growth of the desired (BA) 2 (MA) 3 Pb 4 I 13 phase, which is achieved only via direct crystallization without formation of intermediate phases, is observed. As such, the thermodynamically preferred perpendicular crystal orientation and high phase purity are obtained. At low temperature, the formation of intermediate phases, including PbI 2 crystals and solvate complexes, slows down intercalation of ions and increases nucleation barrier, leading to formation of multiple RDP phases and orientation randomness. These insights enable to obtain high quality (BA) 2 (MA) 3 Pb 4 I 13 films with preferentially perpendicular quantum well orientation, high phase purity, smooth film surface, and improved optoelectronic properties. The resulting devices exhibit high power conversion efficiency of 12.17%. This work should help guide the perovskite community to better control Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite structure and further improve optoelectronic and solar cell devices. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Social Functioning and Adjustment in Chinese Children: The Imprint of Historical Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Xinyin; Cen, Guozhen; Li, Dan; He, Yunfeng

2005-01-01

This study examined, in 3 cohorts (1990, 1998, and 2002) of elementary school children (M age10 years), relations between social functioning and adjustment in different phases of the societal transition in China. Data were obtained from multiple sources. The results indicate that sociability-cooperation was associated with peer acceptance and…

PIRPOSAL Model of Integrative STEM Education: Conceptual and Pedagogical Framework for Classroom Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wells, John G.

2016-01-01

The PIRPOSAL model is both a conceptual and pedagogical framework intended for use as a pragmatic guide to classroom implementation of Integrative STEM Education. Designerly questioning prompted by a "need to know" serves as the basis for transitioning student designers within and among multiple phases while they progress toward an…

Multiple quantum phase transitions and superconductivity in Ce-based heavy fermions.

PubMed

Weng, Z F; Smidman, M; Jiao, L; Lu, Xin; Yuan, H Q

2016-09-01

Heavy fermions have served as prototype examples of strongly-correlated electron systems. The occurrence of unconventional superconductivity in close proximity to the electronic instabilities associated with various degrees of freedom points to an intricate relationship between superconductivity and other electronic states, which is unique but also shares some common features with high temperature superconductivity. The magnetic order in heavy fermion compounds can be continuously suppressed by tuning external parameters to a quantum critical point, and the role of quantum criticality in determining the properties of heavy fermion systems is an important unresolved issue. Here we review the recent progress of studies on Ce based heavy fermion superconductors, with an emphasis on the superconductivity emerging on the edge of magnetic and charge instabilities as well as the quantum phase transitions which occur by tuning different parameters, such as pressure, magnetic field and doping. We discuss systems where multiple quantum critical points occur and whether they can be classified in a unified manner, in particular in terms of the evolution of the Fermi surface topology.

Multiple vibration modes within the organ of Corti revealed by high-resolution, outer-hair-cell-driven micromechanical motions at acoustic frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karavitaki, K. Domenica; Guinan, John J.; Mountain, David C.

2018-05-01

Electrically-evoked outer-hair-cell-driven micromechanical motions within the organ of Corti were visualized and quantified using a video stroboscopy system. The resulting radial motions exhibited phase transitions along the radial direction, characteristic of a system that can exhibit multiple modes of vibration. We argue that the interaction of these modes would shape the input to the inner hair cell hair bundles and resulting auditory-nerve response patterns.

Dynamical mass and multiplicity constraints on co-orbital bodies around stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veras, Dimitri; Marsh, Thomas R.; Gänsicke, Boris T.

2016-09-01

Objects transiting near or within the disruption radius of both main-sequence (e.g. KOI 1843) and white dwarf (WD 1145+017) stars are now known. Upon fragmentation or disintegration, these planets or asteroids may produce co-orbital configurations of nearly equal mass objects. However, as evidenced by the co-orbital objects detected by transit photometry in the WD 1145+017 system, these bodies are largely unconstrained in size, mass, and total number (multiplicity). Motivated by potential future similar discoveries, we perform N-body simulations to demonstrate if and how debris masses and multiplicity may be bounded due to second-to-minute deviations and the resulting accumulated phase shifts in the osculating orbital period amongst multiple co-orbital equal point masses. We establish robust lower and upper mass bounds as a function of orbital period deviation, but find the constraints on multiplicity to be weak. We also quantify the fuzzy instability boundary, and show that mutual collisions occur in less than 5, 10, and 20 per cent of our simulations for masses of 1021, 1022, and 1023 kg. Our results may provide useful initial rough constraints on other stellar systems with multiple co-orbital bodies.

SPIDERMAN: Fast code to simulate secondary transits and phase curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Louden, Tom; Kreidberg, Laura

2017-11-01

SPIDERMAN calculates exoplanet phase curves and secondary eclipses with arbitrary surface brightness distributions in two dimensions. The code uses a geometrical algorithm to solve exactly the area of sections of the disc of the planet that are occulted by the star. Approximately 1000 models can be generated per second in typical use, which makes making Markov Chain Monte Carlo analyses practicable. The code is modular and allows comparison of the effect of multiple different brightness distributions for a dataset.

Ab initio multiple spawning on laser-dressed states: a study of 1,3-cyclohexadiene photoisomerization via light-induced conical intersections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jaehee; Tao, Hongli; Martinez, Todd J.; Bucksbaum, Phil

2015-08-01

We extend the ab initio multiple spawning method to include both field-free and field-induced nonadiabatic transitions. We apply this method to describe ultrafast pump-probe experiments of the photoinduced ring-opening of gas phase 1,3-cyclohexadiene. In the absence of a control field, nonadiabatic transitions mediated by a conical intersection (CoIn) lead to rapid ground state recovery with both 1,3-cyclohexadiene and ring-opened hexatriene products. However, application of a control field within the first 200 fs after photoexcitation results in suppression of the hexatriene product. We demonstrate that this is a consequence of population dumping prior to reaching the CoIn and further interpret this in terms of light-induced CoIns created by the control field.

Holographic RG flows on curved manifolds and quantum phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, J. K.; Kiritsis, E.; Nitti, F.; Witkowski, L. T.

2018-05-01

Holographic RG flows dual to QFTs on maximally symmetric curved manifolds (dS d , AdS d , and S d ) are considered in the framework of Einstein-dilaton gravity in d + 1 dimensions. A general dilaton potential is used and the flows are driven by a scalar relevant operator. The general properties of such flows are analyzed and the UV and IR asymptotics computed. New RG flows can appear at finite curvature which do not have a zero curvature counterpart. The so-called `bouncing' flows, where the β-function has a branch cut at which it changes sign, are found to persist at finite curvature. Novel quantum first-order phase transitions are found, triggered by a variation in the d-dimensional curvature in theories allowing multiple ground states.

Multiple seismic reflectors in Earth’s lowermost mantle

PubMed Central

Shang, Xuefeng; Shim, Sang-Heon; de Hoop, Maarten; van der Hilst, Robert

2014-01-01

The modern view of Earth’s lowermost mantle considers a D″ region of enhanced (seismologically inferred) heterogeneity bounded by the core–mantle boundary and an interface some 150–300 km above it, with the latter often attributed to the postperovskite phase transition (in MgSiO3). Seismic exploration of Earth’s deep interior suggests, however, that this view needs modification. So-called ScS and SKKS waves, which probe the lowermost mantle from above and below, respectively, reveal multiple reflectors beneath Central America and East Asia, two areas known for subduction of oceanic plates deep into Earth’s mantle. This observation is inconsistent with expectations from a thermal response of a single isochemical postperovskite transition, but some of the newly observed structures can be explained with postperovskite transitions in differentiated slab materials. Our results imply that the lowermost mantle is more complex than hitherto thought and that interfaces and compositional heterogeneity occur beyond the D″ region sensu stricto. PMID:24550266

Reconfiguration of a smart surface using heteroclinic connections

PubMed Central

McInnes, Colin R.; Xu, Ming

2017-01-01

A reconfigurable smart surface with multiple equilibria is presented, modelled using discrete point masses and linear springs with geometric nonlinearity. An energy-efficient reconfiguration scheme is then investigated to connect equal-energy unstable (but actively controlled) equilibria. In principle, zero net energy input is required to transition the surface between these unstable states, compared to transitions between stable equilibria across a potential barrier. These transitions between equal-energy unstable states, therefore, form heteroclinic connections in the phase space of the problem. Moreover, the smart surface model developed can be considered as a unit module for a range of applications, including modules which can aggregate together to form larger distributed smart surface systems. PMID:28265191

Solitonic Spin-Liquid State Due to the Violation of the Lifshitz Condition in Fe(1+y)Te.

PubMed

Materne, Ph; Koz, C; Rössler, U K; Doerr, M; Goltz, T; Klauss, H H; Schwarz, U; Wirth, S; Rössler, S

2015-10-23

A combination of phenomenological analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy experiments on the tetragonal Fe(1+y)Te system indicates that the magnetic ordering transition in compounds with higher Fe excess, y≥0.11, is unconventional. Experimentally, a liquidlike magnetic precursor with quasistatic spin order is found from significantly broadened Mössbauer spectra at temperatures above the antiferromagnetic transition. The incommensurate spin-density wave order in Fe(1+y)Te is described by a magnetic free energy that violates the weak Lifshitz condition in the Landau theory of second-order transitions. The presence of multiple Lifshitz invariants provides the mechanism to create multidimensional, twisted, and modulated solitonic phases.

Solitonic Spin-Liquid State Due to the Violation of the Lifshitz Condition in Fe1 +yTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Materne, Ph.; Koz, C.; Rößler, U. K.; Doerr, M.; Goltz, T.; Klauss, H. H.; Schwarz, U.; Wirth, S.; Rößler, S.

2015-10-01

A combination of phenomenological analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy experiments on the tetragonal Fe1 +yTe system indicates that the magnetic ordering transition in compounds with higher Fe excess, y ≥0.11 , is unconventional. Experimentally, a liquidlike magnetic precursor with quasistatic spin order is found from significantly broadened Mössbauer spectra at temperatures above the antiferromagnetic transition. The incommensurate spin-density wave order in Fe1 +yTe is described by a magnetic free energy that violates the weak Lifshitz condition in the Landau theory of second-order transitions. The presence of multiple Lifshitz invariants provides the mechanism to create multidimensional, twisted, and modulated solitonic phases.

Phased-array-fed antenna configuration study, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sorbello, R. M.; Zaghloul, A. I.; Lee, B. S.; Siddiqi, S.; Geller, B. D.

1983-01-01

Increased capacity in future satellite systems can be achieved through antenna systems which provide multiplicity of frequency reuses at K sub a band. A number of antenna configurations which can provide multiple fixed spot beams and multiple independent spot scanning beams at 20 GHz are addressed. Each design incorporates a phased array with distributed MMIC amplifiers and phasesifters feeding a two reflector optical system. The tradeoffs required for the design of these systems and the corresponding performances are presented. Five final designs are studied. In so doing, a type of MMIC/waveguide transition is described, and measured results of the breadboard model are presented. Other hardware components developed are described. This includes a square orthomode transducer, a subarray fed with a beamforming network to measure scanning performance, and another subarray used to study mutual coupling considerations. Discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of the final design are included.

Near-infrared tunable multiple broadband perfect absorber base on VO2 semi-shell arrays photonic microstructure and gold reflector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Jiran; Li, Peng; Zhou, Liwei; Guo, Jinbang; Zhao, Yirui

2018-01-01

We proposed a metamaterial absorber which is aimed to achieve a multiple broadband absorption and tunable absorption peak in the near-infrared region. The absorber is based on VO2 semi-shell coated on the top of silica nano-particle array supported on the gold-reflective layer. Measured results show that the absorber has the multiple broadband with the absorption magnitudes more than 95% in the near infrared region. The absorption peaks can be tuned through the VO2 phase transition from metallic phase to insulator phase in the short wavelength (before λ = 1500 nm), when VO2 is at the metallic state, an absorption band appears in the long wavelength (after λ = 1500 nm). The simulation results closely match those of measured. The absorption intensity becomes stronger and absorption peaks have red shift with the increase of thickness of VO2 semi-shell. Thus, this designed tunable absorption intensity and position absorber based on VO2 can be a good choice for enhancing the performance of multiple band, this would be beneficial to the field of photo detectors, sensor and solar cell.

Wide-band tracheids are present in almost all species of Cactaceae.

PubMed

Mauseth, James D

2004-02-01

Wide-band tracheids (WBTs) have been found in seedlings of most species of cacti that have fibrous wood in their adult bodies. Consequently, this cell type is now known to be present in almost all cacti. Earlier studies of adult plants revealed WBTs to be present only in cacti with globose or short, broad bodies, whereas all species with large columnar or long slender bodies had fibrous wood without WBTs. However, even these species produce WBTs during the first several months after germination. In species with fibrous wood in their adult bodies (species with large or slender bodies), seedlings undergo a phase transition in wood morphogenesis after a few months and stop producing the juvenile (WBT) wood and begin producing adult (fibrous) wood. If adult plants have an intermediate size, the phase transition is delayed and the plant produces WBT wood for several years. Species with globose bodies repress the phase transition completely and never switch to producing adult (fibrous) wood. Because WBTs are so widespread, they probably originated only once in Cactaceae, not multiple times as suggested earlier, or there may have been just a single origin in the Cactaceae/Portulacaceae clade.

Understanding Emergency Medicine Physicians Multitasking Behaviors Around Interruptions.

PubMed

Fong, Allan; Ratwani, Raj M

2018-06-11

Interruptions can adversely impact human performance, particularly in fast-paced and high-risk environments such as the emergency department (ED). Understanding physician behaviors before, during, and after interruptions is important to the design and promotion of safe and effective workflow solutions. However, traditional human factors based interruption models do not accurately reflect the complexities of real-world environments like the ED and may not capture multiple interruptions and multitasking. We present a more comprehensive framework for understanding interruptions that is composed of three phases, each with multiple levels: Interruption Start Transition, Interruption Engagement, and Interruption End Transition. This three-phase framework is not constrained to discrete task transitions, providing a robust method to categorize multitasking behaviors around interruptions. We apply this framework in categorizing 457 interruption episodes. 457 interruption episodes were captured during 36 hours of observation. The interrupted task was immediately suspended 348 (76.1%) times. Participants engaged in new self-initiated tasks during the interrupting task 164 (35.9%) times and did not directly resume the interrupted task in 284 (62.1%) interruption episodes. Using this framework provides a more detailed description of the types of physician behaviors in complex environments. Understanding the different types of interruption and resumption patterns, which may have a different impact on performance, can support the design of interruption mitigation strategies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Hidden disorder in the α '→δ transformation of Pu-1.9 at.% Ga

DOE PAGES

Jeffries, J. R.; Manley, M. E.; Wall, M. A.; ...

2012-06-06

Enthalpy and entropy are thermodynamic quantities critical to determining how and at what temperature a phase transition occurs. At a phase transition, the enthalpy and temperature-weighted entropy differences between two phases are equal (ΔH=TΔS), but there are materials where this balance has not been experimentally or theoretically realized, leading to the idea of hidden order and disorder. In a Pu-1.9 at. % Ga alloy, the δ phase is retained as a metastable state at room temperature, but at low temperatures, the δ phase yields to a mixed-phase microstructure of δ- and α'-Pu. The previously measured sources of entropy associated withmore » the α'→δ transformation fail to sum to the entropy predicted theoretically. We report an experimental measurement of the entropy of the α'→δ transformation that corroborates the theoretical prediction, and implies that only about 65% of the entropy stabilizing the δ phase is accounted for, leaving a missing entropy of about 0.5 k B/atom. Some previously proposed mechanisms for generating entropy are discussed, but none seem capable of providing the necessary disorder to stabilize the δ phase. This hidden disorder represents multiple accessible states per atom within the δ phase of Pu that may not be included in our current understanding of the properties and phase stability of δ-Pu.« less

The Ecological Rise of Whales Chronicled by the Fossil Record.

PubMed

Pyenson, Nicholas D

2017-06-05

The evolution of cetaceans is one of the best examples of macroevolution documented from the fossil record. While ecological transitions dominate each phase of cetacean history, this context is rarely stated explicitly. The first major ecological phase involves a transition from riverine and deltaic environments to marine ones, concomitant with dramatic evolutionary transformations documented in their early fossil record. The second major phase involves ecological shifts associated with evolutionary innovations: echolocation (facilitating hunting prey at depth) and filter-feeding (enhancing foraging efficiency on small prey). This latter phase involves body size shifts, attributable to changes in foraging depth and environmental forcing, as well as re-invasions of freshwater systems on continental basins by multiple lineages. Modern phenomena driving cetacean ecology, such as trophic dynamics and arms races, have an evolutionary basis that remains mostly unexamined. The fossil record of cetaceans provides an historical basis for understanding current ecological mechanisms and consequences, especially as global climate change rapidly alters ocean and river ecosystems at rates and scales comparable to those over geologic time. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Simulation Studies of LCST-like Phase Transitions in Elastin-like Polypeptides (ELPs) and Conjugates of ELP with Rigid Macromolecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Condon, Joshua; Martin, Tyler; Jayaraman, Arthi

We use atomistic (AA) and coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the thermodynamic driving forces governing lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-like phase transition exhibited by elastin-like peptides (ELPs) and conjugates of ELP with other macromolecules. In the AA simulations, we study ELP oligomers in explicit water, and mark the transition as the temperature at which they undergo a change in ``hydration'' state. While AA simulations are restricted to small systems of short ELPs and do not capture the chain aggregation observed in experiments of ELPs, they guide the phenomenological CG model development by highlighting the solvent induced polymer-polymer effective interactions with changing temperature. In the CG simulations, we capture the LCST polymer aggregation by increasing polymer-polymer effective attractive interactions in an implicit solvent. We examine the impact of conjugating a block of LCST polymer to another rigid unresponsive macromolecular block on the LCST-like transition. We find that when multiple LCST polymers are conjugated to a rigid polymer block, increased crowding of the LCST polymers shifts the onset of chain aggregation to smaller effective polymer-polymer attraction compared to the free LCST polymers. These simulation results provide guidance on the design of conjugated bio-mimetic thermoresponsive materials, and shape the fundamental understanding of the impact of polymer crowding on phase behavior in thermoresponsive LCST polymer systems.

Bounded noise induced first-order phase transitions in a baseline non-spatial model of gene transcription

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

d'Onofrio, Alberto; Caravagna, Giulio; de Franciscis, Sebastiano

2018-02-01

In this work we consider, from a statistical mechanics point of view, the effects of bounded stochastic perturbations of the protein decay rate for a bistable biomolecular network module. Namely, we consider the perturbations of the protein decay/binding rate constant (DBRC) in a circuit modeling the positive feedback of a transcription factor (TF) on its own synthesis. The DBRC models both the spontaneous degradation of the TF and its linking to other unknown biomolecular factors or drugs. We show that bounded perturbations of the DBRC preserve the positivity of the parameter value (and also its limited variation), and induce effects of interest. First, the noise amplitude induces a first-order phase transition. This is of interest since the system in study has neither spatial components nor it is composed by multiple interacting networks. In particular, we observe that the system passes from two to a unique stochastic attractor, and vice-versa. This behavior is different from noise-induced transitions (also termed phenomenological bifurcations), where a unique stochastic attractor changes its shape depending on the values of a parameter. Moreover, we observe irreversible jumps as a consequence of the above-mentioned phase transition. We show that the illustrated mechanism holds for general models with the same deterministic hysteresis bifurcation structure. Finally, we illustrate the possible implications of our findings to the intracellular pharmacodynamics of drugs delivered in continuous infusion.

Thermodynamic Control of Two-Dimensional Molecular Ionic Nanostructures on Metal Surfaces

DOE PAGES

Jeon, Seokmin; Doak, Peter W.; Sumpter, Bobby G.; ...

2016-07-26

Bulk molecular ionic solids exhibit fascinating electronic properties, including electron correlations, phase transitions and superconducting ground states. In contrast, few of these phenomena have so far been observed in low-dimensional molecular structures, including thin films, nanoparticles and molecular blends, not in the least because most of such structures have so far been composed of nearly closed-shell molecules. It is therefore desirable to develop low-dimensional molecular structures of ionic molecules toward fundamental studies and potential applications. Here we present detailed analysis of monolayer-thick structures of the canonical TTF-TCNQ (tetrathiafulvalene 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) system grown on low-index gold and silver surfaces. The most distinctivemore » property of the epitaxial growth is the wide abundance of stable TTF/TCNQ ratios, in sharp contrast to the predominance of 1:1 ratio in the bulk. We propose the existence of the surface phase-diagram that controls the structures of TTF-TCNQ on the surfaces, and demonstrate phase-transitions that occur upon progressively increasing the density of TCNQ while keeping the surface coverage of TTF fixed. Based on direct observations, we propose the binding motif behind the stable phases and infer the dominant interactions that enable the existence of the rich spectrum of surface structures. Finally, we also show that the surface phase diagram will control the epitaxy beyond monolayer coverage. Multiplicity of stable surface structures, the corollary rich phase diagram and the corresponding phase-transitions present an interesting opportunity for low-dimensional molecular systems, particularly if some of the electronic properties of the bulk can be preserved or modified in the surface phases.« less

A tale of two timescales: Mixing, mass generation, and phase transitions in the early universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dienes, Keith R.; Kost, Jeff; Thomas, Brooks

2016-02-01

Light scalar fields such as axions and string moduli can play an important role in early-universe cosmology. However, many factors can significantly impact their late-time cosmological abundances. For example, in cases where the potentials for these fields are generated dynamically—such as during cosmological mass-generating phase transitions—the duration of the time interval required for these potentials to fully develop can have significant repercussions. Likewise, in scenarios with multiple scalars, mixing amongst the fields can also give rise to an effective timescale that modifies the resulting late-time abundances. Previous studies have focused on the effects of either the first or the second timescale in isolation. In this paper, by contrast, we examine the new features that arise from the interplay between these two timescales when both mixing and time-dependent phase transitions are introduced together. First, we find that the effects of these timescales can conspire to alter not only the total late-time abundance of the system—often by many orders of magnitude—but also its distribution across the different fields. Second, we find that these effects can produce large parametric resonances which render the energy densities of the fields highly sensitive to the degree of mixing as well as the duration of the time interval over which the phase transition unfolds. Finally, we find that these effects can even give rise to a "reoverdamping" phenomenon which causes the total energy density of the system to behave in novel ways that differ from those exhibited by pure dark matter or vacuum energy. All of these features therefore give rise to new possibilities for early-universe phenomenology and cosmological evolution. They also highlight the importance of taking into account the time dependence associated with phase transitions in cosmological settings.

Understanding Rapid Changes in Phase Partitioning between Cloud Liquid and Ice in Stratiform Mixed-Phase Clouds: An Arctic Case Study

DOE PAGES

Kalesse, Heike; de Boer, Gijs; Solomon, Amy; ...

2016-11-23

Understanding phase transitions in mixed-phase clouds is of great importance because the hydrometeor phase controls the lifetime and radiative effects of clouds. These cloud radiative effects have a crucial impact on the surface energy budget and thus on the evolution of the ice cover, in high altitudes. For a springtime low-level mixed-phase stratiform cloud case from Barrow, Alaska, a unique combination of instruments and retrieval methods is combined with multiple modeling perspectives to determine key processes that control cloud phase partitioning. The interplay of local cloud-scale versus large-scale processes is considered. Rapid changes in phase partitioning were found to bemore » caused by several main factors. Some major influences were the large-scale advection of different air masses with different aerosol concentrations and humidity content, cloud-scale processes such as a change in the thermodynamical coupling state, and local-scale dynamics influencing the residence time of ice particles. Other factors such as radiative shielding by a cirrus and the influence of the solar cycle were found to only play a minor role for the specific case study (11–12 March 2013). Furthermore, for an even better understanding of cloud phase transitions, observations of key aerosol parameters such as profiles of cloud condensation nucleus and ice nucleus concentration are desirable.« less

Understanding Rapid Changes in Phase Partitioning between Cloud Liquid and Ice in Stratiform Mixed-Phase Clouds: An Arctic Case Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kalesse, Heike; de Boer, Gijs; Solomon, Amy

Understanding phase transitions in mixed-phase clouds is of great importance because the hydrometeor phase controls the lifetime and radiative effects of clouds. These cloud radiative effects have a crucial impact on the surface energy budget and thus on the evolution of the ice cover, in high altitudes. For a springtime low-level mixed-phase stratiform cloud case from Barrow, Alaska, a unique combination of instruments and retrieval methods is combined with multiple modeling perspectives to determine key processes that control cloud phase partitioning. The interplay of local cloud-scale versus large-scale processes is considered. Rapid changes in phase partitioning were found to bemore » caused by several main factors. Some major influences were the large-scale advection of different air masses with different aerosol concentrations and humidity content, cloud-scale processes such as a change in the thermodynamical coupling state, and local-scale dynamics influencing the residence time of ice particles. Other factors such as radiative shielding by a cirrus and the influence of the solar cycle were found to only play a minor role for the specific case study (11–12 March 2013). Furthermore, for an even better understanding of cloud phase transitions, observations of key aerosol parameters such as profiles of cloud condensation nucleus and ice nucleus concentration are desirable.« less

Energy boost in laser wakefield accelerators using sharp density transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Döpp, A.; Guillaume, E.; Thaury, C.

The energy gain in laser wakefield accelerators is limited by dephasing between the driving laser pulse and the highly relativistic electrons in its wake. Since this phase depends on both the driver and the cavity length, the effects of dephasing can be mitigated with appropriate tailoring of the plasma density along propagation. Preceding studies have discussed the prospects of continuous phase-locking in the linear wakefield regime. However, most experiments are performed in the highly non-linear regime and rely on self-guiding of the laser pulse. Due to the complexity of the driver evolution in this regime, it is much more difficultmore » to achieve phase locking. As an alternative, we study the scenario of rapid rephasing in sharp density transitions, as was recently demonstrated experimentally. Starting from a phenomenological model, we deduce expressions for the electron energy gain in such density profiles. The results are in accordance with particle-in-cell simulations, and we present gain estimations for single and multiple stages of rephasing.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Urtiew, P A; Forbes, J W; Tarver, C M

LX-04 is a widely used HMX-based plastic bonded explosive, which contains 85 weight % HMX and 15 weight % Viton binder. The sensitivity of LX-04 to a single stimulus such as heat, impact, and shock has been previously studied. However, hazard scenarios can involve multiple stimuli, such as heating to temperatures close to thermal explosion conditions followed by fragment impact, producing a shock in the hot explosive. The sensitivity of HMX at elevated temperatures is further complicated by the beta to delta solid-state phase transition, which occurs at approximately 165 C. This paper presents the results of shock initiation experimentsmore » conducted with LX-04 preheated to 190 C, as well as density measurements and small scale safety test results of the {delta} phase HMX at room temperature. This work shows that LX-04 at 190 C is more shock sensitive than LX-04 at 150 C or 170 C due to the volume increase during the {beta} to {delta} solid phase transition, which creates more hot spots, and the faster growth of reaction during shock compression.« less

Multiple Supersonic Phase Fronts Launched at a Complex-Oxide Heterointerface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Först, M.; Beyerlein, K. R.; Mankowsky, R.

Selective optical excitation of a substrate lattice can drive phase changes across heterointerfaces. This phenomenon is a nonequilibrium analogue of static strain control in heterostructures and may lead to new applications in optically controlled phase change devices. Here, we make use of time-resolved nonresonant and resonant x-ray diffraction to clarify the underlying physics and to separate different microscopic degrees of freedom in space and time. We also measure the dynamics of the lattice and that of the charge disproportionation in NdNiO 3 , when an insulator-metal transition is driven by coherent lattice distortions in the LaAlO 3 substrate. We findmore » that charge redistribution propagates at supersonic speeds from the interface into the NdNiO 3 film, followed by a sonic lattice wave. Our results establish a hierarchy of events for ultrafast control at complex-oxide heterointerfaces, when combined with measurements of magnetic disordering and of the metal-insulator transition.« less

Multiple Supersonic Phase Fronts Launched at a Complex-Oxide Heterointerface

DOE PAGES

Först, M.; Beyerlein, K. R.; Mankowsky, R.; ...

2017-01-09

Selective optical excitation of a substrate lattice can drive phase changes across heterointerfaces. This phenomenon is a nonequilibrium analogue of static strain control in heterostructures and may lead to new applications in optically controlled phase change devices. Here, we make use of time-resolved nonresonant and resonant x-ray diffraction to clarify the underlying physics and to separate different microscopic degrees of freedom in space and time. We also measure the dynamics of the lattice and that of the charge disproportionation in NdNiO 3 , when an insulator-metal transition is driven by coherent lattice distortions in the LaAlO 3 substrate. We findmore » that charge redistribution propagates at supersonic speeds from the interface into the NdNiO 3 film, followed by a sonic lattice wave. Our results establish a hierarchy of events for ultrafast control at complex-oxide heterointerfaces, when combined with measurements of magnetic disordering and of the metal-insulator transition.« less

Phase transitions in the distribution of the Andreev conductance of superconductor-metal junctions with multiple transverse modes.

PubMed

Damle, Kedar; Majumdar, Satya N; Tripathi, Vikram; Vivo, Pierpaolo

2011-10-21

We compute analytically the full distribution of Andreev conductance G(NS) of a metal-superconductor interface with a large number N(c) of transverse modes, using a random matrix approach. The probability distribution P(G(NS),N(c) in the limit of large N(c) displays a Gaussian behavior near the average value =(2-√2)N(c) and asymmetric power-law tails in the two limits of very small and very large G(NS). In addition, we find a novel third regime sandwiched between the central Gaussian peak and the power-law tail for large G(NS). Weakly nonanalytic points separate these four regimes-these are shown to be consequences of three phase transitions in an associated Coulomb gas problem. © 2011 American Physical Society

Phase transformations during the growth of paracetamol crystals from the vapor phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belyaev, A. P.; Rubets, V. P.; Antipov, V. V.; Bordei, N. S.

2014-07-01

Phase transformations during the growth of paracetamol crystals from the vapor phase are studied by differential scanning calorimetry. It is found that the vapor-crystal phase transition is actually a superposition of two phase transitions: a first-order phase transition with variable density and a second-order phase transition with variable ordering. The latter, being a diffuse phase transition, results in the formation of a new, "pretransition," phase irreversibly spent in the course of the transition, which ends in the appearance of orthorhombic crystals. X-ray diffraction data and micrograph are presented.

Towards generating a new supernova equation of state: A systematic analysis of cold hybrid stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinimann, Oliver; Hempel, Matthias; Thielemann, Friedrich-Karl

2016-11-01

The hadron-quark phase transition in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) has the potential to trigger explosions in otherwise nonexploding models. However, those hybrid supernova equations of state (EOS) shown to trigger an explosion do not support the observational 2 M⊙ neutron star maximum mass constraint. In this work, we analyze cold hybrid stars by the means of a systematic parameter scan for the phase transition properties, with the aim to develop a new hybrid supernova EOS. The hadronic phase is described with the state-of-the-art supernova EOS HS(DD2), and quark matter by an EOS with a constant speed of sound (CSS) of cQM2=1 /3 . We find promising cases which meet the 2 M⊙ criterion and are interesting for CCSN explosions. We show that the very simple CSS EOS is transferable into the well-known thermodynamic bag model, important for future application in CCSN simulations. In the second part, the occurrence of reconfinement and multiple phase transitions is discussed. In the last part, the influence of hyperons in our parameter scan is studied. Including hyperons no change in the general behavior is found, except for overall lower maximum masses. In both cases (with and without hyperons) we find that quark matter with cQM2=1 /3 can increase the maximum mass only if reconfinement is suppressed or if quark matter is absolutely stable.

Field-induced polarization rotation and phase transitions in 0.70 Pb ( M g 1 / 3 N b 2 / 3 ) O 3 – 0.30 PbTi O 3 piezoceramics observed by in situ high-energy x-ray scattering

DOE PAGES

Hou, Dong; Usher, Tedi -Marie; Fulanovic, Lovro; ...

2018-06-12

Changes to the crystal structure of 0.70Pb(Mg 1/3Nb 2/3)O 3–0.30PbTiO 3 (PMN-0.30PT) piezoceramic under application of electric fields at the long-range and local scale are revealed by in situ high-energy x-ray diffraction (XRD) and pair-distribution function (PDF) analyses, respectively. The crystal structure of unpoled samples is identified as monoclinic Cm at both the long-range and local scale. In situ XRD results suggest that field-induced polarization rotation and phase transitions occur at specific field strengths. A polarization rotation pathway is proposed based on the Bragg-peak behaviors and the Le Bail fitting results of the in situ XRD patterns. The PDF resultsmore » show systematic changes to the structures at the local scale, which is in agreement with the changes inferred from the in situ XRD study. More importantly, our results prove that polarization rotation can be detected and determined in a polycrystalline relaxor ferroelectric. Furthermore, this study supports the idea that multiple contributions, specifically ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition and polarization rotation, are responsible for the high piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary of PMN-xPT piezoceramics.« less

Field-induced polarization rotation and phase transitions in 0.70 Pb ( M g 1 / 3 N b 2 / 3 ) O 3 – 0.30 PbTi O 3 piezoceramics observed by in situ high-energy x-ray scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hou, Dong; Usher, Tedi -Marie; Fulanovic, Lovro

Changes to the crystal structure of 0.70Pb(Mg 1/3Nb 2/3)O 3–0.30PbTiO 3 (PMN-0.30PT) piezoceramic under application of electric fields at the long-range and local scale are revealed by in situ high-energy x-ray diffraction (XRD) and pair-distribution function (PDF) analyses, respectively. The crystal structure of unpoled samples is identified as monoclinic Cm at both the long-range and local scale. In situ XRD results suggest that field-induced polarization rotation and phase transitions occur at specific field strengths. A polarization rotation pathway is proposed based on the Bragg-peak behaviors and the Le Bail fitting results of the in situ XRD patterns. The PDF resultsmore » show systematic changes to the structures at the local scale, which is in agreement with the changes inferred from the in situ XRD study. More importantly, our results prove that polarization rotation can be detected and determined in a polycrystalline relaxor ferroelectric. Furthermore, this study supports the idea that multiple contributions, specifically ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition and polarization rotation, are responsible for the high piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary of PMN-xPT piezoceramics.« less

Field-induced polarization rotation and phase transitions in 0.70 Pb (M g1 /3N b2 /3 ) O3-0.30 PbTi O3 piezoceramics observed by in situ high-energy x-ray scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Dong; Usher, Tedi-Marie; Fulanovic, Lovro; Vrabelj, Marko; Otonicar, Mojca; Ursic, Hana; Malic, Barbara; Levin, Igor; Jones, Jacob L.

2018-06-01

Changes to the crystal structure of 0.70 Pb (M g1 /3N b2 /3 ) O3-0.30 PbTi O3 (PMN-0.30PT) piezoceramic under application of electric fields at the long-range and local scale are revealed by in situ high-energy x-ray diffraction (XRD) and pair-distribution function (PDF) analyses, respectively. The crystal structure of unpoled samples is identified as monoclinic C m at both the long-range and local scale. In situ XRD results suggest that field-induced polarization rotation and phase transitions occur at specific field strengths. A polarization rotation pathway is proposed based on the Bragg-peak behaviors and the Le Bail fitting results of the in situ XRD patterns. The PDF results show systematic changes to the structures at the local scale, which is in agreement with the changes inferred from the in situ XRD study. More importantly, our results prove that polarization rotation can be detected and determined in a polycrystalline relaxor ferroelectric. This study supports the idea that multiple contributions, specifically ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition and polarization rotation, are responsible for the high piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary of PMN-x PT piezoceramics.

The transition from clinician to academic in nursing and allied health: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

PubMed

Murray, Carolyn; Stanley, Mandy; Wright, Shelley

2014-03-01

The meta-synthesis provides a collective qualitative understanding of the transition experience from nursing and allied health clinician to academic. This understanding assists the preparation for those making the transition as well as giving guidance to those who have recently commenced in academia. Published qualitative studies about the transition from clinician to academic were systematically selected in order to integrate their findings in a meta-synthesis. Databases searched were CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, 'Education Research Complete', and 'Academic Search Premier'. The search terms used were academ* OR facult* AND transition. The search was further refined by adding the terms qualitative AND clinic* OR practit* OR profession*. Studies were appraised for credibility, neutrality and relevance. Findings along with direct quotes were extracted from the studies and thematic analysis was used within an interpretative framework. Seven studies were included in the meta-synthesis. The included studies were from nursing, physiotherapy, health and social care. The central theme was a shift in identity from clinician to academic which involved a progression through 4 phases over a period of 1- 3years. These phases were; 'feeling new and vulnerable'; 'encountering the unexpected'; 'doing things differently' and 'evolving into an academic'. New academics felt unsettled and uncertain in the initial phases of transition. It is proposed that these challenges are related to difficulty extracting tacit knowledge and immersion in a new culture. The change of values and beliefs to adapt to the new culture require a concurrent identity shift which can take up to three years. Newcomers need collegial and institutional guidance with prioritization of tasks to address the multiplicity of the academic role and avoid frustration and disillusionment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sharp transition from ripple patterns to a flat surface for ion beam erosion of Si with simultaneous co-deposition of iron

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, K.; Broetzmann, M.; Hofsaess, H.

We investigate pattern formation on Si by sputter erosion under simultaneous co-deposition of Fe atoms, both at off-normal incidence, as function of the Fe surface coverage. The patterns obtained for 5 keV Xe ion irradiation at 30 Degree-Sign incidence angle are analyzed with atomic force microscopy. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy of the local steady state Fe content of the Fe-Si surface layer allows a quantitative correlation between pattern type and Fe coverage. With increasing Fe coverage the patterns change, starting from a flat surface at low coverage (< 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 15} Fe/cm{sup 2}) over dot patterns (2-8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 15}more » Fe/cm{sup 2}), ripples patterns (8-17 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 15} Fe/cm{sup 2}), pill bug structures (1.8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} Fe/cm{sup 2}) and a rather flat surface with randomly distributed weak pits at high Fe coverage (>1.8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} Fe/cm{sup 2}). Our results confirm the observations by Macko et al. for 2 keV Kr ion irradiation of Si with Fe co-deposition. In particular, we also find a sharp transition from pronounced ripple patterns with large amplitude (rms roughness {approx} 18 nm) to a rather flat surface (rms roughness {approx} 0.5 nm). Within this transition regime, we also observe the formation of pill bug structures, i.e. individual small hillocks with a rippled structure on an otherwise rather flat surface. The transition occurs within a very narrow regime of the steady state Fe surface coverage between 1.7 and 1.8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} Fe/cm{sup 2}, where the composition of the mixed Fe-Si surface layer of about 10 nm thickness reaches the stoichiometry of FeSi{sub 2}. Phase separation towards amorphous iron silicide is assumed as the major contribution for the pattern formation at lower Fe coverage and the sharp transition from ripple patterns to a flat surface.« less

Phase-field approach to implicit solvation of biomolecules with Coulomb-field approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yanxiang; Kwan, Yuen-Yick; Che, Jianwei; Li, Bo; McCammon, J. Andrew

2013-07-01

A phase-field variational implicit-solvent approach is developed for the solvation of charged molecules. The starting point of such an approach is the representation of a solute-solvent interface by a phase field that takes one value in the solute region and another in the solvent region, with a smooth transition from one to the other on a small transition layer. The minimization of an effective free-energy functional of all possible phase fields determines the equilibrium conformations and free energies of an underlying molecular system. All the surface energy, the solute-solvent van der Waals interaction, and the electrostatic interaction are coupled together self-consistently through a phase field. The surface energy results from the minimization of a double-well potential and the gradient of a field. The electrostatic interaction is described by the Coulomb-field approximation. Accurate and efficient methods are designed and implemented to numerically relax an underlying charged molecular system. Applications to single ions, a two-plate system, and a two-domain protein reveal that the new theory and methods can capture capillary evaporation in hydrophobic confinement and corresponding multiple equilibrium states as found in molecular dynamics simulations. Comparisons of the phase-field and the original sharp-interface variational approaches are discussed.

Structural and phase transitions of one and two polymer mushrooms in poor solvent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Delian; Wang, Qiang

2014-05-01

Using the recently proposed fast lattice Monte Carlo (FLMC) simulations and the corresponding lattice self-consistent field (LSCF) calculations based on the same model system, where multiple occupancy of lattice sites is allowed [Q. Wang, Soft Matter 5, 4564 (2009); Q. Wang, Soft Matter 5, 6206 (2010)], we studied the coil-globule transition (CGT) of one-mushroom systems and the fused-separated transition (FST) of two-mushroom systems, where a polymer mushroom is formed by a group of n homopolymer chains each of N segments end-grafted at the same point onto a flat substrate and immersed in a poor solvent. With our soft potential that allows complete particle overlapping, LSCF theory neglecting the system fluctuations/correlations becomes exact in the limit of n → ∞, and FLMC results approach LSCF predictions with increasing n. Using LSCF calculations, we systematically constructed the phase diagrams of one- and two-mushroom systems. A second-order symmetric-asymmetric transition (SAT) was found in the globule state of one-mushroom systems, where the rotational symmetry around the substrate normal passing through the grafting point is broken in each individual configuration but preserved by the degeneracy of different orientations of these asymmetric configurations. Three different states were also found in two-mushroom systems: separated coils, separated globules, and fused globule. We further studied the coupling between FST in two-mushroom systems and CGT and SAT of each mushroom. Finally, direct comparisons between our simulation and theoretical results, without any parameter-fitting, unambiguously and quantitatively revealed the fluctuation/correlation effects on these phase transitions.

Ecological communities with Lotka-Volterra dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bunin, Guy

2017-04-01

Ecological communities in heterogeneous environments assemble through the combined effect of species interaction and migration. Understanding the effect of these processes on the community properties is central to ecology. Here we study these processes for a single community subject to migration from a pool of species, with population dynamics described by the generalized Lotka-Volterra equations. We derive exact results for the phase diagram describing the dynamical behaviors, and for the diversity and species abundance distributions. A phase transition is found from a phase where a unique globally attractive fixed point exists to a phase where multiple dynamical attractors exist, leading to history-dependent community properties. The model is shown to possess a symmetry that also establishes a connection with other well-known models.

Ecological communities with Lotka-Volterra dynamics.

PubMed

Bunin, Guy

2017-04-01

Ecological communities in heterogeneous environments assemble through the combined effect of species interaction and migration. Understanding the effect of these processes on the community properties is central to ecology. Here we study these processes for a single community subject to migration from a pool of species, with population dynamics described by the generalized Lotka-Volterra equations. We derive exact results for the phase diagram describing the dynamical behaviors, and for the diversity and species abundance distributions. A phase transition is found from a phase where a unique globally attractive fixed point exists to a phase where multiple dynamical attractors exist, leading to history-dependent community properties. The model is shown to possess a symmetry that also establishes a connection with other well-known models.

Wilson loop's phase transition probed by non-local observable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hui-Ling; Feng, Zhong-Wen; Yang, Shu-Zheng; Zu, Xiao-Tao

2018-04-01

In order to give further insights into the holographic Van der Waals phase transition, it would be of great interest to investigate the behavior of Wilson loop across the holographic phase transition for a higher dimensional hairy black hole. We offer a possibility to proceed with a numerical calculation in order to discussion on the hairy black hole's phase transition, and show that Wilson loop can serve as a probe to detect a phase structure of the black hole. Furthermore, for a first order phase transition, we calculate numerically the Maxwell's equal area construction; and for a second order phase transition, we also study the critical exponent in order to characterize the Wilson loop's phase transition.

Pressure dependence of band-gap and phase transitions in bulk CuX (X = Cl, Br, I)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Azhikodan, Dilna; Nautiyal, Tashi; Sharma, S.

2016-05-06

Usually a phase transition, in theoretical studies, is explored or verified by studying the total energy as a function of the volume considering various plausible phases. The intersection point, if any, of the free energy vs. volume curves for the different phases is then the indicator of the phase transition(s). The question is, can the theoretical study of a single phase alone indicate a phase transition? i.e. can we look beyond the phase under consideration through such a study? Using density-functional theory, we report a novel approach to suggest phase transition(s) through theoretical study of a single phase. Copper halidesmore » have been engaged for this study. These are direct band-gap semiconductors, with zinc blende structure at ambient conditions, and are reported to exhibit many phase transitions. We show that the study of volume dependence of energy band-gap in a single phase facilitates looking beyond the phase under consideration. This, when translated to pressures, reflects the phase transition pressures for CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) with an encouraging accuracy. This work thus offers a simple, yet reliable, approach based on electronic structure calculations to investigate new semiconducting materials for phase changes under pressure.« less

Eigenstate Phase Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Bo

Phase transitions are one of the most exciting physical phenomena ever discovered. The understanding of phase transitions has long been of interest. Recently eigenstate phase transitions have been discovered and studied; they are drastically different from traditional thermal phase transitions. In eigenstate phase transitions, a sharp change is exhibited in properties of the many-body eigenstates of the Hamiltonian of a quantum system, but not the thermal equilibrium properties of the same system. In this thesis, we study two different types of eigenstate phase transitions. The first is the eigenstate phase transition within the ferromagnetic phase of an infinite-range spin model. By studying the interplay of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis and Ising symmetry breaking, we find two eigenstate phase transitions within the ferromagnetic phase: In the lowest-temperature phase the magnetization can macroscopically oscillate by quantum tunneling between up and down. The relaxation of the magnetization is always overdamped in the remainder of the ferromagnetic phase, which is further divided into phases where the system thermally activates itself over the barrier between the up and down states, and where it quantum tunnels. The second is the many-body localization phase transition. The eigenstates on one side of the transition obey the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis; the eigenstates on the other side are many-body localized, and thus thermal equilibrium need not be achieved for an initial state even after evolving for an arbitrary long time. We study this many-body localization phase transition in the strong disorder renormalization group framework. After setting up a set of coarse-graining rules for a general one dimensional chain, we get a simple "toy model'' and obtain an almost purely analytical solution to the infinite-randomness critical fixed point renormalization group equation. We also get an estimate of the correlation length critical exponent nu ≈ 2.5.

Switchable vanadium dioxide (VO2) metamaterials fabricated from tungsten doped vanadia-based colloidal nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paik, Taejong; Hong, Sung-Hoon; Gordon, Thomas; Gaulding, Ashley; Kagan, Cherie; Murray, Christopher

2013-03-01

We report the fabrication of thermochromic VO2-based metamaterials using solution-processable colloidal nanocrystals. Vanadium-based nanoparticles are prepared through a non-hydrolytic reaction, resulting in stable colloidal dispersions in solution. Thermochromic nanocrystalline VO2 thin-films are prepared via rapid thermal annealing of colloidal nanoparticles coated on a variety of substrates. Nanostructured VO2 can be patterned over large areas by nanoimprint lithography. Precise control of tungsten (W) doping concentration in colloidal nanoparticles enables tuning of the phase transition temperature of the nanocrystalline VO2 thin-films. W-doped VO2 films display a sharp temperature dependent phase transition, similar to the undoped VO2 film, but at lower temperatures tunable with the doping level. By sequential coating of doped VO2 with different doping concentrations, we fabricate ?smart? multi-layered VO2 films displaying multiple phase transition temperatures within a single structure, allowing for dynamic modulation of the metal-dielectric layered structure. The optical properties programmed into the layered structure are switchable with temperature, which provides additional degrees of freedom to design tunable optical metamaterials. This work is supported by the US Office of Naval Research Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program grant number ONR-N00014-10-1-0942.

Probing C-O bond activation on gas-phase transition metal clusters: Infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of Fe, Ru, Re, and W cluster CO complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyon, Jonathan T.; Gruene, Philipp; Fielicke, André; Meijer, Gerard; Rayner, David M.

2009-11-01

The binding of carbon monoxide to iron, ruthenium, rhenium, and tungsten clusters is studied by means of infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy. The CO stretching mode is used to probe the interaction of the CO molecule with the metal clusters and thereby the activation of the C-O bond. CO is found to adsorb molecularly to atop positions on iron clusters. On ruthenium and rhenium clusters it also binds molecularly. In the case of ruthenium, binding is predominantly to atop sites, however higher coordinated CO binding is also observed for both metals and becomes prevalent for rhenium clusters containing more than nine atoms. Tungsten clusters exhibit a clear size dependence for molecular versus dissociative CO binding. This behavior denotes the crossover to the purely dissociative CO binding on the earlier transition metals such as tantalum.

Giant magnetostriction effect near onset of spin reorientation in MnBi

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Choi, Y.; Ryan, P. J.; McGuire, Michael A.

In materials undergoing spontaneous symmetry breaking transitions, the emergence of multiple competing order parameters is pervasive. Employing in-field x-ray diffraction, we investigate the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the crystallographic structure of MnBi, elucidating the microscopic interplay between lattices and spin. The hexagonal phase of MnBi undergoes a spin reorientation transition (TSR), whereby the easy axis direction changes from the c axis to the basal plane. Across TSR, an abrupt symmetry change is accompanied by a clear sign change in the magnetostrictive coefficient, revealing that this transition corresponds to the onset of the spin reorientation. In the vicinity ofmore » TSR, a significantly larger in-plane magnetostrictive effect is observed, presenting the emergence of an intermediate phase that is highly susceptible to an applied magnetic field. X-ray linear dichroism shows that asymmetric Bi and Mn p orbitals do not play a role in the spin reorientation. Furthermore, this work suggests that the spin reorientation is caused by structural modification rather than changes in the local electronic configuration, providing a strategy for manipulating the magnetic anisotropy by external strain.« less

Giant magnetostriction effect near onset of spin reorientation in MnBi

DOE PAGES

Choi, Y.; Ryan, P. J.; McGuire, Michael A.; ...

2018-05-11

In materials undergoing spontaneous symmetry breaking transitions, the emergence of multiple competing order parameters is pervasive. Employing in-field x-ray diffraction, we investigate the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the crystallographic structure of MnBi, elucidating the microscopic interplay between lattices and spin. The hexagonal phase of MnBi undergoes a spin reorientation transition (TSR), whereby the easy axis direction changes from the c axis to the basal plane. Across TSR, an abrupt symmetry change is accompanied by a clear sign change in the magnetostrictive coefficient, revealing that this transition corresponds to the onset of the spin reorientation. In the vicinity ofmore » TSR, a significantly larger in-plane magnetostrictive effect is observed, presenting the emergence of an intermediate phase that is highly susceptible to an applied magnetic field. X-ray linear dichroism shows that asymmetric Bi and Mn p orbitals do not play a role in the spin reorientation. Furthermore, this work suggests that the spin reorientation is caused by structural modification rather than changes in the local electronic configuration, providing a strategy for manipulating the magnetic anisotropy by external strain.« less

Giant magnetostriction effect near onset of spin reorientation in MnBi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Y.; Ryan, P. J.; McGuire, M. A.; Sales, B. C.; Kim, J.-W.

2018-05-01

In materials undergoing spontaneous symmetry breaking transitions, the emergence of multiple competing order parameters is pervasive. Employing in-field x-ray diffraction, we investigate the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the crystallographic structure of MnBi, elucidating the microscopic interplay between lattices and spin. The hexagonal phase of MnBi undergoes a spin reorientation transition (TSR), whereby the easy axis direction changes from the c axis to the basal plane. Across TSR, an abrupt symmetry change is accompanied by a clear sign change in the magnetostrictive coefficient, revealing that this transition corresponds to the onset of the spin reorientation. In the vicinity of TSR, a significantly larger in-plane magnetostrictive effect is observed, presenting the emergence of an intermediate phase that is highly susceptible to an applied magnetic field. X-ray linear dichroism shows that asymmetric Bi and Mn p orbitals do not play a role in the spin reorientation. This work suggests that the spin reorientation is caused by structural modification rather than changes in the local electronic configuration, providing a strategy for manipulating the magnetic anisotropy by external strain.

Vapor-crystal phase transition in synthesis of paracetamol films by vacuum evaporation and condensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belyaev, A. P.; Rubets, V. P.; Antipov, V. V.; Bordei, N. S.; Zarembo, V. I.

2014-03-01

We report on the structural and technological investigations of the vapor-crystal phase transition during synthesis of paracetamol films of the monoclinic system by vacuum evaporation and condensation in the temperature range 220-320 K. The complex nature of the transformation accompanied by the formation of a gel-like phase is revealed. The results are interpreted using a model according to which the vapor-crystal phase transition is not a simple first-order phase transition, but is a nonlinear superposition of two phase transitions: a first-order transition with a change in density and a second-order phase transition with a change in ordering. Micrographs of the surface of the films are obtained at different phases of formation.

Phase transitions in a multistate majority-vote model on complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hanshuang; Li, Guofeng

2018-06-01

We generalize the original majority-vote (MV) model from two states to arbitrary p states and study the order-disorder phase transitions in such a p -state MV model on complex networks. By extensive Monte Carlo simulations and a mean-field theory, we show that for p ≥3 the order of phase transition is essentially different from a continuous second-order phase transition in the original two-state MV model. Instead, for p ≥3 the model displays a discontinuous first-order phase transition, which is manifested by the appearance of the hysteresis phenomenon near the phase transition. Within the hysteresis loop, the ordered phase and disordered phase are coexisting, and rare flips between the two phases can be observed due to the finite-size fluctuation. Moreover, we investigate the type of phase transition under a slightly modified dynamics [Melo et al., J. Stat. Mech. (2010) P11032, 10.1088/1742-5468/2010/11/P11032]. We find that the order of phase transition in the three-state MV model depends on the degree heterogeneity of networks. For p ≥4 , both dynamics produce the first-order phase transitions.

The phase transitions between Z n × Z n bosonic topological phases in 1 + 1D, and a constraint on the central charge for the critical points between bosonic symmetry protected topological phases

DOE PAGES

Tsui, Lokman; Huang, Yen-Ta; Jiang, Hong-Chen; ...

2017-03-27

The study of continuous phase transitions triggered by spontaneous symmetry breaking has brought revolutionary ideas to physics. Recently, through the discovery of symmetry protected topological phases, it is realized that continuous quantum phase transition can also occur between states with the same symmetry but different topology. Here in this paper we study a specific class of such phase transitions in 1+1 dimensions – the phase transition between bosonic topological phases protected by Z n × Z n. We find in all cases the critical point possesses two gap opening relevant operators: one leads to a Landau-forbidden symmetry breaking phase transitionmore » and the other to the topological phase transition. We also obtained a constraint on the central charge for general phase transitions between symmetry protected bosonic topological phases in 1+1D.« less

The phase transitions between Z n × Z n bosonic topological phases in 1 + 1D, and a constraint on the central charge for the critical points between bosonic symmetry protected topological phases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsui, Lokman; Huang, Yen-Ta; Jiang, Hong-Chen

The study of continuous phase transitions triggered by spontaneous symmetry breaking has brought revolutionary ideas to physics. Recently, through the discovery of symmetry protected topological phases, it is realized that continuous quantum phase transition can also occur between states with the same symmetry but different topology. Here in this paper we study a specific class of such phase transitions in 1+1 dimensions – the phase transition between bosonic topological phases protected by Z n × Z n. We find in all cases the critical point possesses two gap opening relevant operators: one leads to a Landau-forbidden symmetry breaking phase transitionmore » and the other to the topological phase transition. We also obtained a constraint on the central charge for general phase transitions between symmetry protected bosonic topological phases in 1+1D.« less

Magnetic properties of the Fe{sup II} spin crossover complex in emulsion polymerization of trifluoroethylmethacrylate using poly(vinyl alcohol)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suzuki, Atsushi, E-mail: suzuki@mat.usp.ac.j; Iguchi, Motoi; Oku, Takeo

2010-04-15

Influence of chemical substitution in the Fe{sup II} spin crossover complex on magnetic properties in emulsion polymerization of trifluoroethylmethacrylate using poly(vinyl alcohol) as a protective colloid was investigated near its high spin/low spin (HS/LS) phase transition. The obvious bi-stability of the HS/LS phase transition was considered by the identification of multiple spin states between the quintet (S=2) states to single state (S=0) across the excited triplet state (S=1). Magnetic parameters of gradual shifts of anisotropy g-tensor supported by the molecular distortion of the spin crossover complex would arise from a Jahn-Teller effect regarding ligand field theory on the basis ofmore » a B3LYP density functional theory using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum and X-ray powder diffraction. - Graphical abstract: AFM surface image of the emulsion particles with the spin crossover complex.« less

Amorphous ices explained in terms of nonequilibrium phase transitions in supercooled water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limmer, David; Chandler, David

2013-03-01

We analyze the phase diagram of supercooled water out-of-equilibrium using concepts from space-time thermodynamics and the dynamic facilitation theory of the glass transition, together with molecular dynamics simulations. We find that when water is driven out-of-equilibrium, it can exist in multiple amorphous states. In contrast, we find that when water is at equilibrium, it can exist in only one liquid state. The amorphous non-equilibrium states are solids, distinguished from the liquid by their lack of mobility, and distinguished from each other by their different densities and local structure. This finding explains the experimentally observed polyamorphism of water as a class of nonequilibrium phenomena involving glasses of different densities. While the amorphous solids can be long lived, they are thermodynamically unstable. When allowed to relax to equilibrium, they crystallize with pathways that pass first through liquid state configurations and then to ordered ice.

Exploring Polarization Rotation Phase Instabilities in Super-Tetragonal BiFeO3 Epitaxial Thin Films and Their Technological Implications

DOE PAGES

Cao, Ye; Yang, Mr. Shuzhen; Jesse, Stephen; ...

2016-01-01

Many functional properties of ferroelectrics are underlain by structural instabilities, which render these materials very susceptible to small alternating applied fields (electric, mechanical, etc.) through certain constitutive coupling relations, e.g., elastic compliance and piezoelectric response, and often such instabilities can be shifted by static applied fields thus meaning tunable dynamic properties. Structural instabilities are naturally accommodated on the brink of morphotropic phase boundaries (MPB s) where multiple phases of small energy difference coexist in different crystallographic forms. Canonical MPB is realized through compositional mixture, as is typically exemplified by Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 solid solutions and relaxor ferroelectrics of (1-x)PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-xPbTiO3. More recently, amore » strain-driven MPB has been discovered in BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films epitaxially grown on LaAlO3 (LAO) crystal substrates (which imposes about -4.5% in-plane strains). Such an MPB is in between a rhombohedral (R) phase that bulk BFO exhibits and a so-called super-tetragonal (T) phase, which name hints at its giant lattice axial ratio (c/a ~ 1.23) and accordingly high electric polarization (~1.5 C m-2). The discovery of an MPB in BFO has revealed another facet of this multiferroic system, further adding opportunities to its many exotic functionalities such as domain wall conduction, magnetoelectric and photovoltaic effects As with other MPB s, large electric-field induced strains as well as more underlying lattice softening effects are observed near this MPB promising piezoelectric-based applications. In addition, T-phase BFO itself shows distinct properties, e.g., electronic band gap and optical absorption, from the R-phase and the resultant switching effects between them may also be exploitable. However, unlike conventional ferroelectric oxides where the phases across an MPB usually have subtle difference caused by rotations of an ion off-centering polarization, the BFO system bears multiple structural degrees of freedom, in particular antiferrodistortive modes of oxygen octahedral tilt, and a multitude of structural transition paths are thereby facilitated. Moreover, since the MPB of BFO is driven by epitaxial strain, it is sensitive to the strain relaxation related to film thickness and growth conditions, and above some critical thickness the films appear in the form of a hierarchical mixed-phase microstructure involving several coexistent polymorphs with distinct lattice distortion (monoclinic phases) and tilts. Elastic and electrical heterogeneities are necessary consequences of such complex microstructure, which couple to the intrinsic order parameters and expectedly have profound influence on the structural dynamics and material properties. All these make it a demanding task to obtain a deep understanding of this MPB system on par with its application prospect. The thin-film material form also brings in experimental restrictions to the MPB phase transition studies of BFO since many pertinent techniques fail to operate at the nanoscale or suffer from formidably weak signals. Therefore, static structural characterizations using e.g. X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and Raman scattering have prevailed thus far. Recently, we adapted band-excitation piezoresponse spectroscopy (BEPS) to probe the bias-induced R/T phase transition dynamics of BFO/SrTiO3 (STO) thin films, and revealed the soft-mode elastic behavior of the transition. The efficacy of our method, along with standard piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), can be significantly leveraged by integrating a variety of local and/or global excitations, e.g., tip pressure (10 s GPa attainable), heating, photo-irradiation, available to modern scanning probe platforms. This can thus afford unique opportunities to survey the structural dynamics of ferroelectric materials coupled to those field variables, enabling rapid discovery or validation of their functional properties. In this study, we focus on the T-phase BFO/LAO system; we have examined its phase transition behavior not only due to local coaction of tip bias and loading force, but also under device-level global electric fields in a coplanar capacitor. The intrinsic elastic softening phenomena near the structural transitions are comprehensively revealed by BEPS and corroborated by phase-field modeling. Our findings may open a new pathway for technological utilization of the MPB phase instabilities of BFO.« less

A boundary condition for layer to level ocean model interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mask, A.; O'Brien, J.; Preller, R.

2003-04-01

A radiation boundary condition based on vertical normal modes is introduced to allow a physical transition between nested/coupled ocean models that are of differing vertical structure and/or differing physics. In this particular study, a fine resolution regional/coastal sigma-coordinate Naval Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) has been successfully nested to a coarse resolution (in the horizontal and vertical) basin scale NCOM and a coarse resolution basin scale Navy Layered Ocean Model (NLOM). Both of these models were developed at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, USA. This new method, which decomposes the vertical structure of the models into barotropic and baroclinic modes, gives improved results in the coastal domain over Orlanski radiation boundary conditions for the test cases. The principle reason for the improvement is that each mode has the radiation boundary condition applied individually; therefore, the packet of information passing through the boundary is allowed to have multiple phase speeds instead of a single-phase speed. Allowing multiple phase speeds reduces boundary reflections, thus improving results.

A Nonequilibrium Rate Formula for Collective Motions of Complex Molecular Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanao, Tomohiro; Koon, Wang Sang; Marsden, Jerrold E.

2010-09-01

We propose a compact reaction rate formula that accounts for a non-equilibrium distribution of residence times of complex molecules, based on a detailed study of the coarse-grained phase space of a reaction coordinate. We take the structural transition dynamics of a six-atom Morse cluster between two isomers as a prototype of multi-dimensional molecular reactions. Residence time distribution of one of the isomers shows an exponential decay, while that of the other isomer deviates largely from the exponential form and has multiple peaks. Our rate formula explains such equilibrium and non-equilibrium distributions of residence times in terms of the rates of diffusions of energy and the phase of the oscillations of the reaction coordinate. Rapid diffusions of energy and the phase generally give rise to the exponential decay of residence time distribution, while slow diffusions give rise to a non-exponential decay with multiple peaks. We finally make a conjecture about a general relationship between the rates of the diffusions and the symmetry of molecular mass distributions.

Study of a structural phase transition by two dimensional Fourier transform NMR method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trokiner, A.; Man, P. P.; Théveneau, H.; Papon, P.

1985-09-01

The fluoroperovskite RbCaF 3 undergoes a structural phase transition at 195.5 K, from a cubic phase where the 87Rb nuclei have no quadrupolar interaction ( ωQ= 0) to a tetragonal phase where ω Q ≠ O. The transition is weakly first-order. A two-dimensional FT NMR experiment has been performed on 87Rb ( I = {3}/{2}) in a single crystal in both phases and in the vicinity of the phase transition. Our results show the coexistence of the two phases at the phase transition.

Probabilistic physical characteristics of phase transitions at highway bottlenecks: incommensurability of three-phase and two-phase traffic-flow theories.

PubMed

Kerner, Boris S; Klenov, Sergey L; Schreckenberg, Michael

2014-05-01

Physical features of induced phase transitions in a metastable free flow at an on-ramp bottleneck in three-phase and two-phase cellular automaton (CA) traffic-flow models have been revealed. It turns out that at given flow rates at the bottleneck, to induce a moving jam (F → J transition) in the metastable free flow through the application of a time-limited on-ramp inflow impulse, in both two-phase and three-phase CA models the same critical amplitude of the impulse is required. If a smaller impulse than this critical one is applied, neither F → J transition nor other phase transitions can occur in the two-phase CA model. We have found that in contrast with the two-phase CA model, in the three-phase CA model, if the same smaller impulse is applied, then a phase transition from free flow to synchronized flow (F → S transition) can be induced at the bottleneck. This explains why rather than the F → J transition, in the three-phase theory traffic breakdown at a highway bottleneck is governed by an F → S transition, as observed in real measured traffic data. None of two-phase traffic-flow theories incorporates an F → S transition in a metastable free flow at the bottleneck that is the main feature of the three-phase theory. On the one hand, this shows the incommensurability of three-phase and two-phase traffic-flow theories. On the other hand, this clarifies why none of the two-phase traffic-flow theories can explain the set of fundamental empirical features of traffic breakdown at highway bottlenecks.

Melting of Domain Wall in Charge Ordered Dirac Electron of Organic Conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohki, Daigo; Matsuno, Genki; Omori, Yukiko; Kobayashi, Akito

2018-05-01

The origin of charge order melting is identified by using the real space dependent mean-field theory in the extended Hubbard model describing an organic Dirac electron system α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3. In this model, the width of a domain wall which arises between different types of the charge ordered phase exhibits a divergent increase with decreasing the strength of electron-electron correlations. By analyzing the finite-size effect carefully, it is shown that the divergence coincides with a topological transition where a pair of Dirac cones merges in keeping with a finite gap. It is also clarified that the gap opening point and the topological transition point are different, which leads to the existence of an exotic massive Dirac electron phase with melted-type domain wall and gapless edge states. The present result also indicated that multiple metastable states are emerged in massive Dirac Electron phase. In the trivial charge ordered phase, the gapless domain-wall bound state takes place instead of the gapless edge states, accompanying with a form change of the domain wall from melted-type into hyperbolic-tangent-type.

Magnetic Properties and Magnetic Phase Diagrams of Trigonal DyNi3Ga9

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ninomiya, Hiroki; Matsumoto, Yuji; Nakamura, Shota; Kono, Yohei; Kittaka, Shunichiro; Sakakibara, Toshiro; Inoue, Katsuya; Ohara, Shigeo

2017-12-01

We report the crystal structure, magnetic properties, and magnetic phase diagrams of single crystalline DyNi3Ga9 studied using X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, specific heat, and magnetization measurements. DyNi3Ga9 crystallizes in the chiral structure with space group R32. The dysprosium ions, which are responsible for the magnetism in this compound, form a two-dimensional honeycomb structure on a (0001) plane. We show that DyNi3Ga9 exhibits successive phase transitions at TN = 10 K and T'N = 9 K. The former suggests quadrupolar ordering, and the latter is attributed to the antiferromagnetic order. It is considered that DyNi3Ga9 forms the canted-antiferromagnetic structure below T'N owing to a small hysteresis loop of the low-field magnetization curve. We observe the strong easy-plane anisotropy, and the multiple-metamagnetic transitions with magnetization-plateaus under the field applied along the honeycomb plane. For Hallel [2\\bar{1}\\bar{1}0], the plateau-region arises every 1/6 for saturation magnetization. The magnetic phase diagrams of DyNi3Ga9 are determined for the fields along principal-crystal axes.

CO 2 Leakage Into Shallow Aquifers: Modeling CO 2 Gas Evolution and Accumulation at Interfaces of Heterogeneity

DOE PAGES

Porter, Mark L.; Plampin, Michael; Pawar, Rajesh; ...

2014-12-31

The physicochemical processes associated with CO 2 leakage into shallow aquifer systems are complex and span multiple spatial and time scales. Continuum-scale numerical models that faithfully represent the underlying pore-scale physics are required to predict the long-term behavior and aid in risk analysis regarding regulatory and management decisions. This study focuses on benchmarking the numerical simulator, FEHM, with intermediate-scale column experiments of CO 2 gas evolution in homogeneous and heterogeneous sand configurations. Inverse modeling was conducted to calibrate model parameters and determine model sensitivity to the observed steady-state saturation profiles. It is shown that FEHM is a powerful tool thatmore » is capable of capturing the experimentally observed out ow rates and saturation profiles. Moreover, FEHM captures the transition from single- to multi-phase flow and CO 2 gas accumulation at interfaces separating sands. We also derive a simple expression, based on Darcy's law, for the pressure at which CO 2 free phase gas is observed and show that it reliably predicts the location at which single-phase flow transitions to multi-phase flow.« less

Investigation of phase transitions in LiK 1- x(NH 4) xSO 4 mixed crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freire, P. T. C.; Paraguassu, W.; Silva, A. P.; Pilla, O.; Teixeira, A. M. R.; Sasaki, J. M.; Mendes Filho, J.; Guedes, I.; Melo, F. E. A.

1999-02-01

We present Raman scattering results on LiK 1- x(NH 4) xSO 4 mixed crystal for temperatures between 100 and 300 K. We observed that in this temperature range the crystal undergoes two different phase transitions, which we call Bansal and Tomaszewski phase transitions. The introduction of ammonium ions in the potassium sites increases the C 66→C 3v4 (Bansal) phase transition temperature and decreases the Tomaszewski phase transition temperature. Finally, the most impressive effect of the presence of ammonium impurity in the LiKSO 4 structure is the decrease in the temperature hysteresis of Bansal phase transition and the almost complete destruction of hysteresis in the Tomaszewski phase transition, leading to a high temperature range of stability of the trigonal phase.

Structural phase transition in monolayer MoTe2 driven by electrostatic doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ying; Xiao, Jun; Zhu, Hanyu; Li, Yao; Alsaid, Yousif; Fong, King Yan; Zhou, Yao; Wang, Siqi; Shi, Wu; Wang, Yuan; Zettl, Alex; Reed, Evan J.; Zhang, Xiang

2017-10-01

Monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit numerous crystal phases with distinct structures, symmetries and physical properties. Exploring the physics of transitions between these different structural phases in two dimensions may provide a means of switching material properties, with implications for potential applications. Structural phase transitions in TMDs have so far been induced by thermal or chemical means; purely electrostatic control over crystal phases through electrostatic doping was recently proposed as a theoretical possibility, but has not yet been realized. Here we report the experimental demonstration of an electrostatic-doping-driven phase transition between the hexagonal and monoclinic phases of monolayer molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2). We find that the phase transition shows a hysteretic loop in Raman spectra, and can be reversed by increasing or decreasing the gate voltage. We also combine second-harmonic generation spectroscopy with polarization-resolved Raman spectroscopy to show that the induced monoclinic phase preserves the crystal orientation of the original hexagonal phase. Moreover, this structural phase transition occurs simultaneously across the whole sample. This electrostatic-doping control of structural phase transition opens up new possibilities for developing phase-change devices based on atomically thin membranes.

Multiple-Quantum Transitions and Charge-Induced Decoherence of Donor Nuclear Spins in Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franke, David P.; Pflüger, Moritz P. D.; Itoh, Kohei M.; Brandt, Martin S.

2017-06-01

We study single- and multiquantum transitions of the nuclear spins of an ensemble of ionized arsenic donors in silicon and find quadrupolar effects on the coherence times, which we link to fluctuating electrical field gradients present after the application of light and bias voltage pulses. To determine the coherence times of superpositions of all orders in the 4-dimensional Hilbert space, we use a phase-cycling technique and find that, when electrical effects were allowed to decay, these times scale as expected for a fieldlike decoherence mechanism such as the interaction with surrounding Si 29 nuclear spins.

Some Insights on Roughness Induced Transition and Control from DNS and Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryanarayanan, Saikishan; Ibitayo, Ifeoluwa; Goldstein, David; Brown, Garry

2016-11-01

We study the receptivity and subsequent evolution of an initially laminar flat boundary layer on a flat plate to single and multiple discrete roughness elements (DRE) using a combination of immersed boundary DNS and water channel flow visualization experiments. We examine the transition caused by a single DRE and demonstrate the possibility of suppressing it by an appropriately designed second DRE in both DNS and experiments. The different phases of transition are identified and the roles of Reynolds numbers based on roughness height and boundary layer thickness are investigated. The underlying mechanisms in the observed transition and its control are understood by examining detailed vorticity flux balances. Connections are also made to recent developments in transient growth and streak instability. A unified picture is sought from a parametric study of different DRE dimensions and orientations. The potential applicability of the observations and understanding derived from this study to controlling transition caused by design and environmental roughness over aircraft wings is discussed. Supported by AFOSR # FA9550-15-1-0345.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, Ye; Yang, Mr. Shuzhen; Jesse, Stephen

Many functional properties of ferroelectrics are underlain by structural instabilities, which render these materials very susceptible to small alternating applied fields (electric, mechanical, etc.) through certain constitutive coupling relations, e.g., elastic compliance and piezoelectric response, and often such instabilities can be shifted by static applied fields thus meaning tunable dynamic properties. Structural instabilities are naturally accommodated on the brink of morphotropic phase boundaries (MPB s) where multiple phases of small energy difference coexist in different crystallographic forms. Canonical MPB is realized through compositional mixture, as is typically exemplified by Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 solid solutions and relaxor ferroelectrics of (1-x)PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-xPbTiO3. More recently, amore » strain-driven MPB has been discovered in BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films epitaxially grown on LaAlO3 (LAO) crystal substrates (which imposes about -4.5% in-plane strains). Such an MPB is in between a rhombohedral (R) phase that bulk BFO exhibits and a so-called super-tetragonal (T) phase, which name hints at its giant lattice axial ratio (c/a ~ 1.23) and accordingly high electric polarization (~1.5 C m-2). The discovery of an MPB in BFO has revealed another facet of this multiferroic system, further adding opportunities to its many exotic functionalities such as domain wall conduction, magnetoelectric and photovoltaic effects As with other MPB s, large electric-field induced strains as well as more underlying lattice softening effects are observed near this MPB promising piezoelectric-based applications. In addition, T-phase BFO itself shows distinct properties, e.g., electronic band gap and optical absorption, from the R-phase and the resultant switching effects between them may also be exploitable. However, unlike conventional ferroelectric oxides where the phases across an MPB usually have subtle difference caused by rotations of an ion off-centering polarization, the BFO system bears multiple structural degrees of freedom, in particular antiferrodistortive modes of oxygen octahedral tilt, and a multitude of structural transition paths are thereby facilitated. Moreover, since the MPB of BFO is driven by epitaxial strain, it is sensitive to the strain relaxation related to film thickness and growth conditions, and above some critical thickness the films appear in the form of a hierarchical mixed-phase microstructure involving several coexistent polymorphs with distinct lattice distortion (monoclinic phases) and tilts. Elastic and electrical heterogeneities are necessary consequences of such complex microstructure, which couple to the intrinsic order parameters and expectedly have profound influence on the structural dynamics and material properties. All these make it a demanding task to obtain a deep understanding of this MPB system on par with its application prospect. The thin-film material form also brings in experimental restrictions to the MPB phase transition studies of BFO since many pertinent techniques fail to operate at the nanoscale or suffer from formidably weak signals. Therefore, static structural characterizations using e.g. X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and Raman scattering have prevailed thus far. Recently, we adapted band-excitation piezoresponse spectroscopy (BEPS) to probe the bias-induced R/T phase transition dynamics of BFO/SrTiO3 (STO) thin films, and revealed the soft-mode elastic behavior of the transition. The efficacy of our method, along with standard piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), can be significantly leveraged by integrating a variety of local and/or global excitations, e.g., tip pressure (10 s GPa attainable), heating, photo-irradiation, available to modern scanning probe platforms. This can thus afford unique opportunities to survey the structural dynamics of ferroelectric materials coupled to those field variables, enabling rapid discovery or validation of their functional properties. In this study, we focus on the T-phase BFO/LAO system; we have examined its phase transition behavior not only due to local coaction of tip bias and loading force, but also under device-level global electric fields in a coplanar capacitor. The intrinsic elastic softening phenomena near the structural transitions are comprehensively revealed by BEPS and corroborated by phase-field modeling. Our findings may open a new pathway for technological utilization of the MPB phase instabilities of BFO.« less

Experimental Evidence for a Structural-Dynamical Transition in Trajectory Space.

PubMed

Pinchaipat, Rattachai; Campo, Matteo; Turci, Francesco; Hallett, James E; Speck, Thomas; Royall, C Patrick

2017-07-14

Among the key insights into the glass transition has been the identification of a nonequilibrium phase transition in trajectory space which reveals phase coexistence between the normal supercooled liquid (active phase) and a glassy state (inactive phase). Here, we present evidence that such a transition occurs in experiments. In colloidal hard spheres, we find a non-Gaussian distribution of trajectories leaning towards those rich in locally favored structures (LFSs), associated with the emergence of slow dynamics. This we interpret as evidence for a nonequilibrium transition to an inactive LFS-rich phase. Reweighting trajectories reveals a first-order phase transition in trajectory space between a normal liquid and a LFS-rich phase. We also find evidence for a purely dynamical transition in trajectory space.

Using thermodynamic data to reproduce main seismic features of transition zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fomin, Ilya; Saukko, Anna; Edwards, Paul; Schiffer, Christian

2016-04-01

Most of the seismic tomography studies nowadays are based on comprehensive models with optimization of lots of parameters. These models are able to resolve very subtle features of the Earth's mantle, but the influence of each specific parameter is not seen directly. In our research we try to minimize the number of processed parameters to produce simple synthetic cases. The main goals of our model are to see how water content influences the depth of the transition zone, and if melting at the transition zone is plausible. We also attempt to see how water content and the presence of melts influence the signal strength of the transition zone in receiver functions. Our MATLAB-code calculates phase assemblage according to specific temperature and pressure within 2D numerical domain (e.g. 300x700 km). Phase properties are calculated with database of Stixrude and Lithgow-Bertelloni [2011], with corrections for water impact on elastic constants according to Liu et al., [2012]. We use the mantle phase composition 55% garnet and 45% olivine-polymorph, soliduses by Ohtani et al. [2004] and melt properties by Sakamaki et al. [2006]. These data are used to calculate seismic velocities and, furthermore, receiver functions with standard routines (e.g.[Schiffer et al., 2012]). Model predicts Vs within 5 to 5.5 km/s and Vp around 9.5-10 km/s within transition zone (Vp/Vs = 1.84-1.87), which is close to standard values. The presence of water enlarges the wadsleyite region, but also dampens the peak of receiver functions down to background level. Increase in water content causes melting at much shallower depths. Using a normal thermal gradient, we can get up to 10% of melt at depths around 390 km with 80% of water saturation, shown by a negative anomaly on receiver functions. This result is similar to data obtained for Afar Plateau [Thompson et al., 2015]. With cratonic thermal gradient, the olivine-wadsleyite transition and corresponding melt layer appear at depths around 350 km. This is comparable to data by Vinnik and Farra [2007], who proposed the presence of melt-rich piles at 350 km under continental crust at several locations worldwide. Our model also shows that in case of Moho depths close to 35 km, the Moho itself produces a multiple of receiver functions close to the 410 discontinuity. This multiple peak can affect the interpretation of the position of the real olivine-wadsleyite transition depth. It may also explain why the 410 km peak is still observed in cases with low-depth melting [Thompson et al., 2015; Vinnik & Farra, 2007], which probably should be related to the beginning of transition zone.

Charge storage in oxygen deficient phases of TiO2: defect Physics without defects.

PubMed

Padilha, A C M; Raebiger, H; Rocha, A R; Dalpian, G M

2016-07-01

Defects in semiconductors can exhibit multiple charge states, which can be used for charge storage applications. Here we consider such charge storage in a series of oxygen deficient phases of TiO2, known as Magnéli phases. These Magnéli phases (TinO2n-1) present well-defined crystalline structures, i.e., their deviation from stoichiometry is accommodated by changes in space group as opposed to point defects. We show that these phases exhibit intermediate bands with an electronic quadruple donor transitions akin to interstitial Ti defect levels in rutile TiO2. Thus, the Magnéli phases behave as if they contained a very large pseudo-defect density: ½ per formula unit TinO2n-1. Depending on the Fermi Energy the whole material will become charged. These crystals are natural charge storage materials with a storage capacity that rivals the best known supercapacitors.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Weese, Randall K.

In order to calculate the kinetic parameters from DSC data, we have used the generally accepted methods of Bershtein [13]. We have calculated the rate constants for 4 temperatures and the activation energy based on the shift in the transition temperature, β→δ for HMX. The values of E a from this work is 402 kJ/mol compared to previous results by Brill [9] of 204 kJ/mol. Brill and associates measured the phase transition of HMX using FTIR, sodium chloride plates and silicon oil. Given the differences in technique between FTIR and DSC the results found in this work are reasonable. Inmore » this investigation a large sample set (16) proved to be statistically valid for the determinations of k. Linear regressions were performed, observed and good fits were obtained, for each temperature. The enthalpy determination of ΔH o, for the β→δ phase transition was reproducible with in 3 parts in 100 over the range of this experiment. Thus, the data derived from this experiment k, E a, and ΔH o are valid parameters for the solid-solid phase transition. Obtaining pure β phase HMX was very important for this investigation. Related to the phase change is the particle size distribution and is presented in Figure 3. Compared to previous work on HMX, this study utilized very pure β phase material. In addition, the particle size was controlled more rigorously at about 160 μm, giving a more consistent result for α. Thus, these kinetic results should have less scatter than results with less control of HMX purity and particle size. The kinetic basis of the polymorphic conversion is due to the cohesive forces in the HMX crystal lattice [21]. The energy required to bring about change from chair to chair-chair conformation has been reported by Brill [21] as ring torsion and is essentially a normal mode of the molecule that requires about 4 kJ mol -1. For the purpose of this investigation the energy of activation found in this work relates to the disruption of the intermolecular interactions with in the crystal lattice of β phase HMX and is much larger (100X) than that of simple conformational changes. The evidence of a straightforward one step mechanism is not supported by this research. Solid-solid phase transition kinetics is very complexed. There are many factors that contribute to an overall reaction mechanism. The initial assumptions that were chosen to allow simple manipulation of the HMX phase transition data prove to be too limiting. The rate constant by definition should in fact be constant, however, our data reflects it is not (refer to k vs time plot in Appendix 2). The assumption of a first order, simple single step reaction is a good starting point for the study of HMX phase transition kinetics, but further analysis should be done with other reaction orders and multiple step mechanisms. Understanding the kinetics of β phase HMX will clearly help the custodian understand the limitations of storage and use of this compound.« less

Generalization of soft phonon modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudin, Sven P.

2018-04-01

Soft phonon modes describe a collective movement of atoms that transform a higher-symmetry crystal structure into a lower-symmetry crystal structure. Such structural transformations occur at finite temperatures, where the phonons (i.e., the low-temperature vibrational modes) and the static perfect crystal structures provide an incomplete picture of the dynamics. Here, principal vibrational modes (PVMs) are introduced as descriptors of the dynamics of a material system with N atoms. The PVMs represent the independent collective movements of the atoms at a given temperature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, here in the form of quantum MD using density functional theory calculations, provide both the data describing the atomic motion and the data used to construct the PVMs. The leading mode, PVM0, represents the 3 N -dimensional direction in which the system moves with greatest amplitude. For structural phase transitions, PVM0 serves as a generalization of soft phonon modes. At low temperatures, PVM0 reproduces the soft phonon mode in systems where one phonon dominates the phase transformation. In general, multiple phonon modes combine to describe a transformation, in which case PVM0 culls these phonon modes. Moreover, while soft phonon modes arise in the higher-symmetry crystal structure, PVM0 can be equally well calculated on either side of the structural phase transition. Two applications demonstrate these properties: first, transitions into and out of bcc titanium, and, second, the two crystal structures proposed for the β phase of uranium, the higher-symmetry structure of which stabilizes with temperature.

The Effect of Aging on Muscular Dynamics Underlying Movement Patterns Changes.

PubMed

Vernooij, Carlijn A; Rao, Guillaume; Berton, Eric; Retornaz, Frédérique; Temprado, Jean-Jacques

2016-01-01

Introduction: Aging leads to alterations not only within the complex subsystems of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system, but also in the coupling between them. Here, we studied how aging affects functional reorganizations that occur both within and between the behavioral and muscular levels, which must be coordinated to produce goal-directed movements. Using unimanual reciprocal Fitts' task, we examined the behavioral and muscular dynamics of older adults (74.4 ± 3.7 years) and compared them to those found for younger adults (23.2 ± 2.0 years). Methods: To achieve this objective, we manipulated the target size to trigger a phase transition in the behavioral regime and searched for concomitant signatures of a phase transition in the muscular coordination. Here, muscular coordination was derived by using the method of muscular synergy extraction. With this technique, we obtained functional muscular patterns through non-negative matrix factorization of the muscular signals followed by clustering the resulting synergies. Results: Older adults showed a phase transition in behavioral regime, although, in contrast to young participants, their kinematic profiles did not show a discontinuity. In parallel, muscular coordination displayed two typical signatures of a phase transition, that is, increased variability of coordination patterns and a reorganization of muscular synergies. Both signatures confirmed the existence of muscular reorganization in older adults, which is coupled with change in dynamical regime at behavioral level. However, relative to young adults, transition occurred at lower index of difficulty (ID) in older participants and the reorganization of muscular patterns lasted longer (over multiple IDs). Discussion: This implies that consistent changes occur in coordination processes across behavior and muscle. Furthermore, the repertoire of muscular patterns was reduced and somewhat modified for older adults, relative to young participants. This suggests that aging is not only related to changes in individual muscles (e.g., caused by dynapenia) but also in their coordination.

A stress-induced phase transition model for semi-crystallize shape memory polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Xiaogang; Zhou, Bo; Liu, Liwu; Liu, Yanju; Leng, Jinsong

2014-03-01

The developments of constitutive models for shape memory polymer (SMP) have been motivated by its increasing applications. During cooling or heating process, the phase transition which is a continuous time-dependent process happens in semi-crystallize SMP and the various individual phases form at different temperature and in different configuration. Then, the transformation between these phases occurred and shape memory effect will emerge. In addition, stress applied on SMP is an important factor for crystal melting during phase transition. In this theory, an ideal phase transition model considering stress or pre-strain is the key to describe the behaviors of shape memory effect. So a normal distributed model was established in this research to characterize the volume fraction of each phase in SMP during phase transition. Generally, the experiment results are partly backward (in heating process) or forward (in cooling process) compared with the ideal situation considering delay effect during phase transition. So, a correction on the normal distributed model is needed. Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship between stress and phase transition temperature Tg is also taken into account for establishing an accurately normal distributed phase transition model. Finally, the constitutive model which taking the stress as an influence factor on phase transition was also established. Compared with the other expressions, this new-type model possesses less parameter and is more accurate. For the sake of verifying the rationality and accuracy of new phase transition and constitutive model, the comparisons between the simulated and experimental results were carried out.

Complex transitions between spike, burst or chaos synchronization states in coupled neurons with coexisting bursting patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Hua-Guang; Chen, Sheng-Gen; Li, Yu-Ye

2015-05-01

We investigated the synchronization dynamics of a coupled neuronal system composed of two identical Chay model neurons. The Chay model showed coexisting period-1 and period-2 bursting patterns as a parameter and initial values are varied. We simulated multiple periodic and chaotic bursting patterns with non-(NS), burst phase (BS), spike phase (SS), complete (CS), and lag synchronization states. When the coexisting behavior is near period-2 bursting, the transitions of synchronization states of the coupled system follows very complex transitions that begins with transitions between BS and SS, moves to transitions between CS and SS, and to CS. Most initial values lead to the CS state of period-2 bursting while only a few lead to the CS state of period-1 bursting. When the coexisting behavior is near period-1 bursting, the transitions begin with NS, move to transitions between SS and BS, to transitions between SS and CS, and then to CS. Most initial values lead to the CS state of period-1 bursting but a few lead to the CS state of period-2 bursting. The BS was identified as chaos synchronization. The patterns for NS and transitions between BS and SS are insensitive to initial values. The patterns for transitions between CS and SS and the CS state are sensitive to them. The number of spikes per burst of non-CS bursting increases with increasing coupling strength. These results not only reveal the initial value- and parameter-dependent synchronization transitions of coupled systems with coexisting behaviors, but also facilitate interpretation of various bursting patterns and synchronization transitions generated in the nervous system with weak coupling strength. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11372224 and 11402039) and the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities designated to Tongji University (Grant No. 1330219127).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Renlund, Anita Mariana; Tappan, Alexander Smith; Miller, Jill C.

The HMX {beta}-{delta} solid-solid phase transition, which occurs as HMX is heated near 170 C, is linked to increased reactivity and sensitivity to initiation. Thermally damaged energetic materials (EMs) containing HMX therefore may present a safety concern. Information about the phase transition is vital to predictive safety models for HMX and HMX-containing EMs. We report work on monitoring the phase transition with real-time Raman spectroscopy aimed towards obtaining a better understanding of physical properties of HMX through the phase transition. HMX samples were confined in a cell of minimal free volume in a displacement-controlled or load-controlled arrangement. The cell wasmore » heated and then cooled at controlled rates while real-time Raman spectroscopic measurements were performed. Raman spectroscopy provides a clear distinction between the phases of HMX because the vibrational transitions of the molecule change with conformational changes associated with the phase transition. Temperature of phase transition versus load data are presented for both the heating and cooling cycles in the load-controlled apparatus, and general trends are discussed. A weak dependence of the temperature of phase transition on load was discovered during the heating cycle, with higher loads causing the phase transition to occur at a higher temperature. This was especially true in the temperature of completion of phase transition data as opposed to the temperature of onset of phase transition data. A stronger dependence on load was observed in the cooling cycle, with higher loads causing the reverse phase transitions to occur at a higher cooling temperature. Also, higher loads tended to cause the phase transition to occur over a longer period of time in the heating cycle and over a shorter period of time in the cooling cycle. All three of the pure HMX phases ({alpha}, {beta} and {delta}) were detected on cooling of the heated samples, either in pure form or as a mixture.« less

NK Cells, Tumor Cell Transition, and Tumor Progression in Solid Malignancies: New Hints for NK-Based Immunotherapy?

PubMed Central

Huergo-Zapico, Leticia; Parodi, Monica; Pedrazzi, Marco; Mingari, Maria Cristina; Sparatore, Bianca; Gonzalez, Segundo; Olive, Daniel; Bottino, Cristina

2016-01-01

Several evidences suggest that NK cells can patrol the body and eliminate tumors in their initial phases but may hardly control established solid tumors. Multiple factors, including the transition of tumor cells towards a proinvasive/prometastatic phenotype, the immunosuppressive effect of the tumor microenvironment, and the tumor structure complexity, may account for limited NK cell efficacy. Several putative mechanisms of NK cell suppression have been defined in these last years; conversely, the cross talk between NK cells and tumor cells undergoing different transitional phases remains poorly explored. Nevertheless, recent in vitro studies and immunohistochemical analyses on tumor biopsies suggest that NK cells could not only kill tumor cells but also influence their evolution. Indeed, NK cells may induce tumor cells to change the expression of HLA-I, PD-L1, or NKG2D-L and modulate their susceptibility to the immune response. Moreover, NK cells may be preferentially located in the borders of tumor masses, where, indeed, tumor cells can undergo Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) acquiring prometastatic phenotype. Finally, the recently highlighted role of HMGB1 both in EMT and in amplifying the recruitment of NK cells provides further hints on a possible effect of NK cells on tumor progression and fosters new studies on this issue. PMID:27294158

Controlling the Temperature and Speed of the Phase Transition of VO 2 Microcrystals

DOE PAGES

Yoon, Joonseok; Kim, Howon; Chen, Xian; ...

2015-12-29

Here, we investigated the control of two important parameters of vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) microcrystals, the phase transition temperature and speed, by varying microcrystal width. By using the reflectivity change between insulating and metallic phases, phase transition temperature is measured by optical microscopy. As the width of square cylinder-shaped microcrystals decreases from ~70 to ~1 μm, the phase transition temperature (67 °C for bulk) varied as much as 26.1 °C (19.7 °C) during heating (cooling). In addition, the propagation speed of phase boundary in the microcrystal, i.e., phase transition speed, is monitored at the onset of phase transition bymore » using the high-speed resistance measurement. The phase transition speed increases from 4.6 × 10 2 to 1.7 × 10 4 μm/s as the width decreases from ~50 to ~2 μm. While the statistical description for a heterogeneous nucleation process explains the size dependence on phase transition temperature of VO 2 , the increase of effective thermal exchange process is responsible for the enhancement of phase transition speed of small VO 2 microcrystals. These findings not only enhance the understanding of VO 2 intrinsic properties but also contribute to the development of innovative electronic devices.« less

Controlling the Temperature and Speed of the Phase Transition of VO 2 Microcrystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoon, Joonseok; Kim, Howon; Chen, Xian

Here, we investigated the control of two important parameters of vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) microcrystals, the phase transition temperature and speed, by varying microcrystal width. By using the reflectivity change between insulating and metallic phases, phase transition temperature is measured by optical microscopy. As the width of square cylinder-shaped microcrystals decreases from ~70 to ~1 μm, the phase transition temperature (67 °C for bulk) varied as much as 26.1 °C (19.7 °C) during heating (cooling). In addition, the propagation speed of phase boundary in the microcrystal, i.e., phase transition speed, is monitored at the onset of phase transition bymore » using the high-speed resistance measurement. The phase transition speed increases from 4.6 × 10 2 to 1.7 × 10 4 μm/s as the width decreases from ~50 to ~2 μm. While the statistical description for a heterogeneous nucleation process explains the size dependence on phase transition temperature of VO 2 , the increase of effective thermal exchange process is responsible for the enhancement of phase transition speed of small VO 2 microcrystals. These findings not only enhance the understanding of VO 2 intrinsic properties but also contribute to the development of innovative electronic devices.« less

Origin of phase transition in VO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basu, Raktima; Sardar, Manas; Dhara, Sandip

2018-04-01

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) exhibits a reversible first-order metal to insulator transition (MIT) along with a structural phase transition (SPT) from monoclinic M1 to rutile tetragonal R via another two intermediate phases of monoclinic M2 and triclinic T at a technologically important temperature of 340K. In the present work, besides synthesizing M1 phase of VO2, we also stabilized M2 and T phases at room temperature by introducing native defects in the system and observed an increase in transition temperature with increase in native defects. Raman spectroscopic measurements were carried out to confirm the pure VO2 phases. Since the MIT is accompanied by SPT in these systems, the origin of the phase transition is still under debate. The controversy between MIT and SPT, whether electron-phonon coupling or strong electron-electron correlation triggers the phase transition in VO2 is also resolved by examining the presence of intermediate phase M2 during phase transition.

Interstitial effects of B and Li on the magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effects in Gd2In alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yang; Xie, Yigao; Zhou, Xiaoqian; Zhong, Hui; Jiang, Qingzheng; Ma, Shengcan; Zhong, Zhenchen; Cui, Weibin; Wang, Qiang

2018-05-01

Interstitial effects of B and Li on the phase transition and magnetocaloric effect in Gd2In alloys had been studied. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) - ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition was found to be of first-order nature while ferromagnetic - paramagnetic (PM) phase transition was of second-order nature in B- or Li-doped Gd2In alloys. AFM-FM phase transition temperature was increased while FM-PM phase transition was decreased with more doping concentrations. During AFM-FM phase transition, the slope of temperature-dependent critical field (μ0Hcr) was increased by increased doping amounts. The magnetic entropy changes under small field change were enhanced by B and Li addition, which showed the beneficial effects of B and Li additions.

On the Detection of Non-transiting Hot Jupiters in Multiple-planet Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Millholland, Sarah; Wang, Songhu; Laughlin, Gregory

2016-05-01

We outline a photometric method for detecting the presence of a non-transiting short-period giant planet in a planetary system harboring one or more longer-period transiting planets. Within a prospective system of the type that we consider, a hot Jupiter on an interior orbit inclined to the line of sight signals its presence through approximately sinusoidal full-phase photometric variations in the stellar light curve, correlated with astrometrically induced transit timing variations for exterior transiting planets. Systems containing a hot Jupiter along with a low-mass outer planet or planets on inclined orbits are a predicted hallmark of in situ accretion for hot Jupiters, and their presence can thus be used to test planetary formation theories. We outline the prospects for detecting non-transiting hot Jupiters using photometric data from typical Kepler objects of interest (KOIs). As a demonstration of the technique, we perform a brief assessment of Kepler candidates and identify a potential non-transiting hot Jupiter in the KOI-1822 system. Candidate non-transiting hot Jupiters can be readily confirmed with a small number of Doppler velocity observations, even for stars with V ≳ 14.

Thermodynamic signature of a magnetic-field-driven phase transition within the superconducting state of an underdoped cuprate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kemper, J. B.; Vafek, O.; Betts, J. B.; Balakirev, F. F.; Hardy, W. N.; Liang, Ruixing; Bonn, D. A.; Boebinger, G. S.

2016-01-01

More than a quarter century after the discovery of the high-temperature superconductor (HTS) YBa2Cu3O6+δ (YBCO; ref. ), studies continue to uncover complexity in its phase diagram. In addition to HTS and the pseudogap, there is growing evidence for multiple phases with boundaries which are functions of temperature (T), doping (p) and magnetic field. Here we report the low-temperature electronic specific heat (Celec) of YBa2Cu3O6.43 and YBa2Cu3O6.47 (p = 0.076 and 0.084) up to a magnetic field (H) of 34.5 T, a poorly understood region of the underdoped H-T-p phase space. We observe two regimes in the low-temperature limit: below a characteristic magnetic field H' ~ 12-15 T, Celec/T obeys an expected H1/2 behaviour; however, near H' there is a sharp inflection followed by a linear-in-H behaviour. H' rests deep within the superconducting phase and, thus, the linear-in-H behaviour is observed in the zero-resistance regime. In the limit of zero temperature, Celec/T is proportional to the zero-energy electronic density of states. At one of our dopings, the inflection is sharp only at lowest temperatures, and we thus conclude that this inflection is evidence of a magnetic-field-driven quantum phase transition.

Simulating the Seismic Signal of Phase Transitions in the Deepest Mantle (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, A.; Dobson, D. P.; Nowacki, A.; Wookey, J. M.; Forte, A. M.; Kendall, J. M.

2013-12-01

The discovery of the perovskite to post-perovskite phase transition in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 explains many of the seismic observations of the lowermost mantle including the presence of multiple seismic discontinuities and significant seismic anisotropy. However, the explanations of many detailed features remain elusive. The recent discovery of a topotactic relationship between the orientation of perovskite and post-perovskite crystals in a partially transformed analogue opens the possibility of texture inheritance through the phase transition [1]. This must be captured in simulations designed to explain the anisotropy of the lowermost mantle, especially those which link mantle dynamics with seismic observations. We have extended our previous work linking models of flow in the lowermost mantle with simulations of texture development and predictions of seismic anisotropy [2] to account for the topotaxy between perovskite and post-perovskite. In particular, we compare four cases: (1) As in [2], anisotropy is only generated in post-perovskite by dislocation mediated deformation dominated by one of a number of slip systems, phase transitions destroy texture and ferropericlase and perovskite dominated rocks are isotropic. (2) Although phase transitions destroy texture, ferropericlase and/or perovskite deform by dislocation motion permitting the generation of seismic anisotropy in warmer regions of the mantle where post-perovskite is unstable. We account for the possibility of the inversion of slip-system activities in ferropericlase at high pressure as suggested by models of dislocation motion based on atomic scale simulations [3]. (3) Allow texture development by dislocation motion in perovskite and post-perovskite and texture inheritance through phase transitions by the mechanism described in [1]. However, we assume that the bulk of the lower mantle deforms by a mechanism that does not lead to the development of texture and so begin the simulation from a random distribution of crystal orientations the first time the post-perovskite stability field is encountered for downward migrating packages of mantle. (4) Allow the bulk of the lower mantle to deform by dislocation creep such that material entering the lowermost mantle for the first time is already textured, allow this texture to be inherited and further modified by strain and phase transitions. These calculations show clear differences in global and local scale elastic anisotropy in the lowermost mantle between cases where texture is allowed to persist through the phase transitions and those where it is not. On a global scale and when radial anisotropy is imposed the inclusion of topotaxy results in a dramatic decrease in the strength of the degree two signal and better agreement between observations and the model for post-perovskite deformation where dislocations moving on (001) dominate. On a smaller scale we see potential signs of reflectors generated by a change in anisotropy between perovskite that has inherited a strong starting texture from post-perovskite and overlaying perovskite that has never undergone the phase transition. These observations suggest that the incorporation of texture inheritance will be an important feature of future models of anisotropy in the lowermost mantle. [1] Dobson et al. 2013 Nature Geosci. 6:575-578 [2] Walker et al. 2011 Gcubed. 12:Q10006 [3] Cordier et al. 2012 Nature 481:177-180

Interactions between coherent twin boundaries and phase transition of iron under dynamic loading and unloading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Kun; Chen, Jun; Zhang, Xueyang; Zhu, Wenjun

2017-09-01

Phase transitions and deformation twins are constantly reported in many BCC metals under high pressure, whose interactions are of fundamental importance to understand the strengthening mechanism of these metals under extreme conditions. However, the interactions between twins and phase transition in BCC metals remain largely unexplored. In this work, interactions between coherent twin boundaries and α ↔ ɛ phase transition of iron are investigated using both non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations and the nudged elastic band method. Mechanisms of both twin-assisted phase transition and reverse phase transition are studied, and orientation relationships between BCC and HCP phases are found to be ⟨"separators="|11 1 ¯ ⟩ B C C||⟨"separators="|1 ¯2 1 ¯ 0 ⟩ H C P and ⟨"separators="|1 1 ¯ 0 ⟩ B C C||⟨"separators="|0001 ⟩ H C P for both cases. The twin boundary corresponds to {"separators="|10 1 ¯ 0 } H C P after the phase transition. It is amazing that the reverse transition seems to be able to "memorize" and recover the initial BCC twins. The memory would be partly lost when plastic slips take place in the HCP phase before the reverse transition. In the recovered initial BCC twins, three major twin spacings are observed, which are well explained in terms of energy barriers of transition from the HCP phase to the BCC twin. Besides, the variant selection rule of the twin assisted phase transition is also discussed. The results of present work could be expected to give some clues for producing ultra-fine grain structures in materials exhibiting martensitic phase transition.

How to quantify the transition phase during golf swing performance: Torsional load affects low back complaints during the transition phase.

PubMed

Sim, Taeyong; Choi, Ahnryul; Lee, Soeun; Mun, Joung Hwan

2017-10-01

The transition phase of a golf swing is considered to be a decisive instant required for a powerful swing. However, at the same time, the low back torsional loads during this phase can have a considerable effect on golf-related low back pain (LBP). Previous efforts to quantify the transition phase were hampered by problems with accuracy due to methodological limitations. In this study, vector-coding technique (VCT) method was proposed as a comprehensive methodology to quantify the precise transition phase and examine low back torsional load. Towards this end, transition phases were assessed using three different methods (VCT, lead hand speed and X-factor stretch) and compared; then, low back torsional load during the transition phase was examined. As a result, the importance of accurate transition phase quantification has been documented. The largest torsional loads were observed in healthy professional golfers (10.23 ± 1.69 N · kg -1 ), followed by professional golfers with a history of LBP (7.93 ± 1.79 N · kg -1 ), healthy amateur golfers (1.79 ± 1.05 N · kg -1 ) and amateur golfers with a history of LBP (0.99 ± 0.87 N · kg -1 ), which order was equal to that of the transition phase magnitudes of each group. These results indicate the relationship between the transition phase and LBP history and the dependency of the torsional load magnitude on the transition phase.

Project ACHIEVE - using implementation research to guide the evaluation of transitional care effectiveness.

PubMed

Li, Jing; Brock, Jane; Jack, Brian; Mittman, Brian; Naylor, Mary; Sorra, Joanna; Mays, Glen; Williams, Mark V

2016-02-19

Poorly managed hospital discharges and care transitions between health care facilities can cause poor outcomes for both patients and their caregivers. Unfortunately, the usual approach to health care delivery does not support continuity and coordination across the settings of hospital, doctors' offices, home or nursing homes. Though complex efforts with multiple components can improve patient outcomes and reduce 30-day readmissions, research has not identified which components are necessary. Also we do not know how delivery of core components may need to be adjusted based on patient, caregiver, setting or characteristics of the community, or how system redesign can be accelerated. Project ACHIEVE focuses on diverse Medicare populations such as individuals with multiple chronic diseases, patients with low health literacy/numeracy and limited English proficiency, racial and ethnic minority groups, low-income groups, residents of rural areas, and individuals with disabilities. During the first phase, we will use focus groups to identify the transitional care outcomes and components that matter most to patients and caregivers to inform development and validation of assessment instruments. During the second phase, we will evaluate the comparative effectiveness of multi-component care transitions programs occurring across the U.S. Using a mixed-methods approach for this evaluation, we will study historical (retrospective) and current and future (prospective) groups of patients, caregivers and providers using site visits, surveys, and clinical and claims data. In this natural experiment observational study, we use a fractional factorial study design to specify comparators and estimate the individual and combined effects of key transitional care components. Our study will determine which evidence-based transitional care components and/or clusters most effectively produce patient and caregiver desired outcomes overall and among diverse patient and caregiver populations in different healthcare settings. Using the results, we will develop concrete, actionable recommendations regarding how best to implement these strategies. Finally, this work will provide tools for hospitals, community-based organizations, patients, caregivers, clinicians and other stakeholders to help them make informed decisions about which strategies are most effective and how best to implement them in their communities. Registered as NCT02354482 on clinicaltrials.gov on 1/29/2015.

A multiple phase transitioning peptide hydrogel for use in vascular a | NCI Technology Transfer Center | TTC

Cancer.gov

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), in collaboration with surgical specialists from Johns Hopkins University, have developed hydrogel compositions and methods to suture blood vessels with the hydrogels during microsurgery. These hydrogels are particularly beneficial for surgeons in whole tissue transplant procedures. The NCI researchers seek licensing and/or co-development research collaborations for further development of this technology.

Assessment of Comprehensive Analysis Calculation of Airloads on Helicopter Rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeo, Hyeonsoo; Johnson, Wayne

2004-01-01

Blade section normal force and pitching moment were investigated for six rotors operating at transition and high speeds: H-34 in flight and wind tunnel, SA 330 (research Puma), SA 349/2, UH-60A full-scale and BO-105 model (HART-I). The measured data from flight and wind tunnel tests were compared with calculations obtained using the comprehensive analysis CAMRAD II. The calculations were made using two free wake models: rolled-up and multiple-trailer with consolidation models. At transition speed, there is fair to good agreement for the blade section normal force between the test data and analysis for the H-34, research Puma, and SA 349/2 with the rolled-up wake. The calculated airloads differ significantly from the measurements for the UH-60A and BO-105. Better correlation is obtained for the UH-60A and BO-105 by using the multiple-trailer with consolidation wake model. In the high speed condition, the analysis shows generally good agreement with the research Puma flight data in both magnitude and phase. However, poor agreement is obtained for the other rotors examined. The analysis shows that the aerodynamic tip design (chord length and quarter chord location) of the Puma has an important influence on the phase correlation.

Microscopic origin of black hole reentrant phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zangeneh, M. Kord; Dehyadegari, A.; Sheykhi, A.; Mann, R. B.

2018-04-01

Understanding the microscopic behavior of the black hole ingredients has been one of the important challenges in black hole physics during the past decades. In order to shed some light on the microscopic structure of black holes, in this paper, we explore a recently observed phenomenon for black holes namely reentrant phase transition, by employing the Ruppeiner geometry. Interestingly enough, we observe two properties for the phase behavior of small black holes that leads to reentrant phase transition. They are correlated and they are of the interaction type. For the range of pressure in which the system underlies reentrant phase transition, it transits from the large black holes phase to the small one which possesses higher correlation than the other ranges of pressures. On the other hand, the type of interaction between small black holes near the large/small transition line differs for usual and reentrant phase transitions. Indeed, for the usual case, the dominant interaction is repulsive whereas for the reentrant case we encounter an attractive interaction. We show that in the reentrant phase transition case, the small black holes behave like a bosonic gas whereas in the usual phase transition case, they behave like a quantum anyon gas.

Structures, Phase Transitions and Tricritical Behavior of the Hybrid Perovskite Methyl Ammonium Lead Iodide

DOE PAGES

Whitfield, P. S.; Herron, N.; Guise, W. E.; ...

2016-10-21

Here, we examine the crystal structures and structural phase transitions of the deuterated, partially deuterated and hydrogenous organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3) using time-of-flight neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. Near 330 K the high temperature cubic phases transformed to a body-centered tetragonal phase. The variation of the order parameter Q for this transition scaled with temperature T as Q (T c-T) , where T c is the critical temperature and the exponent was close to , as predicted for a tricritical phase transition. We also observed coexistence of the cubic and tetragonal phases over amore » range of temperature in all cases, demonstrating that the phase transition was in fact first-order, although still very close to tricritical. Upon cooling further, all the tetragonal phases transformed into a low temperature orthorhombic phase around 160 K, again via a first-order phase transition. Finally, based upon these results, we discuss the impact of the structural phase transitions upon photovoltaic performance of MAPbI 3 based solar cells.« less

Multiple-probe analysis of folding and unfolding pathways of human serum albumin. Evidence for a framework mechanism of folding.

PubMed

Santra, Manas Kumar; Banerjee, Abhijit; Krishnakumar, Shyam Sundar; Rahaman, Obaidur; Panda, Dulal

2004-05-01

The changes in the far-UV CD signal, intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and bilirubin absorbance showed that the guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl)-induced unfolding of a multidomain protein, human serum albumin (HSA), followed a two-state process. However, using environment sensitive Nile red fluorescence, the unfolding and folding pathways of HSA were found to follow a three-state process and an intermediate was detected in the range 0.25-1.5 m GdnHCl. The intermediate state displayed 45% higher fluorescence intensity than that of the native state. The increase in the Nile red fluorescence was found to be due to an increase in the quantum yield of the HSA-bound Nile red. Low concentrations of GdnHCl neither altered the binding affinity of Nile red to HSA nor induced the aggregation of HSA. In addition, the secondary structure of HSA was not perturbed during the first unfolding transition (<1.5 m GdnHCl); however, the secondary structure was completely lost during the second transition. The data together showed that the half maximal loss of the tertiary structure occurred at a lower GdnHCl concentration than the loss of the secondary structure. Further kinetic studies of the refolding process of HSA using multiple spectroscopic techniques showed that the folding occurred in two phases, a burst phase followed by a slow phase. An intermediate with native-like secondary structure but only a partial tertiary structure was found to form in the burst phase of refolding. Then, the intermediate slowly folded into the native state. An analysis of the refolding data suggested that the folding of HSA could be best explained by the framework model.

Parallel Allostery by cAMP and PDE Coordinates Activation and Termination Phases in cAMP Signaling.

PubMed

Krishnamurthy, Srinath; Tulsian, Nikhil Kumar; Chandramohan, Arun; Anand, Ganesh S

2015-09-15

The second messenger molecule cAMP regulates the activation phase of the cAMP signaling pathway through high-affinity interactions with the cytosolic cAMP receptor, the protein kinase A regulatory subunit (PKAR). Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes responsible for catalyzing hydrolysis of cAMP to 5' AMP. It was recently shown that PDEs interact with PKAR to initiate the termination phase of the cAMP signaling pathway. While the steps in the activation phase are well understood, steps in the termination pathway are unknown. Specifically, the binding and allosteric networks that regulate the dynamic interplay between PKAR, PDE, and cAMP are unclear. In this study, PKAR and PDE from Dictyostelium discoideum (RD and RegA, respectively) were used as a model system to monitor complex formation in the presence and absence of cAMP. Amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry was used to monitor slow conformational transitions in RD, using disordered regions as conformational probes. Our results reveal that RD regulates its interactions with cAMP and RegA at distinct loci by undergoing slow conformational transitions between two metastable states. In the presence of cAMP, RD and RegA form a stable ternary complex, while in the absence of cAMP they maintain transient interactions. RegA and cAMP each bind at orthogonal sites on RD with resultant contrasting effects on its dynamics through parallel allosteric relays at multiple important loci. RD thus serves as an integrative node in cAMP termination by coordinating multiple allosteric relays and governing the output signal response. Copyright © 2015 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pressure-Induced Structural Phase Transition in CeNi: X-ray and Neutron Scattering Studies and First-Principles Calculations

DOE PAGES

Mirmelstein, A.; Podlesnyak, Andrey A.; dos Santos, Antonio M.; ...

2015-08-03

The pressure-induced structural phase transition in the intermediate-valence compound CeNi has been investigated by x-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques. It is shown that the structure of the pressure-induced CeNi phase (phases) can be described in terms of the Pnma space group. Equations of state for CeNi on both sides of the phase transition are derived and an approximate P-T phase diagram is suggested for P<8 GPa and T<300 K. The observed Cmcm→Pnma structural transition is then analyzed using density functional theory calculations, which successfully reproduce the ground state volume, the phase transition pressure, and the volume collapse associated withmore » the phase transition.« less

Critical and maximally informative encoding between neural populations in the retina

PubMed Central

Kastner, David B.; Baccus, Stephen A.; Sharpee, Tatyana O.

2015-01-01

Computation in the brain involves multiple types of neurons, yet the organizing principles for how these neurons work together remain unclear. Information theory has offered explanations for how different types of neurons can maximize the transmitted information by encoding different stimulus features. However, recent experiments indicate that separate neuronal types exist that encode the same filtered version of the stimulus, but then the different cell types signal the presence of that stimulus feature with different thresholds. Here we show that the emergence of these neuronal types can be quantitatively described by the theory of transitions between different phases of matter. The two key parameters that control the separation of neurons into subclasses are the mean and standard deviation (SD) of noise affecting neural responses. The average noise across the neural population plays the role of temperature in the classic theory of phase transitions, whereas the SD is equivalent to pressure or magnetic field, in the case of liquid–gas and magnetic transitions, respectively. Our results account for properties of two recently discovered types of salamander Off retinal ganglion cells, as well as the absence of multiple types of On cells. We further show that, across visual stimulus contrasts, retinal circuits continued to operate near the critical point whose quantitative characteristics matched those expected near a liquid–gas critical point and described by the nearest-neighbor Ising model in three dimensions. By operating near a critical point, neural circuits can maximize information transmission in a given environment while retaining the ability to quickly adapt to a new environment. PMID:25675497

Intertwined and vestigial order with ultracold atoms in multiple cavity modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopalakrishnan, Sarang; Shchadilova, Yulia E.; Demler, Eugene

2017-12-01

Atoms in transversely pumped optical cavities "self-organize" by forming a density wave and emitting superradiantly into the cavity mode(s). For a single-mode cavity, the properties of this self-organization transition are well characterized both theoretically and experimentally. Here, we explore the self-organization of a Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of two cavity modes—a system that recently was realized experimentally [Léonard et al., Nature (London) 543, 87 (2017), 10.1038/nature21067]. We argue that this system can exhibit a "vestigially ordered" phase in which neither cavity mode exhibits superradiance but the cavity modes are mutually phase locked by the atoms. We argue that this vestigially ordered phase should generically be present in multimode cavity geometries.

Nonlinear two-dimensional terahertz photon echo and rotational spectroscopy in the gas phase.

PubMed

Lu, Jian; Zhang, Yaqing; Hwang, Harold Y; Ofori-Okai, Benjamin K; Fleischer, Sharly; Nelson, Keith A

2016-10-18

Ultrafast 2D spectroscopy uses correlated multiple light-matter interactions for retrieving dynamic features that may otherwise be hidden under the linear spectrum; its extension to the terahertz regime of the electromagnetic spectrum, where a rich variety of material degrees of freedom reside, remains an experimental challenge. We report a demonstration of ultrafast 2D terahertz spectroscopy of gas-phase molecular rotors at room temperature. Using time-delayed terahertz pulse pairs, we observe photon echoes and other nonlinear signals resulting from molecular dipole orientation induced by multiple terahertz field-dipole interactions. The nonlinear time domain orientation signals are mapped into the frequency domain in 2D rotational spectra that reveal J-state-resolved nonlinear rotational dynamics. The approach enables direct observation of correlated rotational transitions and may reveal rotational coupling and relaxation pathways in the ground electronic and vibrational state.

Computational studies of thermal and quantum phase transitions approached through non-equilibrium quenching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Cheng-Wei

Phase transitions and their associated critical phenomena are of fundamental importance and play a crucial role in the development of statistical physics for both classical and quantum systems. Phase transitions embody diverse aspects of physics and also have numerous applications outside physics, e.g., in chemistry, biology, and combinatorial optimization problems in computer science. Many problems can be reduced to a system consisting of a large number of interacting agents, which under some circumstances (e.g., changes of external parameters) exhibit collective behavior; this type of scenario also underlies phase transitions. The theoretical understanding of equilibrium phase transitions was put on a solid footing with the establishment of the renormalization group. In contrast, non-equilibrium phase transition are relatively less understood and currently a very active research topic. One important milestone here is the Kibble-Zurek (KZ) mechanism, which provides a useful framework for describing a system with a transition point approached through a non-equilibrium quench process. I developed two efficient Monte Carlo techniques for studying phase transitions, one is for classical phase transition and the other is for quantum phase transitions, both are under the framework of KZ scaling. For classical phase transition, I develop a non-equilibrium quench (NEQ) simulation that can completely avoid the critical slowing down problem. For quantum phase transitions, I develop a new algorithm, named quasi-adiabatic quantum Monte Carlo (QAQMC) algorithm for studying quantum quenches. I demonstrate the utility of QAQMC quantum Ising model and obtain high-precision results at the transition point, in particular showing generalized dynamic scaling in the quantum system. To further extend the methods, I study more complex systems such as spin-glasses and random graphs. The techniques allow us to investigate the problems efficiently. From the classical perspective, using the NEQ approach I verify the universality class of the 3D Ising spin-glasses. I also investigate the random 3-regular graphs in terms of both classical and quantum phase transitions. I demonstrate that under this simulation scheme, one can extract information associated with the classical and quantum spin-glass transitions without any knowledge prior to the simulation.

Temperature-Controlled High-Speed AFM: Real-Time Observation of Ripple Phase Transitions.

PubMed

Takahashi, Hirohide; Miyagi, Atsushi; Redondo-Morata, Lorena; Scheuring, Simon

2016-11-01

With nanometer lateral and Angstrom vertical resolution, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has contributed unique data improving the understanding of lipid bilayers. Lipid bilayers are found in several different temperature-dependent states, termed phases; the main phases are solid and fluid phases. The transition temperature between solid and fluid phases is lipid composition specific. Under certain conditions some lipid bilayers adopt a so-called ripple phase, a structure where solid and fluid phase domains alternate with constant periodicity. Because of its narrow regime of existence and heterogeneity ripple phase and its transition dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, a temperature control device to high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to observe dynamics of phase transition from ripple phase to fluid phase reversibly in real time is developed and integrated. Based on HS-AFM imaging, the phase transition processes from ripple phase to fluid phase and from ripple phase to metastable ripple phase to fluid phase could be reversibly, phenomenologically, and quantitatively studied. The results here show phase transition hysteresis in fast cooling and heating processes, while both melting and condensation occur at 24.15 °C in quasi-steady state situation. A second metastable ripple phase with larger periodicity is formed at the ripple phase to fluid phase transition when the buffer contains Ca 2+ . The presented temperature-controlled HS-AFM is a new unique experimental system to observe dynamics of temperature-sensitive processes at the nanoscopic level. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Noncircular Chainrings Do Not Influence Maximum Cycling Power.

PubMed

Leong, Chee-Hoi; Elmer, Steven J; Martin, James C

2017-12-01

Noncircular chainrings could increase cycling power by prolonging the powerful leg extension/flexion phases, and curtailing the low-power transition phases. We compared maximal cycling power-pedaling rate relationships, and joint-specific kinematics and powers across 3 chainring eccentricities (CON = 1.0; LOW ecc  = 1.13; HIGH ecc  = 1.24). Part I: Thirteen cyclists performed maximal inertial-load cycling under 3 chainring conditions. Maximum cycling power and optimal pedaling rate were determined. Part II: Ten cyclists performed maximal isokinetic cycling (120 rpm) under the same 3 chainring conditions. Pedal and joint-specific powers were determined using pedal forces and limb kinematics. Neither maximal cycling power nor optimal pedaling rate differed across chainring conditions (all p > .05). Peak ankle angular velocity for HIGH ecc was less than CON (p < .05), while knee and hip angular velocities were unaffected. Self-selected ankle joint-center trajectory was more eccentric than HIGH ecc with an opposite orientation that increased velocity during extension/flexion and reduced velocity during transitions. Joint-specific powers did not differ across chainring conditions, with a small increase in power absorbed during ankle dorsiflexion with HIGH ecc . Multiple degrees of freedom in the leg, crank, and pedal system allowed cyclists to manipulate ankle angular velocity to maintain their preferred knee and hip actions, suggesting maximizing extension/flexion and minimizing transition phases may be counterproductive for maximal power.

James Webb Space Telescope: Supporting Multiple Ground System Transitions in One Year

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Detter, Ryan; Fatig, Curtis; Steck, Jane

2004-01-01

Ideas, requirements, and concepts developed during the very early phases of the mission design often conflict with the reality of a situation once the prime contractors are awarded. This happened for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as well. The high level requirement of a common real-time ground system for both the Integration and Test (I&T), as well as the Operation phase of the mission is meant to reduce the cost and time needed later in the mission development for re-certification of databases, command and control systems, scripts, display pages, etc. In the case of JWST, the early Phase A flight software development needed a real-time ground system and database prior to the spacecraft prime contractor being selected. To compound the situation, the very low level requirements for the real-time ground system were not well defined. These two situations caused the initial real-time ground system to be switched out for a system that was previously used by the Bight software development team. To meet the high-!evel requirement, a third ground system was selected based on the prime spacecraft contractor needs and JWST Project decisions. The JWST ground system team has responded to each of these changes successfully. The lessons learned from each transition have not only made each transition smoother, but have also resolved issues earlier in the mission development than what would normally occur.

Method for identifying and probing phase transitions in materials

DOEpatents

Asay, Blaine W.; Henson, Bryan F.; Sander, Robert K.; Robinson, Jeanne M.; Son, Steven F.; Dickson, Peter M.

2002-01-01

The present invention includes a method for identifying and probing phase transitions in materials. A polymorphic material capable of existing in at least one non-centrosymmetric phase is interrogated with a beam of laser light at a chosen wavelength and frequency. A phase transition is induced in the material while it is interrogated. The intensity of light scattered by the material and having a wavelength equal to one half the wavelength of the interrogating laser light is detected. If the phase transition results in the production of a non-centrosymmetric phase, the intensity of this scattered light increases; if the phase transition results in the disappearance of a non-centrosymmetric phase, the intensity of this scattered light decreases.

Molecular Level Understanding of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Induced Sol-Gel Transition of Pluronic F127 Using Fisetin as a Fluorescent Molecular Probe.

PubMed

Mishra, Jhili; Swain, Jitendriya; Mishra, Ashok Kumar

2018-01-11

The thermoreversible sol-gel transition of pluronic F127 is markedly altered even with addition of submicellar concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant. Multiple fluorescence parameters like fluorescence intensity, fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence lifetime of both the prototropic forms (anion (A - *) and phototautomer FT*) of the photoprototropic fluorescent probe fisetin has been efficiently used to understand the molecular level properties like polarity and microviscosity of the PF127-SDS system as a function of temperature. The SDS-induced increase in the interfacial hydrophobicity level is seen to affect the sol-gel phase transition of PF127 (21-18 °C). The E T (30) polarity parameter value of anionic emission of fisetin suggests that there is a considerable decrease in the polarity of the PF127 medium with increase in temperature and with the addition of SDS. The microviscosity progressively increases from ∼5 mPa s (sol state, 10 °C) to ∼22.01 mPa s (gel state 35 °C) in aqueous solution of PF127. The variation in microviscosity with addition of SDS in PF127-SDS mixed system is significant in sol phase whereas in gel phase this variation is significantly less. Temperature dependent fluorescence lifetime of FT* indicates that there is heterogeneity in distribution of fisetin molecules at different domains of PF127. This work also show-cases the sensitivity of fisetin toward change in polarity and change in sol-gel transition temperature of copolymer PF127 with variation in temperature (both forward and reverse directions) and SDS.

Polar Kerr Effect from Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Heavy-Fermion Superconductor PrOs4Sb12

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levenson-Falk, E. M.; Schemm, E. R.; Aoki, Y.; Maple, M. B.; Kapitulnik, A.

2018-05-01

We present polar Kerr effect measurements of the filled skutterudite superconductor PrOs4 Sb12 . Simultaneous ac susceptibility measurements allow us to observe the superconducting transition under the influence of heating from the optical beam. A nonzero Kerr angle θK develops below the superconducting transition, saturating at ˜300 nrad at low temperatures. This result is repeated across several measurements of multiple samples. By extrapolating the measured θK(T ) to zero optical power, we are able to show that the Kerr angle onset temperature in one set of measurements is consistent with the transition to the B phase at TC 2. We discuss the possible explanations for this result and its impact on the understanding of multiphase and inhomogeneous superconductivity in PrOs4 Sb12 .

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking of Domain Walls in Phase-Competing Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizuka, Hiroaki; Yamada, Yasusada; Nagaosa, Naoto

2018-05-01

In this study, we investigate the nature of domain walls in an ordered phase in the phase-competing region of two Ising-type order parameters. We consider a two-component ϕ4 theory and show that the domain wall of the ground-state (primary) order parameter shows a second-order phase transition associated with the secondary order parameter of the competing phase; the effective theory of the phase transition is given by the Landau theory of an Ising-type phase transition. We find that the phase boundary of this phase transition is different from the spinodal line of the competing order. The phase transition is detected experimentally by the divergence of the susceptibility corresponding to the secondary order when the temperature is quenched to introduce the domain walls.

The infinite limit as an eliminable approximation for phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardourel, Vincent

2018-05-01

It is generally claimed that infinite idealizations are required for explaining phase transitions within statistical mechanics (e.g. Batterman 2011). Nevertheless, Menon and Callender (2013) have outlined theoretical approaches that describe phase transitions without using the infinite limit. This paper closely investigates one of these approaches, which consists of studying the complex zeros of the partition function (Borrmann et al., 2000). Based on this theory, I argue for the plausibility for eliminating the infinite limit for studying phase transitions. I offer a new account for phase transitions in finite systems, and I argue for the use of the infinite limit as an approximation for studying phase transitions in large systems.

Requirement of ClC-3 in G0/G1 to S Phase Transition Induced by IGF-1 via ERK1/2-Cyclins Cascade in Multiple Myeloma Cells.

PubMed

Du, Yu; Tu, Yong-Sheng; Tang, Yong-Bo; Huang, Yun-Ying; Zhou, Fang-Min; Tian, Tian; Li, Xiao-Yan

2018-06-01

ClC-3 is involved in the proliferation and migration of several cancer cells. However, ClC-3 expression and its role of cell-cycle control in multiple myeloma (MM) has not yet been investigated. MM cells were treated with different concentrations of IGF (30, 100, 300 ng/mL), and their proliferation was examined by CCK-8. The effects of ClC-3 on cell cycle progression was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to analyze the relative levels of ClC3, CD138, P21, P27, CDK, p-Erk1/2, and t-Erk1/2 protein expression. Transfection of RPMI8226 with gpClC-3 cDNA and siRNA alters the expression of ClC-3. We compared the expression of ClC-3 in primary myeloma cells and in MM cell lines (U266 and RPMI8266) with that in normal plasma cells (PCs) from normal subjects and found that myeloma cells from patients and MM cell lines had significantly higher expression of ClC-3. Additionally, silencing of ClC-3 with the small interfering RNA (siRNA) that targets human ClC-3 decreased proliferation of RPMI8226 after IGF-1 treatment and slowed cell cycle progression from G0/G1 to S phase, which was associated with diminished phosphorylation of ERK1/2, down-expression of cyclin E, cyclin D1 and up-regulation of p27 and p21. By contrast, overexpression of ClC-3 potentiated cell proliferation induced by IGF-1, raised the percentage of S phase cells, enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, downregulated p27 and p21 and upregulated cyclin E and cyclin D1. ClC-3 accelerated G0/G1 to S phase transition in the cell cycle by modulating ERK1/2 kinase activity and expression of G1/S transition related proteins, making ClC-3 an attractive therapeutic target in MM.

fcc-bcc phase transition in plasma crystals using time-resolved measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dietz, C.; Bergert, R.; Steinmüller, B.; Kretschmer, M.; Mitic, S.; Thoma, M. H.

2018-04-01

Three-dimensional plasma crystals are often described as Yukawa systems for which a phase transition between the crystal structures fcc and bcc has been predicted. However, experimental investigations of this transition are missing. We use a fast scanning video camera to record the crystallization process of 70 000 microparticles and investigate the existence of the fcc-bcc phase transition at neutral gas pressures of 30, 40, and 50 Pa. To analyze the crystal, robust phase diagrams with the help of a machine learning algorithm are calculated. This work shows that the phase transition can be investigated experimentally and makes a comparison with numerical results of Yukawa systems. The phase transition is analyzed in dependence on the screening parameter and structural order. We suggest that the transition is an effect of gravitational compression of the plasma crystal. Experimental investigations of the fcc-bcc phase transition will provide an opportunity to estimate the coupling strength Γ by comparison with numerical results of Yukawa systems.

Learning phase transitions by confusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Nieuwenburg, Evert P. L.; Liu, Ye-Hua; Huber, Sebastian D.

2017-02-01

Classifying phases of matter is key to our understanding of many problems in physics. For quantum-mechanical systems in particular, the task can be daunting due to the exponentially large Hilbert space. With modern computing power and access to ever-larger data sets, classification problems are now routinely solved using machine-learning techniques. Here, we propose a neural-network approach to finding phase transitions, based on the performance of a neural network after it is trained with data that are deliberately labelled incorrectly. We demonstrate the success of this method on the topological phase transition in the Kitaev chain, the thermal phase transition in the classical Ising model, and the many-body-localization transition in a disordered quantum spin chain. Our method does not depend on order parameters, knowledge of the topological content of the phases, or any other specifics of the transition at hand. It therefore paves the way to the development of a generic tool for identifying unexplored phase transitions.

Strength and Deformation of Solid Krypton and Xenon to Mbar Pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brugman, B. L.; Lv, M.; Liu, J.; Park, C.; Popov, D.; Prakapenka, V. B.; Dorfman, S.

2017-12-01

Studying phase equilibria and deformation of rare gas solids (RGS) under pressure provides insight into their behavior in planetary bodies. Their simple bonding properties make them useful analogs for materials with similar structures and other van der Waals bonded materials. He, Ne, and Ar are useful as pressure-transmitting media in diamond anvil cell (DAC) experiments due to their low strength and inert chemistry, and Xe has been proposed as a pressure medium as well, but relatively little is known about the strength of Kr and Xe. The strength of heavy RGS may be affected by a martensitic transition from fcc to hcp structure, which is observed at lower pressures with higher Z. The pressure ranges of this transition in Kr and Xe in previous experimental and computational studies vary from 5 to 29 GPa for Xe and as high as 130 GPa for Kr. The transition may be further complicated by kinetics and multiple transition mechanisms. Modeling of phase equilibria and evaluation of Kr and Xe as pressure media may be improved by examination of elastic and plastic properties at extreme pressure. We studied phase transitions and deformation of Kr and Xe using synchrotron x-ray diffraction at Advanced Photon Source beamlines 13-ID-D and 16-BM-D in the DAC at pressures up to 118 GPa. The martensitic fcc-hcp phase transition begins as peak asymmetry and weak peaks in both Kr and Xe at pressures as low as 5 GPa. Intensity of hcp peaks in Xe increases continuously to 118 GPa. Weak hcp peaks were evident in Kr alongside fcc peaks from 5 to 94 GPa, contrary to theoretical predictions that the hcp transition does not begin below 110-130 GPa. Strength and plasticity of Kr and Xe were obtained by complementary lattice strain and peak width analysis of diffraction patterns in both axial and radial geometries as well as observation of pressure gradients by ruby fluorescence. Xe is approximately hydrostatic with strength comparable to common pressure media at pressures up to 10-12 GPa. Differential stress in Xe increases quickly above 12 GPa and then levels off above 30-50 GPa. This apparent reduction in strength coincides with dramatic growth of hcp peaks, suggesting that weakening is associated with the fcc-hcp transition. Strength is systematically higher for higher-Z RGS below the fcc-hcp transition, but transformation to the hcp structure modifies this trend.

Two kinds of phase transitions in a voting model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hisakado, M.; Mori, S.

2012-08-01

In this paper, we discuss a voting model with two candidates, C0 and C1. We consider two types of voters—herders and independents. The voting of independents is based on their fundamental values, while the voting of herders is based on the number of previous votes. We can identify two kinds of phase transitions. One is an information cascade transition similar to a phase transition seen in the Ising model. The other is a transition of super and normal diffusions. These phase transitions coexist. We compared our results to the conclusions of experiments and identified the phase transitions in the upper limit of the time t by using the analysis of human behavior obtained from experiments.

Transitions from order to disorder in multiple dark and multiple dark-bright soliton atomic clouds.

PubMed

Wang, Wenlong; Kevrekidis, P G

2015-03-01

We have performed a systematic study quantifying the variation of solitary wave behavior from that of an ordered cloud resembling a "crystalline" configuration to that of a disordered state that can be characterized as a soliton "gas." As our illustrative examples, we use both one-component, as well as two-component, one-dimensional atomic gases very close to zero temperature, where in the presence of repulsive interatomic interactions and of a parabolic trap, a cloud of dark (dark-bright) solitons can form in the one- (two-) component system. We corroborate our findings through three distinct types of approaches, namely a Gross-Pitaevskii type of partial differential equation, particle-based ordinary differential equations describing the soliton dynamical system, and Monte Carlo simulations for the particle system. We define an "empirical" order parameter to characterize the order of the soliton lattices and study how this changes as a function of the strength of the "thermally" (i.e., kinetically) induced perturbations. As may be anticipated by the one-dimensional nature of our system, the transition from order to disorder is gradual without, apparently, a genuine phase transition ensuing in the intermediate regime.

Detecting phase transitions in a neural network and its application to classification of syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, J.; Xi, G.; Wang, W.

2008-02-01

Detecting phase transitions in neural networks (determined or random) presents a challenging subject for phase transitions play a key role in human brain activity. In this paper, we detect numerically phase transitions in two types of random neural network(RNN) under proper parameters.

Universal phase transition in community detectability under a stochastic block model.

PubMed

Chen, Pin-Yu; Hero, Alfred O

2015-03-01

We prove the existence of an asymptotic phase-transition threshold on community detectability for the spectral modularity method [M. E. J. Newman, Phys. Rev. E 74, 036104 (2006) and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 103, 8577 (2006)] under a stochastic block model. The phase transition on community detectability occurs as the intercommunity edge connection probability p grows. This phase transition separates a subcritical regime of small p, where modularity-based community detection successfully identifies the communities, from a supercritical regime of large p where successful community detection is impossible. We show that, as the community sizes become large, the asymptotic phase-transition threshold p* is equal to √[p1p2], where pi(i=1,2) is the within-community edge connection probability. Thus the phase-transition threshold is universal in the sense that it does not depend on the ratio of community sizes. The universal phase-transition phenomenon is validated by simulations for moderately sized communities. Using the derived expression for the phase-transition threshold, we propose an empirical method for estimating this threshold from real-world data.

Hydrodynamic outcomes of planet scattering in transitional discs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moeckel, Nickolas; Armitage, Philip J.

2012-01-01

A significant fraction of unstable multiple planet systems are likely to scatter during the transitional disc phase as gas damping becomes ineffectual. Using a large ensemble of FARGO hydrodynamic simulations and MERCURY N-body integrations, we directly follow the dynamics of planet-disc and planet-planet interactions through the clearing phase and through 50 Myr of planetary system evolution. Disc clearing is assumed to occur as a result of X-ray-driven photoevaporation. We find that the hydrodynamic evolution of individual scattering systems is complex, and can involve phases in which massive planets orbit within eccentric gaps, or accrete directly from the disc without a gap. Comparing the results to a reference gas-free model, we find that the N-body dynamics and hydrodynamics of scattering into one- and two-planet final states are almost identical. The eccentricity distributions in these channels are almost unaltered by the presence of gas. The hydrodynamic simulations, however, also form a population of low-eccentricity three-planet systems in long-term stable configurations, which are not found in N-body runs. The admixture of these systems results in modestly lower eccentricities in hydrodynamic as opposed to gas-free simulations. The precise incidence of these three-planet systems is likely a function of the initial conditions; different planet set-ups (number or spacing) may change the quantitative character of this result. We analyse the properties of surviving multiple planet systems, and show that only a small fraction (a few per cent) enter mean motion resonances after scattering, while a larger fraction form stable resonant chains and avoid scattering entirely. Our results remain consistent with the hypothesis that exoplanet eccentricity results from scattering, though the detailed agreement between observations and gas-free simulation results is likely coincidental. We discuss the prospects for further tests of scattering models by observing planets or non-axisymmetric gas structure in transitional discs.

Materials science of the gel to fluid phase transition in a supported phospholipid bilayer.

PubMed

Xie, Anne Feng; Yamada, Ryo; Gewirth, Andrew A; Granick, Steve

2002-12-09

We report the results of in situ AFM measurements examining the phase transition of bilayers formed from the zwitterionic phospholipid, DMPC, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, supported on mica. The images show that the fluid to gel phase transition process features substantial tearing of the bilayer due to the density change between the two phases. The gel to fluid transition is strongly affected by the resultant stress introduced into the gel phase, which changes the degree of cooperativity, the shape of developing fluid phase regions, and the course of the transition.

Isothermal lipid phase transitions.

PubMed

Cevc, G

1991-03-01

In liotropic lipid systems phase transitions can be induced isothermally by changing the solvent concentration or composition; alternatively, lipid composition can be modified by (bio)chemical means. The probability for isothermal phase transitions increases with the decreasing transition entropy; it is proportional to the magnitude of the transition temperature shift caused by transformation-inducing system variation. Manipulations causing large thermodynamic effects, such as lipid (de)hydration, binding of protons or divalent ions and macromolecular adsorption, but also close bilayer approach are, therefore, likely to cause structural lipid change(s) at a constant temperature. Net lipid charges enhance the membrane susceptibility to salt-induced isothermal phase transitions; a large proportion of this effect is due to the bilayer dehydration, however, rather than being a consequence of the decreased Coulombic electrostatic interactions. Membrane propensity for isothermal phase transitions, consequently, always increases with the hydrophilicity of the lipid heads, as well as with the desaturation and shortening of the lipid chains. Upon a phase change at a constant temperature, some of the interfacially bound solutes (e.g. protons or calcium) are released in the solution. Membrane permeability and fusogenicity simultaneously increase. In mixed systems, isothermal phase transitions, moreover, may result in lateral phase separation. All this opens up ways for the involvement of isothermal phase transitions in the regulation of biological processes.

High-pressure studies on electronic transport properties of Te-substituted Bi2Se3–xTex topological insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devidas, T. R.; Abhirami, S.; Sharma, Shilpam; Amaladas, E. P.; Mani, Awadhesh

2018-03-01

Studies on the electrical transport properties of the 3D topological insulators Bi2Se3 under iso-electronic substitution of Te at Se sites and the application of external pressure have been performed to understand the evolution of its ground-state properties and to explore possible electronic phase transitions in Bi2Se3‑x Te x (x=0\\text{--}3 ) systems. While the external pressure suppresses the metallic behaviour of Bi2Se3 arising from defect charge carriers leading ultimately to non-metal behaviour, the effect of pressure on Te-doped samples x=1\\text{--}2 seems to be more striking, and causes multiple electronic phase transitions such as an insulator-to-metal transition (MIT) followed by pressure-induced superconducting transition at higher pressures. All the critical parameters such as critical pressure for the occurrence of MIT (PMIT}) , superconductivity (PSC}) and maximum pressure induced superconducting transition temperature (Tc,max}) for given compositions are seen to exhibit maxima at x=1.6 which is the composition that exhibits the most insulating behaviour with least concentration of defect charge carriers among the samples of Bi2Se3‑x Te x (x=0\\text{--}3 ) series. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc}) decreases with increasing pressure in x=1\\text{--}2 samples, while it remains nearly constant for Bi2Te3. Based on the analysis of the experimental data it is surmised that the pressure-induced superconductivity seen in these systems is of conventional (BCS) type.

Multiple topological electronic phases in superconductor MoC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Angus; Smith, Adam D.; Schwinn, Madison; Lu, Qiangsheng; Chang, Tay-Rong; Xie, Weiwei; Jeng, Horng-Tay; Bian, Guang

2018-05-01

The search for a superconductor with non-s -wave pairing is important not only for understanding unconventional mechanisms of superconductivity but also for finding new types of quasiparticles such as Majorana bound states. Materials with both topological band structure and superconductivity are promising candidates as p +i p superconducting states can be generated through pairing the spin-polarized topological surface states. In this work, the electronic and phonon properties of the superconductor molybdenum carbide (MoC) are studied with first-principles methods. Our calculations show that nontrivial band topology and s -wave Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductivity coexist in two structural phases of MoC, namely the cubic α and hexagonal γ phases. The α phase is a strong topological insulator and the γ phase is a topological nodal-line semimetal with drumhead surface states. In addition, hole doping can stabilize the crystal structure of the α phase and elevate the transition temperature in the γ phase. Therefore, MoC in different structural forms can be a practical material platform for studying topological superconductivity.

The role of upper mantle mineral phase transitions on the current structure of large-scale Earth's mantle convection.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thoraval, C.

2017-12-01

Describing the large-scale structures of mantle convection and quantifying the mass transfer between upper and lower mantle request to account for the role played by mineral phase transitions in the transition zone. We build a density distribution within the Earth mantle from velocity anomalies described by global seismic tomographic models. The density distribution includes thermal anomalies and topographies of the phase transitions at depths of 410 and 660 km. We compute the flow driven by this density distribution using a 3D spherical circulation model, which account for depth-dependent viscosity. The dynamic topographies at the surface and at the CMB and the geoid are calculated as well. Within the range of viscosity profiles allowing for a satisfying restitution of the long wavelength geoid, we perform a parametric study to decipher the role of the characteristics of phase diagrams - mainly the Clapeyron's slopes - and of the kinetics of phase transitions, which may modify phase transition topographies. Indeed, when a phase transition is delayed, the boundary between two mineral phases is both dragged by the flow and interfere with it. The results are compared to recent estimations of surface dynamic topography and to the phase transition topographies as revealed by seismic studies. The consequences are then discussed in terms of structure of mantle flow. Comparisons between various tomographic models allow us to enlighten the most robust features. At last, the role played by the phase transitions on the lateral variations of mass transfer between upper and lower mantle are quantified by comparison to cases with no phase transitions and confronted to regional tomographic models, which reflect the variability of the behaviors of the descending slabs in the transition zone.

Carambola optics for recycling of light.

PubMed

Leutz, Ralf; Fu, Ling; Ries, Harald

2006-04-20

Recycling of light allows the luminance (radiance) emitted by a light source to be increased at the cost of reducing the total luminous flux (radiant power). Recycling of light means returning part of the emitted light to the source, where part of it will escape absorption. An optical design that is suitable for multiple and controlled recycling is described. Carambola optics is named for its resemblance to star fruit. Several pairs of mirrors or prisms redirect light repeatedly onto the source, thus achieving multiple transits of the light through the source. This recycled light exits the carambola in the same phase space as light directly emitted and not recycled.

On the ground-state degeneracy and entropy in a double-tetrahedral chain formed by the localized Ising spins and mobile electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gálisová, Lucia

2018-05-01

Ground-state properties of a hybrid double-tetrahedral chain, in which the localized Ising spins regularly alternate with triangular plaquettes occupied by a variable number of mobile electrons, are exactly investigated. We demonstrate that the zero-temperature phase diagram of the model involves several non-degenerate, two-fold degenerate and macroscopically degenerate chiral phases. Low-temperature dependencies of the entropy and specific heat are also examined in order to gain a deeper insight into the degeneracy of individual ground-state phases and phase transitions. It is shown that a diversity of the ground-state degeneracy manifests itself in multiple-peak structures of both thermodynamic quantities. A remarkable temperature dependencies of the specific heat with two and three Schottky-type maxima are discussed in detail.

Defect-induced local variation of crystal phase transition temperature in metal-halide perovskites.

PubMed

Dobrovolsky, Alexander; Merdasa, Aboma; Unger, Eva L; Yartsev, Arkady; Scheblykin, Ivan G

2017-06-26

Solution-processed organometal halide perovskites are hybrid crystalline semiconductors highly interesting for low-cost and efficient optoelectronics. Their properties are dependent on the crystal structure. Literature shows a variety of crystal phase transition temperatures and often a spread of the transition over tens of degrees Kelvin. We explain this inconsistency by demonstrating that the temperature of the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition in methylammonium lead triiodide depends on the concentration and nature of local defects. Phase transition in individual nanowires was studied by photoluminescence microspectroscopy and super-resolution imaging. We propose that upon cooling from 160 to 140 K, domains of the crystal containing fewer defects stay in the tetragonal phase longer than highly defected domains that readily transform to the high bandgap orthorhombic phase at higher temperatures. The existence of relatively pure tetragonal domains during the phase transition leads to drastic photoluminescence enhancement, which is inhomogeneously distributed across perovskite microcrystals.Understanding crystal phase transition in materials is of fundamental importance. Using luminescence spectroscopy and super-resolution imaging, Dobrovolsky et al. study the transition from the tetragonal to orthorhombic crystal phase in methylammonium lead triiodide nanowires at low temperature.

Superconducting Bi 2Te: Pressure-induced universality in the (Bi 2) m(Bi 2Te 3) n series

DOE PAGES

Stillwell, Ryan L.; Jeffries, Jason R.; Jenei, Zsolt; ...

2016-03-09

Using high-pressure magnetotransport techniques we have discovered superconductivity in Bi 2Te, a member of the infinitely adaptive (Bi 2)m(Bi 2Te 3)n series, whose end members, Bi and Bi 2Te 3, can be tuned to display topological surface states or superconductivity. Bi 2Te has a maximum T c = 8.6 K at P = 14.5 GPa and goes through multiple high pressure phase transitions, ultimately collapsing into a bcc structure that suggests a universal behavior across the series. High-pressure magnetoresistance and Hall measurements suggest a semi-metal to metal transition near 5.4 GPa, which accompanies the hexagonal to intermediate phase transition seenmore » via x-ray diffraction measurements. In addition, the linearity of H c2 (T) exceeds the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg limit, even in the extreme spin-orbit scattering limit, yet is consistent with other strong spin-orbit materials. Furthermore, considering these results in combination with similar reports on strong spin-orbit scattering materials seen in the literature, we suggest the need for a new theory that can address the unconventional nature of their superconducting states.« less

High pressure and temperature equation of state and spectroscopic study of CeO 2

DOE PAGES

Jacobsen, Matthew K.; Velisavljevic, Nenad; Dattelbaum, Dana Mcgraw; ...

2016-03-17

One of the most widely used x-ray standards and a highly applied component of catalysis systems, CeO 2 has been studied for the purpose of better understanding its equation of state and electronic properties. Diamond anvil cells have been used to extend the equation of state for this material to 130 GPa and explore the electronic behavior with applied load. From the x-ray diffraction studies, it has been determined that the high pressure phase transition extends from approximately 35–75 GPa at ambient temperature. Elevation of temperature is found to decrease the initiation pressure for this transition, with multiple distinct temperaturemore » regions which indicate structural related anomalies. In addition, hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic effects are compared and exhibit a drastic difference in bulk moduli. Furthermore, the electronic results indicate a change in the scattering environment of the cerium atom, associated with the high pressure phase transition. Overall, these results present the first megabar pressure study and the first high pressure and temperature study of ceria. Additionally, this shows the first combined study of the K and L III edges of this material to 33 GPa.« less

Thermodynamic evidence of flexibility in H2O and CO2 absorption of transition metal ion exchanged zeolite LTA.

PubMed

Guo, Xin; Wu, Lili; Navrotsky, Alexandra

2018-02-07

Gas absorption calorimetry has been employed to probe the intercation of water and carbon dioxide with transition metal ion (TM = Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Zn 2+ ) exchanged zeolite A samples. There appears to be a two-phase region, indicative of a guest-induced flexibility transition, separating hydrated zeolite A and its dehydrated form, both of which have variable water content in the single phase region. The differential enthalpy of absorption as a function of water loading directly identifies different strengths of multiple interactions along with possible binding mechanisms of Zn-A and Mn-A exhibiting the highest water absorption with most exothermic initial enthalpies of -125.28 ± 4.82 and -115.30 ± 2.56 kJ mol -1 . Zn-A and Mn-A also show moderately good capture ability for CO 2 with zero-coverage negative enthalpies of -55.59 ± 2.48 and -44.07 ± 1.53 kJ mol -1 . The thermodynamic information derived from differential enthalpy, chemical potential and differential entropy elucidated the multistage interactive behavior of small guest molecules (H 2 O/CO 2 ) and ion-exchanged frameworks.

Propagating stress-pulses and wiggling transition revealed in string dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Zhenwei

2018-02-01

Understanding string dynamics yields insights into the intricate dynamic behaviors of various filamentary thin structures in nature and industry covering multiple length scales. In this work, we investigate the planar dynamics of a flexible string where one end is free and the other end is subject to transverse and longitudinal motions. Under transverse harmonic motion, we reveal the propagating pulse structure in the stress profile over the string, and analyze its role in bringing the system into a chaotic state. For a string where one end is under longitudinal uniform acceleration, we identify the wiggling transition, derive the analytical wiggling solution from the string equations, and present the phase diagram.

Modeling and Characterization of the Magnetocaloric Effect in Ni2MnGa Materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nicholson, Don M; Odbadrakh, Khorgolkhuu; Shassere, Benjamin

2014-01-01

Magnetic shape memory alloys have great promise as magneto-caloric effect refrigerant materials due to their combined magnetic and structural transitions. Computational and experimental research is reported on the Ni2MnGa material system. The magnetic states of this system are explored using the Wang-Landau statistical approach in conjunction with the Locally Self-consistent Multiple-Scattering method. The effects of alloying agents on the transition temperatures of the Ni2MnGa alloy are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and superconducting quantum interference device. Experiments are performed at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to observe the structural and magnetic phase transformations.

Optimized liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry approach for the determination of diquat and paraquat herbicides.

PubMed

Hao, Chunyan; Zhao, Xiaoming; Morse, David; Yang, Paul; Taguchi, Vince; Morra, Franca

2013-08-23

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination of quaternary ammonium herbicides diquat (DQ) and paraquat (PQ) can be very challenging due to their complicated chromatographic and mass spectrometric behaviors. Various multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions from radical cations M(+) and singly charged cations [M-H](+), have been reported for LC-MS/MS quantitation under different chromatographic and mass spectrometric conditions. However, interference peaks were observed for certain previously reported MRM transitions in our study. Using a Dionex Acclaim(®) reversed-phase and HILIC mixed-mode LC column, we evaluated the most sensitive MRM transitions from three types of quasi-molecular ions of DQ and PQ, elucidated the cross-interference phenomena, and demonstrated that the rarely mentioned MRM transitions from dications M(2+) offered the best selectivity for LC-MS/MS analysis. Experimental parameters, such as IonSpray (IS) voltage, source temperature, declustering potential (DP), column oven temperature, collision energy (CE), acid and salt concentrations in the mobile phases were also optimized and an uncommon electrospray ionization (ESI) capillary voltage of 1000V achieved the highest sensitivity. Employing the proposed dication transitions 92/84.5 for DQ and 93/171 for PQ, the direct aqueous injection LC-MS/MS method developed was able to provide a method detection limit (MDL) of 0.1μg/L for the determination of these two herbicides in drinking water. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ab Initio Simulations of Temperature Dependent Phase Stability and Martensitic Transitions in NiTi

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haskins, Justin B.; Thompson, Alexander E.; Lawson, John W.

2016-01-01

For NiTi based alloys, the shape memory effect is governed by a transition from a low-temperature martensite phase to a high-temperature austenite phase. Despite considerable experimental and computational work, basic questions regarding the stability of the phases and the martensitic phase transition remain unclear even for the simple case of binary, equiatomic NiTi. We perform ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to describe the temperature-dependent behavior of NiTi and resolve several of these outstanding issues. Structural correlation functions and finite temperature phonon spectra are evaluated to determine phase stability. In particular, we show that finite temperature, entropic effects stabilize the experimentally observed martensite (B19') and austenite (B2) phases while destabilizing the theoretically predicted (B33) phase. Free energy computations based on ab initio thermodynamic integration confirm these results and permit estimates of the transition temperature between the phases. In addition to the martensitic phase transition, we predict a new transition between the B33 and B19' phases. The role of defects in suppressing these phase transformations is discussed.

Formation of the molecular crystal structure during the vacuum sublimation of paracetamol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belyaev, A. P.; Rubets, V. P.; Antipov, V. V.; Bordei, N. S.

2015-04-01

The results from structural and thermal studies on the formation of molecular crystals during the vacuum sublimation of paracetamol from its vapor phase are given. It is established that the vapor-crystal phase transition proceeds in a complicated way as the superposition of two phase transitions: a first-order phase transition with a change in density, and a second-order phase transition with a change in ordering. It is shown that the latter is a smeared phase transition that proceeds with the formation of a pretransitional phase that is irreversibly dissipated during phase transformation, leading to the formation of crystals of the rhombic syngony. Data from differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis are presented along with microphotographs.

Vibrational Overtone Spectroscopy of Pyrrole and Pyrrolidine

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-23

anharmonicites of 52 cm- 1 for pyrrole and 55 cm- 1 for pyrrolidine. Multiple transitions observed in the N-H stretching regions indicate the presence...appears (shifted 200 cm- 1 to the red) in solution phase pyrrole. This shift of all the peaks results from the intermolecular interactions of the N-H in the...strongest vibrational progressions are those corresponding to oscillators with the highest anharmonicities 1 . The C-H, N-H and O-H stretching

Phase transitions in (NH4)2MoO2F4 crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krylov, Alexander; Laptash, Natalia; Vtyurin, Alexander; Krylova, Svetlana

2016-11-01

The mechanisms of temperature and high pressure phase transitions have been studied by Raman spectroscopy. Room temperature (295 K) experiments under high hydrostatic pressure up to 3.6 GPa for (NH4)2 MoO2 F4 have been carried out. Experimental data indicates a phase transition into a new high-pressure phase for (NH4)2 MoO2 F4 at 1.2 GPa. This phase transition is related to the ordering anion octahedron groups [MoO2 F4]2- and is not associated with ammonium group. Raman spectra of small non-oriented crystals ranging from 10 to 350 K have been observed. The experiment shows anion groups [MoO2 F4]2- and ammonium in high temperature phase are disordered. The phase transition at T1 = 269.8 K is of the first-order, close to the tricritical point. The first temperature phase transition is related to the ordering anion octahedron groups [MoO2 F4]2-. Second phase transitions T2 = 180 K are associated with the ordering of ammonium. The data presented within this study demonstrate that 2D correlation analysis combined with traditional Raman spectroscopy are powerful tool to study phase transitions in the crystals.

Quantum phase transitions and local magnetism in Mott insulators: A local probe investigation using muons, neutrons, and photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frandsen, Benjamin A.

Mott insulators are materials in which strong correlations among the electrons induce an unconventional insulating state. Rich interplay between the structural, magnetic, and electronic degrees of freedom resulting from the electron correlation can lead to unusual complexity of Mott materials on the atomic scale, such as microscopically heterogeneous phases or local structural correlations that deviate significantly from the average structure. Such behavior must be studied by suitable experimental techniques, i.e. "local probes", that are sensitive to this local behavior rather than just the bulk, average properties. In this thesis, I will present results from our studies of multiple families of Mott insulators using two such local probes: muon spin relaxation (muSR), a probe of local magnetism; and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of x-ray and neutron total scattering, a probe of local atomic structure. In addition, I will present the development of magnetic pair distribution function analysis, a novel method for studying local magnetic correlations that is highly complementary to the muSR and atomic PDF techniques. We used muSR to study the phase transition from Mott insulator to metal in two archetypal Mott insulating systems: RENiO3 (RE = rare earth element) and V2O3. In both of these systems, the Mott insulating state can be suppressed by tuning a nonthermal parameter, resulting in a "quantum" phase transition at zero temperature from the Mott insulating state to a metallic state. In RENiO3, this occurs through variation of the rare-earth element in the chemical composition; in V 2O3, through the application of hydrostatic pressure. Our results show that the metallic and Mott insulating states unexpectedly coexist in phase-separated regions across a large portion of parameter space near the Mott quantum phase transition and that the magnitude of the ordered antiferromagnetic moment remains constant across the phase diagram until it is abruptly destroyed at the quantum phase transition. Taken together, these findings point unambiguously to a first-order quantum phase transition in these systems. We also conducted x-ray and neutron PDF experiments, which suggest that the distinct atomic structures associated with the insulating and metallic phases similarly coexist near the quantum phase transition. These results have significant implications for our understanding of the Mott metal-insulator quantum phase transition in real materials. The second part of this thesis centers on the derivation and development of the magnetic pair distribution function (mPDF) technique and its application to the antiferromagnetic Mott insulator MnO. The atomic PDF method involves Fourier transforming the x-ray or neutron total scattering intensity from reciprocal space into real space to directly reveal the local atomic correlations in a material, which may deviate significantly from the average crystallographic structure of that material. Likewise, the mPDF method involves Fourier transforming the magnetic neutron total scattering intensity to probe the local correlations of magnetic moments in the material, which may exist on short length scales even when the material has no long-range magnetic order. After deriving the fundamental mPDF equations and providing a proof-of-principle by recovering the known magnetic structure of antiferromagnetic MnO, we used this technique to investigate the short-range magnetic correlations that persist well into the paramagnetic phase of MnO. By combining the mPDF measurements with ab initio calculations of the spin-spin correlation function in paramagnetic MnO, we were able to quantitatively account for the observed mPDF. We also used the mPDF data to evaluate competing ab initio theories, thereby resolving some longstanding questions about the magnetic exchange interactions in MnO.

Unconventional phase transitions in liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kats, E. I.

2017-12-01

According to classical textbooks on thermodynamics or statistical physics, there are only two types of phase transitions: continuous, or second-order, in which the latent heat L is zero, and first-order, in which L ≠ 0. Present-day textbooks and monographs also mention another, stand-alone type—the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, which exists only in two dimensions and shares some features with first- and second-order phase transitions. We discuss examples of non-conventional thermodynamic behavior (i.e., which is inconsistent with the theoretical phase transition paradigm now universally accepted). For phase transitions in smectic liquid crystals, mechanisms for nonconventional behavior are proposed and the predictions they imply are examined.

Superradiant phase transition with graphene embedded in one dimensional optical cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Benliang; Liu, Tao; Hewak, Daniel W.; Wang, Qi Jie

2018-01-01

We theoretically investigate the cavity QED of graphene embedded in an optical cavity under perpendicular magnetic field. We consider the coupling of cyclotron transition and a multimode cavity described by a multimode Dicke model. This model exhibits a superradiant quantum phase transition, which we describe exactly in an effective Hamiltonian approach. The complete excitation spectrum in both the normal phase and superradiant phase regimes is given. In contrast to the single mode case, multimode coupling of cavity photon and cyclotron transition can greatly reduce the critical vacuum Rabi frequency required for quantum phase transition, and dramatically enhance the superradiant emission by fast modulating the Hamiltonian. Our work paves a way to experimental explorations of quantum phase transitions in solid state systems.

THE ROLE OF METASTABLE STATES IN POLYMER PHASE TRANSITIONS: Concepts, Principles, and Experimental Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Stephen Z. D.; Keller, Andrew

1998-08-01

Polymer phases can be described in the same way as phases in other condensed matter using a number density operator and its correlation functions. This description requires the understanding of symmetry operations and order at different atomic and molecular levels. Statistical mechanics provides a link between the microscopic description of the structure and motion and the macroscopic thermodynamic properties. Within the limits of the laws of thermodynamics, polymers exhibit a rich variety of phase transition behaviors. By definition, a first-order phase transition describes a transformation that involves a sudden change of thermodynamic properties at its transition temperature, whereas higher-order phase transitions are classified as critical phenomena. Of special interest is the role of metastability in phase and phase transition behaviors. Although a metastable state possesses a local free energy minimum, it is not at the global equilibrium. Furthermore, metastable states can also be associated with phase sizes. Metastable behavior is also observed in phase transformations that are impeded by kinetic limitations along the pathway to thermodynamic equilibrium. This is illustrated in structural and morphological investigations of crystallization and mesophase transitions, liquid-liquid phase separation, vitrification, and gel formation, as well as combinations of transformation processes. In these cases, the metastable state often becomes the dominant state for the entire system and is observed over a range of time and size scales. This review describes the general principles of metastability in polymer phases and phase transitions and provides illustrations from current experimental works in selected areas.

Generalization of soft phonon modes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rudin, Sven P.

Soft phonon modes describe a collective movement of atoms that transform a higher-symmetry crystal structure into a lower-symmetry crystal structure. Such structural transformations occur at finite temperatures, where the phonons (i.e., the low-temperature vibrational modes) and the static perfect crystal structures provide an incomplete picture of the dynamics. In this paper, principal vibrational modes (PVMs) are introduced as descriptors of the dynamics of a material system withmore » $N$ atoms. The PVMs represent the independent collective movements of the atoms at a given temperature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, here in the form of quantum MD using density functional theory calculations, provide both the data describing the atomic motion and the data used to construct the PVMs. The leading mode, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$, represents the $3N$-dimensional direction in which the system moves with greatest amplitude. For structural phase transitions, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ serves as a generalization of soft phonon modes. At low temperatures, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ reproduces the soft phonon mode in systems where one phonon dominates the phase transformation. In general, multiple phonon modes combine to describe a transformation, in which case $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ culls these phonon modes. Moreover, while soft phonon modes arise in the higher-symmetry crystal structure, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ can be equally well calculated on either side of the structural phase transition. Finally, two applications demonstrate these properties: first, transitions into and out of bcc titanium, and, second, the two crystal structures proposed for the $${\\beta}$$ phase of uranium, the higher-symmetry structure of which stabilizes with temperature.« less

Generalization of soft phonon modes

DOE PAGES

Rudin, Sven P.

2018-04-27

Soft phonon modes describe a collective movement of atoms that transform a higher-symmetry crystal structure into a lower-symmetry crystal structure. Such structural transformations occur at finite temperatures, where the phonons (i.e., the low-temperature vibrational modes) and the static perfect crystal structures provide an incomplete picture of the dynamics. In this paper, principal vibrational modes (PVMs) are introduced as descriptors of the dynamics of a material system withmore » $N$ atoms. The PVMs represent the independent collective movements of the atoms at a given temperature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, here in the form of quantum MD using density functional theory calculations, provide both the data describing the atomic motion and the data used to construct the PVMs. The leading mode, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$, represents the $3N$-dimensional direction in which the system moves with greatest amplitude. For structural phase transitions, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ serves as a generalization of soft phonon modes. At low temperatures, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ reproduces the soft phonon mode in systems where one phonon dominates the phase transformation. In general, multiple phonon modes combine to describe a transformation, in which case $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ culls these phonon modes. Moreover, while soft phonon modes arise in the higher-symmetry crystal structure, $${\\mathrm{PVM}}_{0}$$ can be equally well calculated on either side of the structural phase transition. Finally, two applications demonstrate these properties: first, transitions into and out of bcc titanium, and, second, the two crystal structures proposed for the $${\\beta}$$ phase of uranium, the higher-symmetry structure of which stabilizes with temperature.« less

Origins of the structural phase transitions in MoTe2 and WTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyun-Jung; Kang, Seoung-Hun; Hamada, Ikutaro; Son, Young-Woo

2017-05-01

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides MoTe2 and WTe2 share almost similar lattice constants as well as topological electronic properties except their structural phase transitions. While the former shows a first-order phase transition between monoclinic and orthorhombic structures, the latter does not. Using a recently proposed van der Waals density functional method, we investigate structural stability of the two materials and uncover that the disparate phase transitions originate from delicate differences between their interlayer bonding states near the Fermi energy. By exploiting the relation between the structural phase transitions and the low energy electronic properties, we show that a charge doping can control the transition substantially, thereby suggesting a way to stabilize or to eliminate their topological electronic energy bands.

Boron-tuning transition temperature of vanadium dioxide from rutile to monoclinic phase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, J. J.; He, H. Y.; Xie, Y.

2014-11-21

The effect of the doped boron on the phase transition temperature between the monoclinic phase and the rutile phase of VO{sub 2} has been studied by performing first-principles calculations. It is found that the phase transition temperature decreases linearly with increasing the doping level of B in each system, no matter where the B atom is in the crystal. More importantly, the descent of the transition temperature is predicted to be as large as 83 K/at. % B, indicating that the boron concentration of only 0.5% can cause the phase transition at room temperature. These findings provide a new routinemore » of modulating the phase transition of VO{sub 2} and pave a way for the practicality of VO{sub 2} as an energy-efficient green material.« less

Genealogies and ages of cultural traits: An application of the theory of duality to the research on cultural evolution.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Yutaka; Wakano, Joe Yuichiro; Ohtsuki, Hisashi

2018-05-09

A finite-population, discrete-generation model of cultural evolution is described, in which multiple discrete traits are transmitted independently. In this model, each newborn may inherit a trait from multiple cultural parents. Transmission fails with a positive probability unlike in population genetics. An ancestral process simulating the cultural genealogy of a sample of individuals is derived for this model. This ancestral process, denoted by M - , is shown to be dual to a process M + describing the change in the frequency of a trait. The age-frequency spectrum is defined as a two-dimensional array whose (i,k) element is the expected number of distinct cultural traits introduced k generations ago and now carried by i individuals in a sample of a particular size n. Numerical calculations reveal that the age-frequency spectrum and related metrics undergo a critical transition from a phase with a moderate number of young, rare traits to a phase with numerous very old, common traits when the expected number of cultural parents per individual exceeds one. It is shown that M + and M - converge to branching or deterministic processes, depending on the way population size tends to infinity, and these limiting processes bear some duality relationships. The critical behavior of the original processes M + and M - is explained in terms of a phase transition of the branching processes. Using the results of the limiting processes in combination, we derive analytical formulae that well approximate the age-frequency spectrum and also other metrics. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interactive social contagions and co-infections on complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Quan-Hui; Zhong, Lin-Feng; Wang, Wei; Zhou, Tao; Eugene Stanley, H.

2018-01-01

What we are learning about the ubiquitous interactions among multiple social contagion processes on complex networks challenges existing theoretical methods. We propose an interactive social behavior spreading model, in which two behaviors sequentially spread on a complex network, one following the other. Adopting the first behavior has either a synergistic or an inhibiting effect on the spread of the second behavior. We find that the inhibiting effect of the first behavior can cause the continuous phase transition of the second behavior spreading to become discontinuous. This discontinuous phase transition of the second behavior can also become a continuous one when the effect of adopting the first behavior becomes synergistic. This synergy allows the second behavior to be more easily adopted and enlarges the co-existence region of both behaviors. We establish an edge-based compartmental method, and our theoretical predictions match well with the simulation results. Our findings provide helpful insights into better understanding the spread of interactive social behavior in human society.

Study of anyon condensation and topological phase transitions from a Z4 topological phase using the projected entangled pair states approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iqbal, Mohsin; Duivenvoorden, Kasper; Schuch, Norbert

2018-05-01

We use projected entangled pair states (PEPS) to study topological quantum phase transitions. The local description of topological order in the PEPS formalism allows us to set up order parameters which measure condensation and deconfinement of anyons and serve as substitutes for conventional order parameters. We apply these order parameters, together with anyon-anyon correlation functions and some further probes, to characterize topological phases and phase transitions within a family of models based on a Z4 symmetry, which contains Z4 quantum double, toric code, double semion, and trivial phases. We find a diverse phase diagram which exhibits a variety of different phase transitions of both first and second order which we comprehensively characterize, including direct transitions between the toric code and the double semion phase.

The growth mechanism of grain boundary carbide in Alloy 690

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Hui, E-mail: huili@shu.edu.cn; Institute of Materials, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072; Xia, Shuang

2013-07-15

The growth mechanism of grain boundary M{sub 23}C{sub 6} carbides in nickel base Alloy 690 after aging at 715 °C was investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The grain boundary carbides have coherent orientation relationship with only one side of the matrix. The incoherent phase interface between M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and matrix was curved, and did not lie on any specific crystal plane. The M{sub 23}C{sub 6} carbide transforms from the matrix phase directly at the incoherent interface. The flat coherent phase interface generally lies on low index crystal planes, such as (011) and (111) planes. The M{sub 23}C{submore » 6} carbide transforms from a transition phase found at curved coherent phase interface. The transition phase has a complex hexagonal crystal structure, and has coherent orientation relationship with matrix and M{sub 23}C{sub 6}: (111){sub matrix}//(0001){sub transition}//(111){sub carbide}, <112{sup ¯}>{sub matrix}//<21{sup ¯}10>{sub transition}//<112{sup ¯}>{sub carbide}. The crystal lattice constants of transition phase are c{sub transition}=√(3)×a{sub matrix} and a{sub transition}=√(6)/2×a{sub matrix}. Based on the experimental results, the growth mechanism of M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and the formation mechanism of transition phase are discussed. - Highlights: • A transition phase was observed at the coherent interfaces of M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and matrix. • The transition phase has hexagonal structure, and is coherent with matrix and M{sub 23}C{sub 6}. • The M{sub 23}C{sub 6} transforms from the matrix directly at the incoherent phase interface.« less

Detecting critical state before phase transition of complex systems by hidden Markov model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Rui; Chen, Pei; Li, Yongjun; Chen, Luonan

Identifying the critical state or pre-transition state just before the occurrence of a phase transition is a challenging task, because the state of the system may show little apparent change before this critical transition during the gradual parameter variations. Such dynamics of phase transition is generally composed of three stages, i.e., before-transition state, pre-transition state, and after-transition state, which can be considered as three different Markov processes. Thus, based on this dynamical feature, we present a novel computational method, i.e., hidden Markov model (HMM), to detect the switching point of the two Markov processes from the before-transition state (a stationary Markov process) to the pre-transition state (a time-varying Markov process), thereby identifying the pre-transition state or early-warning signals of the phase transition. To validate the effectiveness, we apply this method to detect the signals of the imminent phase transitions of complex systems based on the simulated datasets, and further identify the pre-transition states as well as their critical modules for three real datasets, i.e., the acute lung injury triggered by phosgene inhalation, MCF-7 human breast cancer caused by heregulin, and HCV-induced dysplasia and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Boundary-field-driven control of discontinuous phase transitions on hyperbolic lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Yoju; Verstraete, Frank; Gendiar, Andrej

2016-08-01

The multistate Potts models on two-dimensional hyperbolic lattices are studied with respect to various boundary effects. The free energy is numerically calculated using the corner transfer matrix renormalization group method. We analyze phase transitions of the Potts models in the thermodynamic limit with respect to contracted boundary layers. A false phase transition is present even if a couple of the boundary layers are contracted. Its significance weakens, as the number of the contracted boundary layers increases, until the correct phase transition (deep inside the bulk) prevails over the false one. For this purpose, we derive a thermodynamic quantity, the so-called bulk excess free energy, which depends on the contracted boundary layers and memorizes additional boundary effects. In particular, the magnetic field is imposed on the outermost boundary layer. While the boundary magnetic field does not affect the second-order phase transition in the bulk if suppressing all the boundary effects on the hyperbolic lattices, the first-order (discontinuous) phase transition is significantly sensitive to the boundary magnetic field. Contrary to the phase transition on the Euclidean lattices, the discontinuous phase transition on the hyperbolic lattices can be continuously controlled (within a certain temperature coexistence region) by varying the boundary magnetic field.

Strain and defect engineering on phase transition of monolayer black phosphorene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Yan; Shi, Xiaoyang; Li, Mingjia

Under biaxial strain, SW-2 defect can move inward the phase boundary of α-P and β-P remarkably and promote the phase transition from α-P to β-P, serving as an excellent ‘phase transition catalyzer’.

Strain and defect engineering on phase transition of monolayer black phosphorene

DOE PAGES

Chen, Yan; Shi, Xiaoyang; Li, Mingjia; ...

2018-01-01

Under biaxial strain, SW-2 defect can move inward the phase boundary of α-P and β-P remarkably and promote the phase transition from α-P to β-P, serving as an excellent ‘phase transition catalyzer’.

Quantum phase transitions between a class of symmetry protected topological states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsui, Lokman; Jiang, Hong-Chen; Lu, Yuan-Ming

2015-07-01

The subject of this paper is the phase transition between symmetry protected topological states (SPTs). We consider spatial dimension d and symmetry group G so that the cohomology group, Hd+1(G,U(1)), contains at least one Z2n or Z factor. We show that the phase transition between the trivial SPT and the root states that generate the Z2n or Z groups can be induced on the boundary of a (d+1)-dimensional View the MathML source-symmetric SPT by a View the MathML source symmetry breaking field. Moreover we show these boundary phase transitions can be “transplanted” to d dimensions and realized in lattice modelsmore » as a function of a tuning parameter. The price one pays is for the critical value of the tuning parameter there is an extra non-local (duality-like) symmetry. In the case where the phase transition is continuous, our theory predicts the presence of unusual (sometimes fractionalized) excitations corresponding to delocalized boundary excitations of the non-trivial SPT on one side of the transition. This theory also predicts other phase transition scenarios including first order transition and transition via an intermediate symmetry breaking phase.« less

Quantum phase transitions between a class of symmetry protected topological states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsui, Lokman; Jiang, Hong -Chen; Lu, Yuan -Ming

2015-04-30

The subject of this paper is the phase transition between symmetry protected topological states (SPTs). We consider spatial dimension d and symmetry group G so that the cohomology group, H d+1(G,U(1)), contains at least one Z 2n or Z factor. We show that the phase transition between the trivial SPT and the root states that generate the Z 2n or Z groups can be induced on the boundary of a (d+1)-dimensional G x Z T 2-symmetric SPT by a Z T 2 symmetry breaking field. Moreover we show these boundary phase transitions can be “transplanted” to d dimensions and realizedmore » in lattice models as a function of a tuning parameter. The price one pays is for the critical value of the tuning parameter there is an extra non-local (duality-like) symmetry. In the case where the phase transition is continuous, our theory predicts the presence of unusual (sometimes fractionalized) excitations corresponding to delocalized boundary excitations of the non-trivial SPT on one side of the transition. This theory also predicts other phase transition scenarios including first order transition and transition via an intermediate symmetry breaking phase.« less

Self-Management and Transition Readiness Assessment: Development, Reliability, and Factor Structure of the STARx Questionnaire.

PubMed

Ferris, M; Cohen, S; Haberman, C; Javalkar, K; Massengill, S; Mahan, J D; Kim, S; Bickford, K; Cantu, G; Medeiros, M; Phillips, A; Ferris, M T; Hooper, S R

2015-01-01

The Self-Management and Transition to Adulthood with Rx=Treatment (STARx) Questionnaire was developed to collect information on self-management and health care transition (HCT) skills, via self-report, in a broad population of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic conditions. Over several iterations, the STARx questionnaire was created with AYA, family, and health provider input. The development and pilot testing of the STARx Questionnaire took place with the assistance of 1219 AYAs with different chronic health conditions, in multiple institutions and settings over three phases: item development, pilot testing, reliability and factor structuring. The three development phases resulted in a final version of the STARx Questionnaire. The exploratory factor analysis of the third version of the 18-item STARx identified six factors that accounted for about 65% of the variance: Medication management, Provider communication, Engagement during appointments, Disease knowledge, Adult health responsibilities, and Resource utilization. Reliability estimates revealed good internal consistency and temporal stability, with the alpha coefficient for the overall scale being .80. The STARx was developmentally sensitive, with older patients scoring significantly higher on nearly every factor than younger patients. The STARx Questionnaire is a reliable, self-report tool with adequate internal consistency, temporal stability, and a strong, multidimensional factor structure. It provides another assessment strategy to measure self-management and transition skills in AYAs with chronic conditions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Size-dependent phase transition in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite microplate crystals

PubMed Central

Li, Dehui; Wang, Gongming; Cheng, Hung-Chieh; Chen, Chih-Yen; Wu, Hao; Liu, Yuan; Huang, Yu; Duan, Xiangfeng

2016-01-01

Methylammonium lead iodide perovskite has attracted considerable recent interest for solution processable solar cells and other optoelectronic applications. The orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition in perovskite can significantly alter its optical, electrical properties and impact the corresponding applications. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the size-dependent orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition using a combined temperature-dependent optical, electrical transport and transmission electron microscopy study. Our studies of individual perovskite microplates with variable thicknesses demonstrate that the phase transition temperature decreases with reducing microplate thickness. The sudden decrease of mobility around phase transition temperature and the presence of hysteresis loops in the temperature-dependent mobility confirm that the orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition is a first-order phase transition. Our findings offer significant fundamental insight on the temperature- and size-dependent structural, optical and charge transport properties of perovskite materials, and can greatly impact future exploration of novel electronic and optoelectronic devices from these materials. PMID:27098114

Size-dependent phase transition in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite microplate crystals

DOE PAGES

Li, Dehui; Wang, Gongming; Cheng, Hung -Chieh; ...

2016-04-21

Methylammonium lead iodide perovskite has attracted considerable recent interest for solution processable solar cells and other optoelectronic applications. The orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition in perovskite can significantly alter its optical, electrical properties and impact the corresponding applications. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the size-dependent orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition using a combined temperature-dependent optical, electrical transport and transmission electron microscopy study. Our studies of individual perovskite microplates with variable thicknesses demonstrate that the phase transition temperature decreases with reducing microplate thickness. The sudden decrease of mobility around phase transition temperature and the presence of hysteresis loops in the temperature-dependent mobility confirmmore » that the orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition is a first-order phase transition. Lastly, our findings offer significant fundamental insight on the temperature-and size-dependent structural, optical and charge transport properties of perovskite materials, and can greatly impact future exploration of novel electronic and optoelectronic devices from these materials.« less

Conventional empirical law reverses in the phase transitions of 122-type iron-based superconductors

DOE PAGES

Yu, Zhenhai; Wang, Lin; Wang, Luhong; ...

2014-11-24

Phase transition of solid-state materials is a fundamental research topic in condensed matter physics, materials science and geophysics. It has been well accepted and widely proven that isostructural compounds containing different cations undergo same pressure-induced phase transitions but at progressively lower pressures as the cation radii increases. However, we discovered that this conventional law reverses in the structural transitions in 122-type iron-based superconductors. In this report, a combined low temperature and high pressure X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement has identified the phase transition curves among the tetragonal (T), orthorhombic (O) and the collapsed-tetragonal (cT) phases in the structural phase diagram ofmore » the iron-based superconductor AFe 2As 2 (A = Ca, Sr, Eu, and Ba). As a result, the cation radii dependence of the phase transition pressure (T → cT) shows an opposite trend in which the compounds with larger ambient radii cations have a higher transition pressure.« less

Quasi-phases and pseudo-transitions in one-dimensional models with nearest neighbor interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Souza, S. M.; Rojas, Onofre

2018-01-01

There are some particular one-dimensional models, such as the Ising-Heisenberg spin models with a variety of chain structures, which exhibit unexpected behaviors quite similar to the first and second order phase transition, which could be confused naively with an authentic phase transition. Through the analysis of the first derivative of free energy, such as entropy, magnetization, and internal energy, a "sudden" jump that closely resembles a first-order phase transition at finite temperature occurs. However, by analyzing the second derivative of free energy, such as specific heat and magnetic susceptibility at finite temperature, it behaves quite similarly to a second-order phase transition exhibiting an astonishingly sharp and fine peak. The correlation length also confirms the evidence of this pseudo-transition temperature, where a sharp peak occurs at the pseudo-critical temperature. We also present the necessary conditions for the emergence of these quasi-phases and pseudo-transitions.

Pressure-induced Lifshitz and structural transitions in NbAs and TaAs: experiments and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nath Gupta, Satyendra; Singh, Anjali; Pal, Koushik; Muthu, D. V. S.; Shekhar, C.; Elghazali, Moaz A.; Naumov, Pavel G.; Medvedev, Sergey A.; Felser, C.; Waghmare, U. V.; Sood, A. K.

2018-05-01

High pressure Raman, resistivity and synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies on Weyl semimetals NbAs and TaAs have been carried out along with density functional theoretical (DFT) analysis to explain pressure induced structural and electronic topological phase transitions. The frequencies of first order Raman modes harden with increasing pressure, exhibiting a slope change at GPa for NbAs and GPa for TaAs. The resistivities of NbAs and TaAs exhibit a minimum at pressures close to these transition pressures and also a change in the bulk modulus is observed. Our first-principles calculations reveal that the transition is associated with an electronic Lifshitz transition at for NbAs while it is a structural phase transition from body centered tetragonal to hexagonal phase at for TaAs. Further, our DFT calculations show a structural phase transition at 24 GPa from body centered tetragonal phase to hexagonal phase.

The transition to the metallic state in low density hydrogen

DOE PAGES

McMinis, Jeremy; Morales, Miguel A.; Ceperley, David M.; ...

2015-11-18

Solid atomic hydrogen is one of the simplest systems to undergo a metal-insulator transition. Near the transition, the electronic degrees of freedom become strongly correlated and their description provides a difficult challenge for theoretical methods. As a result, the order and density of the phase transition are still subject to debate. In this work we use diffusion quantum Monte Carlo to benchmark the transition between the paramagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic phases of ground state body centered cubic atomic hydrogen. We locate the density of the transition by computing the equation of state for these two phases and identify the phase transitionmore » order by computing the band gap near the phase transition. These benchmark results show that the phase transition is continuous and occurs at a Wigner-Seitz radius of r s = 2.27(3)a 0. As a result, we compare our results to previously reported density functional theory, Hedin s GW approximation, and dynamical mean field theory results.« less

Visualization of a stable intermediate phase in photoinduced metal-to-insulator transition in manganites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Hanxuan; Liu, Hao; Bai, Yu; Miao, Tian; Yu, Yang; Zhu, Yinyan; Chen, Hongyan; Kou, Yunfang; Niu, Jiebin; Wang, Wenbin; Yin, Lifeng; Shen, Jian

First order metal-insulator transition, accounting for various intriguing phenomena, is one of the most important phase transitions in condensed matter systems. Aside from the initial and final states, i.e. the metallic and insulating phases, no stable intermediate phase has been experimentally identified in such first order phase transition, though some transient phases do exist at the ultrafast time scale. Here, using our unique low-temperature, high-field magnetic force microscopy with photoexcitation, we directly observed a stable intermediate phase emerging and mediating the photoinduced first order metal-insulator transition in manganites. This phase is characteristic of low net magnetization and high resistivity. Our observations unveil the microscopic details of the photoinduced metal-insulator transition in manganites, which may be insightful to study first order metal-insulator transition in other condensed matter systems. This work was supported by National Key Research Program of China (2016YFA0300702), National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) under the Grant No. 2013CB932901 and 2014CB921104; National Natural Science Foundation of China (11274071, 11504053).

Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition for the dilute planar rotator model on a triangular lattice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun Yunzhou; Yi Lin; Wysin, G. M.

2008-10-15

The Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transition for the dilute planar rotator model on a triangular lattice is studied by using a hybrid Monte Carlo method. The phase-transition temperatures for different nonmagnetic impurity densities are obtained by three approaches: finite-size scaling of plane magnetic susceptibility, helicity modulus, and Binder's fourth cumulant. It is found that the phase-transition temperature decreases with increasing impurity density {rho} and the BKT phase transition vanishes when the magnetic occupancy falls to the site percolation threshold: 1-{rho}{sub c}=p{sub c}=0.5.

Hydrothermal mineralising systems as critical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hobbs, Bruce

2015-04-01

Hydrothermal mineralising systems as critical systems. Bruce E Hobbs1,2, Alison Ord1 and Mark A. Munro1. 1. Centre for Exploration Targeting, The University of Western Australia, M006, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. 2. CSIRO Earth and Resource Engineering, Bentley, WA, Australia Hydrothermal mineralising systems are presented as large, open chemical reactors held far from equilibrium during their life-time by the influx of heat, fluid and dissolved chemical species. As such they are nonlinear dynamical systems and need to be analysed using the tools that have been developed for such systems. Hydrothermal systems undergo a number of transitions during their evolution and this paper focuses on methods for characterising these transitions in a quantitative manner and establishing whether they resemble first or second (critical) phase transitions or whether they have some other kind of nature. Critical phase transitions are characterised by long range correlations for some parameter characteristic of the system, power-law probability distributions so that there is no characteristic length scale and a high sensitivity to perturbations; as one approaches criticality, characteristic parameters for the system scale in a power law manner with distance from the critical point. The transitions undergone in mineralised hydrothermal systems are: (i) widespread, non-localised mineral alteration involving exothermic mineral reactions that produce hydrous silicate phases, carbonates and iron-oxides, (ii) strongly localised veining, brecciation and/or stock-work formation, (iii) a series of endothermic mineral reactions involving the formation of non-hydrous silicates, sulphides and metals such as gold, (iv) multiple repetitions of transitions (ii) and (iii). We have quantified aspects of these transitions in gold deposits from the Yilgarn craton of Western Australia using wavelet transforms. This technique is convenient and fast. It enables one to establish if the transition is multifractal (and if so, quantify the multifractal spectrum) and determine the scale dependence of long range correlations or anti-correlations. The availability of long drill holes with detailed chemical analyses and mineral abundances derived from hyperspectral data enables individual ore bodies to be characterised in a quantitative manner and constraints placed on whether the various transition are possibly critical or of some other form. We also present some simple nonlinear models that produce the multifractal character and correlation scaling relations observed in these data sets,

Local bias-induced phase transitions

DOE PAGES

Seal, Katyayani; Baddorf, Arthur P.; Jesse, Stephen; ...

2008-11-27

Electrical bias-induced phase transitions underpin a wide range of applications from data storage to energy generation and conversion. The mechanisms behind these transitions are often quite complex and in many cases are extremely sensitive to local defects that act as centers for local transformations or pinning. Furthermore, using ferroelectrics as an example, we review methods for probing bias-induced phase transitions and discuss the current limitations and challenges for extending the methods to field-induced phase transitions and electrochemical reactions in energy storage, biological and molecular systems.

Study of magnetoresistance in the supercooled state of Dy-Y alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jena, Rudra Prasad; Lakhani, Archana

2018-02-01

We report the magnetoresistance studies on Dy1-xYx (x ≤ 0.05) alloys across the first order helimagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition. These alloys exhibit multiple magnetic phases on varying the temperature and magnetic field. The magnetoresistance studies in the hysteresis region shows irreversibility in forward and reverse field cycles. The resistivity values at zero field for these alloys after zero field cooling to the measurement temperatures, are different in both forward and reverse field cycles. The path dependence of magnetoresistance suggests the presence of helimagnetic phase as the supercooled metastable state which transforms to the stable ferromagnetic state on increasing the field. At high magnetic fields negative magnetoresistance following a linear dependence with field is observed which is attributed to the magnon scattering.

Discrete Time-Crystalline Order in Cavity and Circuit QED Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Zongping; Hamazaki, Ryusuke; Ueda, Masahito

2018-01-01

Discrete time crystals are a recently proposed and experimentally observed out-of-equilibrium dynamical phase of Floquet systems, where the stroboscopic dynamics of a local observable repeats itself at an integer multiple of the driving period. We address this issue in a driven-dissipative setup, focusing on the modulated open Dicke model, which can be implemented by cavity or circuit QED systems. In the thermodynamic limit, we employ semiclassical approaches and find rich dynamical phases on top of the discrete time-crystalline order. In a deep quantum regime with few qubits, we find clear signatures of a transient discrete time-crystalline behavior, which is absent in the isolated counterpart. We establish a phenomenology of dissipative discrete time crystals by generalizing the Landau theory of phase transitions to Floquet open systems.

Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal.

PubMed

Alert, Ricard; Tierno, Pietro; Casademunt, Jaume

2017-12-05

Mixed-order phase transitions display a discontinuity in the order parameter like first-order transitions yet feature critical behavior like second-order transitions. Such transitions have been predicted for a broad range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. Here, we analytically predict and experimentally realize a mixed-order equilibrium phase transition. Specifically, a discontinuous solid-solid transition in a 2D crystal of paramagnetic colloidal particles is induced by a magnetic field [Formula: see text] At the transition field [Formula: see text], the energy landscape of the system becomes completely flat, which causes diverging fluctuations and correlation length [Formula: see text] Mean-field critical exponents are predicted, since the upper critical dimension of the transition is [Formula: see text] Our colloidal system provides an experimental test bed to probe the unconventional properties of mixed-order phase transitions.

Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alert, Ricard; Tierno, Pietro; Casademunt, Jaume

2017-12-01

Mixed-order phase transitions display a discontinuity in the order parameter like first-order transitions yet feature critical behavior like second-order transitions. Such transitions have been predicted for a broad range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. Here, we analytically predict and experimentally realize a mixed-order equilibrium phase transition. Specifically, a discontinuous solid-solid transition in a 2D crystal of paramagnetic colloidal particles is induced by a magnetic field H. At the transition field Hs, the energy landscape of the system becomes completely flat, which causes diverging fluctuations and correlation length ξ∝|H2-Hs2|-1/2. Mean-field critical exponents are predicted, since the upper critical dimension of the transition is du=2. Our colloidal system provides an experimental test bed to probe the unconventional properties of mixed-order phase transitions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vasileiadis, Thomas; Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, GR-26504 Rio-Patras; Yannopoulos, Spyros N., E-mail: sny@iceht.forth.gr

Controlled photo-induced oxidation and amorphization of elemental trigonal tellurium are achieved by laser irradiation at optical wavelengths. These processes are monitored in situ by time-resolved Raman scattering and ex situ by electron microscopies. Ultrathin TeO₂ films form on Te surfaces, as a result of irradiation, with an interface layer of amorphous Te intervening between them. It is shown that irradiation, apart from enabling the controllable transformation of bulk Te to one-dimensional nanostructures, such as Te nanotubes and hybrid core-Te/sheath-TeO₂ nanowires, causes also a series of light-driven (athermal) phase transitions involving the crystallization of the amorphous TeO₂ layers and its transformationmore » to a multiplicity of crystalline phases including the γ-, β-, and α-TeO₂ crystalline phases. The kinetics of the above photo-induced processes is investigated by Raman scattering at various laser fluences revealing exponential and non-exponential kinetics at low and high fluence, respectively. In addition, the formation of ultrathin (less than 10 nm) layers of amorphous TeO₂ offers the possibility to explore structural transitions in 2D glasses by observing changes in the short- and medium-range structural order induced by spatial confinement.« less

Global quantum discord and quantum phase transition in XY model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Si-Yuan; Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190; Zhang, Yu-Ran, E-mail: yrzhang@iphy.ac.cn

We study the relationship between the behavior of global quantum correlations and quantum phase transitions in XY model. We find that the two kinds of phase transitions in the studied model can be characterized by the features of global quantum discord (GQD) and the corresponding quantum correlations. We demonstrate that the maximum of the sum of all the nearest neighbor bipartite GQDs is effective and accurate for signaling the Ising quantum phase transition, in contrast, the sudden change of GQD is very suitable for characterizing another phase transition in the XY model. This may shed lights on the study ofmore » properties of quantum correlations in different quantum phases.« less

First-order reversal curve of the magnetostructural phase transition in FeTe

DOE PAGES

Frampton, M. K.; Crocker, J.; Gilbert, D. A.; ...

2017-06-05

We apply the first-order reversal curve (FORC) method, adapted from studies of ferromagnetic materials, to the magnetostructural phase transition of Fe 1+yTe. FORC measurements reveal two features in the hysteretic phase transition, even in samples where traditional temperature measurements display only a single transition. For Fe 1.13Te, the influence of magnetic field suggests that the main feature is primarily structural while a smaller, slightly higher-temperature transition is magnetic in origin. By contrast, Fe 1.03Te has a single transition which shows a uniform response to magnetic field, indicating a stronger coupling of the magnetic and structural phase transitions. We also introducemore » uniaxial stress, which spreads the distribution width without changing the underlying energy barrier of the transformation. Finally, the work shows how FORC can help disentangle the roles of the magnetic and structural phase transitions in FeTe.« less

Observation of multiple superconducting gaps in Fe1+y Se x Te 1-x through Andreev reflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de, Debtanu; Diaz-Pinto, Carlos; Wu, Zheng; Hor, Pei-Herng; Peng, Haibing

2011-03-01

Iron-based superconductors have been under intensive study because of the high transition temperature and the intriguing physical mechanisms involving the superconductivity and magnetic orders. Theoretical studies on the role of spin fluctuation suggest unconventional S wave pairing and multiple superconducting (SC) gaps due to the five disjoint Fermi surfaces. However, this multiple SC-gap scenario has yet to be confirmed in experiments. Here we report the experimental observation of five SC gaps in Fe 1+y Se x Te 1-x from Andreev reflection spectra, along with negative differential conductance dips due to the pair breaking related to the largest SC gap. The evolution of the multiple SC gaps is further investigated as a function of both temperature and magnetic field. For the largest SC gap, the Andreev reflection signal persists above bulk Tc, suggesting the existence of phase incoherent Cooper pairs.

Polar Kerr Effect from Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Heavy-Fermion Superconductor PrOs 4 Sb 12

DOE PAGES

Levenson-Falk, Eli M.; Schemm, E. R.; Aoki, Y.; ...

2018-05-04

Here, we present polar Kerr effect measurements of the filled skutterudite superconductor PrOs 4Sb 12. Simultaneous ac susceptibility measurements allow us to observe the superconducting transition under the influence of heating from the optical beam. A nonzero Kerr angle θ K develops below the superconducting transition, saturating at ~300 nrad at low temperatures. This result is repeated across several measurements of multiple samples. By extrapolating the measured θ K(T) to zero optical power, we are able to show that the Kerr angle onset temperature in one set of measurements is consistent with the transition to the B phase at Tmore » C2. We discuss the possible explanations for this result and its impact on the understanding of multiphase and inhomogeneous superconductivity in PrOs 4Sb 12.« less

Polar Kerr Effect from Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Heavy-Fermion Superconductor PrOs 4 Sb 12

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Levenson-Falk, Eli M.; Schemm, E. R.; Aoki, Y.

Here, we present polar Kerr effect measurements of the filled skutterudite superconductor PrOs 4Sb 12. Simultaneous ac susceptibility measurements allow us to observe the superconducting transition under the influence of heating from the optical beam. A nonzero Kerr angle θ K develops below the superconducting transition, saturating at ~300 nrad at low temperatures. This result is repeated across several measurements of multiple samples. By extrapolating the measured θ K(T) to zero optical power, we are able to show that the Kerr angle onset temperature in one set of measurements is consistent with the transition to the B phase at Tmore » C2. We discuss the possible explanations for this result and its impact on the understanding of multiphase and inhomogeneous superconductivity in PrOs 4Sb 12.« less

Taking Ockham's razor to enzyme dynamics and catalysis.

PubMed

Glowacki, David R; Harvey, Jeremy N; Mulholland, Adrian J

2012-01-29

The role of protein dynamics in enzyme catalysis is a matter of intense current debate. Enzyme-catalysed reactions that involve significant quantum tunnelling can give rise to experimental kinetic isotope effects with complex temperature dependences, and it has been suggested that standard statistical rate theories, such as transition-state theory, are inadequate for their explanation. Here we introduce aspects of transition-state theory relevant to the study of enzyme reactivity, taking cues from chemical kinetics and dynamics studies of small molecules in the gas phase and in solution--where breakdowns of statistical theories have received significant attention and their origins are relatively better understood. We discuss recent theoretical approaches to understanding enzyme activity and then show how experimental observations for a number of enzymes may be reproduced using a transition-state-theory framework with physically reasonable parameters. Essential to this simple model is the inclusion of multiple conformations with different reactivity.

Epstein-Barr Viral Productive Amplification Reprograms Nuclear Architecture, DNA Replication and Histone Deposition

PubMed Central

Chiu, Ya-Fang; Sugden, Arthur U.; Sugden, Bill

2014-01-01

Summary The spontaneous transition of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) from latency to productive infection is infrequent, making its analysis in the resulting mixed cell populations difficult. We engineered cells to support this transition efficiently and developed EBV DNA variants that could be visualized and measured as fluorescent signals over multiple cell cycles. This approach revealed that EBV’s productive replication began synchronously for viral DNAs within a cell but asynchronously between cells. EBV DNA amplification was delayed until early S-phase and occurred in factories characterized by the absence of cellular DNA and histones, by a sequential redistribution of PCNA, and by localization away from the nuclear periphery. The earliest amplified DNAs lacked histones accompanying a decline in four histone chaperones. Thus, EBV transitions from being dependent on the cellular replication machinery during latency to commandeering both that machinery and nuclear structure for its own reproductive needs. PMID:24331459

Multiple tipping points and optimal repairing in interacting networks

PubMed Central

Majdandzic, Antonio; Braunstein, Lidia A.; Curme, Chester; Vodenska, Irena; Levy-Carciente, Sary; Eugene Stanley, H.; Havlin, Shlomo

2016-01-01

Systems composed of many interacting dynamical networks—such as the human body with its biological networks or the global economic network consisting of regional clusters—often exhibit complicated collective dynamics. Three fundamental processes that are typically present are failure, damage spread and recovery. Here we develop a model for such systems and find a very rich phase diagram that becomes increasingly more complex as the number of interacting networks increases. In the simplest example of two interacting networks we find two critical points, four triple points, ten allowed transitions and two ‘forbidden' transitions, as well as complex hysteresis loops. Remarkably, we find that triple points play the dominant role in constructing the optimal repairing strategy in damaged interacting systems. To test our model, we analyse an example of real interacting financial networks and find evidence of rapid dynamical transitions between well-defined states, in agreement with the predictions of our model. PMID:26926803

Effect of Molecular Flexibility on the Nematic-to-Isotropic Phase Transition for Highly Biaxial Molecular Non-Symmetric Liquid Crystal Dimers

PubMed Central

Sebastián, Nerea; López, David Orencio; Diez-Berart, Sergio; de la Fuente, María Rosario; Salud, Josep; Pérez-Jubindo, Miguel Angel; Ros, María Blanca

2011-01-01

In this work, a study of the nematic (N)–isotropic (I) phase transition has been made in a series of odd non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers, the α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4’-yloxy)-ω-(1-pyrenimine-benzylidene-4’-oxy) alkanes, by means of accurate calorimetric and dielectric measurements. These materials are potential candidates to present the elusive biaxial nematic (NB) phase, as they exhibit both molecular biaxiality and flexibility. According to the theory, the uniaxial nematic (NU)–isotropic (I) phase transition is first-order in nature, whereas the NB–I phase transition is second-order. Thus, a fine analysis of the critical behavior of the N–I phase transition would allow us to determine the presence or not of the biaxial nematic phase and understand how the molecular biaxiality and flexibility of these compounds influences the critical behavior of the N–I phase transition. PMID:28824100

A Van der Waals-like theory of plasma double layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katz, Ira; Davis, V. A.

1989-01-01

A theory describing plasma double layers in terms of multiple roots of the charge density expression is presented. The theory presented uses the fact that equilibrium plasmas shield small potential perturbations linearly; for high potentials, the shielding decreases. The approach is analogous to Van der Waals' theory of simple fluids in which inclusion of approximate expressions for both excluded volume and long range attractive forces sufficiently describes the first-order liquid-gas phase transition.

Holography for Heavy Ions Collisions at LHC and NICA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aref'eva, Irina

2017-12-01

This is a contribution for the Proceedings of 5th International Conference on New Frontiers in Physics (ICNFP 2016), held at Crete, 6-14 July 2016. Our goal is to obtain phenomenologically reliable insights for the physics of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) from the holography. I briefly review how in the holographical setup one can describe the QGP formation in heavy ion collisions and how to get quantitatively the main characteristics of the QGP formation - the total multiplicity and the thermalization time. To fit the experimental form of dependence of total multiplicity on energy, obtained at LHC, we have to deal with a special anisotropic holographic model, related with the Lifshitz-type background. Our conjecture is that this Lifshitz-type background with non-zero chemical potential can be used to describe future data expected from NICA. In particular, we present the results of calculations the holographic confinement/deconfinement phase transition in the (µ, T) (chemical potential, temperature) plane in this anizotropic background and show the dependence of the transition line on the orientation of the quark pair. This dependence leads to a non-sharp character of physical confinement/deconfinement phase in the (µ, T)-plane. We use the bottom-up soft wall approach incorporating quark confinement deforming factor and vector field providing the non-zero chemical potential. In this model we also estimate the holographic photon production.

Thermodynamic phase transition of a black hole in rainbow gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Zhong-Wen; Yang, Shu-Zheng

2017-09-01

In this letter, using the rainbow functions that were proposed by Magueijo and Smolin, we investigate the thermodynamics and the phase transition of rainbow Schwarzschild black hole. First, we calculate the rainbow gravity corrected Hawking temperature. From this modification, we then derive the local temperature, free energy, and other thermodynamic quantities in an isothermal cavity. Finally, we analyze the critical behavior, thermodynamic stability, and phase transition of the rainbow Schwarzschild black hole. The results show that the rainbow gravity can stop the Hawking radiation in the final stages of black holes' evolution and lead to the remnants of black holes. Furthermore, one can observe that the rainbow Schwarzschild black hole has one first-order phase transition, two second-order phase transitions, and three Hawking-Page-type phase transitions in the framework of rainbow gravity theory.

Ashkin-Teller criticality and weak first-order behavior of the phase transition to a fourfold degenerate state in two-dimensional frustrated Ising antiferromagnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, R. M.; Zhuo, W. Z.; Chen, J.; Qin, M. H.; Zeng, M.; Lu, X. B.; Gao, X. S.; Liu, J.-M.

2017-07-01

We study the thermal phase transition of the fourfold degenerate phases (the plaquette and single-stripe states) in the two-dimensional frustrated Ising model on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice using Monte Carlo simulations. The critical Ashkin-Teller-like behavior is identified both in the plaquette phase region and the single-stripe phase region. The four-state Potts critical end points differentiating the continuous transitions from the first-order ones are estimated based on finite-size-scaling analyses. Furthermore, a similar behavior of the transition to the fourfold single-stripe phase is also observed in the anisotropic triangular Ising model. Thus, this work clearly demonstrates that the transitions to the fourfold degenerate states of two-dimensional Ising antiferromagnets exhibit similar transition behavior.

Structural phase transition in d-benzil characterised by capacitance measurements and neutron powder diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goossens, D. J.; Wu, Xiaodong; Prior, M.

2005-12-01

The ferroelectric phase transition in deuterated benzil, C 14H 10O 2, has been studied using capacitance measurements and neutron powder diffraction. Hydrogenous benzil shows a phase transition at 83.5 K from a high temperature P3 121 phase to a cell-doubled P2 1 phase. The phase transition in d-benzil occurs at 88.1 K, a small isotope effect. Neutron powder diffraction was consistent with a low temperature phase of space group P2 1. Upon deuteration the transition remained first-order and the dynamics of the phenyl ring dominated the behaviour. The isotope effect can be attributed to the difference in mass and moment of inertia between C 6H 5 and C 6D 5.

Mechanism and microstructures in Ga2O3 pseudomartensitic solid phase transition.

PubMed

Zhu, Sheng-Cai; Guan, Shu-Hui; Liu, Zhi-Pan

2016-07-21

Solid-to-solid phase transition, although widely exploited in making new materials, challenges persistently our current theory for predicting its complex kinetics and rich microstructures in transition. The Ga2O3α-β phase transformation represents such a common but complex reaction with marked change in cation coordination and crystal density, which was known to yield either amorphous or crystalline products under different synthetic conditions. Here we, via recently developed stochastic surface walking (SSW) method, resolve for the first time the atomistic mechanism of Ga2O3α-β phase transformation, the pathway of which turns out to be the first reaction pathway ever determined for a new type of diffusionless solid phase transition, namely, pseudomartensitic phase transition. We demonstrate that the sensitivity of product crystallinity is caused by its multi-step, multi-type reaction pathway, which bypasses seven intermediate phases and involves all types of elementary solid phase transition steps, i.e. the shearing of O layers (martensitic type), the local diffusion of Ga atoms (reconstructive type) and the significant lattice dilation (dilation type). While the migration of Ga atoms across the close-packed O layers is the rate-determining step and yields "amorphous-like" high energy intermediates, the shearing of O layers contributes to the formation of coherent biphase junctions and the presence of a crystallographic orientation relation, (001)α//(201[combining macron])β + [120]α//[13[combining macron]2]β. Our experiment using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy further confirms the theoretical predictions on the atomic structure of biphase junction and the formation of (201[combining macron])β twin, and also discovers the late occurrence of lattice expansion in the nascent β phase that grows out from the parent α phase. By distinguishing pseudomartensitic transition from other types of mechanisms, we propose general rules to predict the product crystallinity of solid phase transition. The new knowledge on the kinetics of pseudomartensitic transition complements the theory of diffusionless solid phase transition.

Computation material science of structural-phase transformation in casting aluminium alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golod, V. M.; Dobosh, L. Yu

2017-04-01

Successive stages of computer simulation the formation of the casting microstructure under non-equilibrium conditions of crystallization of multicomponent aluminum alloys are presented. On the basis of computer thermodynamics and heat transfer during solidification of macroscale shaped castings are specified the boundary conditions of local heat exchange at mesoscale modeling of non-equilibrium formation the solid phase and of the component redistribution between phases during coalescence of secondary dendrite branches. Computer analysis of structural - phase transitions based on the principle of additive physico-chemical effect of the alloy components in the process of diffusional - capillary morphological evolution of the dendrite structure and the o of local dendrite heterogeneity which stochastic nature and extent are revealed under metallographic study and modeling by the Monte Carlo method. The integrated computational materials science tools at researches of alloys are focused and implemented on analysis the multiple-factor system of casting processes and prediction of casting microstructure.

Phase Transitions in the Early Universe: The Cosmology of Non-Minimal Scalar Sectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kost, Jeffrey D.

Light scalar fields such as axions and string moduli can play an important role in early-universe cosmology. However, many factors can significantly impact their late-time cosmological abundances. For example, in cases where the potentials for these fields are generated dynamically--such as during cosmological mass-generating phase transitions--the duration of the time interval required for these potentials to fully develop can have significant repercussions. Likewise, in scenarios with multiple scalars, mixing amongst the fields can also give rise to an effective timescale that modifies the resulting late-time abundances. Previous studies have focused on the effects of either the first or the second timescale in isolation. In this thesis, by contrast, we examine the new features that arise from the interplay between these two timescales when both mixing and time-dependent phase transitions are introduced together. First, we find that the effects of these timescales can conspire to alter not only the total late-time abundance of the system--often by many orders of magnitude--but also its distribution across the different fields. Second, we find that these effects can produce large parametric resonances which render the energy densities of the fields highly sensitive to the degree of mixing as well as the duration of the time interval over which the phase transition unfolds. Finally, we find that these effects can even give rise to a "re-overdamping" phenomenon which causes the total energy density of the system to behave in novel ways that differ from those exhibited by pure dark matter or vacuum energy. All of these features therefore give rise to new possibilities for early-universe phenomenology and cosmological evolution. They also highlight the importance of taking into account the time dependence associated with phase transitions in cosmological settings. In the second part of this thesis, we proceed to study the early-universe cosmology of a Kaluza-Klein (KK) tower of scalar fields in the presence of a mass-generating phase transition, focusing on the time-development of the total tower energy density (or relic abundance) as well as its distribution across the different KK modes. We find that both of these features are extremely sensitive to the details of the phase transition and can behave in a variety of ways significant for late-time cosmology. In particular, we find that the interplay between the temporal properties of the phase transition and the mixing it generates are responsible for both enhancements and suppressions in the late-time abundances, sometimes by many orders of magnitude. We map out the complete model parameter space and determine where traditional analytical approximations are valid and where they fail. In the latter cases we also provide new analytical approximations which successfully model our results. Finally, we apply this machinery to the example of an axion-like field in the bulk, mapping these phenomena over an enlarged axion parameter space that extends beyond those accessible to standard treatments. An important by-product of our analysis is the development of an alternate "UV-based" effective truncation of KK theories which has a number of interesting theoretical properties that distinguish it from the more traditional "IR-based" truncation typically used in the literature.

Magnetostructural Phase Diagram of Multiferroic (ND 4) 2FeCl 5.H 2O

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clune, A.; Hughey, K.; Musfeldt, J. L.

2017-02-13

Spin and polarization flop transitions are fascinating, especially when controlled by external stimuli like magnetic and electric field and accompanied by large material responses involving multiple degrees of freedom. Multiferroics like MnWO 4, TbMnO 3, and Ni 3TeO 6 are flagship examples and owe their remarkable properties, for instance field control of polarization and polarization flops combined with spin helix reorientation, to the anisotropy and heavy centers that bring in spin-orbit coupling. The family of A 2FeX 5.H 2O erythrosiderites (A = K, Rb, NH 4; B = Fe, Mn, Co; X = Cl, Br, H 2O) drew our attentionmore » due to the rich chemical tuning possibilities, complex phase diagrams, and topological similarities to oxide multiferroics.1 (NH 4) 2FeCl 5.H 2O is the flagship example (Fig. 1(a)). It displays a high temperature order-disorder transition involving long-range hydrogen bonding of the NH 4 + group and two successive low temperature magnetic transitions below which non-collinear magnetic order and ferroelectricity are established.1 In addition to the magnetically-induced electric polarization that arises below 6.9 K (P = 3 μC/m 2 along a and a smaller component along b), applied field reveals a peculiar hysteretic spin flop transition near 4.5 T above which polarization flops from the a- to the c-axis. There are elastic components as well. Taken together, these findings raise questions about the interactions that induce this behavior and whether additional non-equilibrium phases might be accessed under even higher magnetic fields.« less

Predicting a new phase (T'') of two-dimensional transition metal di-chalcogenides and strain-controlled topological phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Fengxian; Gao, Guoping; Jiao, Yalong; Gu, Yuantong; Bilic, Ante; Zhang, Haijun; Chen, Zhongfang; Du, Aijun

2016-02-01

Single layered transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted tremendous research interest due to their structural phase diversities. By using a global optimization approach, we have discovered a new phase of transition metal dichalcogenides (labelled as T''), which is confirmed to be energetically, dynamically and kinetically stable by our first-principles calculations. The new T'' MoS2 phase exhibits an intrinsic quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect with a nontrivial gap as large as 0.42 eV, suggesting that a two-dimensional (2D) topological insulator can be achieved at room temperature. Most interestingly, there is a topological phase transition simply driven by a small tensile strain of up to 2%. Furthermore, all the known MX2 (M = Mo or W; X = S, Se or Te) monolayers in the new T'' phase unambiguously display similar band topologies and strain controlled topological phase transitions. Our findings greatly enrich the 2D families of transition metal dichalcogenides and offer a feasible way to control the electronic states of 2D topological insulators for the fabrication of high-speed spintronics devices.Single layered transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted tremendous research interest due to their structural phase diversities. By using a global optimization approach, we have discovered a new phase of transition metal dichalcogenides (labelled as T''), which is confirmed to be energetically, dynamically and kinetically stable by our first-principles calculations. The new T'' MoS2 phase exhibits an intrinsic quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect with a nontrivial gap as large as 0.42 eV, suggesting that a two-dimensional (2D) topological insulator can be achieved at room temperature. Most interestingly, there is a topological phase transition simply driven by a small tensile strain of up to 2%. Furthermore, all the known MX2 (M = Mo or W; X = S, Se or Te) monolayers in the new T'' phase unambiguously display similar band topologies and strain controlled topological phase transitions. Our findings greatly enrich the 2D families of transition metal dichalcogenides and offer a feasible way to control the electronic states of 2D topological insulators for the fabrication of high-speed spintronics devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed computational method; structural data of T'' MoS2; DOS of the T'' MoS2 phase under different strains; orbital energy of T'' MoS2 under different strains; electronic structures for all other five MX2 in the T'' phase; edge states of T'' MoS2. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07715j

Modeling thermal inkjet and cell printing process using modified pseudopotential and thermal lattice Boltzmann methods.

PubMed

Sohrabi, Salman; Liu, Yaling

2018-03-01

Pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann methods (LBMs) can simulate a phase transition in high-density ratio multiphase flow systems. If coupled with thermal LBMs through equation of state, they can be used to study instantaneous phase transition phenomena with a high-temperature gradient where only one set of formulations in an LBM system can handle liquid, vapor, phase transition, and heat transport. However, at lower temperatures an unrealistic spurious current at the interface introduces instability and limits its application in real flow system. In this study, we proposed new modifications to the LBM system to minimize a spurious current which enables us to study nucleation dynamic at room temperature. To demonstrate the capabilities of this approach, the thermal ejection process is modeled as one example of a complex flow system. In an inkjet printer, a thermal pulse instantly heats up the liquid in a microfluidic chamber and nucleates bubble vapor providing the pressure pulse necessary to eject droplets at high speed. Our modified method can present a more realistic model of the explosive vaporization process since it can also capture a high-temperature/density gradient at nucleation region. Thermal inkjet technology has been successfully applied for printing cells, but cells are susceptible to mechanical damage or death as they squeeze out of the nozzle head. To study cell deformation, a spring network model, representing cells, is connected to the LBM through the immersed boundary method. Looking into strain and stress distribution of a cell membrane at its most deformed state, it is found that a high stretching rate effectively increases the rupture tension. In other words, membrane deformation energy is released through creation of multiple smaller nanopores rather than big pores. Overall, concurrently simulating multiphase flow, phase transition, heat transfer, and cell deformation in one unified LB platform, we are able to provide a better insight into the bubble dynamic and cell mechanical damage during the printing process.

Modeling thermal inkjet and cell printing process using modified pseudopotential and thermal lattice Boltzmann methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohrabi, Salman; Liu, Yaling

2018-03-01

Pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann methods (LBMs) can simulate a phase transition in high-density ratio multiphase flow systems. If coupled with thermal LBMs through equation of state, they can be used to study instantaneous phase transition phenomena with a high-temperature gradient where only one set of formulations in an LBM system can handle liquid, vapor, phase transition, and heat transport. However, at lower temperatures an unrealistic spurious current at the interface introduces instability and limits its application in real flow system. In this study, we proposed new modifications to the LBM system to minimize a spurious current which enables us to study nucleation dynamic at room temperature. To demonstrate the capabilities of this approach, the thermal ejection process is modeled as one example of a complex flow system. In an inkjet printer, a thermal pulse instantly heats up the liquid in a microfluidic chamber and nucleates bubble vapor providing the pressure pulse necessary to eject droplets at high speed. Our modified method can present a more realistic model of the explosive vaporization process since it can also capture a high-temperature/density gradient at nucleation region. Thermal inkjet technology has been successfully applied for printing cells, but cells are susceptible to mechanical damage or death as they squeeze out of the nozzle head. To study cell deformation, a spring network model, representing cells, is connected to the LBM through the immersed boundary method. Looking into strain and stress distribution of a cell membrane at its most deformed state, it is found that a high stretching rate effectively increases the rupture tension. In other words, membrane deformation energy is released through creation of multiple smaller nanopores rather than big pores. Overall, concurrently simulating multiphase flow, phase transition, heat transfer, and cell deformation in one unified LB platform, we are able to provide a better insight into the bubble dynamic and cell mechanical damage during the printing process.

Apparent critical phenomena in the superionic phase transition of Cu 2-xSe

DOE PAGES

Kang, Stephen Dongmin; Danilkin, Sergey A.; Aydemir, Umut; ...

2016-01-11

The superionic phase transition ofmore » $${\\mathrm{Cu}}_{2-x}\\mathrm{Se}$$ accompanies drastic changes in transport properties. The Seebeck coefficient increases sharply while the electrical conductivity and thermal diffusivity drops. Such behavior has previously been attributed to critical phenomena under the assumption of a continuous phase transition. However, applying Landau's criteria suggests that the transition should be first order. Using the phase diagram that is consistent with a first order transition, we show that the observed transport properties and heat capacity curves can be accounted for and modeled with good agreement. The apparent critical phenomena is shown to be a result of compositional degree-of-freedom. In conclusion, understanding of the phase transition allows to explain the enhancement in the thermoelectric figure-of-merit that is accompanied with the transition.« less

Deviatoric stress-induced phase transitions in diamantane

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Fan; Lin, Yu; Dahl, Jeremy E. P.

2014-10-21

The high-pressure behavior of diamantane was investigated using angle-dispersive synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy in diamond anvil cells. Our experiments revealed that the structural transitions in diamantane were extremely sensitive to deviatoric stress. Under non-hydrostatic conditions, diamantane underwent a cubic (space group Pa3) to a monoclinic phase transition at below 0.15 GPa, the lowest pressure we were able to measure. Upon further compression to 3.5 GPa, this monoclinic phase transformed into another high-pressure monoclinic phase which persisted to 32 GPa, the highest pressure studied in our experiments. However, under more hydrostatic conditions using silicone oil as a pressuremore » medium, the transition pressure to the first high-pressure monoclinic phase was elevated to 7–10 GPa, which coincided with the hydrostatic limit of silicone oil. In another experiment using helium as a pressure medium, no phase transitions were observed to the highest pressure we reached (13 GPa). In addition, large hysteresis and sluggish transition kinetics were observed upon decompression. Over the pressure range where phase transitions were confirmed by XRD, only continuous changes in the Raman spectra were observed. This suggests that these phase transitions are associated with unit cell distortions and modifications in molecular packing rather than the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds under pressure.« less

Multiple pathways in pressure-induced phase transition of coesite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wei; Wu, Xuebang; Liang, Yunfeng; Liu, Changsong; Miranda, Caetano R.; Scandolo, Sandro

2017-12-01

High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction method with precise control of hydrostatic conditions, typically with helium or neon as the pressure-transmitting medium, has significantly changed our view on what happens with low-density silica phases under pressure. Coesite is a prototype material for pressure-induced amorphization. However, it was found to transform into a high-pressure octahedral (HPO) phase, or coesite-II and coesite-III. Given that the pressure is believed to be hydrostatic in two recent experiments, the different transformation pathways are striking. Based on molecular dynamic simulations with an ab initio parameterized potential, we reproduced all of the above experiments in three transformation pathways, including the one leading to an HPO phase. This octahedral phase has an oxygen hcp sublattice featuring 2 × 2 zigzag octahedral edge-sharing chains, however with some broken points (i.e., point defects). It transforms into α-PbO2 phase when it is relaxed under further compression. We show that the HPO phase forms through a continuous rearrangement of the oxygen sublattice toward hcp arrangement. The high-pressure amorphous phases can be described by an fcc and hcp sublattice mixture.

Studies on phase transition temperature of rare earth niobates Ln3NbO7 (Ln = Pr, Sm, Eu) with orthorhombic fluorite-related structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinatsu, Yukio; Doi, Yoshihiro

2017-06-01

The phase transition of ternary rare earth niobates Ln3NbO7 (Ln = Pr, Sm, Eu) was investigated by the measurements of high-temperature and low-temperature X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). These compounds crystallize in an orthorhombic superstructure derived from the structure of cubic fluorite (space group Pnma for Ln = Pr; C2221 for Ln = Sm, Eu). Sm3NbO7 undergoes the phase transition when the temperature is increased through ca. 1080 K and above the transition temperature, its structure is well described with space group Pnma. For Eu3NbO7, the phase transition was not observed up to 1273 K Pr3NbO7 indicates the phase transition when the temperature is increased through ca. 370 K. The change of the phase transition temperature against the Ln ionic radius for Ln3NbO7 is quite different from those for Ln3MO7 (M = Mo, Ru, Re, Os, or Ir), i.e., no systematic relationship between the phase transition temperature and the Ln ionic radius has been observed for Ln3NbO7 compounds.

Order parameter free enhanced sampling of the vapor-liquid transition using the generalized replica exchange method.

PubMed

Lu, Qing; Kim, Jaegil; Straub, John E

2013-03-14

The generalized Replica Exchange Method (gREM) is extended into the isobaric-isothermal ensemble, and applied to simulate a vapor-liquid phase transition in Lennard-Jones fluids. Merging an optimally designed generalized ensemble sampling with replica exchange, gREM is particularly well suited for the effective simulation of first-order phase transitions characterized by "backbending" in the statistical temperature. While the metastable and unstable states in the vicinity of the first-order phase transition are masked by the enthalpy gap in temperature replica exchange method simulations, they are transformed into stable states through the parameterized effective sampling weights in gREM simulations, and join vapor and liquid phases with a succession of unimodal enthalpy distributions. The enhanced sampling across metastable and unstable states is achieved without the need to identify a "good" order parameter for biased sampling. We performed gREM simulations at various pressures below and near the critical pressure to examine the change in behavior of the vapor-liquid phase transition at different pressures. We observed a crossover from the first-order phase transition at low pressure, characterized by the backbending in the statistical temperature and the "kink" in the Gibbs free energy, to a continuous second-order phase transition near the critical pressure. The controlling mechanisms of nucleation and continuous phase transition are evident and the coexistence properties and phase diagram are found in agreement with literature results.

Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal

PubMed Central

Tierno, Pietro; Casademunt, Jaume

2017-01-01

Mixed-order phase transitions display a discontinuity in the order parameter like first-order transitions yet feature critical behavior like second-order transitions. Such transitions have been predicted for a broad range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. Here, we analytically predict and experimentally realize a mixed-order equilibrium phase transition. Specifically, a discontinuous solid–solid transition in a 2D crystal of paramagnetic colloidal particles is induced by a magnetic field H. At the transition field Hs, the energy landscape of the system becomes completely flat, which causes diverging fluctuations and correlation length ξ∝|H2−Hs2|−1/2. Mean-field critical exponents are predicted, since the upper critical dimension of the transition is du=2. Our colloidal system provides an experimental test bed to probe the unconventional properties of mixed-order phase transitions. PMID:29158388

Ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition mechanism in poled PVDF-TrFE copolymer films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pramanick, A.; T. Misture, Scott; Osti, Naresh C.

2017-11-01

Direct experimental insights into the structural and dynamical mechanisms for ferroelectric β to paraelectric α phase transition in a poled PVDF-TrFE copolymer is obtained from in situ x-ray diffraction and quasielastic neutron scattering measurements at high temperatures. It is observed that the β-to-α phase transition proceeds through two energetically distinct processes, which are identified here as the nucleation and growth of an intermediate γ phase with random skew linkages followed by a γ-to-α transition. The two energetically distinct microscopic processes can explain the stages of evolution for β-to-α phase transition observed from heat flow measurements.

Meeting the Late-Career Needs of Faculty Transitioning Through Retirement: One Institution's Approach.

PubMed

Cain, Joanna M; Felice, Marianne E; Ockene, Judith K; Milner, Robert J; Congdon, John L; Tosi, Stephen; Thorndyke, Luanne E

2018-03-01

Medical school faculty are aging, but few academic health centers are adequately prepared with policies, programs, and resources (PPR) to assist late-career faculty. The authors sought to examine cultural barriers to successful retirement and create alignment between individual and institutional needs and tasks through PPR that embrace the contributions of senior faculty while enabling retirement transitions at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2013-2017. Faculty 50 or older were surveyed, programs at other institutions and from the literature (multiple fields) were reviewed, and senior faculty and leaders, including retired faculty, were engaged to develop and implement PPR. Cultural barriers were found to be significant, and a multipronged, multiyear strategy to address these barriers, which sequentially added PPR to support faculty, was put in place. A comprehensive framework of sequenced PPR was developed to address the needs and tasks of late-career transitions within three distinct phases: pre-retirement, retirement, and post-retirement. This sequential introduction approach has led to important outcomes for all three of the retirement phases, including reduction of cultural barriers, a policy that has been useful in assessing viability of proposed phased retirement plans, transparent and realistic discussions about financial issues, and consideration of roles that retired faculty can provide. The authors are tracking the issues mentioned in consultations and efficacy of succession planning, and will be resurveying faculty to further refine their work. This framework approach could serve as a template for other academic health centers to address late-career faculty development.

Interplay between sugar and hormone signaling pathways modulate floral signal transduction

PubMed Central

Matsoukas, Ianis G.

2014-01-01

NOMENCLATURE The following nomenclature will be used in this article: Names of genes are written in italicized upper-case letters, e.g., ABI4.Names of proteins are written in non-italicized upper-case letters, e.g., ABI4.Names of mutants are written in italicized lower-case letters, e.g., abi4. The juvenile-to-adult and vegetative-to-reproductive phase transitions are major determinants of plant reproductive success and adaptation to the local environment. Understanding the intricate molecular genetic and physiological machinery by which environment regulates juvenility and floral signal transduction has significant scientific and economic implications. Sugars are recognized as important regulatory molecules that regulate cellular activity at multiple levels, from transcription and translation to protein stability and activity. Molecular genetic and physiological approaches have demonstrated different aspects of carbohydrate involvement and its interactions with other signal transduction pathways in regulation of the juvenile-to-adult and vegetative-to-reproductive phase transitions. Sugars regulate juvenility and floral signal transduction through their function as energy sources, osmotic regulators and signaling molecules. Interestingly, sugar signaling has been shown to involve extensive connections with phytohormone signaling. This includes interactions with phytohormones that are also important for the orchestration of developmental phase transitions, including gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, and brassinosteroids. This article highlights the potential roles of sugar-hormone interactions in regulation of floral signal transduction, with particular emphasis on Arabidopsis thaliana mutant phenotypes, and suggests possible directions for future research. PMID:25165468

Interplay between sugar and hormone signaling pathways modulate floral signal transduction.

PubMed

Matsoukas, Ianis G

2014-01-01

NOMENCLATURE The following nomenclature will be used in this article: Names of genes are written in italicized upper-case letters, e.g., ABI4.Names of proteins are written in non-italicized upper-case letters, e.g., ABI4.Names of mutants are written in italicized lower-case letters, e.g., abi4. The juvenile-to-adult and vegetative-to-reproductive phase transitions are major determinants of plant reproductive success and adaptation to the local environment. Understanding the intricate molecular genetic and physiological machinery by which environment regulates juvenility and floral signal transduction has significant scientific and economic implications. Sugars are recognized as important regulatory molecules that regulate cellular activity at multiple levels, from transcription and translation to protein stability and activity. Molecular genetic and physiological approaches have demonstrated different aspects of carbohydrate involvement and its interactions with other signal transduction pathways in regulation of the juvenile-to-adult and vegetative-to-reproductive phase transitions. Sugars regulate juvenility and floral signal transduction through their function as energy sources, osmotic regulators and signaling molecules. Interestingly, sugar signaling has been shown to involve extensive connections with phytohormone signaling. This includes interactions with phytohormones that are also important for the orchestration of developmental phase transitions, including gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, and brassinosteroids. This article highlights the potential roles of sugar-hormone interactions in regulation of floral signal transduction, with particular emphasis on Arabidopsis thaliana mutant phenotypes, and suggests possible directions for future research.

Complex magnetic phase diagram with multistep spin-flop transitions in L a0.25P r0.75C o2P2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Xiaoyan; Garlea, V. Ovidiu; Kovnir, Kirill; Thompson, Corey M.; Xu, Tongshuai; Cao, Huibo; Chai, Ping; Tener, Zachary P.; Yan, Shishen; Xiong, Peng; Shatruk, Michael

2017-01-01

L a0.25P r0.75C o2P2 crystallizes in the tetragonal ThC r2S i2 structure type and shows multiple magnetic phase transitions driven by changes in temperature and magnetic field. The nature of these transitions was investigated by a combination of magnetic and magnetoresistance measurements and both single crystal and powder neutron diffraction. The Co magnetic moments order ferromagnetically (FM) parallel to the c axis at 282 K, followed by antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering at 225 K. In the AFM structure, the Co magnetic moments align along the c axis with FM [C o2P2] layers arranged in an alternating sequence, ↑↑↓↓ , which leads to the doubling of the c axis in the magnetic unit cell. Another AFM transition is observed at 27 K, due to the ordering of a half of Pr moments in the a b plane. The other half of Pr moments undergoes AFM ordering along the c axis at 11 K, causing simultaneous reorientation of the previously ordered Pr moments into an AFM structure with the moments being canted with respect to the c axis. This AFM transition causes an abrupt decrease in electrical resistivity at 11 K. Under applied magnetic field, two metamagnetic transitions are observed in the Pr sublattice at 0.8 and 5.4 T. They correlate with two anomalies in magnetoresistance measurements at the same critical fields. A comparison of the temperature- and field-dependent magnetic properties of L a0.25P r0.75C o2P2 to the magnetic behavior of PrC o2P2 is provided.

Magnetocaloric effects and electrical resistivity of Ni2Mn0.55CoxCr0.45-xGa - A Heusler alloy system exhibiting a partially-decoupled first-order phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brock, Jeffrey; Khan, Mahmud

2018-05-01

The phase transitions and associated magnetocaloric properties of the Ni2Mn0.55CoxCr0.45-xGa (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) Heusler alloy system have been investigated. All samples exhibit a first-order martensitic phase transition, evidenced by a sharp drop in the resistivity versus temperature data and a thermomagnetic irreversibility in the dc magnetization data of the respective samples. Large magnetic entropy changes have also been observed near the phase transitions. The martensitic transformation temperature increases as Cr is partially replaced with Co. Additionally, this substitution leads to a partial decoupling of the magnetic and structural phase transitions, dramatically suppressing any magnetic hysteresis losses. Furthermore, the change in electrical resistivity during the phase transition remains relatively constant across the system, despite major changes in the degree of structural disorder and magnetostructural phase transition coupling. Detailed experimental results and conjectures as to the origin of these behaviors have been provided.

Microscopic Description of Thermodynamics of Lipid Membrane at Liquid-Gel Phase Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kheyfets, B.; Galimzyanov, T.; Mukhin, S.

2018-05-01

A microscopic model of the lipid membrane is constructed that provides analytically tractable description of the physical mechanism of the first order liquid-gel phase transition. We demonstrate that liquid-gel phase transition is cooperative effect of the three major interactions: inter-lipid van der Waals attraction, steric repulsion and hydrophobic tension. The model explicitly shows that temperature-dependent inter-lipid steric repulsion switches the system from liquid to gel phase when the temperature decreases. The switching manifests itself in the increase of lateral compressibility of the lipids as the temperature decreases, making phase with smaller area more preferable below the transition temperature. The model gives qualitatively correct picture of abrupt change at transition temperature of the area per lipid, membrane thickness and volume per hydrocarbon group in the lipid chains. The calculated dependence of phase transition temperature on lipid chain length is in quantitative agreement with experimental data. Steric repulsion between the lipid molecules is shown to be the only driver of the phase transition, as van der Waals attraction and hydrophobic tension are weakly temperature dependent.

Lattice parameters and structural phase transition of lanthanum titanate perovskite, La0.68(Ti0.95,Al0.05)O3.

PubMed

Ali, Roushown; Yashima, Masatomo

2003-05-01

Lattice parameters and the structural phase transition of La(0.68)(Ti(0.95),Al(0.05))O(3) have been investigated in situ in the temperature range 301-689 K by the synchrotron radiation powder diffraction (SR-PD) technique. High-angular-resolution SR-PD is confirmed to be a powerful technique for determining precise lattice parameters around a phase-transition temperature. The title compound exhibits a reversible phase transition between orthorhombic and tetragonal phases at 622.3 +/- 0.6 K. The following results were obtained: (i) the lattice parameters increased continuously with temperature, while the b/a ratio decreased continuously with temperature and became unity at the orthorhombic-tetragonal transition point; (ii) no hysteresis was observed between the lattice-parameter values measured on heating and on cooling. Results (i) and (ii) indicate that the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition is continuous and reversible. The b/a ratio is found to exhibit a more continuous temperature evolution than does the order parameter for a typical second-order phase transition based on Landau theory.

Gravitation waves from QCD and electroweak phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yidian; Huang, Mei; Yan, Qi-Shu

2018-05-01

We investigate the gravitation waves produced from QCD and electroweak phase transitions in the early universe by using a 5-dimension holographic QCD model and a holographic technicolor model. The dynamical holographic QCD model is to describe the pure gluon system, where a first order confinement-deconfinement phase transition can happen at the critical temperature around 250 MeV. The minimal holographic technicolor model is introduced to model the strong dynamics of electroweak, it can give a first order electroweak phase transition at the critical temperature around 100-360 GeV. We find that for both GW signals produced from QCD and EW phase transitions, in the peak frequency region, the dominant contribution comes from the sound waves, while away from the peak frequency region the contribution from the bubble collision is dominant. The peak frequency of gravitation wave determined by the QCD phase transition is located around 10-7 Hz which is within the detectability of FAST and SKA, and the peak frequency of gravitational wave predicted by EW phase transition is located at 0.002 - 0.007 Hz, which might be detectable by BBO, DECIGO, LISA and ELISA.

Amorphous-amorphous transition in a porous coordination polymer.

PubMed

Ohtsu, Hiroyoshi; Bennett, Thomas D; Kojima, Tatsuhiro; Keen, David A; Niwa, Yasuhiro; Kawano, Masaki

2017-07-04

The amorphous state plays a key role in porous coordination polymer and metal-organic framework phase transitions. We investigate a crystalline-to-amorphous-to-amorphous-to-crystalline (CAAC) phase transition in a Zn based coordination polymer, by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. We show that the system shows two distinct amorphous phases upon heating. The first involves a reversible transition to a desolvated form of the original network, followed by an irreversible transition to an intermediate phase which has elongated Zn-I bonds.

Calorimetric and spectroscopic studies of the thermotropic phase behavior of lipid bilayer model membranes composed of a homologous series of linear saturated phosphatidylserines.

PubMed Central

Lewis, R N; McElhaney, R N

2000-01-01

The thermotropic phase behavior of lipid bilayer model membranes composed of the even-numbered, N-saturated 1,2-diacyl phosphatidylserines was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and by Fourier-transform infrared and (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At pH 7.0, 0.1 M NaCl and in the absence of divalent cations, aqueous dispersions of these lipids, which have not been incubated at low temperature, exhibit a single calorimetrically detectable phase transition that is fully reversible, highly cooperative, and relatively energetic, and the transition temperatures and enthalpies increase progressively with increases in hydrocarbon chain length. Our spectroscopic observations confirm that this thermal event is a lamellar gel (L(beta))-to-lamellar liquid crystalline (L(alpha)) phase transition. However, after low temperature incubation, the L(beta)/L(alpha) phase transition of dilauroyl phosphatidylserine is replaced by a higher temperature, more enthalpic, and less cooperative phase transition, and an additional lower temperature, less enthalpic, and less cooperative phase transition appears in the longer chain phosphatidylserines. Our spectroscopic results indicate that this change in thermotropic phase behavior when incubated at low temperatures results from the conversion of the L(beta) phase to a highly ordered lamellar crystalline (L(c)) phase. Upon heating, the L(c) phase of dilauroyl phosphatidylserine converts directly to the L(alpha) phase at a temperature slightly higher than that of its original L(beta)/L(alpha) phase transition. Calorimetrically, this process is manifested by a less cooperative but considerably more energetic, higher-temperature phase transition, which replaces the weaker L(beta)/L(alpha) phase transition alluded to above. However, with the longer chain compounds, the L(c) phase first converts to the L(beta) phase at temperatures some 10-25 degrees C below that at which the L(beta) phase converts to the L(alpha) phase. Our results also suggest that shorter chain homologues form L(c) phases that are structurally related to, but more ordered than, those formed by the longer chain homologues, but that these L(c) phases are less ordered than those formed by other phospholipids. These studies also suggest that polar/apolar interfaces of the phosphatidylserine bilayers are more hydrated than those of other glycerolipid bilayers, possibly because of interactions between the polar headgroup and carbonyl groups of the fatty acyl chains. PMID:11023908

Two-order parameters theory of the metal-insulator phase transition kinetics in the magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubovskii, L. B.

2018-05-01

The metal-insulator phase transition is considered within the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau approach for the phase transition described with two coupled order parameters. One of the order parameters is the mass density which variation is responsible for the origin of nonzero overlapping of the two different electron bands and the appearance of free electron carriers. This transition is assumed to be a first-order phase one. The free electron carriers are described with the vector-function representing the second-order parameter responsible for the continuous phase transition. This order parameter determines mostly the physical properties of the metal-insulator transition and leads to a singularity of the surface tension at the metal-insulator interface. The magnetic field is involved into the consideration of the system. The magnetic field leads to new singularities of the surface tension at the metal-insulator interface and results in a drastic variation of the phase transition kinetics. A strong singularity in the surface tension results from the Landau diamagnetism and determines anomalous features of the metal-insulator transition kinetics.

Boundaries for martensitic transition of 7Li under pressure

DOE PAGES

Schaeffer, Anne Marie; Cai, Weizhao; Olejnik, Ella; ...

2015-08-14

We report that physical properties of lithium under extreme pressures continuously reveal unexpected features. These include a sequence of structural transitions to lower symmetry phases, metal-insulator-metal transition, superconductivity with one of the highest elemental transition temperatures, and a maximum followed by a minimum in its melting line. The instability of the bcc structure of lithium is well established by the presence of a temperature-driven martensitic phase transition. The boundaries of this phase, however, have not been previously explored above 3 GPa. All higher pressure phase boundaries are either extrapolations or inferred based on indirect evidence. Here we explore the pressuremore » dependence of the martensitic transition of lithium up to 7 GPa using a combination of neutron and X-ray scattering. We find a rather unexpected deviation from the extrapolated boundaries of the hR3 phase of lithium. Furthermore, there is evidence that, above ~3 GPa, once in fcc phase, lithium does not undergo a martensitic transition.« less

Pressure induced phase transitions in ceramic compounds containing tetragonal zirconia

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sparks, R.G.; Pfeiffer, G.; Paesler, M.A.

Stabilized tetragonal zirconia compounds exhibit a transformation toughening process in which stress applied to the material induces a crystallographic phase transition. The phase transition is accompanied by a volume expansion in the stressed region thereby dissipating stress and increasing the fracture strength of the material. The hydrostatic component of the stress required to induce the phase transition can be investigated by the use of a high pressure technique in combination with Micro-Raman spectroscopy. The intensity of Raman lines characteristic for the crystallographic phases can be used to calculate the amount of material that has undergone the transition as a functionmore » of pressure. It was found that pressures on the order of 2-5 kBar were sufficient to produce an almost complete transition from the original tetragonal to the less dense monoclinic phase; while a further increase in pressure caused a gradual reversal of the transition back to the original tetragonal structure.« less

Tunable phase transition in single-layer TiSe2 via electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lei; Zhuang, Houlong L.

2018-06-01

Phase transition represents an intriguing physical phenomenon that exists in a number of single-layer transition-metal dichalcogenides. This phenomenon often occurs below a critical temperature and breaks the long-range crystalline order leading to a reconstructed superstructure called the charge-density wave (CDW) structure, which can therefore be recovered by external stimuli such as temperature. Alternatively, we show here that another external stimulation, electric field can also result in the phase transition between the regular and CDW structures of a single-layer transition-metal dichalcogenide. We used single-layer TiSe2 as an example to elucidate the mechanism of the CDW followed by calculations of the electronic structure using a hybrid density functional. We found that applying electric field can tune the phase transition between the 1T and CDW phases of single-layer TiSe2. Our work opens up a route of tuning the phase transition of single-layer materials via electric field.

Pressure-induced Lifshitz and structural transitions in NbAs and TaAs: experiments and theory.

PubMed

Gupta, Satyendra Nath; Singh, Anjali; Pal, Koushik; Muthu, D V S; Shekhar, C; Elghazali, Moaz A; Naumov, Pavel G; Medvedev, Sergey A; Felser, C; Waghmare, U V; Sood, A K

2018-05-10

High pressure Raman, resistivity and synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies on Weyl semimetals NbAs and TaAs have been carried out along with density functional theoretical (DFT) analysis to explain pressure induced structural and electronic topological phase transitions. The frequencies of first order Raman modes harden with increasing pressure, exhibiting a slope change at [Formula: see text] GPa for NbAs and [Formula: see text] GPa for TaAs. The resistivities of NbAs and TaAs exhibit a minimum at pressures close to these transition pressures and also a change in the bulk modulus is observed. Our first-principles calculations reveal that the transition is associated with an electronic Lifshitz transition at [Formula: see text] for NbAs while it is a structural phase transition from body centered tetragonal to hexagonal phase at [Formula: see text] for TaAs. Further, our DFT calculations show a structural phase transition at 24 GPa from body centered tetragonal phase to hexagonal phase.

Organizing Multiple Femtosecond Filaments in Air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Méchain, G.; Couairon, A.; Franco, M.; Prade, B.; Mysyrowicz, A.

2004-07-01

We show that it is possible to organize regular filamentation patterns in air by imposing either strong field gradients or phase distortions in the input-beam profile of an intense femtosecond laser pulse. A comparison between experiments and 3+1 dimensional numerical simulations confirms this concept and shows for the first time that a control of the transport of high intensities over long distances may be achieved by forcing this well ordered propagation regime. In this case, deterministic effects prevail in multiple femtosecond filamentation, and no transition to the optical turbulence regime is obtained [

The α-γ-ɛ triple point and phase boundaries of iron under shock compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jun; Wu, Qiang; Xue, Tao; Geng, Huayun; Yu, Jidong; Jin, Ke; Li, Jiabo; Tan, Ye; Xi, Feng

2017-07-01

The phase transition of iron under shock compression has attracted much attention in recent decades because of its importance in fields such as condensed matter physics, geophysics, and metallurgy. At room temperature, the transition of iron from the α-phase (bcc) to the ɛ-phase (hpc) occurs at a stress of 13 GPa. At high temperature, a triple point followed by transformation to the γ-phase (fcc) is expected. However, the details of the high-temperature phase transitions of iron are still under debate. Here, we investigate the phase-transition behavior of polycrystalline iron under compression from room temperature to 820 K. The results show that the shock-induced phase transition is determined unequivocally from the measured three-wave-structure profiles, which clearly consist of an elastic wave, a plastic wave, and a phase-transition wave. The phase transition is temperature-dependent, with an average rate Δσtr/ΔT of -6.91 MPa/K below 700 K and -34.7 MPa/K at higher temperatures. The shock α-ɛ and α-γ phase boundaries intersect at 10.6 ± 0.53 GPa and 763 K, which agrees with the α-ɛ-γ triple point from early shock wave experiments and recent laser-heated diamond-anvil cell resistivity and in situ X-ray diffraction data but disagrees with the shock pressure-temperature phase diagram reported in 2009 by Zaretsky [J. Appl. Phys. 106, 023510 (2009)].

Exploring the transition from registered nurse to family nurse practitioner.

PubMed

Poronsky, Cathlin Buckingham

2013-01-01

There is limited information available regarding the transition from registered nurse (RN) to family nurse practitioner (FNP). Several authors described this transition as taking place in 4 stages, and others described it as a 2-phase process. However, there is a lack of consensus about the definition of these stages and phases and at what point they occur for nurses who are making the transition from an RN to an FNP. From what is known, this multistage/2-phase transition is accompanied by feelings of anxiety, stress, role confusion, and emotional turmoil. As a nurse faculty member, the author theorized that nurse faculty might be in a position to provide support for graduate students making this transition in role. However, there was little information available about the transition phases, stages, and needs of students during graduate school. The search for a framework to explore transition yielded transition theory, which is described and applied to FNP transition in this article. Transition theory may be useful for examining more fully the phases and stages of RN-to-FNP transition. In this time of increased need for qualified primary care providers, it is essential that graduates of FNP programs transition into practice following graduation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Kibble-Zurek mechanism in phase transitions of non-equilibrium systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, Hil F. H.; Patil, Yogesh S.; Date, Aditya G.; Vengalattore, Mukund

2017-04-01

We experimentally realize a driven-dissipative phase transition using a mechanical parametric amplifier to demonstrate key signatures of a second order phase transition, including a point where the susceptibilities and relaxation time scales diverge, and where the system exhibits a spontaneous breaking of symmetry. Though reminiscent of conventional equilibrium phase transitions, it is unclear if such driven-dissipative phase transitions are amenable to the conventional Landau-Ginsburg-Wilson paradigm, which relies on concepts of scale invariance and universality, and recent work has shown that such phase transitions can indeed lie beyond such conventional universality classes. By quenching the system past the critical point, we investigate the dynamics of the emergent ordered phase and find that our measurements are in excellent agreement with the Kibble-Zurek mechanism. In addition to verifying the Kibble-Zurek hypothesis in driven-dissipative phase transitions for the first time, we also demonstrate that the measured critical exponents accurately reflect the interplay between intrinsic coherent dynamics and environmental correlations, showing a clear departure from mean field exponents in the case of non-Markovian system-bath interactions. We further discuss how reservoir engineering and the imposition of artificial environmental correlations can result in the stabilization of novel many-body quantum phases and aid in the creation of exotic non-equilibrium states of matter.

High pressure ferroelastic phase transition in SrTiO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salje, E. K. H.; Guennou, M.; Bouvier, P.; Carpenter, M. A.; Kreisel, J.

2011-07-01

High pressure measurements of the ferroelastic phase transition of SrTiO3 (Guennou et al 2010 Phys. Rev. B 81 054115) showed a linear pressure dependence of the transition temperature between the cubic and tetragonal phase. Furthermore, the pressure induced transition becomes second order while the temperature dependent transition is near a tricritical point. The phase transition mechanism is characterized by the elongation and tilt of the TiO6 octahedra in the tetragonal phase, which leads to strongly nonlinear couplings between the structural order parameter, the volume strain and the applied pressure. The phase diagram is derived from the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship and is directly related to a pressure dependent Landau potential. The nonlinearities of the pressure dependent strains lead to an increase of the fourth order Landau coefficient with increasing pressure and, hence, to a tricritical-second order crossover. This behaviour is reminiscent of the doping related crossover in isostructural KMnF3.

Continuous Easy-Plane Deconfined Phase Transition on the Kagome Lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xue-Feng; He, Yin-Chen; Eggert, Sebastian; Moessner, Roderich; Pollmann, Frank

2018-03-01

We use large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations to study an extended Hubbard model of hard core bosons on the kagome lattice. In the limit of strong nearest-neighbor interactions at 1 /3 filling, the interplay between frustration and quantum fluctuations leads to a valence bond solid ground state. The system undergoes a quantum phase transition to a superfluid phase as the interaction strength is decreased. It is still under debate whether the transition is weakly first order or represents an unconventional continuous phase transition. We present a theory in terms of an easy plane noncompact C P1 gauge theory describing the phase transition at 1 /3 filling. Utilizing large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations with parallel tempering in the canonical ensemble up to 15552 spins, we provide evidence that the phase transition is continuous at exactly 1 /3 filling. A careful finite size scaling analysis reveals an unconventional scaling behavior hinting at deconfined quantum criticality.

Anomalous structural transition of confined hard squares.

PubMed

Gurin, Péter; Varga, Szabolcs; Odriozola, Gerardo

2016-11-01

Structural transitions are examined in quasi-one-dimensional systems of freely rotating hard squares, which are confined between two parallel walls. We find two competing phases: one is a fluid where the squares have two sides parallel to the walls, while the second one is a solidlike structure with a zigzag arrangement of the squares. Using transfer matrix method we show that the configuration space consists of subspaces of fluidlike and solidlike phases, which are connected with low probability microstates of mixed structures. The existence of these connecting states makes the thermodynamic quantities continuous and precludes the possibility of a true phase transition. However, thermodynamic functions indicate strong tendency for the phase transition and our replica exchange Monte Carlo simulation study detects several important markers of the first order phase transition. The distinction of a phase transition from a structural change is practically impossible with simulations and experiments in such systems like the confined hard squares.

Thermodynamics and glassy phase transition of regular black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javed, Wajiha; Yousaf, Z.; Akhtar, Zunaira

2018-05-01

This paper is aimed to study thermodynamical properties of phase transition for regular charged black holes (BHs). In this context, we have considered two different forms of BH metrics supplemented with exponential and logistic distribution functions and investigated the recent expansion of phase transition through grand canonical ensemble. After exploring the corresponding Ehrenfest’s equation, we found the second-order background of phase transition at critical points. In order to check the critical behavior of regular BHs, we have evaluated some corresponding explicit relations for the critical temperature, pressure and volume and draw certain graphs with constant values of Smarr’s mass. We found that for the BH metric with exponential configuration function, the phase transition curves are divergent near the critical points, while glassy phase transition has been observed for the Ayón-Beato-García-Bronnikov (ABGB) BH in n = 5 dimensions.

Weak arrest-like and field-driven first order magnetic phase transitions of itinerant Fe3Ga4 revealed by magnetization and magnetoresistance isotherms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samatham, S. Shanmukharao; Suresh, K. G.

2017-01-01

The detailed magnetic study of complex 3d-electron based Fe3Ga4 is reported. It undergoes paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic (TN) and antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic (TC) transitions respectively around 380 and 70 K. The thermal hysteresis of field-cooled cooling (FCC) and field-cooled warming (FCW) hints at first order phase transition below Curie temperature. A weak phase coexistence of ferro and antiferromagnetic phases is suggested by exploring the arrest-like first-order phenomenon. In the intermediate temperature range, field-driven metamagnetic transition from antiferro to ferromagnetic phase is confirmed. Further bringing the system very near to TN, field-induced transitions disappear and above TN predominant paramagnetic contribution is evident. The magnetic H-T phase diagram distinguishing different magnetic phases of Fe3Ga4 is obtained.

Nonequilibrium Phase Precursors during a Photoexcited Insulator-to-Metal Transition in V2O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singer, Andrej; Ramirez, Juan Gabriel; Valmianski, Ilya; Cela, Devin; Hua, Nelson; Kukreja, Roopali; Wingert, James; Kovalchuk, Olesya; Glownia, James M.; Sikorski, Marcin; Chollet, Matthieu; Holt, Martin; Schuller, Ivan K.; Shpyrko, Oleg G.

2018-05-01

Here, we photoinduce and directly observe with x-ray scattering an ultrafast enhancement of the structural long-range order in the archetypal Mott system V2O3 . Despite the ultrafast increase in crystal symmetry, the change of unit cell volume occurs an order of magnitude slower and coincides with the insulator-to-metal transition. The decoupling between the two structural responses in the time domain highlights the existence of a transient photoinduced precursor phase, which is distinct from the two structural phases present in equilibrium. X-ray nanoscopy reveals that acoustic phonons trapped in nanoscale twin domains govern the dynamics of the ultrafast transition into the precursor phase, while nucleation and growth of metallic domains dictate the duration of the slower transition into the metallic phase. The enhancement of the long-range order before completion of the electronic transition demonstrates the critical role the nonequilibrium structural phases play during electronic phase transitions in correlated electrons systems.

Thermodynamic, crystallographic, and dielectric study of the nature of glass transitions in cyclo-octanol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puertas, Ricardo; Rute, Maria A.; Salud, Josep; López, David O.; Diez, Sergio; van Miltenburg, J. Kees; Pardo, Luis C.; Tamarit, Josep Ll.; Barrio, Maria; Pérez-Jubindo, Miguel A.; de La Fuente, Maria R.

2004-06-01

The stable solid polymorphism of cyclooctanol (C8H16O, for short C8 OH) is revealed to be a complex problem and only two stable solid phases, denoted on cooling from the liquid as phases I and II, are found using static (thermodynamic and x-ray diffraction) as well as dynamic (dielectric spectroscopy) experimental techniques. Both solid phases are known to exhibit glass transitions if they are cooled down fast enough to prevent transition to ordered crystalline states. Although glass transitions corresponding to both phases had been well documented by means of specific heat measurements, x-ray measurements constitute, as far as we know, the first evidence from the structural point of view. In addition, a great amount of dielectric works devoted to phase I and its glass transition, were published in the past but next to nothing relating to the dielectric properties of phase II and its glass transition. The nature of the disorder of phase II will be discussed.

Phase diagram of two-dimensional hard ellipses.

PubMed

Bautista-Carbajal, Gustavo; Odriozola, Gerardo

2014-05-28

We report the phase diagram of two-dimensional hard ellipses as obtained from replica exchange Monte Carlo simulations. The replica exchange is implemented by expanding the isobaric ensemble in pressure. The phase diagram shows four regions: isotropic, nematic, plastic, and solid (letting aside the hexatic phase at the isotropic-plastic two-step transition [E. P. Bernard and W. Krauth, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 155704 (2011)]). At low anisotropies, the isotropic fluid turns into a plastic phase which in turn yields a solid for increasing pressure (area fraction). Intermediate anisotropies lead to a single first order transition (isotropic-solid). Finally, large anisotropies yield an isotropic-nematic transition at low pressures and a high-pressure nematic-solid transition. We obtain continuous isotropic-nematic transitions. For the transitions involving quasi-long-range positional ordering, i.e., isotropic-plastic, isotropic-solid, and nematic-solid, we observe bimodal probability density functions. This supports first order transition scenarios.

Learning phase transitions by confusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Nieuwenburg, Evert; Liu, Ye-Hua; Huber, Sebastian

Classifying phases of matter is a central problem in physics. For quantum mechanical systems, this task can be daunting owing to the exponentially large Hilbert space. Thanks to the available computing power and access to ever larger data sets, classification problems are now routinely solved using machine learning techniques. Here, we propose to use a neural network based approach to find transitions depending on the performance of the neural network after training it with deliberately incorrectly labelled data. We demonstrate the success of this method on the topological phase transition in the Kitaev chain, the thermal phase transition in the classical Ising model, and the many-body-localization transition in a disordered quantum spin chain. Our method does not depend on order parameters, knowledge of the topological content of the phases, or any other specifics of the transition at hand. It therefore paves the way to a generic tool to identify unexplored transitions.

Phase transition in the (Li 0.5-( x/2) K 0.5-( x/2) Cs x) 2SO 4 system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamed, A. E.; El-Aziz, Y. M. Abd.; Madi, N. K.; Kassem, M. E.

1995-12-01

Phase transition in the (Li 0.5-( x/2) K 0.5-( x/2) Cs x) 2SO 4 system was studied by measuring the specific heat at constant pressure, C p, as a function of temperature in the temperature range 300-800 K. For non-zero values of X ( X = 0.2%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%) the critical behaviour of the phase transition was found to change considerably compared with that of X = 0 or pure LiKSO 4. The observed change in the phase transition with increase of Cs 2SO 4 content ( X) was accompanied by a decrease in the thermodynamic parameters: the value of the specific heat at the transition point (Δ C P) max, the transition temperature, T1, and the value of the energy of ordering. The results were interpreted within the Landau thermodynamic theory of the phase transition.

Phase transitions in the common brainstem and related systems investigated by nonstationary time series analysis.

PubMed

Lambertz, M; Vandenhouten, R; Grebe, R; Langhorst, P

2000-01-14

Neuronal activities of the reticular formation (RF) of the lower brainstem and the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS, first relay station of baroreceptor afferents) were recorded together in the anesthized dog with related parameters of EEG, respiration and cardiovascular system. The RF neurons are part of the common brainstem system (CBS) which participates in regulation and coordination of cardiovascular, respiratory, somatomotor systems, and vigilance. Multiple time series of these physiological subsystems yield useful information about internal dynamic coordination of the organism. Essential problems are nonlinearity and instationarity of the signals, due to the dynamic complexity of the systems. Several time-resolving methods are presented to describe nonlinear dynamic couplings in the time course, particularly during phase transitions. The methods are applied to the recorded signals representing the complex couplings of the physiological subsystems. Phase transitions in these systems are detected by recurrence plots of the instationary signals. The pointwise transinformation and the pointwise conditional coupling divergence are measures of the mutual interaction of the subsystems in the state space. If the signals show marked rhythms, instantaneous frequencies and their shiftings are demonstrated by time frequency distributions, and instantaneous phase differences show couplings of oscillating subsystems. Transient signal components are reconstructed by wavelet packet time selective transient reconstruction. These methods are useful means for analyzing coupling characteristics of the complex physiological system, and detailed analyses of internal dynamic coordination of subsystems become possible. During phase transitions of the functional organization (a) the rhythms of the central neuronal activities and the peripheral systems are altered, (b) changes in the coupling between CBS neurons and cardiovascular signals, respiration and the EEG, and (c) between NTS neurons (influenced by baroreceptor afferents) and CBS neurons occur, and (d) the processing of baroreceptor input at the NTS neurons changes. The results of this complex analysis, which could not be done formerly in this manner, confirm and complete former investigations on the dynamic organization of the CBS with its changing relations to peripheral and other central nervous subsystems.

Pressure induced phase transition and elastic properties of cerium mono-nitride (CeN)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yaduvanshi, Namrata, E-mail: namrata-yaduvanshi@yahoo.com; Singh, Sadhna

2016-05-23

In the present paper, we have investigated the high-pressure structural phase transition and elastic properties of cerium mono-nitride. We studied theoretically the structural properties of this compound (CeN) by using the improved interaction potential model (IIPM) approach. This compound exhibits first order crystallographic phase transition from NaCl (B{sub 1}) to tetragonal (BCT) phase at 37 GPa. The phase transition pressures and associated volume collapse obtained from present potential model (IIPM) show a good agreement with available theoretical data.

Nonequilibrium Phase Transition in a Model for Social Influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellano, Claudio; Marsili, Matteo; Vespignani, Alessandro

2000-10-01

We present extensive numerical simulations of the Axelrod's model for social influence, aimed at understanding the formation of cultural domains. This is a nonequilibrium model with short range interactions and a remarkably rich dynamical behavior. We study the phase diagram of the model and uncover a nonequilibrium phase transition separating an ordered (culturally polarized) phase from a disordered (culturally fragmented) one. The nature of the phase transition can be continuous or discontinuous depending on the model parameters. At the transition, the size of cultural regions is power-law distributed.

Electrical conduction mechanism and phase transition studies using dielectric properties and Raman spectroscopy in ferroelectric Pb0.76Ca0.24TiO3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pontes, F. M.; Pontes, D. S. L.; Leite, E. R.; Longo, E.; Chiquito, A. J.; Pizani, P. S.; Varela, J. A.

2003-12-01

We have studied the phase transition behavior of Pb0.76Ca0.24TiO3 thin films using Raman scattering and dielectric measurement techniques. We also have studied the leakage current conduction mechanism as a function of temperature for these thin films on platinized silicon substrates. A Pb0.76Ca0.24TiO3 thin film was prepared using a soft chemical process, called the polymeric precursor method. The results showed that the dependence of the dielectric constant upon the frequency does not reveal any relaxor behavior. However, a diffuse character-type phase transition was observed upon transformation from a cubic paraelectric phase to a tetragonal ferroelectric phase. The temperature dependency of Raman scattering spectra was investigated through the ferroelectric phase transition. The soft mode showed a marked dependence on temperature and its disappearance at about 598 K. On the other hand, Raman modes persist above the tetragonal to cubic phase transition temperature, although all optical modes should be Raman inactive above the phase transition temperature. The origin of these modes must be interpreted in terms of a local breakdown of cubic symmetry by some kind of disorder. The lack of a well-defined transition temperature suggested a diffuse-type phase transition. This result corroborate the dielectric constant versus temperature data, which showed a broad ferroelectric phase transition in the thin film. The leakage current density of the PCT24 thin film was studied at elevated temperatures, and the data were well fitted by the Schottky emission model. The Schottky barrier height of the PCT24 thin film was estimated to be 1.49 eV.

Phased models for evaluating the performability of computing systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, L. T.; Meyer, J. F.

1979-01-01

A phase-by-phase modelling technique is introduced to evaluate a fault tolerant system's ability to execute different sets of computational tasks during different phases of the control process. Intraphase processes are allowed to differ from phase to phase. The probabilities of interphase state transitions are specified by interphase transition matrices. Based on constraints imposed on the intraphase and interphase transition probabilities, various iterative solution methods are developed for calculating system performability.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tanaka, Masaomi; Nozawa, Takaya; Maeda, Keiichi

Most of the observational studies of supernova (SN) explosions are limited to early phases (100 yr) in our Galaxy or very nearby galaxies. SNe at the epoch between these two, which we call the 'transitional' phase, have not been explored in detail except for several extragalactic SNe including SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We present theoretical predictions for the infrared (IR) dust emissions by several mechanisms; emission from dust formed in the SN ejecta, light echo by circumstellar (CS) and interstellar (IS) dust, and emission from shocked CS dust. We search for IR emission from six core-collapse SNemore » at the transitional phase in the nearby galaxies NGC 1313, NGC 6946, and M101 by using the data taken with the AKARI satellite and Spitzer. Among six targets, we detect the emission from SN 1978K in NGC 1313. SN 1978K is associated with 1.3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -3} M{sub Sun} of silicate dust. We show that, among several mechanisms, the shocked CS dust is the most probable emission source to explain the IR emission observed for SN 1978K. IR emission from the other five objects is not detected. Our current observations are sensitive to IR luminosity of >10{sup 38} erg s{sup -1}, and the non-detection of SN 1962M excludes the existence of the shocked CS dust for a high gas mass-loss rate of {approx}10{sup -4} M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1}. Observations of SNe at the transitional phase with future IR satellites will fill the gap of IR observations of SNe with the age of 10-100 yr, and give a new opportunity to study the CS and IS environments of the progenitor, and possibly dust formation in SNe.« less

Coherent and phase-sensitive phenomena of ultrashort laser pulses propagating in three-level {lambda}-type systems studied with the finite-difference time-domain method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Loiko, Yurii; Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Nezaleznasty Ave. 70, 220072 Minsk; Serrat, Carles

2006-06-15

Propagation of single- and two-color hyperbolic secant femtosecond laser pulses in a three-level {lambda}-type quantum system is investigated by solving the Maxwell and density matrix equations with the finite-difference time-domain and Runge-Kutta methods. As a first study of our modeling, we simulate pulse self-induced transparency (SIT) in two-level systems and see how this phenomenon can be controlled by manipulating the initial relative phase between the SIT pulse and a second control pulse, provided the ratio between both pulse frequencies obeys the relation {omega}{sub 1}/{omega}{sub 2}=3. We then examine frequency down-conversion processes that are observed with single- and two-color pulses themore » envelope area of which is equal to or a multiple of 2{pi}, for pulse frequencies close to resonance with the transitions of a three-level {lambda} medium. Also, phase-sensitive phenomena are discussed in the case of two-color {omega}-3{omega} pulses propagating resonantly in the three-level system. In particular, possibilities for such coherent control are found for frequency down-conversion processes when the ratio of the frequencies of optical transitions is {omega}{sub 13}/{omega}{sub 12}=3. The conditions for quantum control of four-wave mixing processes are also examined when the pulse frequencies of two-color {omega}-3{omega} pulses are far from any resonance of the three-level system. We demonstrate the possibility to cancel the phase sensitivity of the four-wave coupling in a {lambda}-type system by competition effects between optical transitions.« less

Evidence Suggesting that the Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock Modulates Responsiveness of the Heart to Hypertrophic Stimuli in Mice

PubMed Central

Durgan, David J.; Tsai, Ju-Yun; Grenett, Maximiliano H.; Pat, Betty M.; Ratcliffe, William F.; Villegas-Montoya, Carolina; Garvey, Merissa E.; Nagendran, Jeevan; Dyck, Jason R.B.; Bray, Molly S.; Gamble, Karen L.; Gimble, Jeffrey M.; Young, Martin E.

2011-01-01

Circadian dyssynchrony of an organism (at the whole body level) with its environment, either through light/dark cycle or genetic manipulation of clock genes, augments various cardiometabolic diseases. The cardiomyocyte circadian clock has recently been shown to influence multiple myocardial processes, ranging from transcriptional regulation and energy metabolism, to contractile function. We therefore reasoned that chronic dyssychrony of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock with its environment would precipitate myocardial maladaptation to a circadian challenge (simulated shift work; SSW). To test this hypothesis, 2 and 20 month old wild-type and CCM (Cardiomyocyte Clock Mutant; a model with genetic temporal suspension of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock at the active-to-sleep phase transition) mice were subjected to chronic (16-wks) bi-weekly 12-hr phase shifts in the light/dark cycle (i.e., SSW). Assessment of adaptation/maladaptation at whole body homeostatic, gravimetric, humoral, histological, transcriptional, and cardiac contractile function levels revealed essentially identical responses between wild-type and CCM littermates. However, CCM hearts exhibit increased bi-ventricular weight, cardiomyocyte size, and molecular markers of hypertrophy (anf, mcip1) independent of aging and/or SSW. Similarly, a second genetic model of selective temporal suspension of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock (Cardiomyocyte-specific BMAL1 Knockout [CBK] mice) exhibits increased bi-ventricular weight and mcip1 expression. Wild-type mice exhibit 5-fold greater cardiac hypertrophic growth (and 6-fold greater anf mRNA induction) when challenged with the hypertrophic agonist isoproterenol at the active-to-sleep phase transition, relative to isoproterenol administration at the sleep-to-active phase transition. This diurnal variation was absent in CCM mice. Collectively, these data suggest that the cardiomyocyte circadian clock likely influences responsiveness of the heart to hypertrophic stimuli. PMID:21452915

Transitions from order to disorder in multiple dark and multiple dark-bright soliton atomic clouds

DOE PAGES

Wang, Wenlong; Kevrekidis, P. G.

2015-03-09

We have performed a systematic study quantifying the variation of solitary wave behavior from that of an ordered cloud resembling a “crystalline” configuration to that of a disordered state that can be characterized as a soliton “gas.” As our illustrative examples, we use both one-component, as well as two-component, one-dimensional atomic gases very close to zero temperature, where in the presence of repulsive interatomic interactions and of a parabolic trap, a cloud of dark (dark-bright) solitons can form in the one- (two-) component system. We corroborate our findings through three distinct types of approaches, namely a Gross-Pitaevskii type of partialmore » differential equation, particle-based ordinary differential equations describing the soliton dynamical system, and Monte Carlo simulations for the particle system. In addition, we define an “empirical” order parameter to characterize the order of the soliton lattices and study how this changes as a function of the strength of the “thermally” (i.e., kinetically) induced perturbations. As may be anticipated by the one-dimensional nature of our system, the transition from order to disorder is gradual without, apparently, a genuine phase transition ensuing in the intermediate regime.« less

Non-equilibrium phase transitions in a driven-dissipative system of interacting bosons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Jeremy T.; Foss-Feig, Michael; Gorshkov, Alexey V.; Maghrebi, Mohammad F.

2017-04-01

Atomic, molecular, and optical systems provide unique opportunities to study simple models of driven-dissipative many-body quantum systems. Typically, one is interested in the resultant steady state, but the non-equilibrium nature of the physics involved presents several problems in understanding its behavior theoretically. Recently, it has been shown that in many of these models, it is possible to map the steady-state phase transitions onto classical equilibrium phase transitions. In the language of Keldysh field theory, this relation typically only becomes apparent after integrating out massive fields near the critical point, leaving behind a single massless field undergoing near-equilibrium dynamics. In this talk, we study a driven-dissipative XXZ bosonic model and discover critical points at which two fields become gapless. Each critical point separates three different possible phases: a uniform phase, an anti-ferromagnetic phase, and a limit cycle phase. Furthermore, a description in terms of an equilibrium phase transition does not seem possible, so the associated phase transitions appear to be inherently non-equilibrium.

High-Resolution P'P' Precursor Imaging of Nazca-South America Plate Boundary Zones and Inferences for Transition Zone Temperature and Composition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Y. J.; Schultz, R.

2013-12-01

Knowledge of upper mantle transition zone stratification and composition is highly dependent on our ability to efficiently extract and properly interpret small seismic arrivals. A promising high-frequency seismic phase group particularly suitable for a global analysis is P'P' precursors, which are capable of resolving mantle structures at vertical and lateral resolution of approximately 5 and 200 km, respectively, owing to their shallow incidence angle and small, quasi-symmetric Fresnel zones. This study presents a simultaneous analysis of SS and P'P' precursors based on deconvolution, Radon transform and depth migration. Our multi-resolution survey of the mantle near Nazca-South America subduction zone reveals both olivine and garnet related transitions at depth below 400 km. We attribute a depressed 660 to thermal variations, whereas compositional variations atop the upper-mantle transition zone are needed to explain the diminished or highly complex reflected/scattered signals from the 410 km discontinuity. We also observe prominent P'P' reflections within the transition zone, especially near the plate boundary zone where anomalously high reflection amplitudes result from a sharp (~10 km thick) mineral phase change resonant with the dominant frequency of the P'P' precursors. Near the base of the upper mantle, the migration of SS precursors shows no evidence of split reflections near the 660-km discontinuity, but potential majorite-ilmenite (590-640 km) and ilmenite-perovskite transitions (740-750 km) are identified based on similarly processed high-frequency P'P' precursors. At nominal mantle temperatures these two phase changes may be seismically indistinguishable, but colder mantle conditions from the descending Nazca plate, the presence of water and variable Fe contents may cause sufficient separation for a reliable analysis. In addition, our preliminary results provide compelling evidence for multiple shallow lower-mantle reflections (at ~800 km) along the elongated plate boundary zones of South America. Slab stagnation at the base of the transition zone could play a key role, though a proper interpretation of this finding would likely entail compositional (rather than strictly thermal) variations in the vicinity of the descending oceanic crust and lithosphere. Overall, the resolution and sensitivity differences between low/intermediate- S and high-frequency P wave reflections are key considerations toward reconciling seismic and mineralogical models of transition zone structure, both at the study location and worldwide.

Ultrafast far-infrared studies of vanadates &mdash Multiple routes for an insulator to metal transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Mengkun

The metal insulator transition in vanadates has been studied for decades and yet new discoveries still spring up revealing new physics, especially among two of the most studied members: Vanadium sesquioxide (V20 3) and Vanadium dioxide (VO2). Although subtleties abound, both of the materials have first order insulator to metal phase transitions that are considered to be related to strong electron-electron (e-e) correlation. Further, ultrafast spectroscopy of strongly correlated materials has generated great interest in the field given the potential to dynamically distinguish the difference between electronic (spin) response versus lattice responses due to the associated characteristic energy and time scales. In this thesis, I mainly focus on utilizing ultrafast optical and THz spectroscopy to study phase transition dynamics in high quality V20 3 and VO2 thin films epitaxially grown on different substrates. The main findings of the thesis are: (1) Despite the fact that the insulator to metal transition (IMT) in V203 is electron-correlation driven, lattice distortion plays an important role. Coherent oscillations in the far-infrared conductivity are observed resulting from coherent acoustic phonon modulation of the bandwidth W. The same order of lattice distortion induces less of an effect on the electron transport in VO2 in comparison to V203. This is directly related to the difference in latent heat of the phase transitions in VO2 and V203. (2) It is possible for the IMT to occur with very little structural change in epitaxial strained VO2 films, like in the case of Cr doped or strained V203. However, in V02, this necessitates a large strain which is only possible by clamping to a substrate with larger c axis parameter through epitaxial growth. This is demonstrated for VO 2 films on TiO2 substrates. (3) Initiating an ultrafast photo-induced insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) is not only possible with above bandgap excitation, but also possible with high-field far-infrared excitation. With the help of the field enhancement in metamaterial split ring resonator gaps, we obtain picosecond THz electric field transients of several MV/cm which is sufficient to drive the insulator to metal transition in V02.

Phase transition phenomenon: A compound measure analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Bo Soo; Park, Chanhi; Ryu, Doojin; Song, Wonho

2015-06-01

This study investigates the well-documented phenomenon of phase transition in financial markets using combined information from both return and volume changes within short time intervals. We suggest a new measure for the phase transition behaviour of markets, calculated as a return distribution conditional on local variance in volume imbalance, and show that this measure successfully captures phase transition behaviour under various conditions. We analyse the intraday trade and quote dataset from the KOSPI 200 index futures, which includes detailed information on the original order size and the type of each initiating investor. We find that among these two competing factors, the submitted order size yields more explanatory power on the phenomenon of market phase transition than the investor type.

Bismuth doping strategies in GeTe nanowires to promote high-temperature phase transition from rhombohedral to face-centered cubic structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Jie; Huang, Rong; Wei, Fenfen

2014-11-17

The phase transition of Bi-doped (∼3 at. %) GeTe nanowires from a rhombohedral (R) to a face-centered cubic (C) structure was observed in in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The promotion of high-temperature R-C phase transition by a doping approach was revealed. Ab initio energy calculations of doped GeTe at various Bi doping concentrations were performed to interpret the promoted temperature-induced phase transitions. Those results indicated that the total energy differences between R and C structures of doped GeTe decreased as Bi doping concentrations increased, which facilitated R-C phase transitions.

Influence of Pressure on Physical Property of Ammonia Borane and its Re-hydrogenation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Jiuhua

The project systematically studied the high pressure behavior of ammonia borane and its derivative lithium amidoborane. Phase transitions in these materials are investigated in the pressure range up to 20 GPa and temperature range from 80 K to 400K. A number of new phase transitions are discovered in this pressure and temperature range including a second order transformation at 5 GPa and a first order transformation at 12 GPa at room temperature, and four new transitions at high pressure and low temperatures. The Clapeyron slopes for both pressure-induce tetragonal (I4mm) phase to orthorhombic (Cmc21) phase and temperature-induce tetragonal (I4mm) phasemore » to orthorhombic (Pmn21) phase are determined to be positive, indicating these phase transitions are exothermic. This result demonstrates that the high pressure orthorhombic phase of ammonia borane has lower enthalpy than that of tetragonal phase at ambient conditions. If we assume decomposition from the orthorhombic phase yields the same products as that from the tetragonal phase, the decomposition of the orthorhombic phase will be less exothermic. Therefore rehydrogenation from the decomposed product into the orthorhombic phase at high pressure may become easier. The project also studied the influences of nanoconfinement on the phase transitions. Comparative study using Raman spectroscopy indicates that the temperature induced I4mm to Pmn21 transition is suppressed from 217 K to 195 K when the sample is confined in SBA15 (7-9 nm pore size). When the pore size is reduced from 7-9 nm to 3-4 nm, this transition is totally suppressed in the temperature down to 80 K. A similar influence of the nanoconfiement on pressure induced phase transitions is also observed using Raman spectroscopy. The phase boundary between the I4mm phase and high pressure Cmc21 phase at ambient temperature shifts from 0.9 GPa to 0.5 GPa; and that between the Cmc21 phase and higher pressure P21 phase shifts from 10.2 GPa to 9.7 GPa.« less

Micellar-shape anisometry near isotropic-liquid-crystal phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itri, R.; Amaral, L. Q.

1993-04-01

Micellar phases of the sodium dodecyl (lauryl) sulfate (SLS)-water-decanol system have been studied by x-ray scattering in the isotropic (I) phase, with emphasis on the I-->hexagonal (Hα) and I-->nematic-cylindrical (Nc) lyotropic liquid-crystal phase transitions. Analysis of the scattering curves is made through modeling of the product P(q)S(q), where P(q) is the micellar form factor and S(q) is the intermicellar interference function, calculated from screened Coulombic repulsion in a mean spherical approximation. Results show that micelles grow more by decanol addition near the I-->Nc transition (anisometry ν~=3) than by increased amphiphile concentration in the binary system near the I-->Hα phase transition (ν~=2.4). These results compare well with recent theories for isotropic-liquid-crystal phase transitions.

Competing phases and orbital-selective behaviors in the two-orbital Hubbard-Holstein model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shaozhi; Khatami, Ehsan; Johnston, Steven

2017-03-01

We study the interplay between the electron-electron (e-e) and the electron-phonon (e-ph) interactions in the two-orbital Hubbard-Holstein model at half-filling using the dynamical mean-field theory. We find that the e-ph interaction, even at weak couplings, strongly modifies the phase diagram of this model and introduces an orbital-selective Peierls insulating phase (OSPI) that is analogous to the widely studied orbital-selective Mott phase (OSMP). At small e-e and e-ph couplings, we find a competition between the OSMP and the OSPI, while at large couplings, a competition occurs between Mott and charge-density-wave (CDW) insulating phases. We further demonstrate that the Hund's coupling influences the OSPI transition by lowering the energy associated with the CDW. Our results explicitly show that one must be cautious when neglecting the e-ph interaction in multiorbital systems, where multiple electronic interactions create states that are readily influenced by perturbing interactions.

Driven Phases of Quantum Matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khemani, Vedika; von Keyserlingk, Curt; Lazarides, Achilleas; Moessner, Roderich; Sondhi, Shivaji

Clean and interacting periodically driven quantum systems are believed to exhibit a single, trivial ``infinite-temperature'' Floquet-ergodic phase. By contrast, I will show that their disordered Floquet many-body localized counterparts can exhibit distinct ordered phases with spontaneously broken symmetries delineated by sharp transitions. Some of these are analogs of equilibrium states, while others are genuinely new to the Floquet setting. I will show that a subset of these novel phases are absolutely stableto all weak local deformations of the underlying Floquet drives, and spontaneously break Hamiltonian dependent emergent symmetries. Strikingly, they simultaneously also break the underlying time-translation symmetry of the Floquet drive and the order parameter exhibits oscillations at multiples of the fundamental period. This ``time-crystallinity'' goes hand in hand with spatial symmetry breaking and, altogether, these phases exhibit a novel form of simultaneous long-range order in space and time. I will describe how this spatiotemporal order can be detected in experiments involving quenches from a broad class of initial states.

Accreting transition discs with large cavities created by X-ray photoevaporation in C and O depleted discs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ercolano, Barbara; Weber, Michael L.; Owen, James E.

2018-01-01

Circumstellar discs with large dust depleted cavities and vigorous accretion on to the central star are often considered signposts for (multiple) giant planet formation. In this Letter, we show that X-ray photoevaporation operating in discs with modest (factors 3-10) gas-phase depletion of carbon and oxygen at large radii ( > 15 au) yields the inner radius and accretion rates for most of the observed discs, without the need to invoke giant planet formation. We present one-dimensional viscous evolution models of discs affected by X-ray photoevaporation assuming moderate gas-phase depletion of carbon and oxygen, well within the range reported by recent observations. Our models use a simplified prescription for scaling the X-ray photoevaporation rates and profiles at different metallicity, and our quantitative result depends on this scaling. While more rigorous hydrodynamical modelling of mass-loss profiles at low metallicities is required to constrain the observational parameter space that can be explained by our models, the general conclusion that metal sequestering at large radii may be responsible for the observed diversity of transition discs is shown to be robust. Gap opening by giant planet formation may still be responsible for a number of observed transition discs with large cavities and very high accretion rate.

Raman spectra and phase transitions in Rb{sub 2}KInF{sub 6} elpasolite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krylov, A. S.; Krylova, S. N., E-mail: slanky@iph.krasn.ru; Vtyurin, A. N.

2011-01-15

The Raman spectra of Rb{sub 2}KInF{sub 6} elpasolite crystal have been studied in a wide temperature range, including two phase transitions: from the cubic phase to the tetragonal phase and then to the monoclinic phase. Several anomalies of internal modes of InF{sub 6} octahedra and low-frequency lattice vibrations, which are related to the structural changes at the transition points, have been found and quantitatively analyzed. The results of a quantitative analysis of the temperature dependences of the parameters of spectral lines are in good agreement with the thermodynamic data on the phase transitions.

Role of relativity in high-pressure phase transitions of thallium.

PubMed

Kotmool, Komsilp; Chakraborty, Sudip; Bovornratanaraks, Thiti; Ahuja, Rajeev

2017-02-20

We demonstrate the relativistic effects in high-pressure phase transitions of heavy element thallium. The known first phase transition from h.c.p. to f.c.c. is initially investigated by various relativistic levels and exchange-correlation functionals as implemented in FPLO method, as well as scalar relativistic scheme within PAW formalism. The electronic structure calculations are interpreted from the perspective of energetic stability and electronic density of states. The full relativistic scheme (FR) within L(S)DA performs to be the scheme that resembles mostly with experimental results with a transition pressure of 3 GPa. The s-p hybridization and the valence-core overlapping of 6s and 5d states are the primary reasons behind the f.c.c. phase occurrence. A recent proposed phase, i.e., a body-centered tetragonal (b.c.t.) phase, is confirmed with a small distortion from the f.c.c. phase. We have also predicted a reversible b.c.t. → f.c.c. phase transition at 800 GPa. This finding has been suggested that almost all the III-A elements (Ga, In and Tl) exhibit the b.c.t. → f.c.c. phase transition at extremely high pressure.

On the correlation between phase-locking modes and Vibrational Resonance in a neuronal model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morfu, S.; Bordet, M.

2018-02-01

We numerically and experimentally investigate the underlying mechanism leading to multiple resonances in the FitzHugh-Nagumo model driven by a bichromatic excitation. Using a FitzHugh-Nagumo circuit, we first analyze the number of spikes triggered by the system in response to a single sinusoidal wave forcing. We build an encoding diagram where different phase-locking modes are identified according to the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal excitation. Next, we consider the bichromatic driving which consists in a low frequency sinusoidal wave perturbed by an additive high frequency signal. Beside the classical Vibrational Resonance phenomenon, we show in real experiments that multiple resonances can be reached by an appropriate setting of the perturbation parameters. We clearly establish a correlation between these resonances and the encoding diagram of the low frequency signal free FitzHugh-Nagumo model. We show with realistic parameters that sharp transitions of the encoding diagram allow to predict the main resonances. Our experiments are confirmed by numerical simulations of the system response.

The KOI 425 Multi-star System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, Anna; Boley, Aaron C.

2017-10-01

Kepler Object of Interest 425 (KOI 425) is an eclipsing binary with periodic features in addition to the known primary and secondary transits. This KOI has been observed by Saterne et al. 2012 with SOPHIE, who found its phase variance to be indicative of a diluted eclipsing binary, likely produced by a multi-star system. We analyze the complete set of Kepler archival data for this system along with the published SOPHIE results to assess the multiplicity and the dynamics of the system.

Fiber-Optic Terahertz Data-Communication Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chua, Peter L.; Lambert, James L.; Morookian, John M.; Bergman, Larry A.

1994-01-01

Network protocols implemented in optical domain. Fiber-optic data-communication networks utilize fully available bandwidth of single-mode optical fibers. Two key features of method: use of subpicosecond laser pulses as carrier signals and spectral phase modulation of pulses for optical implementation of code-division multiple access as multiplexing network protocol. Local-area network designed according to concept offers full crossbar functionality, security of data in transit through network, and capacity about 100 times that of typical fiber-optic local-area network in current use.

Phase transitions in high magnetic fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arko, A.J.; Beers, C.J.; van Deursen, A.P.J.

1982-08-01

The purpose of this paper is to summarize some of the research activities recently performed at the Laboratorium voor Hoge Magneetvelden at the University of Nijmegen. The scope here and unifying aspect is magnetically induced phase transitions. Here we summarize transitions in the settling velocity of paramagnetic aggregates, suppression of spin fluctuations in UAl/sub 2/, the phase diagram of a ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal near the Lifshitz point and the transition from 3D to 2D conduction in a GaAs FET. In no way does this represent a complete review of transitions, but rather a summary of phase transitions observedmore » at the magnet laboratory during the past year. 6 figures.« less

Mobility restrictions and glass transition behaviour of an epoxy resin under confinement.

PubMed

Djemour, A; Sanctuary, R; Baller, J

2015-04-07

Confinement can have a big influence on the dynamics of glass formers in the vicinity of the glass transition. Already 40 to 50 K above the glass transition temperature, thermal equilibration of glass formers can be strongly influenced by the confining substrate. We investigate the linear thermal expansion and the specific heat capacity cp of an epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, DGEBA) in a temperature interval of 120 K around the glass transition temperature. The epoxy resin is filled into controlled pore glasses with pore diameters between 4 and 111 nm. Since DGEBA can form H-bonds with silica surfaces, we also investigate the influence of surface silanization of the porous substrates. In untreated substrates a core/shell structure of the epoxy resin can be identified. The glass transition behaviours of the bulk phase and that of the shell phase are different. In silanized substrates, the shell phase disappears. At a temperature well above the glass transition, a second transition is found for the bulk phase - both in the linear expansion data as well as in the specific heat capacity. The cp data do not allow excluding the glass transition of a third phase as being the cause for this transition, whereas the linear expansion data do so. The additional transition temperature is interpreted as a separation between two regimes: above this temperature, macroscopic flow of the bulk phase inside the porous structure is possible to balance the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between DGEBA and the substrate. Below the transition temperature, this degree of freedom is hindered by geometrical constraints of the porous substrates. Moreover, this second transition could also be found in the linear expansion data of the shell phase.

A time-dependent order parameter for ultrafast photoinduced phase transitions.

PubMed

Beaud, P; Caviezel, A; Mariager, S O; Rettig, L; Ingold, G; Dornes, C; Huang, S-W; Johnson, J A; Radovic, M; Huber, T; Kubacka, T; Ferrer, A; Lemke, H T; Chollet, M; Zhu, D; Glownia, J M; Sikorski, M; Robert, A; Wadati, H; Nakamura, M; Kawasaki, M; Tokura, Y; Johnson, S L; Staub, U

2014-10-01

Strongly correlated electron systems often exhibit very strong interactions between structural and electronic degrees of freedom that lead to complex and interesting phase diagrams. For technological applications of these materials it is important to learn how to drive transitions from one phase to another. A key question here is the ultimate speed of such phase transitions, and to understand how a phase transition evolves in the time domain. Here we apply time-resolved X-ray diffraction to directly measure the changes in long-range order during ultrafast melting of the charge and orbitally ordered phase in a perovskite manganite. We find that although the actual change in crystal symmetry associated with this transition occurs over different timescales characteristic of the many electronic and vibrational coordinates of the system, the dynamics of the phase transformation can be well described using a single time-dependent 'order parameter' that depends exclusively on the electronic excitation.

Thermodynamics around the first-order ferromagnetic phase transition of Fe2P single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hudl, M.; Campanini, D.; Caron, L.; Höglin, V.; Sahlberg, M.; Nordblad, P.; Rydh, A.

2014-10-01

The specific heat and thermodynamics of Fe2P single crystals around the first-order paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition at TC≃217 K are empirically investigated. The magnitude and direction of the magnetic field relative to the crystal axes govern the derived H -T phase diagram. Strikingly different phase contours are obtained for fields applied parallel and perpendicular to the c axis of the crystal. In parallel fields, the FM state is stabilized, while in perpendicular fields the phase transition is split into two sections, with an intermediate FM phase where there is no spontaneous magnetization along the c axis. The zero-field transition displays a textbook example of a first-order transition with different phase stability limits on heating and cooling. The results have special significance since Fe2P is the parent material to a family of compounds with outstanding magnetocaloric properties.

Quantum phase transition from mixed atom-molecule phase to pure molecule phase: Characteristic scaling laws and Berry-curvature signature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li Shengchang; Graduate School, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Beijing 100088; Fu Libin

2011-08-15

We investigate the quantum phase transition in an ultracold atom-molecule conversion system. It is found that the system undergoes a phase transition from a mixed atom-molecule phase to a pure molecule phase when the energy bias exceeds a critical value. By constructing a coherent state as variational state, we get a good approximation of the quantum ground state of the system. Using this variational state, we deduce the critical point analytically. We then discuss the scaling laws characterizing the transition and obtain the corresponding critical exponents. Furthermore, the Berry curvature signature of the transition is studied. In particular, we findmore » that the derivatives of the Berry curvature with respect to total particle number intersect at the critical point. The underlying mechanism of this finding is discussed as well.« less

Photoluminescent emission of Pr 3+ ions in different zirconia crystalline forms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramos-Brito, F.; Alejo-Armenta, C.; García-Hipólito, M.; Camarillo, E.; Hernández A, J.; Murrieta S, H.; Falcony, C.

2008-08-01

Polycrystalline praseodymium doped-zirconia powders were synthesized by crystallization of a saturated solution and annealed in air at T a = 950 °C. Monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic crystalline phases of zirconia were obtained. EDS studies showed homogeneous chemical composition over all the powders particles and chemical elemental contents in good agreement with the incorporation of Pr 3+ ion in Zr 4+ sites. XRD patterns showed stabilization of tetragonal and cubic phases at 1.28 and 2.87 at.% of Pr 3+ doping concentrations, respectively. Both unit cells expand when Pr 3+ content increases. All samples showed a crystallite size lower than 27 nm. Diffuse reflectance studies exhibited the presence of the 4f5d absorption band of Pr 3+, and absorption peaks in 440-610 nm region associated with 4f inter-level electronic transitions in Pr 3+ ion. Low temperature (20 K) photo-luminescent spectroscopic measurements over excitation of 488 nm for praseodymium doped zirconia, showed multiple emission peaks in the 520-900 nm range of the electromagnetic spectrum, associated with typical 4f inter-level electronic transition in Pr 3+. Incorporation of Pr 3+ in more than one zirconia crystalline phase and the incorporation in cubic C 2 sites, were observed. Zirconia powders presented significant differences in its emission spectra as a function of the type of crystalline phase compounds.

Superconductivity. Observation of broken time-reversal symmetry in the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt₃.

PubMed

Schemm, E R; Gannon, W J; Wishne, C M; Halperin, W P; Kapitulnik, A

2014-07-11

Models of superconductivity in unconventional materials can be experimentally differentiated by the predictions they make for the symmetries of the superconducting order parameter. In the case of the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt3, a key question is whether its multiple superconducting phases preserve or break time-reversal symmetry (TRS). We tested for asymmetry in the phase shift between left and right circularly polarized light reflected from a single crystal of UPt3 at normal incidence and found that this so-called polar Kerr effect appears only below the lower of the two zero-field superconducting transition temperatures. Our results provide evidence for broken TRS in the low-temperature superconducting phase of UPt3, implying a complex two-component order parameter for superconductivity in this system. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

AsS melt under pressure: one substance, three liquids.

PubMed

Brazhkin, V V; Katayama, Y; Kondrin, M V; Hattori, T; Lyapin, A G; Saitoh, H

2008-04-11

An in situ high-temperature--high-pressure study of liquid chalcogenide AsS by x-ray diffraction, resistivity measurements, and quenching from melt is presented. The obtained data provide direct evidence for the existence in the melt under compression of two transformations: one is from a moderate-viscosity molecular liquid to a high-viscosity nonmetallic polymerized liquid at P approximately 1.6-2.2 GPa; the other is from the latter to a low-viscosity metallic liquid at P approximately 4.6-4.8 GPa. Upon rapid cooling, molecular and metallic liquids crystallize to normal and high-pressure phases, respectively, while a polymerized liquid is easily quenched to a new AsS glass. General aspects of multiple phase transitions in liquid AsS, including relations to the phase diagram of the respective crystalline, are discussed.

Machine learning phases of matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrasquilla, Juan; Melko, Roger G.

2017-02-01

Condensed-matter physics is the study of the collective behaviour of infinitely complex assemblies of electrons, nuclei, magnetic moments, atoms or qubits. This complexity is reflected in the size of the state space, which grows exponentially with the number of particles, reminiscent of the `curse of dimensionality' commonly encountered in machine learning. Despite this curse, the machine learning community has developed techniques with remarkable abilities to recognize, classify, and characterize complex sets of data. Here, we show that modern machine learning architectures, such as fully connected and convolutional neural networks, can identify phases and phase transitions in a variety of condensed-matter Hamiltonians. Readily programmable through modern software libraries, neural networks can be trained to detect multiple types of order parameter, as well as highly non-trivial states with no conventional order, directly from raw state configurations sampled with Monte Carlo.

Possible existence of two amorphous phases of d-mannitol related by a first-order transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Men; Wang, Jun-Qiang; Perepezko, John H.; Yu, Lian

2015-06-01

We report that the common polyalcohol d-mannitol may have two amorphous phases related by a first-order transition. Slightly above its glass transition temperature Tg (284 K), the supercooled liquid (SCL) of d-mannitol transforms to a low-energy, apparently amorphous phase with stronger hydrogen bonds. The enthalpy of this so-called Phase X is approximately halfway between those of the known amorphous and crystalline phases, a position low for glass aging and high for crystal polymorphs. Similar to the SCL, Phase X is transparent with broad X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering; upon temperature cycling, it exhibits a glass-transition-like change of heat capacity. On fast heating, Phase X transforms back to the SCL near Tg + 50 K, enabling a determination of their equilibrium temperature. The presence of d-sorbitol as a plasticizer enables observation of a first-order transition from the SCL to Phase X entirely in the liquid state (liquid-liquid transition). The transition from d-mannitol's SCL to Phase X has intriguing similarities with the formation of the glacial phase of triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and the conversion from high-density to low-density amorphous ice, both studied intensely in the context of polyamorphism. All three processes occur near Tg with substantial enthalpy decrease toward the crystalline phases; the processes in water and d-mannitol both strengthen the hydrogen bonds. In contrast to TPP, d-mannitol's Phase X forms more rapidly and can transform back to the SCL. These features make d-mannitol a valuable new model for understanding polyamorphism.

Nature of the octahedral tilting phase transitions in perovskites: A case study of CaMnO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klarbring, Johan; Simak, Sergei I.

2018-01-01

The temperature-induced antiferrodistortive (AFD) structural phase transitions in CaMnO3, a typical perovskite oxide, are studied using first-principles density functional theory calculations. These transitions are caused by tilting of the MnO6 octahedra that are related to unstable phonon modes in the high-symmetry cubic perovskite phase. Transitions due to octahedral tilting in perovskites normally are believed to fit into the standard soft-mode picture of displacive phase transitions. We calculate phonon-dispersion relations and potential-energy landscapes as functions of the unstable phonon modes and argue based on the results that the phase transitions are better described as being of order-disorder type. This means that the cubic phase emerges as a dynamical average when the system hops between local minima on the potential-energy surface. We then perform ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and find explicit evidence of the order-disorder dynamics in the system. Our conclusions are expected to be valid for other perovskite oxides, and we finally suggest how to predict the nature (displacive or order-disorder) of the AFD phase transitions in any perovskite system.

Vibrational spectroscopic study on polymorphism of erucic acid and palmitoleic acid: γ1→α1 and γ→α reversible solid state phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaneko, Fumitoshi; Yamazaki, Kazuhiro; Kobayashi, Masamichi; Sato, Kiyotaka; Suzuki, Masao

1994-08-01

The infrared and Raman spectra of four polymorphic phases (α, α1, γ and γ1) of erucic acid ( cis-13-docosenoic acid) and those of two polymorphic phases (α and γ) of palmitoleic acid ( cis-9-hexadecenoic acid) were investigated. The γ and γ1 phases of erucic acid were analyzed on the basis of crystal structures determined by us. There were large spectral differences between γ and γ1 phases, which could be ascribed to the differences in the conformation of cis-olefin groups and the subcell structure. Two types of reversible solid state phase transitions (γ→α and γ1→α1 transitions) were followed by the infrared and Raman spectra. It was concluded that the mechanism of the γ→α phase transition of erucic and palmitoleic acids is essentially the same as that of oleic acid previously reported by us [ J. Phys. Chem.90, 6371 (1986)], i.e. this phase transition is of order-disorder type accompanied by a conformational disordering at the methyl-terminal chain. Spectral changes on the γ1→α1 transition suggested that a similar structural change took place during this transition but there were large structural differences between α and α1.

Phase separation and second-order phase transition in the phenomenological model for a Coulomb-frustrated two-dimensional system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamin, R. F.; Shaposhnikova, T. S.; Kabanov, V. V.

2018-03-01

We have considered the model of the phase transition of the second order for the Coulomb frustrated 2D charged system. The coupling of the order parameter with the charge was considered as the local temperature. We have found that in such a system, an appearance of the phase-separated state is possible. By numerical simulation, we have obtained different types ("stripes," "rings," "snakes") of phase-separated states and determined the parameter ranges for these states. Thus the system undergoes a series of phase transitions when the temperature decreases. First, the system moves from the homogeneous state with a zero order parameter to the phase-separated state with two phases in one of which the order parameter is zero and, in the other, it is nonzero (τ >0 ). Then a first-order transition occurs to another phase-separated state, in which both phases have different and nonzero values of the order parameter (for τ <0 ). Only a further decrease of temperature leads to a transition to a homogeneous ordered state.

Non-Congruence of Thermally Induced Structural and Electronic Transitions in VO2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nag, Joyeeta; HaglundJr., Richard F; Payzant, E Andrew

2012-01-01

The multifunctional properties of vanadium dioxide (VO2) arise from coupled first-order phase transitions: an insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) and a structural phase transition (SPT) from monoclinic to tetragonal. The characteristic signatures of the IMT and SPT are the hysteresis loops that track the phase transition from nucleation to stabilization of a new phase and back. A long-standing question about the mechanism of the VO2 phase transition is whether and how the almost-simultaneous electronic and structural transitions are related. Here we report independent measurements of the IMT and SPT hystereses in epitaxial VO2 films with differing morphologies. We show that, in bothmore » cases, the hystereses are not congruent, that the structural change requires more energy to reach completion. This result is independent of nanoscale morphology, so that the non- congruence is an intrinsic property of the VO2 phase transition. Our conclusion is supported by effective-medium calculations of the dielectric function incorporating the measured volume fractions of the monoclinic and tetragonal states. The results are consistent with the existence of an monoclinic correlated metallic state in which the electron- electron correlations characteristic of the monoclinic state begin to disappear before the transition to the tetragonal structural state.« less

Holographic Van der Waals phase transition of the higher-dimensional electrically charged hairy black hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hui-Ling; Feng, Zhong-Wen; Zu, Xiao-Tao

2018-01-01

With motivation by holography, employing black hole entropy, two-point connection function and entanglement entropy, we show that, for the higher-dimensional Anti-de Sitter charged hairy black hole in the fixed charged ensemble, a Van der Waals-like phase transition can be observed. Furthermore, based on the Maxwell equal-area construction, we check numerically the equal-area law for a first order phase transition in order to further characterize the Van der Waals-like phase transition.

Phase transition of aragonite in abalone nacre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Yuanlin; Liu, Zhiming; Wu, Wenjian

2013-04-01

Nacre is composed of about 95 vol.% aragonite and 5 vol.% biopolymer and famous for its "brick and mortar" microstructure. The phase transition temperature of aragonite in nacre is lower than the pure aragonite. In situ XRD was used to identify the phase transition temperature from aragonite to calcite in nacre, based on the analysis of TG-DSC of fresh nacre and demineralized nacre. The results indicate that the microstructure and biopolymer are the two main factors that influence the phase transition temperature of aragonite in nacre.

Superfluid Black Holes.

PubMed

Hennigar, Robie A; Mann, Robert B; Tjoa, Erickson

2017-01-13

We present what we believe is the first example of a "λ-line" phase transition in black hole thermodynamics. This is a line of (continuous) second order phase transitions which in the case of liquid ^{4}He marks the onset of superfluidity. The phase transition occurs for a class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter hairy black holes in Lovelock gravity where a real scalar field is conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss the origin of this phase transition and outline the circumstances under which it (or generalizations of it) could occur.

Superfluid Black Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hennigar, Robie A.; Mann, Robert B.; Tjoa, Erickson

2017-01-01

We present what we believe is the first example of a "λ -line" phase transition in black hole thermodynamics. This is a line of (continuous) second order phase transitions which in the case of liquid 4He marks the onset of superfluidity. The phase transition occurs for a class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter hairy black holes in Lovelock gravity where a real scalar field is conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss the origin of this phase transition and outline the circumstances under which it (or generalizations of it) could occur.

Colossal magnetic phase transition asymmetry in mesoscale FeRh stripes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Uhlir, V.; Arregi, J. A.; Fullerton, E. E.

Coupled order parameters in phase-transition materials can be controlled using various driving forces such as temperature, magnetic and electric field, strain, spin-polarized currents and optical pulses. Tuning the material properties to achieve efficient transitions would enable fast and low-power electronic devices. Here we show that the first-order metamagnetic phase transition in FeRh films becomes strongly asymmetric in mesoscale structures. In patterned FeRh stripes we observed pronounced supercooling and an avalanche-like abrupt transition from the ferromagnetic to the antiferromagnetic phase, while the reverse transition remains nearly continuous over a broad temperature range. Although modest asymmetry signatures have been found in FeRhmore » films, the effect is dramatically enhanced at the mesoscale. The activation volume of the antiferromagnetic phase is more than two orders of magnitude larger than typical magnetic heterogeneities observed in films. Finally, the collective behaviour upon cooling results from the role of long-range ferromagnetic exchange correlations that become important at the mesoscale and should be a general property of first-order metamagnetic phase transitions.« less

Colossal magnetic phase transition asymmetry in mesoscale FeRh stripes

DOE PAGES

Uhlir, V.; Arregi, J. A.; Fullerton, E. E.

2016-10-11

Coupled order parameters in phase-transition materials can be controlled using various driving forces such as temperature, magnetic and electric field, strain, spin-polarized currents and optical pulses. Tuning the material properties to achieve efficient transitions would enable fast and low-power electronic devices. Here we show that the first-order metamagnetic phase transition in FeRh films becomes strongly asymmetric in mesoscale structures. In patterned FeRh stripes we observed pronounced supercooling and an avalanche-like abrupt transition from the ferromagnetic to the antiferromagnetic phase, while the reverse transition remains nearly continuous over a broad temperature range. Although modest asymmetry signatures have been found in FeRhmore » films, the effect is dramatically enhanced at the mesoscale. The activation volume of the antiferromagnetic phase is more than two orders of magnitude larger than typical magnetic heterogeneities observed in films. Finally, the collective behaviour upon cooling results from the role of long-range ferromagnetic exchange correlations that become important at the mesoscale and should be a general property of first-order metamagnetic phase transitions.« less

Kinetic studies of the folding of heterodimeric monellin: evidence for switching between alternative parallel pathways.

PubMed

Aghera, Nilesh; Udgaonkar, Jayant B

2012-07-13

Determining whether or not a protein uses multiple pathways to fold is an important goal in protein folding studies. When multiple pathways are present, defined by transition states that differ in their compactness and structure but not significantly in energy, they may manifest themselves by causing the dependence on denaturant concentration of the logarithm of the observed rate constant of folding to have an upward curvature. In this study, the folding mechanism of heterodimeric monellin [double-chain monellin (dcMN)] has been studied over a range of protein and guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) concentrations, using the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the protein as the probe for the folding reaction. Refolding is shown to occur in multiple kinetic phases. In the first stage of refolding, which is silent to any change in intrinsic fluorescence, the two chains of monellin bind to one another to form an encounter complex. Interrupted folding experiments show that the initial encounter complex folds to native dcMN via two folding routes. A productive folding intermediate population is identified on one route but not on both of these routes. Two intermediate subpopulations appear to form in a fast kinetic phase, and native dcMN forms in a slow kinetic phase. The chevron arms for both the fast and slow phases of refolding are shown to have upward curvatures, suggesting that at least two pathways each defined by a different intermediate are operational during these kinetic phases of structure formation. Refolding switches from one pathway to the other as the GdnHCl concentration is increased. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endotype Transitions During the Acute Phase of Pediatric Septic Shock Reflect Changing Risk and Treatment Response.

PubMed

Wong, Hector R; Cvijanovich, Natalie Z; Anas, Nick; Allen, Geoffrey L; Thomas, Neal J; Bigham, Michael T; Weiss, Scott L; Fitzgerald, Julie C; Checchia, Paul A; Meyer, Keith; Quasney, Michael; Hall, Mark; Gedeit, Rainer; Freishtat, Robert J; Nowak, Jeffrey; Lutfi, Riad; Gertz, Shira; Grunwell, Jocelyn R; Lindsell, Christopher J

2018-03-01

We previously identified septic shock endotypes A and B based on 100 genes reflecting adaptive immunity and glucocorticoid receptor signaling. The endotypes differ with respect to outcome and corticosteroid responsiveness. We determined whether endotypes change during the initial 3 days of illness, and whether changes are associated with outcomes. Observational cohort study including existing and newly enrolled participants. Multiple PICUs. Children with septic shock. None. We measured the 100 endotyping genes at day 1 and day 3 of illness in 375 patients. We determined if endotype assignment changes over time, and whether changing endotype is associated with corticosteroid response and outcomes. We used multivariable logistic regression to adjust for illness severity, age, and comorbidity burden. Among the 132 subjects assigned to endotype A on day 1, 56 (42%) transitioned to endotype B by day 3. Among 243 subjects assigned to endotype B on day 1, 77 (32%) transitioned to endotype A by day 3. Assignment to endotype A on day 1 was associated with increased odds of mortality. This risk was modified by the subsequent day 3 endotype assignment. Corticosteroids were associated with increased risk of mortality among subjects who persisted as endotype A. A substantial proportion of children with septic shock transition endotypes during the acute phase of illness. The risk of poor outcome and the response to corticosteroids change with changes in endotype assignment. Patients persisting as endotype A are at highest risk of poor outcomes.

Phase diagram of quantum critical system via local convertibility of ground state

PubMed Central

Liu, Si-Yuan; Quan, Quan; Chen, Jin-Jun; Zhang, Yu-Ran; Yang, Wen-Li; Fan, Heng

2016-01-01

We investigate the relationship between two kinds of ground-state local convertibility and quantum phase transitions in XY model. The local operations and classical communications (LOCC) convertibility is examined by the majorization relations and the entanglement-assisted local operations and classical communications (ELOCC) via Rényi entropy interception. In the phase diagram of XY model, LOCC convertibility and ELOCC convertibility of ground-states are presented and compared. It is shown that different phases in the phase diagram of XY model can have different LOCC or ELOCC convertibility, which can be used to detect the quantum phase transition. This study will enlighten extensive studies of quantum phase transitions from the perspective of local convertibility, e.g., finite-temperature phase transitions and other quantum many-body models. PMID:27381284

Heterogeneous nucleation and growth dynamics in the light-induced phase transition in vanadium dioxide

DOE PAGES

Brady, Nathaniel F.; Appavoo, Kannatassen; Seo, Minah; ...

2016-03-02

Here we report on ultrafast optical investigations of the light-induced insulator-to-metal phase transition in vanadium dioxide with controlled disorder generated by substrate mismatch. These results reveal common dynamics of this optically-induced phase transition that are independent of this disorder. Lastly, above the fluence threshold for completing the transition to the rutile crystalline phase, we find a common time scale, independent of sample morphology, of 40.5 ± 2 ps that is consistent with nucleation and growth dynamics of the R phase from the parent M1 ground state.

Fluctuation driven electroweak phase transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gleiser, Marcelo; Kolb, Edward W.

1991-01-01

We examine the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. For Higgs masses in the range 46 less than or = M sub H less than or = 150 GeV and top quark masses less than 200 GeV, regions of symmetric and asymmetric vacuum coexist to below the critical temperature, with thermal equilibrium between the two phases maintained by fluctuations of both phases. We propose that the transition to the asymmetric vacuum is completed by percolation of these subcritical fluctuations. Our results are relevant to scenarios of baryogenesis that invoke a weakly first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale.

Fluctuation-driven electroweak phase transition. [in early universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gleiser, Marcelo; Kolb, Edward W.

1992-01-01

We examine the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. For Higgs masses in the range 46 less than or = M sub H less than or = 150 GeV and top quark masses less than 200 GeV, regions of symmetric and asymmetric vacuum coexist to below the critical temperature, with thermal equilibrium between the two phases maintained by fluctuations of both phases. We propose that the transition to the asymmetric vacuum is completed by percolation of these subcritical fluctuations. Our results are relevant to scenarios of baryogenesis that invoke a weakly first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale.

Crystalline Structure and Vacancy Ordering across a Surface Phase Transition in Sn/Cu(001).

PubMed

Martínez-Blanco, J; Joco, V; Quirós, C; Segovia, P; Michel, E G

2018-01-18

We report a surface X-ray diffraction study of the crystalline structure changes and critical behavior across the (3√2 × √2)R45° → (√2 × √2)R45° surface phase transition at 360 K for 0.5 monolayers of Sn on Cu(100). The phase transition is of the order-disorder type and is due to the disordering of the Cu atomic vacancies present in the low temperature phase. Two different atomic sites for Sn atoms, characterized by two different heights, are maintained across the surface phase transition.

Direct evidence of an incommensurate phase in NaNbO{sub 3} and its implication in NaNbO{sub 3}-based lead-free antiferroelectrics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, Hanzheng; Randall, Clive A., E-mail: car4@psu.edu; Shimizu, Hiroyuki

2015-09-14

Hot-stage in situ transmission electron microscopy was employed to investigate the temperature-induced complex sequence of phase transitions in NaNbO{sub 3} polycrystalline. In addition to the commonly recognized P (Pbma) → R (Pmnm) → S (Pnmm) phase transitions, incommensurate phases were observed to exist in P and R phase regions. The former (in the P → R transition region) is coincident with a diffused dielectric peak appearing at ∼170 °C, and the latter (in the R → S transition region) serves as an intermediate structure to bridge the two sub-phases in the R phase region. The incommensurate phase in the P phasemore » region can be inferred from the polarization current density and differential dielectric permittivity anomalies, and it provides the bridge structure during the electric field-induced polarization reversal and antiferroelectric-to-ferroelectric transition in NaNbO{sub 3} solid solutions.« less

Rogue waves and W-shaped solitons in the multiple self-induced transparency system.

PubMed

Wang, Xin; Liu, Chong; Wang, Lei

2017-09-01

We study localized nonlinear waves on a plane wave background in the multiple self-induced transparency (SIT) system, which describes an important enhancement of the amplification and control of optical waves compared to the single SIT system. A hierarchy of exact multiparametric rational solutions in a compact determinant representation is presented. We demonstrate that this family of solutions contain known rogue wave solutions and unusual W-shaped soliton solutions. State transitions between the fundamental rogue waves and W-shaped solitons as well as higher-order nonlinear superposition modes are revealed in the zero-frequency perturbation region by the suitable choice for the background wavenumber of the electric field component. Particularly, it is found that the multiple SIT system can admit both stationary and nonstationary W-shaped solitons in contrast to the stationary results in the single SIT system. Moreover, the W-shaped soliton complex which is formed by a certain number of fundamental W-shaped solitons with zero phase parameters and its decomposition mechanism in the case of the nonzero phase parameters are shown. Meanwhile, some important characteristics of the nonlinear waves including trajectories and spectrum are discussed through the numerical and analytical methods.

Phase transitions in a system of hard rectangles on the square lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kundu, Joyjit; Rajesh, R.

2014-05-01

The phase diagram of a system of monodispersed hard rectangles of size m ×mk on a square lattice is numerically determined for m =2,3 and aspect ratio k =1,2,...,7. We show the existence of a disordered phase, a nematic phase with orientational order, a columnar phase with orientational and partial translational order, and a solidlike phase with sublattice order, but no orientational order. The asymptotic behavior of the phase boundaries for large k is determined using a combination of entropic arguments and a Bethe approximation. This allows us to generalize the phase diagram to larger m and k, showing that for k ≥7, the system undergoes three entropy-driven phase transitions with increasing density. The nature of the different phase transitions is established and the critical exponents for the continuous transitions are determined using finite size scaling.

Pressure-Induced Phase Transitions of n-Tridecane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamashita, Motoi

Pressure-induced phase transition behavior of n-tridecane from the ordered phase through the rotator phase into the liquid phase has been investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at 25 °C. The transition between the ordered and rotator phases has been observed in the pressure range of 270-220 MPa and the transition between the rotator and liquid phases has been observed in the pressure range of 171-112 MPa, within the experimental error of ±50 MPa. The populations of the -gtg- + -gtg'-, -gg- and gt- defects determined from the methylene wagging mode are smaller in the rotator phase than in the liquid phase and are smaller under higher pressure in both of the rotator and liquid phases. A relationship has been found between the conformation and the intensity of the 890 cm-1 band, which has been assigned as the methyl rocking mode and has been considered as insensitive to conformation.

Observation of the Quantum Anomalous Hall Insulator to Anderson Insulator Quantum Phase Transition and its Scaling Behavior.

PubMed

Chang, Cui-Zu; Zhao, Weiwei; Li, Jian; Jain, J K; Liu, Chaoxing; Moodera, Jagadeesh S; Chan, Moses H W

2016-09-16

Fundamental insight into the nature of the quantum phase transition from a superconductor to an insulator in two dimensions, or from one plateau to the next or to an insulator in the quantum Hall effect, has been revealed through the study of its scaling behavior. Here, we report on the experimental observation of a quantum phase transition from a quantum-anomalous-Hall insulator to an Anderson insulator in a magnetic topological insulator by tuning the chemical potential. Our experiment demonstrates the existence of scaling behavior from which we extract the critical exponent for this quantum phase transition. We expect that our work will motivate much further investigation of many properties of quantum phase transition in this new context.

Topological phase transition in the quench dynamics of a one-dimensional Fermi gas with spin-orbit coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Pei; Yi, Wei; Xianlong, Gao

2015-01-01

We study the quench dynamics of a one-dimensional ultracold Fermi gas with synthetic spin-orbit coupling. At equilibrium, the ground state of the system can undergo a topological phase transition and become a topological superfluid with Majorana edge states. As the interaction is quenched near the topological phase boundary, we identify an interesting dynamical phase transition of the quenched state in the long-time limit, characterized by an abrupt change of the pairing gap at a critical quenched interaction strength. We further demonstrate the topological nature of this dynamical phase transition from edge-state analysis of the quenched states. Our findings provide interesting clues for the understanding of topological phase transitions in dynamical processes, and can be useful for the dynamical detection of Majorana edge states in corresponding systems.

Possible higher order phase transition in large-N gauge theory at finite temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nishimura, Hiromichi

2017-08-07

We analyze the phase structure of SU(¥) gauge theory at finite temperature using matrix models. Our basic assumption is that the effective potential is dominated by double-trace terms for the Polyakov loops. As a function of the temperature, a background field for the Polyakov loop, and a quartic coupling, it exhibits a universal structure: in the large portion of the parameter space, there is a continuous phase transition analogous to the third-order phase transition of Gross,Witten and Wadia, but the order of phase transition can be higher than third. We show that different confining potentials give rise to drastically differentmore » behavior of the eigenvalue density and the free energy. Therefore lattice simulations at large N could probe the order of phase transition and test our results. Critical« less

On the thermodynamics of the black hole and hairy black hole transitions in the asymptotically flat spacetime with a box

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yan; Wang, Bin; Liu, Yunqi

2018-03-01

We study the asymptotically flat quasi-local black hole/hairy black hole model with nonzero mass of the scalar field. We disclose effects of the scalar mass on transitions in a grand canonical ensemble with condensation behaviors of the parameter ψ 2, which is similar to approaches in holographic theories. We find that a more negative scalar mass makes the phase transition easier. We also obtain the analytical relation ψ 2∝ (Tc-T)^{1/2} around the critical phase transition points, implying a second order phase transition. Besides the parameter ψ 2, we show that metric solutions can be used to disclose properties of the transitions. In this work, we observe that phase transitions in a box are strikingly similar to holographic transitions in AdS gravity and the similarity provides insights into holographic theories.

Giant elastic tunability in strained BiFeO 3 near an electrically induced phase transition

DOE PAGES

Yu, Pu; Vasudevan, Rama K.; Tselev, Alexander; ...

2015-11-24

Elastic anomalies are signatures of phase transitions in condensed matters and have traditionally been studied using various techniques spanning from neutron scattering to static mechanical testing. Here, using band-excitation elastic/piezoresponse spectroscopy, we probed sub-MHz elastic dynamics of a tip bias-induced rhombohedral–tetragonal phase transition of strained (001)-BiFeO 3 (rhombohedral) ferroelectric thin films from ~10 3 nm 3 sample volumes. Near this transition, we observed that the Young's modulus intrinsically softens by over 30% coinciding with 2-3 folds enhancement of local piezoresponse. Coupled with phase-field modeling, we also addressed the influence of polarization switching and mesoscopic structural heterogeneities (e.g., domain walls) onmore » the kinetics of this phase transition, thereby providing fresh insights into the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) in ferroelectrics. Moreover, the giant electrically tunable elastic stiffness and corresponding electromechanical properties observed here suggest potential applications of BiFeO 3 in next-generation frequency-agile electroacoustic devices, based on utilization of the soft modes underlying successive ferroelectric phase transitions.« less

The deconfining phase transition in and out of equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazavov, Oleksiy

Recent experiments carried out at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory provide strong evidence that a matter can be driven from a confined, low-temperature phase, observed in our every day world into a deconfined high-temperature phase of liberated quarks and gluons. The equilibrium and dynamical properties of the deconfining phase transition are thus of great theoretical interest, since they also provide an information about the first femtoseconds of the evolution of our Universe, when the hot primordial soup while cooling has undergone a chain of phase transitions. The aspects of the deconfining phase transition studied in this work include: the dynamics of the SU(3) gauge theory after the heating quench (which models rapid heating in the heavy-ion collisions), equilibrium properties of the phase transition in the SU(3) gauge theory with boundaries at low temperature (small volumes at RHIC suggest that boundary effects cannot be neglected and periodic boundary conditions normally used in lattice simulations do not correspond to the experimental situation), and a study of the order of the transition in U(1) gauge theory.

Giant elastic tunability in strained BiFeO3 near an electrically induced phase transition

PubMed Central

Li, Q; Cao, Y.; Yu, P.; Vasudevan, R. K.; Laanait, N.; Tselev, A.; Xue, F.; Chen, L. Q.; Maksymovych, P.; Kalinin, S. V.; Balke, N.

2015-01-01

Elastic anomalies are signatures of phase transitions in condensed matters and have traditionally been studied using various techniques spanning from neutron scattering to static mechanical testing. Here, using band-excitation elastic/piezoresponse spectroscopy, we probed sub-MHz elastic dynamics of a tip bias-induced rhombohedral−tetragonal phase transition of strained (001)-BiFeO3 (rhombohedral) ferroelectric thin films from ∼103 nm3 sample volumes. Near this transition, we observed that the Young's modulus intrinsically softens by over 30% coinciding with two- to three-fold enhancement of local piezoresponse. Coupled with phase-field modelling, we also addressed the influence of polarization switching and mesoscopic structural heterogeneities (for example, domain walls) on the kinetics of this phase transition, thereby providing fresh insights into the morphotropic phase boundary in ferroelectrics. Furthermore, the giant electrically tunable elastic stiffness and corresponding electromechanical properties observed here suggest potential applications of BiFeO3 in next-generation frequency-agile electroacoustic devices, based on the utilization of the soft modes underlying successive ferroelectric phase transitions. PMID:26597483

Shock loading and release behavior of silicon nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawai, N.; Tsuru, T.; Hidaka, N.; Liu, X.; Mashimo, T.

2017-01-01

Shock-reshock and shock-release experiments were performed on silicon nitride ceramics above and below its phase transition pressure. Experimental results clearly show the occurrence of elastic-plastic transition and phase transition during initial shock loading. The HEL and phase transition stress are determined as 11.6 and 34.5 GPa, respectively. Below the phase transition stress, the reshock profile consists of the single shock with short rise time, while the release profile shows the gradual release followed by rapid one. Above phase transition stress, reshock and release behavior varies with the initial shock stress. In the case of reshock and release from about 40 GPa, the reshock structure is considerably dispersed, while the release structure shows rapid release. In the reshock profile from about 50 GPa, the formation of the shock wave with the small ramped precursor is observed. And, the release response from same shocked condition shows initial gradual release and subsequent quite rapid one. These results would provide the information about how phase transformation kinetics effects on the reshock and release behavior.

The Stefan problem of solidification of ternary systems in the presence of moving phase transition regions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alexandrov, D. V., E-mail: Dmitri.Alexandrov@usu.ru; Ivanov, A. A.

2009-05-15

The process of solidification of ternary systems in the presence of moving phase transition regions has been investigated theoretically in terms of the nonlinear equation of the liquidus surface. A mathematical model is developed and an approximate analytical solution to the Stefan problem is constructed for a linear temperature profile in two-phase zones. The temperature and impurity concentration distributions are determined, the solid-phase fractions in the phase transition regions are obtained, and the laws of motion of their boundaries are established. It is demonstrated that all boundaries move in accordance with the laws of direct proportionality to the square rootmore » of time, which is a general property of self-similar processes. It is substantiated that the concentration of an impurity of the substance undergoing a phase transition only in the cotectic zone increases in this zone and decreases in the main two-phase zone in which the other component of the substance undergoes a phase transition. In the process, the concentration reaches a maximum at the interface between the main two-phase zone and the cotectic two-phase zone. The revealed laws of motion of the outer boundaries of the entire phase transition region do not depend on the amount of the components under consideration and hold true for crystallization of a multicomponent system.« less

Stepwise positional-orientational order and the multicritical-multistructural global phase diagram of the s=3/2 Ising model from renormalization-group theory.

PubMed

Yunus, Çağın; Renklioğlu, Başak; Keskin, Mustafa; Berker, A Nihat

2016-06-01

The spin-3/2 Ising model, with nearest-neighbor interactions only, is the prototypical system with two different ordering species, with concentrations regulated by a chemical potential. Its global phase diagram, obtained in d=3 by renormalization-group theory in the Migdal-Kadanoff approximation or equivalently as an exact solution of a d=3 hierarchical lattice, with flows subtended by 40 different fixed points, presents a very rich structure containing eight different ordered and disordered phases, with more than 14 different types of phase diagrams in temperature and chemical potential. It exhibits phases with orientational and/or positional order. It also exhibits quintuple phase transition reentrances. Universality of critical exponents is conserved across different renormalization-group flow basins via redundant fixed points. One of the phase diagrams contains a plastic crystal sequence, with positional and orientational ordering encountered consecutively as temperature is lowered. The global phase diagram also contains double critical points, first-order and critical lines between two ordered phases, critical end points, usual and unusual (inverted) bicritical points, tricritical points, multiple tetracritical points, and zero-temperature criticality and bicriticality. The four-state Potts permutation-symmetric subspace is contained in this model.

Third Law of Thermodynamics and The Shape of the Phase Diagram for Systems With a First-Order Quantum Phase Transition.

PubMed

Kirkpatrick, T R; Belitz, D

2015-07-10

The third law of thermodynamics constrains the phase diagram of systems with a first-order quantum phase transition. For a zero conjugate field, the coexistence curve has an infinite slope at T=0. If a tricritical point exists at T>0, then the associated tricritical wings are perpendicular to the T=0 plane, but not to the zero-field plane. These results are based on the third law and basic thermodynamics only, and are completely general. As an explicit example we consider the ferromagnetic quantum phase transition in clean metals, where a first-order quantum phase transition is commonly observed.

A chemometric method to identify enzymatic reactions leading to the transition from glycolytic oscillations to waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimányi, László; Khoroshyy, Petro; Mair, Thomas

2010-06-01

In the present work we demonstrate that FTIR-spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the time resolved and noninvasive measurement of multi-substrate/product interactions in complex metabolic networks as exemplified by the oscillating glycolysis in a yeast extract. Based on a spectral library constructed from the pure glycolytic intermediates, chemometric analysis of the complex spectra allowed us the identification of many of these intermediates. Singular value decomposition and multiple level wavelet decomposition were used to separate drifting substances from oscillating ones. This enabled us to identify slow and fast variables of glycolytic oscillations. Most importantly, we can attribute a qualitative change in the positive feedback regulation of the autocatalytic reaction to the transition from homogeneous oscillations to travelling waves. During the oscillatory phase the enzyme phosphofructokinase is mainly activated by its own product ADP, whereas the transition to waves is accompanied with a shift of the positive feedback from ADP to AMP. This indicates that the overall energetic state of the yeast extract determines the transition between spatially homogeneous oscillations and travelling waves.

A Theory of Exoplanet Transits with Light Scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robinson, Tyler D., E-mail: tydrobin@ucsc.edu

Exoplanet transit spectroscopy enables the characterization of distant worlds, and will yield key results for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope . However, transit spectra models are often simplified, omitting potentially important processes like refraction and multiple scattering. While the former process has seen recent development, the effects of light multiple scattering on exoplanet transit spectra have received little attention. Here, we develop a detailed theory of exoplanet transit spectroscopy that extends to the full refracting and multiple scattering case. We explore the importance of scattering for planet-wide cloud layers, where the relevant parameters are the slant scattering optical depth, themore » scattering asymmetry parameter, and the angular size of the host star. The latter determines the size of the “target” for a photon that is back-mapped from an observer. We provide results that straightforwardly indicate the potential importance of multiple scattering for transit spectra. When the orbital distance is smaller than 10–20 times the stellar radius, multiple scattering effects for aerosols with asymmetry parameters larger than 0.8–0.9 can become significant. We provide examples of the impacts of cloud/haze multiple scattering on transit spectra of a hot Jupiter-like exoplanet. For cases with a forward and conservatively scattering cloud/haze, differences due to multiple scattering effects can exceed 200 ppm, but shrink to zero at wavelength ranges corresponding to strong gas absorption or when the slant optical depth of the cloud exceeds several tens. We conclude with a discussion of types of aerosols for which multiple scattering in transit spectra may be important.« less

Observation of polyamorphism in the phase change alloy Ge1Sb2Te4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalkan, B.; Sen, S.; Cho, J.-Y.; Joo, Y.-C.; Clark, S. M.

2012-10-01

A high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction study of the phase change alloy Ge1Sb2Te4 demonstrates the existence of a polyamorphic phase transition between the "as deposited" low density amorphous (LDA) phase and a high density amorphous (HDA) phase at ˜10 GPa. The entropy of the HDA phase is expected to be higher than that of the LDA phase resulting in a negative Clapeyron slope for this transition. These phase relations may enable the polyamorphic transition to play a role in the memory and data storage applications.

Phase diagram and equation of state of praseodymium at high pressures and temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baer, Bruce J.; Cynn, Hyunchae; Iota, Valentin; Yoo, Choong-Shik; Shen, Guoyin

2003-04-01

The phase diagram for praseodymium (Pr) has been determined for pressures between 5 and 60 GPa and temperatures between 295 and 830 K using both in situ energy- and angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction with externally heated diamond-anvil cells. Mineral oil and argon were alternatively used as pressure media in order to compare conflicting results in the literature and to ensure the validity of mineral oil as an inert medium. Evidence for the presence of an, as yet, unidentified phase (denoted Pr-VI) above 675 K has been observed, whereas no compelling evidence has been observed for the existence of the recently reported monoclinic phase (Pr-V). The new constraints of the phase diagram, therefore, suggest that the phase transitions occur as Pr-I(dhcp)→Pr-II(fcc)→Pr-VI→Pr-IV(α-U) above approximately 700 K. Additionally, there is a Pr-III(distorted fcc), Pr-VI, and Pr-IV triple point at approximately 675 K and 23.8 GPa. Temperature-dependent equations of state have been determined, allowing the temperature-dependent volume collapse at the transition between Pr-III and Pr-IV to be calculated. We report a linear decrease of the volume collapse along the Pr-III to Pr-IV boundary with temperature, ΔV/V (%)=16.235-0.0156[T(K)]; the extrapolation indicates that the volume collapse should vanish well below the melting point. With the temperature-dependent equation of state data and new phase diagram we demonstrate that the volume collapse can be accounted for by a change in the multiplicity of Pr atoms as the f electrons go from localized to itinerant.

Managing the transition (ManTra): a resource for persons with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and their health professionals: protocol for a mixed-methods study in Italy

PubMed Central

Giordano, Andrea; Pietrolongo, Erika; Confalonieri, Paolo; De Luca, Giovanna; Tortorella, Carla; Trojano, Maria; Messmer Uccelli, Michele; Torri Clerici, Valentina; Gitto, Lara; Köpke, Sascha; Borreani, Claudia; Heesen, Christoph; Solari, Alessandra

2017-01-01

Introduction 15 years after clinical onset, about 50% of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis convert to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Notwithstanding the importance of this transition, knowledge of the experiences and needs of patients and carers is fragmentary, and targeted interventions are not available. Managing the Transition to SPMS (ManTra) is a mixed methodology project to develop and test a user-led resource for newly diagnosed patients with SPMS. Here, we describe the developmental phase, consisting of a literature review and a new research study involving key stakeholders, in which we construct the resource. Methods and analysis Round 1: The literature review and study will be conducted in parallel. The latter will identify patient needs using a qualitative approach consisting of: personal semistructured interviews with >15 recently diagnosed patients with SPMS; three focus group meetings (one with significant others of patients, one with neurologists and one with other health professionals caring for patients with SPMS). An online survey (>200 recently diagnosed Italian patients with SPMS) will follow to verify needs in a larger independent sample. An expert panel will outline a set of candidate resources/interventions that aim to satisfy the needs thus identified. Round 2: Consensus on the final resource will be obtained in a 1-day meeting of recently diagnosed patients with SPMS, significant others, health professionals and other stakeholders, using the nominal group technique. The expert panel will refine the resource, identify the outcome measures to assess its efficacy and ascertain the most suitable comparator (ManTra Phase 2, not part of this protocol). Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by the ethics committees of each of the involved centres: Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C Besta, Milan; G D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara and the Aldo Moro University of Bari. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and a lay summary sent to participants. PMID:28838904

First-order inflation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolb, Edward W.

1991-01-01

In the original proposal, inflation occurred in the process of a strongly first-order phase transition. This model was soon demonstrated to be fatally flawed. Subsequent models for inflation involved phase transitions that were second-order, or perhaps weakly first-order; some even involved no phase transition at all. Recently the possibility of inflation during a strongly first-order phase transition has been revived. In this talk I will discuss some models for first-order inflation, and emphasize unique signatures that result if inflation is realized in a first-order transition. Before discussing first-order inflation, I will briefly review some of the history of inflation to demonstrate how first-order inflation differs from other models.

First-order inflation. [in cosmology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolb, Edward W.

1991-01-01

In the original proposal, inflation occurred in the process of a strongly first-order phase transition. This model was soon demonstrated to be fatally flawed. Subsequent models for inflation involved phase transitions that were second-order, or perhaps weakly first-order; some even involved no phase transition at all. Recently the possibility of inflation during a strongly first-order phase transition has been revived. In this paper, some models for first-order inflation are discussed, and unique signatures that result if inflation is realized in a first-order transition are emphasized. Some of the history of inflation is reviewed to demonstrate how first-order inflation differs from other models.

NASA/SPAN and DOE/ESnet-DECnet transition strategy for DECnet OSI/phase 5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porter, Linda; Demar, Phil

1991-01-01

The technical issues are examined involved with the transition of very large DECnet networks from DECnet phase IV protocols to DECnet OSI/Phase V protocols. The networks involved are the NASA's Science Internet (NSI-DECnet) and the DOE's Energy Science network (ESnet-DECnet). These networks, along with the many universities and research institutions connected to them, combine to form a single DECnet network containing more than 20,000 transitions and crossing numerous organizational boundaries. Discussion of transition planning, including decisions about Phase V naming, addressing, and routing are presented. Also discussed are transition issues related to the use of non-DEC routers in the network.

Finite-temperature phase transitions of third and higher order in gauge theories at large N

DOE PAGES

Nishimura, Hiromichi; Pisarski, Robert D.; Skokov, Vladimir V.

2018-02-15

We study phase transitions in SU(∞) gauge theories at nonzero temperature using matrix models. Our basic assumption is that the effective potential is dominated by double trace terms for the Polyakov loops. As a function of the various parameters, related to terms linear, quadratic, and quartic in the Polyakov loop, the phase diagram exhibits a universal structure. In a large region of this parameter space, there is a continuous phase transition whose order is larger than second. This is a generalization of the phase transition of Gross, Witten, and Wadia (GWW). Depending upon the detailed form of the matrix model,more » the eigenvalue density and the behavior of the specific heat near the transition differ drastically. Here, we speculate that in the pure gauge theory, that although the deconfining transition is thermodynamically of first order, it can be nevertheless conformally symmetric at infnite N.« less

Finite-temperature phase transitions of third and higher order in gauge theories at large N

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nishimura, Hiromichi; Pisarski, Robert D.; Skokov, Vladimir V.

We study phase transitions in SU(∞) gauge theories at nonzero temperature using matrix models. Our basic assumption is that the effective potential is dominated by double trace terms for the Polyakov loops. As a function of the various parameters, related to terms linear, quadratic, and quartic in the Polyakov loop, the phase diagram exhibits a universal structure. In a large region of this parameter space, there is a continuous phase transition whose order is larger than second. This is a generalization of the phase transition of Gross, Witten, and Wadia (GWW). Depending upon the detailed form of the matrix model,more » the eigenvalue density and the behavior of the specific heat near the transition differ drastically. Here, we speculate that in the pure gauge theory, that although the deconfining transition is thermodynamically of first order, it can be nevertheless conformally symmetric at infnite N.« less

Horava-Lifshitz cosmology, entropic interpretation and quark-hadron phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kheyri, F.; Khodadi, M.; Sepangi, Hamid Reza

2013-05-01

Based on the assumptions of the standard model of cosmology, a phase transition associated with chiral symmetry breaking after the electroweak transition has occurred at approximately 10 μs after the Big Bang to convert a plasma of free quarks and gluons into hadrons. We consider such a phase transition in the context of a deformed Horava-Lifshitz cosmology. The Friedmann equation for the deformed Horava-Lifshitz universe is obtained using the entropic interpretation of gravity, proposed by Verlinde. We investigate the effects of the parameter ω appearing in the theory on the evolution of the physical quantities relevant to a description of the early universe, namely, the energy density and temperature before, during and after the phase transition. Finally, we study the cross-over phase transition in both high and low temperature regions in view of the recent lattice QCD simulations data.

Reconstructive phase transition in (NH4)3TiF7 accompanied by the ordering of TiF6 octahedra.

PubMed

Molokeev, Maxim; Misjul, S V; Flerov, I N; Laptash, N M

2014-12-01

An unusual phase transition P4/mnc → Pa\\bar 3 has been detected after cooling the (NH4)3TiF7 compound. Some TiF6 octahedra, which are disordered in the room-temperature tetragonal structure, become ordered in the low-temperature cubic phase due to the disappearance of the fourfold axis. Other TiF6 octahedra undergo large rotations resulting in huge displacements of the F atoms by 1.5-1.8 Å that implies a reconstructive phase transition. It was supposed that phases P4/mbm and Pm\\bar 3m could be a high-temperature phase and a parent phase, respectively, in (NH4)3TiF7. Therefore, the sequence of phase transitions can be written as Pm\\bar 3m → P4/mbm → P4/mnc → Pa\\bar 3. The interrelation between (NH4)3TiF7, (NH4)3GeF7 and (NH4)3PbF7 is found, which allows us to suppose phase transitions in relative compounds.

The orthorhombic to high-P monoclinic phase transition in Mg-Fe Pyroxenes: Can it produce a seismic discontinuity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodland, Alan B.

The orthorhombic to high-P monoclinic phase transition in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 pyroxene with a mantle-relevant composition (XFs = 0.1) is expected to occur at ˜300 km depth [Woodland and Angel, 1997]. However, the divariant nature of the phase transition in the Mg-Fe system leaves the question open as to whether this transition occurs over a narrow enough pressure interval to cause a seismic discontinuity. New experimental results with binary Mg-Fe pyroxenes constrain the divariant loop to be 0.2 GPa wide at the composition of XFs = 0.4 and on the order of 0.15 GPa for a mantle-relevant composition. This implies that the phase transition will be complete over a depth interval of about 5-6 km in the mantle and it is concluded that the divariant loop of the orthorhombic to high-P monoclinic phase transition in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 pyroxene is indeed narrow enough to produce a “jump” in seismic velocities. The experimentally observed metastable behavior of orthopyroxene could further reduce the effective depth interval of this phase transition. The expected location of this phase transition coincides with a small magnitude seismic discontinuity, the “X-discontinuity”, occasionally observed in seismic profiles at ˜300 km depth, and thus provides a viable petrologic explanation for the origin of this discontinuity, if it truly exists.

Rapid microwave-assisted preparation of binary and ternary transition metal sulfide compounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Butala, Megan M.; Perez, Minue A.; Arnon, Shiri

Transition metal chalcogenides are of interest for energy applications, including energy generation in photoelectrochemical cells and as electrodes for next-generation electrochemical energy storage. Synthetic routes for such chalcogenides typically involve extended heating at elevated temperatures for multiple weeks. We demonstrate here the feasibility of rapidly preparing select sulfide compounds in a matter of minutes, rather than weeks, using microwave-assisted heating in domestic microwaves. We report the preparations of phase pure FeS2, CoS2, and solid solutions thereof from the elements with only 40 min of heating. Conventional furnace and rapid microwave preparations of CuTi2S4 both result in a majority of themore » targeted phase, even with the significantly shorter heating time of 40 min for microwave methods relative to 12 days using a conventional furnace. The preparations we describe for these compounds can be extended to related structures and chemistries and thus enable rapid screening of the properties and performance of various compositions of interest for electronic, optical, and electrochemical applications.« less

Insights into Inverse Materials Design from Phase Transitions in Shape Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cersonsky, Rose; van Anders, Greg; Dodd, Paul M.; Glotzer, Sharon C.

In designing new materials for synthesis, the inverse materials design approach posits that, given a structure, we can predict a building block optimized for self- assembly. How does that building block change as pressure is varied to maintain the same crystal structure? We address this question for entropically stabilized colloidal crystals by working in a generalized statistical thermodynamic ensemble where an alchemical potential variable is fixed and its conjugate variable, particle shape, is allowed to fluctuate. We show that there are multiple regions of shape behavior and phase transitions in shape space between these regions. Furthermore, while past literature has looked towards packing arguments for proposing shape-filling candidate building blocks for structure formation, we show that even at very high pressures, a structure will attain lowest free energy by modifying these space-filling shapes. U.S. Army Research Office under Grant Award No. W911NF-10-1-0518, Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Award EFRI-1240264, National Science Foundation Grant Number ACI- 1053575, XSEDE award DMR 140129, Rackham Merit Fellowship Program.

Degeneracy breakdown as a source of supernovae Ia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clavelli, L.

2018-01-01

In a confined system of multiple Fermions, the particles are forced into high energy levels by the Pauli Exclusion Principle. We refer to this system as a Pauli tower. We pursue the investigation of a model for sub-Chandrasekhar supernovae Ia explosions (SNIa) in which the energy stored in the Pauli tower is released to trigger a nuclear deflagration. The simplest physical model for such a degeneracy breakdown and collapse of the Pauli tower is a phase transition to an exactly supersymmetric state in which the scalar partners of protons, neutrons, and leptons become degenerate with the familiar fermions of our world as in the supersymmetric standard model with susy breaking parameters relaxed to zero. We focus on the ability of the susy phase transition model to fit the total SNIa rate as well as the delay time distribution of SNIa after the birth of a progenitor white dwarf. We also study the ejected mass distribution and its correlation with delay time. Finally, we discuss the expected SNIa remnant in the form of a black hole of roughly Jupiter mass and the prospects for detecting such remnants.

Possible existence of two amorphous phases of D-mannitol related by a first-order transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, Men; Yu, Lian, E-mail: lian.yu@wisc.edu; Wang, Jun-Qiang

2015-06-28

We report that the common polyalcohol D-mannitol may have two amorphous phases related by a first-order transition. Slightly above its glass transition temperature T{sub g} (284 K), the supercooled liquid (SCL) of D-mannitol transforms to a low-energy, apparently amorphous phase with stronger hydrogen bonds. The enthalpy of this so-called Phase X is approximately halfway between those of the known amorphous and crystalline phases, a position low for glass aging and high for crystal polymorphs. Similar to the SCL, Phase X is transparent with broad X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering; upon temperature cycling, it exhibits a glass-transition-like change of heat capacity.more » On fast heating, Phase X transforms back to the SCL near T{sub g} + 50 K, enabling a determination of their equilibrium temperature. The presence of D-sorbitol as a plasticizer enables observation of a first-order transition from the SCL to Phase X entirely in the liquid state (liquid-liquid transition). The transition from D-mannitol’s SCL to Phase X has intriguing similarities with the formation of the glacial phase of triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and the conversion from high-density to low-density amorphous ice, both studied intensely in the context of polyamorphism. All three processes occur near T{sub g} with substantial enthalpy decrease toward the crystalline phases; the processes in water and D-mannitol both strengthen the hydrogen bonds. In contrast to TPP, D-mannitol’s Phase X forms more rapidly and can transform back to the SCL. These features make D-mannitol a valuable new model for understanding polyamorphism.« less

Spectroscopic study of native defects in the semiconductor to metal phase transition in V2O5 nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basu, Raktima; Dhara, Sandip

2018-04-01

Vanadium is a transition metal with multiple oxidation states and V2O5 is the most stable form among them. Besides catalysis, chemical sensing, and photo-chromatic applications, V2O5 is also reported to exhibit a semiconductor to metal transition (SMT) at a temperature range of 530-560 K. Even though there are debates in using the term "SMT" for V2O5, the metallic behavior above the transition temperature and its origin are of great interest in the scientific community. In this study, V2O5 nanostructures were deposited on a SiO2/Si substrate by the vapour transport method using Au as a catalyst. Temperature dependent electrical measurement confirms the SMT in V2O5 without any structural change. Temperature dependent photoluminescence analysis proves the appearance of oxygen vacancy related peaks due to reduction of V2O5 above the transition temperature, as also inferred from temperature dependent Raman spectroscopic studies. The newly evolved defect levels in the V2O5 electronic structure with increasing temperature are also understood from the downward shift of the bottom most split-off conduction bands due to breakdown of pdπ bonds leading to metallic behavior in V2O5 above the transition temperature.

Experimental and theoretical methods to study structural phase transition mechanisms in K{sub 3}WO{sub 3}F{sub 3} oxyfluoride

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krylov, A.S., E-mail: shusy@iph.krasn.ru; Sofronova, S.N.; Kolesnikova, E.M.

2014-10-15

The results of structural phase transitions mechanisms study in K{sub 3}WO{sub 3}F{sub 3}oxyfluoride are represented by different experimental and theoretical methods. The structural phase transition anomalies at T{sub 1}=452 K and T{sub 2}=414 K of Raman and IR spectra have been analyzed. Using vibrational spectroscopy methods, the NMR-experiment has been done to clarify the nature of found phase transitions: displacive types or order-disorder types. The model of “disordered” crystal was proposed, and the results of lattice dynamics calculation in frameworks of the generalized Gordon–Kim method of ordered (R3) and “disordered” crystals were compared. The high pressure phases were studied bymore » the Raman technique too. - Graphical abstract: (1) Two possible configuration of octahedra. (2). All phases Raman lines of octahedra. (3) All phases IR lines of octahedra. (4) NMR spectra of all phases. - Highlights: • The results of study oxyfluoride K{sub 3}WO{sub 3}F{sub 3} are represented by Raman, IR, NMR technique. • The high pressure phases were studied by the Raman technique. • The anionic octahedra [WO{sub 3}F{sub 3}]{sup 3−} are not ordered below the both phase transitions. • The ferroelectric phase is realized due to the shift of atoms without F/O ordering. • Both of found phase transitions are close to the second order.« less

In-field X-ray and neutron diffraction studies of re-entrant charge-ordering and field induced metastability in La0.175Pr0.45Ca0.375MnO3-δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Shivani; Shahee, Aga; Yadav, Poonam; da Silva, Ivan; Lalla, N. P.

2017-11-01

Low-temperature high-magnetic field (2 K, 8 T) (LTHM) powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and time of flight powder neutron diffraction (NPD), low-temperature transmission electron microscopic (TEM), and resistivity and magnetization measurements have been carried out to investigate the re-entrant charge ordering (CO), field induced structural phase transitions, and metastability in phase-separated La0.175Pr0.45Ca0.375MnO3-δ (LPCMO). Low-temperature TEM and XRD studies reveal that on cooling under zero-field, paramagnetic Pnma phase transforms to P21/m CO antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulating phase below ˜233 K. Unlike reported literature, no structural signature of CO AFM P21/m to ferromagnetic (FM) Pnma phase-transition during cooling down to 2 K under zero-field was observed. However, the CO phase was found to undergo a re-entrant transition at ˜40 K. Neutron diffraction studies revealed a pseudo CE type spin arrangement of the observed CO phase. The low-temperature resistance, while cooled under zero-field, shows insulator to metal like transition below ˜105 K with minima at ˜25 K. On application of field, the CO P21/m phase was found to undergo field-induced transition to FM Pnma phase, which shows irreversibility on field removal below ˜40 K. Zero-field warming XRD and NPD studies reveal that field-induced FM Pnma phase is a metastable phase, which arise due to the arrest of kinetics of the first-order phase transition of FM Pnma to CO-AFM P21/m phase, below 40 K. Thus, a strong magneto-structural coupling is observed for this system. A field-temperature (H-T) phase-diagram has been constructed based on the LTHM-XRD, which matches very nicely with the reported H-T phase-diagram constructed based on magnetic measurements. Due to the occurrence of gradual growth of the re-entrant CO phase and the absence of a clear structural signature of phase-separation of CO-AFM P21/m and FM Pnma phases, the H-T minima in the phase-diagram of the present LPCMO sample has been attributed to the strengthening of AFM interaction during re-entrant CO transition and not to glass like "dynamic to frozen" transition.

Three superconducting phases with different categories of pairing in hole- and electron-doped LaFeAs1 -xPxO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyasaka, S.; Uekubo, M.; Tsuji, H.; Nakajima, M.; Tajima, S.; Shiota, T.; Mukuda, H.; Sagayama, H.; Nakao, H.; Kumai, R.; Murakami, Y.

2017-06-01

The phase diagram of the LaFeAs1 -xPxO system has been extensively studied through hole and electron doping as well as As/P substitution. It has been revealed that there are three different superconducting phases with different Fermi surface (FS) topologies and thus with possibly different pairing glues. One of them is well understood as spin fluctuation-mediated superconductivity within a FS nesting scenario. Another one with the FSs in a bad nesting condition must be explained in a different context such as orbital or spin fluctuation in a strongly correlated electronic system. In both phases, T -linear resistivity was commonly observed when the superconducting transition temperature Tc becomes the highest value, indicating that the strength of bosonic fluctuation determines Tc. In the last superconducting phase, the nesting condition of FSs and the related bosonic fluctuation are moderate. Variety of phase diagram characterizes the multiple orbital nature of the iron-based superconductors which are just near the boundary between weak and strong correlation regimes.

Control of the orientation and photoinduced phase transitions of macrocyclic azobenzene.

PubMed

Uchida, Emi; Sakaki, Kouji; Nakamura, Yumiko; Azumi, Reiko; Hirai, Yuki; Akiyama, Haruhisa; Yoshida, Masaru; Norikane, Yasuo

2013-12-16

Photoinduced phase transitions caused by photochromic reactions bring about a change in the state of matter at constant temperature. Herein, we report the photoinduced phase transitions of crystals of a photoresponsive macrocyclic compound bearing two azobenzene groups (1) at room temperature on irradiation with UV (365 nm) and visible (436 nm) light. The trans/trans isomer undergoes photoinduced phase transitions (crystal-isotropic phase-crystal) on UV light irradiation. The photochemically generated crystal exhibited reversible phase transitions between the crystal and the mesophase on UV and visible light irradiation. The molecular order of the randomly oriented crystals could be increased by irradiating with linearly polarized visible light, and the value of the order parameter was determined to be -0.84. Heating enhances the thermal cis-to-trans isomerization and subsequent cooling returned crystals of the trans/trans isomer. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Holographic insulator/superconductor transition with exponential nonlinear electrodynamics probed by entanglement entropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Weiping; Yang, Chaohui; Jing, Jiliang

2018-05-01

From the viewpoint of holography, we study the behaviors of the entanglement entropy in insulator/superconductor transition with exponential nonlinear electrodynamics (ENE). We find that the entanglement entropy is a good probe to the properties of the holographic phase transition. Both in the half space and the belt space, the non-monotonic behavior of the entanglement entropy in superconducting phase versus the chemical potential is general in this model. Furthermore, the behavior of the entanglement entropy for the strip geometry shows that the confinement/deconfinement phase transition appears in both insulator and superconductor phases. And the critical width of the confinement/deconfinement phase transition depends on the chemical potential and the exponential coupling term. More interestingly, the behaviors of the entanglement entropy in their corresponding insulator phases are independent of the exponential coupling factor but depends on the width of the subsystem A.

Nonequilibrium Second-Order Phase Transition in a Cooper-Pair Insulator.

PubMed

Doron, A; Tamir, I; Mitra, S; Zeltzer, G; Ovadia, M; Shahar, D

2016-02-05

In certain disordered superconductors, upon increasing the magnetic field, superconductivity terminates with a direct transition into an insulating phase. This phase is comprised of localized Cooper pairs and is termed a Cooper-pair insulator. The current-voltage characteristics measured in this insulating phase are highly nonlinear and, at low temperatures, exhibit abrupt current jumps. Increasing the temperature diminishes the jumps until the current-voltage characteristics become continuous. We show that a direct correspondence exists between our system and systems that undergo an equilibrium, second-order, phase transition. We illustrate this correspondence by comparing our results to the van der Waals equation of state for the liquid-gas mixture. We use the similarities to identify a critical point where an out of equilibrium second-order-like phase transition occurs in our system. Approaching the critical point, we find a power-law behavior with critical exponents that characterizes the transition.

Instability of Insulators near Quantum Phase Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doron, A.; Tamir, I.; Levinson, T.; Ovadia, M.; Sacépé, B.; Shahar, D.

2017-12-01

Thin films of amorphous indium oxide undergo a magnetic field driven superconducting to insulator quantum phase transition. In the insulating phase, the current-voltage characteristics show large current discontinuities due to overheating of electrons. We show that the onset voltage for the discontinuities vanishes as we approach the quantum critical point. As a result, the insulating phase becomes unstable with respect to any applied voltage making it, at least experimentally, immeasurable. We emphasize that unlike previous reports of the absence of linear response near quantum phase transitions, in our system, the departure from equilibrium is discontinuous. Because the conditions for these discontinuities are satisfied in most insulators at low temperatures, and due to the decay of all characteristic energy scales near quantum phase transitions, we believe that this instability is general and should occur in various systems while approaching their quantum critical point. Accounting for this instability is crucial for determining the critical behavior of systems near the transition.

Holographic research on phase transitions for a five dimensional AdS black hole with conformally coupled scalar hair

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hui-Ling; Yang, Shu-Zheng; Zu, Xiao-Tao

2017-01-01

In the framework of holography, we survey the phase structure for a higher dimensional hairy black hole including the effects of the scalar field hair. It is worth emphasizing that, not only black hole entropy, but also entanglement entropy and two point correlation function exhibit the Van der Waals-like phase transition in a fixed scalar charge ensemble. Furthermore, by making use of numerical computation, we show that the Maxwell's equal area law is valid for the first order phase transition. In addition, we also discuss how the hair parameter affects the black hole's phase transition.

On the Phase Transition of N-Isopropylcarbazole.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

vacinity of the phase transition (ca. T 137 + 40 K). We propose a semiquantitative interpretation of the phase transition in NIPC based on this assumption...the order parameter fluctuations in the vacinity of TO . V. Conclusions. The elastic properties of NIPC in the temperature range 90 K - 295 K have

On entropy change measurements around first order phase transitions in caloric materials.

PubMed

Caron, Luana; Ba Doan, Nguyen; Ranno, Laurent

2017-02-22

In this work we discuss the measurement protocols for indirect determination of the isothermal entropy change associated with first order phase transitions in caloric materials. The magneto-structural phase transitions giving rise to giant magnetocaloric effects in Cu-doped MnAs and FeRh are used as case studies to exemplify how badly designed protocols may affect isothermal measurements and lead to incorrect entropy change estimations. Isothermal measurement protocols which allow correct assessment of the entropy change around first order phase transitions in both direct and inverse cases are presented.

Phase equilibrium in a water + n-hexane system with a high water content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasulov, S. M.; Orakova, S. M.; Isaev, Z. A.

2017-02-01

The P, ρ, and T-properties of a water + n-hexane system immiscible under normal conditions are measured piezometrically in the water mole fraction range of 0.918-0.977 at 309-685 K and pressures of up to 66 MPa. Two phase transitions are observed on each isochore corresponding to phase transitions of hydrocarbon liquid into gas or the dissolution of n-hexane in water and the transition of aqueous liquid into gas. The boundaries of phase transitions and their critical parameters are determined.

Superradiant phase transitions with three-level systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baksic, Alexandre; Nataf, Pierre; Ciuti, Cristiano

2013-02-01

We determine the phase diagram of N identical three-level systems interacting with a single photonic mode in the thermodynamical limit (N→∞) by accounting for the so-called diamagnetic term and the inequalities imposed by the Thomas-Reich-Kuhn (TRK) oscillator strength sum rule. The key role of transitions between excited levels and the occurrence of first-order phase transitions is discussed. We show that, in contrast to two-level systems, in the three-level case the TRK inequalities do not always prevent a superradiant phase transition in the presence of a diamagnetic term.

Conditions and Linear Stability Analysis at the Transition to Synchronization of Three Coupled Phase Oscillators in a Ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Nashar, Hassan F.

2017-06-01

We consider a system of three nonidentical coupled phase oscillators in a ring topology. We explore the conditions that must be satisfied in order to obtain the phases at the transition to a synchrony state. These conditions lead to the correct mathematical expressions of phases that aid to find a simple analytic formula for critical coupling when the oscillators transit to a synchronization state having a common frequency value. The finding of a simple expression for the critical coupling allows us to perform a linear stability analysis at the transition to the synchronization stage. The obtained analytic forms of the eigenvalues show that the three coupled phase oscillators with periodic boundary conditions transit to a synchrony state when a saddle-node bifurcation occurs.

Phase transition in organic-inorganic perovskite (C9H19NH3)2 PbI2Br2 of long-chain alkylammonium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abid, H.; Trigui, A.; Mlayah, A.; Hlil, E. K.; Abid, Y.

2012-01-01

Single perovskite slab alkylammonium lead iodides bromides (C9H19NH3)2PbI2Br2 is a new member of the family of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite compounds. It exhibits a single structural phase transition with changes in the conformation of alkylammonium chains below room temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate this phase transition. These changes were characterized by a decreased conformational disorder of the methylene units of the alkyl chains. Phase transition was examined in light of the interesting optical properties of this material, as well as the relevance of this system as models for phase transitions in lipid bilayers.

An infrared spectroscopic study of the structural phase transition in the perovskite-type layer compound [ n-C 16H 33NH 3] 2CoCl 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ning, Guo; Guangfu, Zeng; Shiquan, Xi

1992-12-01

The solid-solid phase transitions in the perovskite-type layer compound [ n-C 16H 33NH 3] 2CoCl 4 have been studied by infrared spectroscopy. A new phase transition at 340 K was found by comparison with differential scanning calorimetry results. A temperature dependence study of the infrared spectra provides evidence of the occurrence of structural phase transitions related to the dynamics of the alkylammonium ions and hydrogen bonds. The main transition at 374 K corresponds to the conformational order-disorder change in the chain, which probably couples with reorientational motions of the NH 3 polar heads. GTG or GTG' defects appear in the high temperature disordered phase.

Signatures of a dissipative phase transition in photon correlation measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fink, Thomas; Schade, Anne; Höfling, Sven; Schneider, Christian; Imamoglu, Ataç

2018-04-01

Understanding and characterizing phase transitions in driven-dissipative systems constitutes a new frontier for many-body physics1-8. A generic feature of dissipative phase transitions is a vanishing gap in the Liouvillian spectrum9, which leads to long-lived deviations from the steady state as the system is driven towards the transition. Here, we show that photon correlation measurements can be used to characterize the corresponding critical slowing down of non-equilibrium dynamics. We focus on the extensively studied phenomenon of optical bistability in GaAs cavity polaritons10,11, which can be described as a first-order dissipative phase transition12-14. Increasing the excitation strength towards the bistable range results in an increasing photon-bunching signal along with a decay time that is prolonged by more than nine orders of magnitude as compared with that of single polaritons. In the limit of strong polariton interactions leading to pronounced quantum fluctuations, the mean-field bistability threshold is washed out. Nevertheless, the functional form with which the Liouvillian gap closes as the thermodynamic limit is approached provides a signature of the emerging dissipative phase transition. Our results establish photon correlation measurements as an invaluable tool for studying dynamical properties of dissipative phase transitions without requiring phase-sensitive interferometric measurements.

A cost-effective process to prepare VO{sub 2} (M) powder and films with superior thermochromic properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiao, Xiudi; Zhang, Hua; Chai, Guanqi

2014-03-01

Graphical abstract: Combining codeposition and short time post annealing, VO{sub 2} (M) with high quality and excellent phase transition performance is obtained. After mixing the VO{sub 2} powder with acrylic resin, the composite films deposited on glass show superior visible transmission and solar modulation, which can be used as an excellent candidate of low cost smart window in energy saving field. - Highlights: • The VO{sub 2} powder obtained by short time thermolysis method is high purity and crystallinity with superior phase transition performance. • The maximum decreasing efficiency of phase transition temperature is about −30 K/at% with w =more » 0.4 at%. • After mixing VO{sub 2} powder with acrylic resin, the maximal visible transmission of the composite films is 48% and the transmission modulation at 2000 nm is 37.3% with phase transition temperature of 66.2 °C. • Though the phase transition performance is weakened by tungsten doping, the film prepared by 1.3 at% tungsten doped VO{sub 2} still show superior transmission modulation about 26.4%, which means that it is a potential candidate as smart windows. - Abstract: VO{sub 2} powder with superior phase transition performance was prepared by convenient thermolysis method. The results illustrated that VO{sub 2} powder show high purity and crystallinity. VO{sub 2} particles are transformed from cluster to quasi-sphere with the increase of annealing temperature. The DSC analysis proves that VO{sub 2} show superior phase transition performance around 68 °C. The phase transition temperature can be reduced to 33.5 °C by 1.8 at% tungsten doping. The maximum decreasing efficiency of phase transition temperature is about −30 K/at% with w = 0.4 at%. After mixing VO{sub 2} powder with acrylic resin, the maximal visible transmission of the composite thin films on glass is 48% and the transmission modulation at 2000 nm is 37.3% with phase transition temperature of 66.2 °C. Though the phase transition performance is weakened by tungsten doping, the film prepared by 1.3 at% tungsten doped VO{sub 2} still show superior transmission modulation about 26.4% at 2000 nm, which means that it is a potential candidate as smart windows.« less

Pressure induced solid-solid reconstructive phase transition in LiGa O2 dominated by elastic strain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Qiwei; Yan, Xiaozhi; Lei, Li; Wang, Qiming; Feng, Leihao; Qi, Lei; Zhang, Leilei; Peng, Fang; Ohfuji, Hiroaki; He, Duanwei

2018-01-01

Pressure induced solid-solid reconstructive phase transitions for graphite-diamond, and wurtzite-rocksalt in GaN and AlN occur at significantly higher pressure than expected from equilibrium coexistence and their transition paths are always inconsistent with each other. These indicate that the underlying nucleation and growth mechanism in the solid-solid reconstructive phase transitions are poorly understood. Here, we propose an elastic-strain dominated mechanism in a reconstructive phase transition, β -LiGa O2 to γ -LiGa O2 , based on in situ high-pressure angle dispersive x-ray diffraction and single-crystal Raman scattering. This mechanism suggests that the pressure induced solid-solid reconstructive phase transition is neither purely diffusionless nor purely diffusive, as conventionally assumed, but a combination. The large elastic strains are accumulated, with the coherent nucleation, in the early stage of the transition. The elastic strains along the 〈100 〉 and 〈001 〉 directions are too large to be relaxed by the shear stress, so an intermediate structure emerges reducing the elastic strains and making the transition energetically favorable. At higher pressures, when the elastic strains become small enough to be relaxed, the phase transition to γ -LiGa O2 begins and the coherent nucleation is substituted with a semicoherent one with Li and Ga atoms disordered.

Modelling Phase Transition Phenomena in Fluids

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

Sublimation line r @@I Triple point ? Vapourisation liner @@I Critical point -Fusion line Solid Liquid Gas Figure 1: Schematic of a phase diagram means that the...velocity field can be set zero, and only the balance of energy constitutes the Stefan model. In contrast to this the liquid - gas phase transitions...defined by requiring that the phase-transition line is crossed in a direction from solid to liquid or from liquid to gas (vapour) phases. The term T∗ δs is

Phase Transitions in Tetramethylammonium Hexachlorometalate Compounds (TMA) 2MCl 6 (M = U, Np, Pt, Sn, Hf, Zr)

DOE PAGES

Autillo, Matthieu; Wilson, Richard E.

2017-09-22

A study of the phase transitions occurring in tetramethylammonium hexachlorometalate compounds with M = U IV, Np IV, Zr IV, Sn IV, Hf IV and Pt IV were performed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction across the temperature range 120 - 400K. When the crystals were cooled, movement of the octahedral [MCl 6] 2- anions induces a phase transition from Fm3m to Fd3c with a doubling of the unit cell. For the actinide compounds, no correlation between the f-electron configuration and the transition temperature was observed, instead, a correlation between the transition temperatures and both the [MCl 6] 2- anion and themore » TMA cation size is highlighted. Two phase transitions were observed and characterized. The first phase transition occurs with the ordering of the TMA cation and the second from a rotation of the [MCl 6] 2- octahedra. A third phase transition was observed at lower temperatures and was ascribed to a tetragonal distortion of the [MCl 6] 2- anions. Synthesis and study of their deuterated compounds did not show a significant isotope effect. As a result, Raman spectra performed on the protonated and deuterated compounds indicate only weak hydrogen bonding interactions between the TMA cations and the [MCl 6] 2- octahedra.« less

0 - π Quantum transition in a carbon nanotube Josephson junction: Universal phase dependence and orbital degeneracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delagrange, R.; Weil, R.; Kasumov, A.; Ferrier, M.; Bouchiat, H.; Deblock, R.

2018-05-01

In a quantum dot hybrid superconducting junction, the behavior of the supercurrent is dominated by Coulomb blockade physics, which determines the magnetic state of the dot. In particular, in a single level quantum dot singly occupied, the sign of the supercurrent can be reversed, giving rise to a π-junction. This 0 - π transition, corresponding to a singlet-doublet transition, is then driven by the gate voltage or by the superconducting phase in the case of strong competition between the superconducting proximity effect and Kondo correlations. In a two-level quantum dot, such as a clean carbon nanotube, 0- π transitions exist as well but, because more cotunneling processes are allowed, are not necessarily associated to a magnetic state transition of the dot. In this proceeding, after a review of 0- π transitions in Josephson junctions, we present measurements of current-phase relation in a clean carbon nanotube quantum dot, in the single and two-level regimes. In the single level regime, close to orbital degeneracy and in a regime of strong competition between local electronic correlations and superconducting proximity effect, we find that the phase diagram of the phase-dependent transition is a universal characteristic of a discontinuous level-crossing quantum transition at zero temperature. In the case where the two levels are involved, the nanotube Josephson current exhibits a continuous 0 - π transition, independent of the superconducting phase, revealing a different physical mechanism of the transition.

Moving the Journey Towards Independence: Adolescents Transitioning to Successful Diabetes Self-Management.

PubMed

Babler, Elizabeth; Strickland, Carolyn June

2015-01-01

To gain a greater understanding of adolescent's experiences living with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and create a theoretical paradigm. Grounded theory as described by Glaser was used. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with adolescent's ages 11-15 with T1DM. Symbolic interactionism is the theoretical framework for grounded theory. Data were collected; transcribed, coded, and analyzed simultaneously using constant comparative analysis and findings were grounded in the words of participants. A theoretical model was created with the concept of "normalizing". Normalizing was defined as the ability to integrate diabetes into one's daily life to make diabetes 'part of me'. Phase four of the model, and the focus of this manuscript was "Moving the Journey towards Independence" and included: 1) taking over care, 2) experiencing conflict with parents, and 3) realizing diabetes is hard. The major task for adolescents in this phase was separating from parents to independently manage diabetes. The normalizing task for this phase was: "taking on the burden of care". Adolescents described challenges with independent care and increased parental conflict including: fearing needles, forgetting insulin, feeling embarrassed and believing that diabetes was a burden in their life. Additionally, juggling the multiple responsibilities of home, school and work along with managing a chronic illness during adolescence is challenging. Transitioning to diabetes self-management is a challenge for adolescents. This model advances understanding of the moving processes in adolescents transitioning; additionally, hypotheses are presented that may be used for developing interventions to promote success in self-management. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Moving the journey towards independence: Adolescents transitioning to successful diabetes self-management

PubMed Central

Strickland, C. June

2016-01-01

Purpose To gain a greater understanding of adolescent’s experiences living with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and create a theoretical paradigm. Methods Grounded theory as described by Glaser was used. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with adolescent’s ages 11 to 15 with T1DM. Symbolic interactionism is the theoretical framework for grounded theory. Data were collected; transcribed, coded, and analyzed simultaneously using constant comparative analysis and findings were grounded in the words of participants. Results A theoretical model was created with the concept of “normalizing”. Normalizing was defined as the ability to integrate diabetes into one’s daily life to make diabetes ‘part of me’. Phase four of the model, and the focus of this manuscript was “Moving the Journey towards Independence” and included: 1) taking over care, 2) experiencing conflict with parents, and 3) realizing diabetes is hard. The major task for adolescents in this phase was separating from parents to independently manage diabetes. The normalizing task for this phase was: “taking on the burden of care”. Adolescents described challenges with independent care and increased parental conflict including: fearing needles, forgetting insulin, feeling embarrassed and believing that diabetes was a burden in their life. Additionally, juggling the multiple responsibilities of home, school and work along with managing a chronic illness during adolescence is challenging. Conclusions Transitioning to diabetes self-management is a challenge for adolescents. This model advances understanding of the moving processes in adolescents transitioning; additionally, hypotheses are presented that may be used for developing interventions to promote success in self-management. PMID:26190456

Unconventional transformation of spin Dirac phase across a topological quantum phase transition

PubMed Central

Xu, Su-Yang; Neupane, Madhab; Belopolski, Ilya; Liu, Chang; Alidoust, Nasser; Bian, Guang; Jia, Shuang; Landolt, Gabriel; Slomski, Batosz; Dil, J. Hugo; Shibayev, Pavel P.; Basak, Susmita; Chang, Tay-Rong; Jeng, Horng-Tay; Cava, Robert J.; Lin, Hsin; Bansil, Arun; Hasan, M. Zahid

2015-01-01

The topology of a topological material can be encoded in its surface states. These surface states can only be removed by a bulk topological quantum phase transition into a trivial phase. Here we use photoemission spectroscopy to image the formation of protected surface states in a topological insulator as we chemically tune the system through a topological transition. Surprisingly, we discover an exotic spin-momentum locked, gapped surface state in the trivial phase that shares many important properties with the actual topological surface state in anticipation of the change of topology. Using a spin-resolved measurement, we show that apart from a surface bandgap these states develop spin textures similar to the topological surface states well before the transition. Our results offer a general paradigm for understanding how surface states in topological phases arise from a quantum phase transition and are suggestive for the future realization of Weyl arcs, condensed matter supersymmetry and other fascinating phenomena in the vicinity of a quantum criticality. PMID:25882717

Phase transitions in traffic flow on multilane roads.

PubMed

Kerner, Boris S; Klenov, Sergey L

2009-11-01

Based on empirical and numerical analyses of vehicular traffic, the physics of spatiotemporal phase transitions in traffic flow on multilane roads is revealed. The complex dynamics of moving jams observed in single vehicle data measured by video cameras on American highways is explained by the nucleation-interruption effect in synchronized flow, i.e., the spontaneous nucleation of a narrow moving jam with the subsequent jam dissolution. We find that (i) lane changing, vehicle merging from on-ramps, and vehicle leaving to off-ramps result in different traffic phases-free flow, synchronized flow, and wide moving jams-occurring and coexisting in different road lanes as well as in diverse phase transitions between the traffic phases; (ii) in synchronized flow, the phase transitions are responsible for a non-regular moving jam dynamics that explains measured single vehicle data: moving jams emerge and dissolve randomly at various road locations in different lanes; (iii) the phase transitions result also in diverse expanded general congested patterns occurring at closely located bottlenecks.

Unconventional transformation of spin Dirac phase across a topological quantum phase transition

DOE PAGES

Xu, Su -Yang; Neupane, Madhab; Belopolski, Ilya; ...

2015-04-17

The topology of a topological material can be encoded in its surface states. These surface states can only be removed by a bulk topological quantum phase transition into a trivial phase. Here we use photoemission spectroscopy to image the formation of protected surface states in a topological insulator as we chemically tune the system through a topological transition. Surprisingly, we discover an exotic spin-momentum locked, gapped surface state in the trivial phase that shares many important properties with the actual topological surface state in anticipation of the change of topology. Using a spin-resolved measurement, we show that apart from amore » surface bandgap these states develop spin textures similar to the topological surface states well before the transition. Our results provide a general paradigm for understanding how surface states in topological phases arise from a quantum phase transition and are suggestive for the future realization of Weyl arcs, condensed matter supersymmetry and other fascinating phenomena in the vicinity of a quantum criticality.« less

In situ imaging of the dynamics of photo-induced structural phase transition at high pressures by picosecond acoustic interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuriakose, Maju; Chigarev, Nikolay; Raetz, Samuel; Bulou, Alain; Tournat, Vincent; Zerr, Andreas; Gusev, Vitalyi E.

2017-05-01

Picosecond acoustic interferometry is used to monitor in time the motion of the phase transition boundary between two water ice phases, VII and VI, coexisting at a pressure of 2.15 GPa when compressed in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. By analyzing the time-domain Brillouin scattering signals accumulated for a single incidence direction of probe laser pulses, it is possible to access ratios of sound velocity values and of the refractive indices of the involved phases, and to distinguish between the structural phase transition and a recrystallization process. Two-dimensional spatial imaging of the phase transition dynamics indicates that it is initiated by the pump and probe laser pulses, preferentially at the diamond/ice interface. This method should find applications in three-dimensional monitoring with nanometer spatial resolution of the temporal dynamics of low-contrast material inhomogeneities caused by phase transitions or chemical reactions in optically transparent media.

Live cell plasma membranes do not exhibit a miscibility phase transition over a wide range of temperatures.

PubMed

Lee, Il-Hyung; Saha, Suvrajit; Polley, Anirban; Huang, Hector; Mayor, Satyajit; Rao, Madan; Groves, Jay T

2015-03-26

Lipid/cholesterol mixtures derived from cell membranes as well as their synthetic reconstitutions exhibit well-defined miscibility phase transitions and critical phenomena near physiological temperatures. This suggests that lipid/cholesterol-mediated phase separation plays a role in the organization of live cell membranes. However, macroscopic lipid-phase separation is not generally observed in cell membranes, and the degree to which properties of isolated lipid mixtures are preserved in the cell membrane remain unknown. A fundamental property of phase transitions is that the variation of tagged particle diffusion with temperature exhibits an abrupt change as the system passes through the transition, even when the two phases are distributed in a nanometer-scale emulsion. We support this using a variety of Monte Carlo and atomistic simulations on model lipid membrane systems. However, temperature-dependent fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of labeled lipids and membrane-anchored proteins in live cell membranes shows a consistently smooth increase in the diffusion coefficient as a function of temperature. We find no evidence of a discrete miscibility phase transition throughout a wide range of temperatures: 14-37 °C. This contrasts the behavior of giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) blebbed from the same cells, which do exhibit phase transitions and macroscopic phase separation. Fluorescence lifetime analysis of a DiI probe in both cases reveals a significant environmental difference between the live cell and the GPMV. Taken together, these data suggest the live cell membrane may avoid the miscibility phase transition inherent to its lipid constituents by actively regulating physical parameters, such as tension, in the membrane.

High pressure spectroscopic studies of phase transition in VO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basu, Raktima; Mishra, K. K.; Ravindran, T. R.; Dhara, Sandip

2018-04-01

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) exhibits a reversible first-order metal to insulator transition (MIT) at a technologically important temperature of 340K. A structural phase transition (SPT) from monoclinic M1 to rutile tetragonal R is also reported via another two intermediate phases of monoclinic M2 and triclinic T. Metastable monoclinic M2 phase of VO2 was synthesized by Mg doping in the vapour transport process. Raman spectroscopic measurements were carried out at high pressure on V1-xMgxO2 microrods. Two reversible structural phase transitions from monoclinic M2 to triclinic T at 1.6 GPa and T to monoclinic M1 at 3.2 GPa are observed and are explained by structural relaxation of the strained phases.

Anomalous behaviour of thermodynamic properties at successive phase transitions in (NH4)3GeF7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogdanov, Evgeniy V.; Kartashev, Andrey V.; Pogoreltsev, Evgeniy I.; Gorev, Mikhail V.; Laptash, Natalia M.; Flerov, Igor N.

2017-12-01

Heat capacity, thermal dilatation, susceptibility to hydrostatic pressure and dielectric properties associated with succession of three phase transitions below room temperature in double fluoride salt (NH4)3GeF7 were studied. A possible transformation into the parent Pm-3m cubic phase was not observed up to the decomposition of compound. Nonferroelectric nature of structural distortions was confirmed. The DTA under pressure studies revealed a high temperature stability of two phases: P4/mbm and Pbam. The entropies of the phase transitions agree well with the model of structural distortions. Analysis of the thermal properties associated with the individual phase transitions in the framework of thermodynamic equations has shown a high reliability of the data obtained.

BKT phase transition in a 2D system with long-range dipole-dipole interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedichev, P. O.; Men'shikov, L. I.

2012-01-01

We consider phase transitions in 2D XY-like systems with long-range dipole-dipole interactions and demonstrate that BKT-type phase transition always occurs separating the ordered (ferroelectric) and the disordered (paraelectric) phases. The low-temperature phase corresponds to a thermal state with bound vortex-antivortex pairs characterized by linear attraction at large distances. Using the Maier-Schwabl topological charge model, we show that bound vortex pairs polarize and screen the vortex-antivortex interaction, leaving only the logarithmic attraction at sufficiently large separations between the vortices. At higher temperatures the pairs dissociate and the phase transition similar to BKT occurs, though at a larger temperature than in a system without the dipole-dipole interaction.

Conversion of neutron stars to 2 + 1 flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio quark stars as a mechanism for gamma-ray bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Xiao-Yu; Huang, Yong-Feng; Zong, Hong-Shi

2017-12-01

The phase transition from a neutron star to a quark star and its relation to gamma-ray bursts are investigated. A new model: the 2 + 1 flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model with the method of proper-time regularization (PTR) is utilized for the quark phase; while the Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) theory is used for the hadronic phase. The process of phase transition is studied by considering the chemical potential, paying special attention to the phase transition point and the emergence of strange quark matter. Characteristics of compact stars are illustrated, and the energy release during the phase transition is found to be ˜ 1052 erg.

Suppression of magnetostructural transition on GdSiGe thin film after thermal cyclings

DOE PAGES

Pires, A. L.; Belo, J. H.; Gomes, I. T.; ...

2016-09-08

The influence of thermal cycling on the microstructure, magnetic phase transition and magnetic entropy change of a Gd 5Si 1.3Ge 2.7 thin film up to 1000 cycles is investigated. The authors found that after 1000 cycles a strong reduction of the crystallographic phase responsible for the magnetostructural transition (Orthorhombic II phase) occurs. We attribute this to the chemical disorder, caused by the large number of expansion/compression cycles that the Orthorhombic II phase undergoes across the magnetostructural transition. The suppression of the magnetostructural transition corresponds to a drastic decrease of the thin film magnetic entropy change. Our results reveal the importancemore » of studying the thermal/magnetic cycles influence on magnetostructural transitions as they can damage a real-life device.« less

Optical study of phase transitions in single-crystalline RuP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, R. Y.; Shi, Y. G.; Zheng, P.; Wang, L.; Dong, T.; Wang, N. L.

2015-03-01

RuP single crystals of MnP-type orthorhombic structure were synthesized by the Sn flux method. Temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the compound experiences two structural phase transitions, which are further confirmed by enormous anomalies shown in temperature-dependent resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. Particularly, the resistivity drops monotonically upon temperature cooling below the second transition, indicating that the material shows metallic behavior, in sharp contrast with the insulating ground state of polycrystalline samples. Optical conductivity measurements were also performed in order to unravel the mechanism of these two transitions. The measurement revealed a sudden reconstruction of band structure over a broad energy scale and a significant removal of conducting carriers below the first phase transition, while a charge-density-wave-like energy gap opens below the second phase transition.

Correlation between electron work functions of multiphase Cu-8Mn-8Al and de-alloying corrosion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Punburi, P.; Tareelap, N.; Srisukhumbowornchai, N.; Euaruksakul, C.; Yordsri, V.

2018-05-01

Low energy electron emission microscopy (LEEM) was used to measure local transition energy that was directly correlated to electron work function (EWF) of multiphase manganese-aluminum bronze alloys. We developed color mapping to distinguish the EWF of multiple phases and clarified that the EWF were in the following order: EWF of α > EWF of β > EWF of κ (EWFα > EWFβ > EWFκ). De-alloying corrosion took place due to the micro-galvanic cell at grain boundaries before it propagated into the β phase that had lower EWF than the α phase. The α phase was a stable phase because it contained high Cu while the β phase contained high Al and Mn. In addition, XRD analysis showed that the texture coefficient of the β phase revealed that almost all of the grains had (2 2 0) orientation, the lowest EWF compared to (1 1 1) and (2 0 0). Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy illustrated that there were fine Cu3Mn2Al precipitates in the Cu2MnAl matrix of the β phase. These precipitates formed micro-galvanic cells which played an important role in accelerating de-alloying corrosion.

Multiple pathways in pressure-induced phase transition of coesite

PubMed Central

Liu, Wei; Wu, Xuebang; Liu, Changsong; Miranda, Caetano R.; Scandolo, Sandro

2017-01-01

High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction method with precise control of hydrostatic conditions, typically with helium or neon as the pressure-transmitting medium, has significantly changed our view on what happens with low-density silica phases under pressure. Coesite is a prototype material for pressure-induced amorphization. However, it was found to transform into a high-pressure octahedral (HPO) phase, or coesite-II and coesite-III. Given that the pressure is believed to be hydrostatic in two recent experiments, the different transformation pathways are striking. Based on molecular dynamic simulations with an ab initio parameterized potential, we reproduced all of the above experiments in three transformation pathways, including the one leading to an HPO phase. This octahedral phase has an oxygen hcp sublattice featuring 2 × 2 zigzag octahedral edge-sharing chains, however with some broken points (i.e., point defects). It transforms into α-PbO2 phase when it is relaxed under further compression. We show that the HPO phase forms through a continuous rearrangement of the oxygen sublattice toward hcp arrangement. The high-pressure amorphous phases can be described by an fcc and hcp sublattice mixture. PMID:29162690

Phase Transition of H 2 in Subnanometer Pores Observed at 75 K

DOE PAGES

Olsen, Raina J.; Gillespie, Andrew K.; Contescu, Cristian I.; ...

2017-10-30

In this paper, we report a phase transition in H 2 adsorbed in a locally graphitic Saran carbon with subnanometer pores 0.5–0.65 nm in width, in which two layers of hydrogen can just barely squeeze, provided they pack tightly. The phase transition is observed at 75 K, temperatures far higher than other systems in which an adsorbent is known to increase phase transition temperatures: for instance, H 2 melts at 14 K in the bulk, but at 20 K on graphite because the solid H 2 is stabilized by the surface structure. Here we observe a transition at 75 Kmore » and 77–200 bar: from a low-temperature, low-density phase to a high-temperature, higher density phase. We model the low-density phase as a monolayer commensurate solid composed mostly of para-H 2 (the ground nuclear spin state, S = 0) and the high-density phase as an orientationally ordered bilayer commensurate solid composed mostly of ortho-H 2 (S = 1). We attribute the increase in density with temperature to the fact that the oblong ortho-H 2 can pack more densely. The transition is observed using two experiments. The high-density phase is associated with an increase in neutron backscatter by a factor of 7.0 ± 0.1. Normally, hydrogen produces no backscatter (scattering angle >90°). This backscatter appears along with a discontinuous increase in the excitation mass from 1.2 amu to 21.0 ± 2.3 amu, which we associate with collective nuclear spin excitations in the orientationally ordered phase. Film densities were measured using hydrogen adsorption. Finally, no phase transition was observed in H 2 adsorbed in control activated carbon materials.« less

Phase Transition of H 2 in Subnanometer Pores Observed at 75 K

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Olsen, Raina J.; Gillespie, Andrew K.; Contescu, Cristian I.

In this paper, we report a phase transition in H 2 adsorbed in a locally graphitic Saran carbon with subnanometer pores 0.5–0.65 nm in width, in which two layers of hydrogen can just barely squeeze, provided they pack tightly. The phase transition is observed at 75 K, temperatures far higher than other systems in which an adsorbent is known to increase phase transition temperatures: for instance, H 2 melts at 14 K in the bulk, but at 20 K on graphite because the solid H 2 is stabilized by the surface structure. Here we observe a transition at 75 Kmore » and 77–200 bar: from a low-temperature, low-density phase to a high-temperature, higher density phase. We model the low-density phase as a monolayer commensurate solid composed mostly of para-H 2 (the ground nuclear spin state, S = 0) and the high-density phase as an orientationally ordered bilayer commensurate solid composed mostly of ortho-H 2 (S = 1). We attribute the increase in density with temperature to the fact that the oblong ortho-H 2 can pack more densely. The transition is observed using two experiments. The high-density phase is associated with an increase in neutron backscatter by a factor of 7.0 ± 0.1. Normally, hydrogen produces no backscatter (scattering angle >90°). This backscatter appears along with a discontinuous increase in the excitation mass from 1.2 amu to 21.0 ± 2.3 amu, which we associate with collective nuclear spin excitations in the orientationally ordered phase. Film densities were measured using hydrogen adsorption. Finally, no phase transition was observed in H 2 adsorbed in control activated carbon materials.« less

Relation of Parental Transitions to Boys' Adjustment Problems: I.A. Linear Hypothesis II. Mothers at Risk for Transitions and Unskilled Parenting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Capaldi, D. M.; Patterson, G. R.

1991-01-01

Examined the adjustment of boys from intact, single-mother, stepfather, and multiple-transition families. Boys who had experienced multiple transitions showed the poorest adjustment. The antisocial mother was most at risk for transitions and unskilled parenting practices, which in turn placed her son at risk for poor adjustment. (BC)

Direct Observations of a Dynamically Driven Phase Transition with in situ X-Ray Diffraction in a Simple Ionic Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalita, Patricia; Specht, Paul; Root, Seth; Sinclair, Nicholas; Schuman, Adam; White, Melanie; Cornelius, Andrew L.; Smith, Jesse; Sinogeikin, Stanislav

2017-12-01

We report real-time observations of a phase transition in the ionic solid CaF2 , a model A B2 structure in high-pressure physics. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction coupled with dynamic loading to 27.7 GPa, and separately with static compression, follows, in situ, the fluorite to cotunnite structural phase transition, both on nanosecond and on minute time scales. Using Rietveld refinement techniques, we examine the kinetics and hysteresis of the transition. Our results give insight into the kinetic time scale of the fluorite-cotunnite phase transition under shock compression, which is relevant to a number of isomorphic compounds.

Domain wall formation in late-time phase transitions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolb, Edward W.; Wang, Yun

1992-01-01

We examine domain wall formulation in late time phase transitions. We find that in the invisible axion domain wall phenomenon, thermal effects alone are insufficient to drive different parts of the disconnected vacuum manifold. This suggests that domain walls do not form unless either there is some supplemental (but perhaps not unreasonable) dynamics to localize the scalar field responsible for the phase transition to the low temperature maximum (to an extraordinary precision) before the onset of the phase transition, or there is some non-thermal mechanism to produce large fluctuations in the scalar field. The fact that domain wall production is not a robust prediction of late time transitions may suggest future directions in model building.

Direct Observations of a Dynamically Driven Phase Transition with in situ X-Ray Diffraction in a Simple Ionic Crystal

DOE PAGES

Kalita, Patricia E.; Specht, Paul Elliot; Root, Seth; ...

2017-12-21

Here, we report real-time observations of a phase transition in the ionic solid CaF 2, a model AB 2 structure in high-pressure physics. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction coupled with dynamic loading to 27.7 GPa, and separately with static compression, follows, in situ, the fluorite to cotunnite structural phase transition, both on nanosecond and on minute time scales. Using Rietveld refinement techniques, we examine the kinetics and hysteresis of the transition. Our results give insight into the kinetic time scale of the fluorite-cotunnite phase transition under shock compression, which is relevant to a number of isomorphic compounds.

A resonant ultrasound spectroscopy study of the phase transitions in Na0.75CoO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keppens, Veerle; Sergienko, Ivan; Jin, Rongying

2005-03-01

The layered transition metal oxides NaxCoO2 have attracted much interest in the past few years. Crystals with the x˜0.75 composition undergo an order-disorder transition near 340 K, a spin-density-wave transition near 22 K and other subtle transitions at intermediate temperatures. These phase transitions, likely related to a rearrangement of the Na atoms among the available sites, have been mapped out using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. The results are modeled within the Landau theory for second order phase transitions. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the U.S. Dept. of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725

Calorimetric Study of Phase Transitions Involving Twist-Grain-Boundary TGB{A} and TGB{C} Phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navailles, L.; Garland, C. W.; Nguyen, H. T.

1996-09-01

High-resolution calorimetry has been used to determine the heat capacity and latent heat associated with phase transitions in the homologous series of chiral liquid crystals nF_2BTFO_1M_7 [ 3-fluoro-4(1-methylheptyloxy)4'-(4''-alkoxy-2'', 3''-difluorobenzoyloxy)tolane] . These compounds exhibit smectic-C^* (SmC^*), twist-grain-boundary (TGBA for n=10, TGBC for n=11, 12) and cholesteric (N^*) phases. All the phase transitions are first order with small to moderate latent heats. There is a large rounded excess heat capacity peak in the N^* phase that is consistent with the predicted appearance of short-range TGB order (chiral line liquid character). This is analogous to the development of an Abrikosov flux vortex liquid in type-II superconductors. Both the n=11 and 12 homologs exhibit two closely spaced transitions in the region where a single TGBC - N^* transition was expected. This suggests the existence of two thermodynamically distinct TGBC phases. Des exprériences de calorimétrie haute résolution ont été réalisées pour déterminer les chaleurs spécifiques et les chaleurs latentes associées aux transitions de phase des homologues de la série crystal liquide nF_2BTFO_1M_7: 3-fluoro-4[1-methyl-heptyloxy]4'-(4''-alcoxy-2'', 3''-difluorobenzoyloxy)tolanes. Ces produits présentent la phase smectique C^* (SmC^*), les phases à torsion par joint de grain (TGBA pour n=10 et TGBC pour n=11, 12) et la phase cholestérique (N^*). Toutes les transitions de phase sont du premier ordre. La chaleur latente associée à ces transitions est faibles ou modérée. Nous observons, dans la phase N^*, un grand pic arrondi qui est en accord avec les prédictions de l'apparition d'un ordre TGB à courte distance (liquide de ligne de dislocation). Ce phénomène est l'analogue du liquide de vortex dans les supraconducteurs de type II. Les composés n=11 et 12 présentent, dans la région où nous attendions une transition TGBC - N^* unique, deux transitions sur un très faible domaine de température. Ce résultat suggère l'existence de deux phases TGBC thermodynamiquement distinctes.

Effect of water phase transition on dynamic ruptures with thermal pressurization: Numerical simulations with changes in physical properties of water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urata, Yumi; Kuge, Keiko; Kase, Yuko

2015-02-01

Phase transitions of pore water have never been considered in dynamic rupture simulations with thermal pressurization (TP), although they may control TP. From numerical simulations of dynamic rupture propagation including TP, in the absence of any water phase transition process, we predict that frictional heating and TP are likely to change liquid pore water into supercritical water for a strike-slip fault under depth-dependent stress. This phase transition causes changes of a few orders of magnitude in viscosity, compressibility, and thermal expansion among physical properties of water, thus affecting the diffusion of pore pressure. Accordingly, we perform numerical simulations of dynamic ruptures with TP, considering physical properties that vary with the pressure and temperature of pore water on a fault. To observe the effects of the phase transition, we assume uniform initial stress and no fault-normal variations in fluid density and viscosity. The results suggest that the varying physical properties decrease the total slip in cases with high stress at depth and small shear zone thickness. When fault-normal variations in fluid density and viscosity are included in the diffusion equation, they activate TP much earlier than the phase transition. As a consequence, the total slip becomes greater than that in the case with constant physical properties, eradicating the phase transition effect. Varying physical properties do not affect the rupture velocity, irrespective of the fault-normal variations. Thus, the phase transition of pore water has little effect on dynamic ruptures. Fault-normal variations in fluid density and viscosity may play a more significant role.

Revisiting non-Gaussianity from non-attractor inflation models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Yi-Fu; Chen, Xingang; Namjoo, Mohammad Hossein; Sasaki, Misao; Wang, Dong-Gang; Wang, Ziwei

2018-05-01

Non-attractor inflation is known as the only single field inflationary scenario that can violate non-Gaussianity consistency relation with the Bunch-Davies vacuum state and generate large local non-Gaussianity. However, it is also known that the non-attractor inflation by itself is incomplete and should be followed by a phase of slow-roll attractor. Moreover, there is a transition process between these two phases. In the past literature, this transition was approximated as instant and the evolution of non-Gaussianity in this phase was not fully studied. In this paper, we follow the detailed evolution of the non-Gaussianity through the transition phase into the slow-roll attractor phase, considering different types of transition. We find that the transition process has important effect on the size of the local non-Gaussianity. We first compute the net contribution of the non-Gaussianities at the end of inflation in canonical non-attractor models. If the curvature perturbations keep evolving during the transition—such as in the case of smooth transition or some sharp transition scenarios—the Script O(1) local non-Gaussianity generated in the non-attractor phase can be completely erased by the subsequent evolution, although the consistency relation remains violated. In extremal cases of sharp transition where the super-horizon modes freeze immediately right after the end of the non-attractor phase, the original non-attractor result can be recovered. We also study models with non-canonical kinetic terms, and find that the transition can typically contribute a suppression factor in the squeezed bispectrum, but the final local non-Gaussianity can still be made parametrically large.

Final Technical Report: Application of in situ Neutron Diffraction to Understand the Mechanism of Phase Transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandran, Ravi

In this research, phase transitions in the bulk electrodes for Li-ion batteries were investigated using neutron diffraction (ND) as well as neutron imaging techniques. The objectives of this research is to design of a novel in situ electrochemical cell to obtain Rietveld refinable neutron diffraction experiments using small volume electrodes of various laboratory/research-scale electrodes intended for Li-ion batteries. This cell is also to be used to investigate the complexity of phase transitions in Li(Mg) alloy electrodes, either by diffraction or by neutron imaging, which occur under electrochemical lithiation and delithiation, and to determine aspects of phase transition that enable/limit energymore » storage capacity. Additional objective is to investigate the phase transitions in electrodes made of etched micro-columns of silicon and investigate the effect of particle/column size on phase transitions and nonequilibrium structures. An in situ electrochemical cell was designed successfully and was used to study the phase transitions under in-situ neutron diffraction in both the electrodes (anode/cathode) simultaneously in graphite/LiCoO 2 and in graphite/LiMn 2O 4 cells each with two cells. The diffraction patterns fully validated the working of the in situ cell. Additional experimental were performed using the Si micro-columnar electrodes. The results revealed new lithiation phenomena, as evidenced by mosaicity formation in silicon electrode. These experiments were performed in Vulcan diffractometer at SNS, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In parallel, the spatial distribution of Li during lithiation and delithiation processes in Li-battery electrodes were investigated. For this purpose, neutron tomographic imaging technique has been used for 3D mapping of Li distribution in bulk Li(Mg) alloy electrodes. It was possible to observe the phase boundary of Li(Mg) alloy indicating phase transition from Li-rich BCC β-phase to Li-lean α-phase. These experiments have been performed at CG-1D Neutron Imaging Prototype Station at SNS.« less

Study of temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and electrical properties in [001]-oriented 0.35Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.35Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.30PbTiO3-Mn single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xing; Fang, Bijun; Deng, Ji; Yan, Hong; Deng, Hao; Yue, Qingwen; Ding, Jianning; Zhao, Xiangyong; Luo, Haosu

2016-01-01

In this work, the temperature-dependent Raman spectra and electrical properties of the [001]-oriented 0.5 mol. % Mn-doped 0.35Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.35Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.30PbTiO3-Mn (PIMNT-Mn) single crystals were investigated. All the unpoled and poled PIMNT-Mn single crystals experience a ferroelectric tetragonal phase to paraelectric cubic phase transition (FET-PC) around 183 °C (TC), which exhibits a second-order transition behavior. Whereas, the poled PIMNT-Mn single crystals exhibit another two dielectric anomalies around 130 °C (TRM) and 148 °C (TMT), in which the ferroelectric rhombohedral phase to ferroelectric monoclinic phase (FER-FEM) and the ferroelectric monoclinic phase to ferroelectric tetragonal phase (FEM-FET) transitions take place, respectively. Both the two ferroelectric phase transitions exhibit a first-order transition behavior. The discontinuous change of the phase degree (θ) and frequencies (fr and fa) around TRM suggest the occurrence of the FER-FEM phase transition in the poled PIMNT-Mn single crystals. The narrowing of the 510 cm-1 and 582 cm-1 Raman modes around the TRM, TMT, and TC temperatures shown in the temperature-dependent Raman spectra suggests their increased ordering of the local structure. The intensity ratio of I272 cm-1/I801 cm-1 increases obviously around the phase transition temperatures (TRM, TMT, and TC), indicating the reduction of the long-range order. The anomalous broadening of the 272 cm-1 Raman mode around the TRM, TMT, and TC temperatures indicates the occurrence of the successive ferroelectric phase transitions (FER-FEM, FEM-FET, and FET-PC) with increasing temperature in the poled PIMNT-Mn single crystals.

Phase transitions in core-collapse supernova matter at sub-saturation densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pais, Helena; Newton, William G.; Stone, Jirina R.

2014-12-01

Phase transitions in hot, dense matter in the collapsing cores of massive stars have an important impact on the core-collapse supernova mechanism as they absorb heat, disrupt homology, and so weaken the developing shock. We perform a three-dimensional, finite temperature Skyrme-Hartree-Fock (SHF) study of inhomogeneous nuclear matter to determine the critical density and temperature for the phase transition between the pasta phase and homogeneous matter and its properties. We employ four different parametrizations of the Skyrme nuclear energy-density functional, SkM*, SLy4, NRAPR, and SQMC700, which span a range of saturation-density symmetry energy behaviors constrained by a variety of nuclear experimental probes. For each of these interactions we calculate free energy, pressure, entropy, and chemical potentials in the range of particle number densities where the nuclear pasta phases are expected to exist, 0.02-0.12 fm-3, temperatures 2-8 MeV, and a proton fraction of 0.3. We find unambiguous evidence for a first-order phase transition to uniform matter, unsoftened by the presence of the pasta phases. No conclusive signs of a first-order phase transition between the pasta phases is observed, and it is argued that the thermodynamic quantities vary continuously right up to the first-order phase transition to uniform matter. We compare our results with thermodynamic spinodals calculated using the same Skyrme parametrizations, finding that the effect of short-range Coulomb correlations and quantum shell effects included in our model leads to the pasta phases existing at densities up to 0.01 fm-3 above the spinodal boundaries, thus increasing the transition density to uniform matter by the same amount. The transition density is otherwise shown to be insensitive to the symmetry energy at saturation density within the range constrained by the concordance of a variety of experimental constraints, and can be taken to be a well determined quantity.

Interface mobility and the liquid-glass transition in a one-component system described by an embedded atom method potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendelev, M. I.; Schmalian, J.; Wang, C. Z.; Morris, J. R.; Ho, K. M.

2006-09-01

We present molecular dynamics (MD) studies of the liquid structure, thermodynamics, and dynamics in a one-component system described by the Ercolessi-Adams embedded atom method potential for Al. We find two distinct noncrystalline phases in this system. One of them is a liquid phase and the second phase has similar structure but different equation of state. Moreover, this phase has qualitatively different dynamics than that in the liquid phase. The transitions between these two noncrystalline phases can be seen during MD simulation. The hysteresis in this transition suggests that this is a first-order transition. This conclusion is strongly supported by simulations of the two phases that demonstrate that these phases may coexist with a well-defined interface. We find the coexistent temperature and the interface mobility. Finally, we discuss how these results can be explained using modern models of vitrification.

Flipping the Switch from G1 to S Phase with E3 Ubiquitin Ligases

PubMed Central

Rizzardi, Lindsay F.

2012-01-01

The cell cycle ensures genome maintenance by coordinating the processes of DNA replication and chromosome segregation. Of particular importance is the irreversible transition from the G1 phase of the cell cycle to S phase. This transition marks the switch from preparing chromosomes for replication (“origin licensing”) to active DNA synthesis (“origin firing”). Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis is essential for restricting DNA replication to only once per cell cycle and is the major mechanism regulating the G1 to S phase transition. Although some changes in protein levels are attributable to regulated mRNA abundance, protein degradation elicits very rapid changes in protein abundance and is critical for the sharp and irreversible transition from one cell cycle stage to the next. Not surprisingly, regulation of the G1-to-S phase transition is perturbed in most cancer cells, and deregulation of key molecular events in G1 and S phase drives not only cell proliferation but also genome instability. In this review we focus on the mechanisms by which E3 ubiquitin ligases control the irreversible transition from G1 to S phase in mammalian cells. PMID:23634252

The influence of the relative thermal expansion and electric permittivity on phase transitions in the perovskite-type bidimensional layered NH3(CH2)3NH3CdBr4 compound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staśkiewicz, Beata; Staśkiewicz, Anna

2017-07-01

Hydrothermal method has been used to synthesized the layered hybrid compound NH3(CH2)3NH3CdBr4 of perovskite architecture. Structural, dielectric and dilatometric properties of the compound have been analyzed. Negative thermal expansion (NTE) effect in the direction perpendicular to the perovskite plane as well as an unusual phase sequence have been reported based on X-ray diffraction analysis. Electric permittivity measurements evidenced the phase transitions at Tc1=326/328 K and Tc2=368/369 K. Relative linear expansion measurements almost confirmed these temperatures of phase transitions. Anomalies of electric permittivity and expansion behavior connected with the phase transitions are detected at practically the same temperatures as those observed earlier in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR), far infrared (FIR) and Raman spectroscopy studies. Mechanism of the phase transitions is explained. Relative linear expansion study was prototype to estimate critical exponent value β for continuous phase transition at Tc1. It has been inferred that there is a strong interplay between the distortion of the inorganic network, those hydrogen bonds and the intermolecular interactions of the organic component.

Dielectric Study of the Phase Transitions in [P(CH3)4]2CuY4 (Y = Cl, Br)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gesi, Kazuo

2002-05-01

Phase transitions in [P(CH3)4]2CuY4 (Y = Cl, Br) have been studied by dielectric measurements. In [P(CH3)4]2CuCl4, a slight break and a discontinuous jump on the dielectric constant vs. temperature curve are seen at the normal-incommensurate and the incommensurate-commensurate phase transitions, respectively. A small peak of dielectric constant along the b-direction exists just above the incommensurate-to-commensurate transition temperature. The anisotropic dielectric anomalies of [P(CH3)4]2CuBr4 at phase transitions were measured along the three crystallographic axes. The pressure-temperature phase diagram of [P(CH3)4]2CuCl4 was determined. The initial pressure coefficients of the normal-to-incommensurate and the incommensurate-to-commensurate transition temperatures are 0.19 K/MPa and 0.27 K/MPa, respectively. The incommensurate phase in [P(CH3)4]2CuCl4 disappears at a triple point which exists at 335 MPa and 443 K. The stability and the pressure effects of the incommensurate phases are much different among the four [Z(CH3)4]2CuY4 crystals (Z = N, P; Y = Cl, Br).

High-pressure phase transitions - Examples of classical predictability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Celebonovic, Vladan

1992-09-01

The applicability of the Savic and Kasanin (1962-1967) classical theory of dense matter to laboratory experiments requiring estimates of high-pressure phase transitions was examined by determining phase transition pressures for a set of 19 chemical substances (including elements, hydrocarbons, metal oxides, and salts) for which experimental data were available. A comparison between experimental and transition points and those predicted by the Savic-Kasanin theory showed that the theory can be used for estimating values of transition pressures. The results also support conclusions obtained in previous astronomical applications of the Savic-Kasanin theory.

Mixed-order phase transition in a two-step contagion model with a single infectious seed.

PubMed

Choi, Wonjun; Lee, Deokjae; Kahng, B

2017-02-01

Percolation is known as one of the most robust continuous transitions, because its occupation rule is intrinsically local. As one of the ways to break the robustness, occupation is allowed to more than one species of particles and they occupy cooperatively. This generalized percolation model undergoes a discontinuous transition. Here we investigate an epidemic model with two contagion steps and characterize its phase transition analytically and numerically. We find that even though the order parameter jumps at a transition point r_{c}, then increases continuously, it does not exhibit any critical behavior: the fluctuations of the order parameter do not diverge at r_{c}. However, critical behavior appears in mean outbreak size, which diverges at the transition point in a manner that the ordinary percolation shows. Such a type of phase transition is regarded as a mixed-order phase transition. We also obtain scaling relations of cascade outbreak statistics when the order parameter jumps at r_{c}.

Plasmonic Structures for CMOS Photonics and Control of Spontaneous Emission

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

structures; v) developed CMOS Si photonic switching device based on the vanadium dioxide ( VO2 ) phase transition. vi) also engaged in a partnership with...CMOS Si photonic switching device based on the vanadium dioxide ( VO2 ) phase transition. vii. exploring approaches to enhance spontaneous emission in...size and bandwidth, we are exploring phase-change materials and, in particular, vanadium dioxide. VO2 undergoes an insulator-to-metal phase transition

Highly responsive ground state of PbTaSe 2 : Structural phase transition and evolution of superconductivity under pressure

DOE PAGES

Kaluarachchi, Udhara S.; Deng, Yuhang; Besser, Matthew F.; ...

2017-06-09

Transport and magnetic studies of PbTaSe 2 under pressure suggest the existence of two superconducting phases with the low temperature phase boundary at ~ 0.25 GPa that is defined by a very sharp, first order, phase transition. The first order phase transition line can be followed via pressure dependent resistivity measurements, and is found to be near 0.12 GPa near room temperature. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction at elevated temperatures confirm that this first order phase transition is structural and occurs at ambient pressure near ~ 425 K. The new, high temperature/high pressure phase has a similar crystal structuremore » and slightly lower unit cell volume relative to the ambient pressure, room temperature structure. Based on first-principles calculations this structure is suggested to be obtained by shifting the Pb atoms from the 1 a to 1 e Wyckoff position without changing the positions of Ta and Se atoms. PbTaSe 2 has an exceptionally pressure sensitive, structural phase transition with Δ T s / Δ P ≈ -1400 K/GPa near room temperature, and ≈ -1700 K/GPa near 4 K. This first order transition causes a ~ 1 K (~ 25 % ) steplike decrease in T c as pressure is increased through 0.25 GPa.« less

Quantum multicriticality in disordered Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Xunlong; Xu, Baolong; Ohtsuki, Tomi; Shindou, Ryuichi

2018-01-01

In electronic band structure of solid-state material, two band-touching points with linear dispersion appear in pairs in the momentum space. When they annihilate each other, the system undergoes a quantum phase transition from a three-dimensional (3D) Weyl semimetal (WSM) phase to a band insulator phase such as a Chern band insulator (CI) phase. The phase transition is described by a new critical theory with a "magnetic dipole"-like object in the momentum space. In this paper, we reveal that the critical theory hosts a novel disorder-driven quantum multicritical point, which is encompassed by three quantum phases: a renormalized WSM phase, a CI phase, and a diffusive metal (DM) phase. Based on the renormalization group argument, we first clarify scaling properties around the band-touching points at the quantum multicritical point as well as all phase boundaries among these three phases. Based on numerical calculations of localization length, density of states, and critical conductance distribution, we next prove that a localization-delocalization transition between the CI phase with a finite zero-energy density of states (zDOS) and DM phase belongs to an ordinary 3D unitary class. Meanwhile, a localization-delocalization transition between the Chern insulator phase with zero zDOS and a renormalized WSM phase turns out to be a direct phase transition whose critical exponent ν =0.80 ±0.01 . We interpret these numerical results by a renormalization group analysis on the critical theory.

Second order phase transition in thermodynamic geometry and holographic superconductivity in low-energy stringy black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rizwan, C. L. Ahmed; Vaid, Deepak

2018-05-01

We study holographic superconductivity in low-energy stringy Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger (GHS) dilaton black hole background. We finds that superconducting properties are much similar to s-wave superconductors. We show that the second-order phase transition indicated from thermodynamic geometry is not different from superconducting phase transition.

Multipartite entanglement characterization of a quantum phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costantini, G.; Facchi, P.; Florio, G.; Pascazio, S.

2007-07-01

A probability density characterization of multipartite entanglement is tested on the one-dimensional quantum Ising model in a transverse field. The average and second moment of the probability distribution are numerically shown to be good indicators of the quantum phase transition. We comment on multipartite entanglement generation at a quantum phase transition.

40 CFR Appendix II to Part 1042 - Steady-State Duty Cycles

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the maximum test power. 3 Advance from one mode to the next within a 20-second transition phase. During the transition phase, command a linear progression from the torque setting of the current mode to... transition phase, command a linear progression from the torque setting of the current mode to the torque...

Shock loading and release behavior of silicon nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawai, Nobuaki; Tsuru, Taiki; Hidaka, Naoto; Liu, Xun; Mashimo, Tsutomu

2015-06-01

Shock-reshock and shock-release experiments were performed on silicon nitride ceramics above and below its phase transition pressure. Experimental results clearly show the occurrence of elastic-plastic transition and phase transition during initial shock loading. The HEL and phase transition stress are determined as 11.6 GPa and 34.5 GPa, respectively. Below the phase transition point, the reshock profile consists of the single shock with short rise time, while the release profile shows the gradual release followed by more rapid one. Above the phase transition point, reshock and release behavior varies with the initial shock stress. In the case of reshock and release from about 40 GPa, the reshock structure is considerably dispersed, while the release structure shows rapid release. In the reshock profile from about 50 GPa, the formation of the shock wave with the small ramped precursor is observed. And, the release response from same condition shows initial gradual release and subsequent quite rapid one. These results would provide the information about how phase transformation kinetics effects on the reshock and release behavior.

Non-resonant collider signatures of a singlet-driven electroweak phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chien-Yi; Kozaczuk, Jonathan; Lewis, Ian M.

2017-08-01

We analyze the collider signatures of the real singlet extension of the Standard Model in regions consistent with a strong first-order electroweak phase transition and a singlet-like scalar heavier than the Standard Model-like Higgs. A definitive correlation exists between the strength of the phase transition and the trilinear coupling of the Higgs to two singlet-like scalars, and hence between the phase transition and non-resonant scalar pair production involving the singlet at colliders. We study the prospects for observing these processes at the LHC and a future 100 TeV pp collider, focusing particularly on double singlet production. We also discuss correlations between the strength of the electroweak phase transition and other observables at hadron and future lepton colliders. Searches for non-resonant singlet-like scalar pair production at 100 TeV would provide a sensitive probe of the electroweak phase transition in this model, complementing resonant di-Higgs searches and precision measurements. Our study illustrates a strategy for systematically exploring the phenomenologically viable parameter space of this model, which we hope will be useful for future work.

Non-resonant collider signatures of a singlet-driven electroweak phase transition

DOE PAGES

Chen, Chien-Yi; Kozaczuk, Jonathan; Lewis, Ian M.

2017-08-22

We analyze the collider signatures of the real singlet extension of the Standard Model in regions consistent with a strong first-order electroweak phase transition and a singlet-like scalar heavier than the Standard Model-like Higgs. A definitive correlation exists between the strength of the phase transition and the trilinear coupling of the Higgs to two singlet-like scalars, and hence between the phase transition and non-resonant scalar pair production involving the singlet at colliders. We study the prospects for observing these processes at the LHC and a future 100 TeV pp collider, focusing particularly on double singlet production. We also discuss correlationsmore » between the strength of the electroweak phase transition and other observables at hadron and future lepton colliders. Searches for non-resonant singlet-like scalar pair production at 100 TeV would provide a sensitive probe of the electroweak phase transition in this model, complementing resonant di-Higgs searches and precision measurements. Our study illustrates a strategy for systematically exploring the phenomenologically viable parameter space of this model, which we hope will be useful for future work.« less

Histological characterization of peppermint shrimp ( Lysmata wurdemanni) androgenic gland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xin; Zhang, Dong; Lin, Tingting

2017-12-01

The androgenic gland (AG) is an important endocrine gland for male reproductive function in crustaceans. In the present study, we investigated the histological characteristics of the androgenic gland of peppermint shrimp, Lysmata wurdemanni. The peppermint shrimp matures as male first, then some individuals may become euhermaphrodite after several moltings (transitional phase). Euhermaphrodite-phase shrimp acts as male at intermolts. However, it can be fertilized as a female immediately after molting. Considering the male reproductive function acts in its lifespan except for at larval stages, and female reproductive system starts to develop at transitional phase, we hypothesized that AG activity might be reduced to allow and promote vitellogenesis onset in early transitional phase and the following euhermaphrodite phase. So AG cell structure might be different in three phases in L. wurdemanni. The results showed that AG exists in the male in transitional and euhermaphrodite phases. The gland cell clusters surrounding the ejaculatory ducts locate at the roots of the fifth pereopods. The nucleus diameters are similar in the three phases while the nucleus- to-cell ratio is the lowest in euhermaphrodite phase. Our results indicated that for the individuals that will become euhermaphrodite, the cellular structure of AG changes since transitional phase. Male reproductive function which is still available in euhermaphrodite-phase shrimp should be due to the existence of the gland.

Measurement of a solid-state triple point at the metal-insulator transition in VO2.

PubMed

Park, Jae Hyung; Coy, Jim M; Kasirga, T Serkan; Huang, Chunming; Fei, Zaiyao; Hunter, Scott; Cobden, David H

2013-08-22

First-order phase transitions in solids are notoriously challenging to study. The combination of change in unit cell shape, long range of elastic distortion and flow of latent heat leads to large energy barriers resulting in domain structure, hysteresis and cracking. The situation is worse near a triple point, where more than two phases are involved. The well-known metal-insulator transition in vanadium dioxide, a popular candidate for ultrafast optical and electrical switching applications, is a case in point. Even though VO2 is one of the simplest strongly correlated materials, experimental difficulties posed by the first-order nature of the metal-insulator transition as well as the involvement of at least two competing insulating phases have led to persistent controversy about its nature. Here we show that studying single-crystal VO2 nanobeams in a purpose-built nanomechanical strain apparatus allows investigation of this prototypical phase transition with unprecedented control and precision. Our results include the striking finding that the triple point of the metallic phase and two insulating phases is at the transition temperature, Ttr = Tc, which we determine to be 65.0 ± 0.1 °C. The findings have profound implications for the mechanism of the metal-insulator transition in VO2, but they also demonstrate the importance of this approach for mastering phase transitions in many other strongly correlated materials, such as manganites and iron-based superconductors.

Magnetic relaxation phenomena in the chiral magnet Fe1 -xCoxSi : An ac susceptibility study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bannenberg, L. J.; Lefering, A. J. E.; Kakurai, K.; Onose, Y.; Endoh, Y.; Tokura, Y.; Pappas, C.

2016-10-01

We present a systematic study of the ac susceptibility of the chiral magnet Fe1 -xCoxSi with x =0.30 covering four orders of magnitude in frequencies from 0.1 Hz to 1 kHz, with particular emphasis to the pronounced history dependence. Characteristic relaxation times ranging from a few milliseconds to tens of seconds are observed around the skyrmion lattice A phase, the helical-to-conical transition and in a region above TC. The distribution of relaxation frequencies around the A phase is broad, asymmetric, and originates from multiple coexisting relaxation processes. The pronounced dependence of the magnetic phase diagram on the magnetic history and cooling rates as well as the asymmetric frequency dependence and slow dynamics suggest more complicated physical phenomena in Fe0.7Co0.3Si than in other chiral magnets.

Looking for the Phase Transition—Recent NA61/SHINE Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turko, Ludwik

2018-03-01

The fixed-target NA61/SHINE experiment (SPS CERN) looks for the critical point of strongly interacting matter and the properties of the onset of deconfinement. It is a two dimensional scan of measurements of particle spectra and fluctuations in proton-proton, proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions as a function of collision energy and system size, corresponding to a two dimensional phase diagram (temperature T - baryonic chemical potential $\\mu_B$). New NA61/SHINE results are presented here, such as transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations in Ar+Sc collisions compared to NA61/SHINE p+p and Be+Be data, as well as to earlier NA49 A+A results. Recently, a preliminary signature for the new size dependent effect - rapid changes in system size dependence was observed in NA61-SHINE data, labeled as percolation threshold or onset of fireball. This would be closely related to the vicinity of the hadronic phase transition region.

Quantum phase transition with dissipative frustration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maile, D.; Andergassen, S.; Belzig, W.; Rastelli, G.

2018-04-01

We study the quantum phase transition of the one-dimensional phase model in the presence of dissipative frustration, provided by an interaction of the system with the environment through two noncommuting operators. Such a model can be realized in Josephson junction chains with shunt resistances and resistances between the chain and the ground. Using a self-consistent harmonic approximation, we determine the phase diagram at zero temperature which exhibits a quantum phase transition between an ordered phase, corresponding to the superconducting state, and a disordered phase, corresponding to the insulating state with localized superconducting charge. Interestingly, we find that the critical line separating the two phases has a nonmonotonic behavior as a function of the dissipative coupling strength. This result is a consequence of the frustration between (i) one dissipative coupling that quenches the quantum phase fluctuations favoring the ordered phase and (ii) one that quenches the quantum momentum (charge) fluctuations leading to a vanishing phase coherence. Moreover, within the self-consistent harmonic approximation, we analyze the dissipation induced crossover between a first and second order phase transition, showing that quantum frustration increases the range in which the phase transition is second order. The nonmonotonic behavior is reflected also in the purity of the system that quantifies the degree of correlation between the system and the environment, and in the logarithmic negativity as an entanglement measure that encodes the internal quantum correlations in the chain.

Higher order cumulants in colorless partonic plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cherif, S.; Laboratoire de Physique et de Mathématiques Appliquées; Ahmed, M. A. A.

2016-06-10

Any physical system considered to study the QCD deconfinement phase transition certainly has a finite volume, so the finite size effects are inevitably present. This renders the location of the phase transition and the determination of its order as an extremely difficult task, even in the simplest known cases. In order to identify and locate the colorless QCD deconfinement transition point in finite volume T{sub 0}(V), a new approach based on the finite-size cumulant expansion of the order parameter and the ℒ{sub m,n}-Method is used. We have shown that both cumulants of higher order and their ratios, associated to themore » thermodynamical fluctuations of the order parameter, in QCD deconfinement phase transition behave in a particular enough way revealing pronounced oscillations in the transition region. The sign structure and the oscillatory behavior of these in the vicinity of the deconfinement phase transition point might be a sensitive probe and may allow one to elucidate their relation to the QCD phase transition point. In the context of our model, we have shown that the finite volume transition point is always associated to the appearance of a particular point in whole higher order cumulants under consideration.« less

Liquid-liquid phase transformations and the shape of the melting curve.

PubMed

Makov, G; Yahel, E

2011-05-28

The phase diagram of elemental liquids has been found to be surprisingly rich, including variations in the melting curve and transitions in the liquid phase. The effect of these transitions in the liquid state on the shape of the melting curve is analyzed. First-order phase transitions intersecting the melting curve imply piecewise continuous melting curves, with solid-solid transitions generating upward kinks or minima and liquid-liquid transitions generating downward kinks or maxima. For liquid-liquid phase transitions proposed for carbon, phosphorous selenium, and possibly nitrogen, we find that the melting curve exhibits a kink. Continuous transitions imply smooth extrema in the melting curve, the curvature of which is described by an exact thermodynamic relation. This expression indicates that a minimum in the melting curve requires the solid compressibility to be greater than that of the liquid, a very unusual situation. This relation is employed to predict the loci of smooth maxima at negative pressures for liquids with anomalous melting curves. The relation between the location of the melting curve maximum and the two-state model of continuous liquid-liquid transitions is discussed and illustrated by the case of tellurium. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Compact stars in Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravity: Anomalies associated with phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sham, Y.-H.; Leung, P. T.; Lin, L.-M.

2013-03-01

We study how generic phase transitions taking place in compact stars constructed in the framework of the Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld (EiBI) gravity can lead to anomalous behavior of these stars. For the case with first-order phase transitions, compact stars in EiBI gravity with a positive coupling parameter κ exhibit a finite region with constant pressure, which is absent in general relativity. However, for the case with a negative κ, an equilibrium stellar configuration cannot be constructed. Hence EiBI gravity seems to impose stricter constraints on the microphysics of stellar matter. Besides, in the presence of spatial discontinuities in the sound speed cs due to phase transitions, the Ricci scalar is spatially discontinuous and contains δ-function singularities proportional to the jump in cs2 acquired in the associated phase transition.

Cubic to tetragonal phase transition of Tm{sup 3+} doped nanocrystals in oxyfluoride glass ceramics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yiming; Fu, Yuting; Shi, Yahui

2016-02-15

Tm{sup 3+} ions doped β-PbF{sub 2} nanocrystals in oxyfluoride glass ceramics with different doping concentrations and thermal temperatures are prepared by a traditional melt-quenching and thermal treatment method to investigate the structure and the phase transition of Tm{sup 3+} doped nanocrystals. The structures are characterized by X-ray diffraction Rietveld analysis and confirmed with numerical simulation. The phase transitions are proved further by the emission spectra. Both of the doping concentration and thermal temperature can induce an O{sub h} to D{sub 4h} site symmetry distortion and a cubic to tetragonal phase transition. The luminescence of Tm{sup 3+} doped nanocrystals at 800more » nm was modulated by the phase transition of the surrounding crystal field.« less